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Tail tidy - what do I need to know

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BRUN
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 10 Oct 2020
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PostPosted: 10:27 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Tail tidy - what do I need to know Reply with quote

I want to get a tail tidy for my bike, the rear mudguard is huge, but what are the legal or MOT things I need to know about before I buy one

Im reading online about number plate angle ? rear reflectors ? but some of this seems to be other countries than the UK
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Nobby the Bastard
Harley Gaydar



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PostPosted: 10:59 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Number plate is supposed to vertical otherwise could be considered to be obsured, indicators have to be a set distance apart and the must be a reflector dead in the centreline of the bike.
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ThunderGuts
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PostPosted: 11:10 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nobby the Bastard wrote:
Number plate is supposed to vertical otherwise could be considered to be obsured, indicators have to be a set distance apart and the must be a reflector dead in the centreline of the bike.


Are you sure about the verticality thing? The numberplates on my bikes (stock tail) have always been about 10-15deg off the vertical at least. I reckon you could get away with up to 25 degrees but much more than that and I agree it's starting to get a bit harder to read.

Not sure about MOT, but isn't the rearmost part of the bike supposed to be something static (i.e. not the wheel) which is why on bikes with shorter / more angled pillion seats/tails tend to have those ridiculous numberplate mudguard things?
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t121anf
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PostPosted: 11:14 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

MOT rules state

Quote:
be fitted vertically, or as close to vertical as is reasonably practicable


Also did a quick image search for "gsxr" and the stock bikes don't look vertical.


Last edited by t121anf on 11:15 - 17 Dec 2021; edited 1 time in total
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Nobby the Bastard
Harley Gaydar



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PostPosted: 11:15 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

ThunderGuts wrote:
Nobby the Bastard wrote:
Number plate is supposed to vertical otherwise could be considered to be obsured, indicators have to be a set distance apart and the must be a reflector dead in the centreline of the bike.


Are you sure about the verticality thing? The numberplates on my bikes (stock tail) have always been about 10-15deg off the vertical at least. I reckon you could get away with up to 25 degrees but much more than that and I agree it's starting to get a bit harder to read.

Not sure about MOT, but isn't the rearmost part of the bike supposed to be something static (i.e. not the wheel) which is why on bikes with shorter / more angled pillion seats/tails tend to have those ridiculous numberplate mudguard things?


The number plate doesn't have to be vertical, but the further angled the more likely the filth etc. will take umbrance.

The rear projection thing is for construction and use. This only applies to manufacturers of vehicles/ vehicles that haven't been submitted by manufacurers (kit cars for exammple) and 'significanttly modified vehicles.'

A tail tidy isn't really in the category of 'significantly modified.
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xX-Alex-Xx
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PostPosted: 11:17 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nobby the Bastard wrote:
e must be a reflector dead in the centreline of the bike.


Just note that one of those stick-on round reflectors stuck to the bottom of the plate is fine for MOT. It's how my "MOT plate" is set up as the one I use 364 days of the year is a bit smaller than stock.
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Nobby the Bastard
Harley Gaydar



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PostPosted: 11:25 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

yep, I used to stuck a new one onto my FZ at every MOT because it had fallen off every time.
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Zen Dog
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PostPosted: 11:38 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Re: Tail tidy - what do I need to know Reply with quote

BRUN wrote:
I want to get a tail tidy for my bike, the rear mudguard is huge, but what are the legal or MOT things I need to know about before I buy one

Im reading online about number plate angle ? rear reflectors ? but some of this seems to be other countries than the UK


I'm sure what everyone has said above is true, and abiding by the exact rules is probably a bit of a fiddle. But the reality is that if you're buying a tail tidy for your specific bike from a reputable manufacturer, they'll have done the homework and you can just fit it without worrying too much.
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



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PostPosted: 12:59 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Indicators need to be minimum 180mm apart.

If you're stopped for the numberplate angle, save this picture on your phone?
https://cdn.visordown.com/styles/amp_1200/s3/field/image/South%20Yorkshire%20Police.jpg

EDIT: Also don't screw it to your ECU.
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A100man
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PostPosted: 13:19 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:
Indicators need to be minimum 180mm apart.

If you're stopped for the numberplate angle, save this picture on your phone?
https://cdn.visordown.com/styles/amp_1200/s3/field/image/South%20Yorkshire%20Police.jpg

EDIT: Also don't screw it to your ECU.


Interesting shot - where is that?
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Nobby the Bastard
Harley Gaydar



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PostPosted: 13:28 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

According to this, Brighton....

https://www.car.co.uk/media/guides/number-plates/uk-number-plate-area-codes
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Kawasaki Jimbo
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PostPosted: 13:41 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don’t know what value a red reflector has on a narrow vehicle like a bike anyway. That big yellow plate surely overwhelms it, even assuming you parked parallel to the kerb instead of the more usual angle, so the reflector actually shines back at approaching vehicles.
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ThunderGuts
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PostPosted: 14:03 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can only see red reflectors on two of those police bikes.
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xX-Alex-Xx
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PostPosted: 14:08 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

ThunderGuts wrote:
I can only see red reflectors on two of those police bikes.


And they're not central to the bike so technically an MOT fail.
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A100man
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PostPosted: 14:38 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nobby the Bastard wrote:


Ah I thought it was somewhere more grim and inhospitable, up North... Wink
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BRUN
Trackday Trickster



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PostPosted: 14:59 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

so, try keep to the number plate reasonably vertical but as long as its not horizontal, will be ok

I must have a rear reflector, in the centre, does it need to be a certain min size or shape, does it need to be at the bottom of the plate ?

Indicators must be 180mm apart, im sure they will be, planning to stick with OE for now

Is their any rule about the number plate or something else, being past the rear tyre, I thought I had read something like that somewhere

Have I missed anything ?
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Nobby the Bastard
Harley Gaydar



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PostPosted: 15:03 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nobby the Bastard wrote:


The rear projection thing is for construction and use. This only applies to manufacturers of vehicles/ vehicles that haven't been submitted by manufacurers (kit cars for exammple) and 'significanttly modified vehicles.'

A tail tidy isn't really in the category of 'significantly modified.

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Freddyfruitba...
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PostPosted: 15:42 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

A100man wrote:
stinkwheel wrote:
https://cdn.visordown.com/styles/amp_1200/s3/field/image/South%20Yorkshire%20Police.jpg

Interesting shot - where is that?

Sheffield - looks to be taken from Meersbrook Park
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ThunderGuts
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PostPosted: 16:04 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Freddyfruitbat wrote:

Sheffield - looks to be taken from Meersbrook Park


Funnily enough I did think it looked a bit like that neck of the woods (I thought Huddersfield actually, but it's all a bit rinse and repeat on that bit of the Pennines).
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xX-Alex-Xx
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PostPosted: 16:42 - 17 Dec 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

BRUN wrote:
so, try keep to the number plate reasonably vertical but as long as its not horizontal, will be ok

I must have a rear reflector, in the centre, does it need to be a certain min size or shape, does it need to be at the bottom of the plate ?

Indicators must be 180mm apart, im sure they will be, planning to stick with OE for now

Is their any rule about the number plate or something else, being past the rear tyre, I thought I had read something like that somewhere

Have I missed anything ?


Have a look at the rules for motorcycle MOT's here.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-motorcycles
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