It's that time of year again

The letter arrived from the DVLA reminding me to renew my tax and that my MOT had run out.

So it's that time of year again where I have to change the back end of my bike to get through the test. Small number plate swapped over to a the huge barn door sized thing, additional indicators attached and wired up because the integrated ones in the tail light are not certified legal in the UK and a set of baffles screwed into the Akras so my fuelling is all messed up. I kind of hate having to do this every year just for a half hour visit to a garage and then back to the way it runs all the rest of the year. But whatever.......

No need to change the mapping for CO2 measurement?
TG we still don't have an MOT here, but might be in the future.

I don't think they do a CO2 measure here for bikes. I've never thought about it actually. I know they do for cars because I used to have a few Type 2 VW campers and we would really have to fiddle with the carbs to get it through every year. But bikes I don't know. I haven't ever been warned about emissions nor ever had to change a map. They certainly don't have to test them for noise db levels and I only fit silencer baffles so some jobsworth doesn't start to get offended and start looking for the EU markings on all the exhaust parts (which they don't have).

So I failed the MOT on a few technicalities.

1. The horn didn't work (even though it did when I set off. Must be another consequence of salt in the wiring - easy fix)
2. They tell me our government has now outlawed integrated indicators (even though I had fitted the separate ones as well. I need to disconnect the back light indicator wires)
3. I had no stupid EU reflector on the back (They gave me a free stick-on one)
4. I didn't bother to put the baffles in but they say I need to.

So I got to fix all these and pop down tomorrow so they can pass it at no extra charge.

bummer
but as you said : easy fix, GL

What are these EU regulations you speak of?

No, just kidding. One of the (few) nice things about Kansas is that there is none of that. The extent of inspection when I first registered the bike after purchase was to verify VIN and year matched the paperwork. The tech at my local dealer runs a 94 CBR900 rat bike with an open header.

Of course I've also lived where this kind of thing was a major hassle. Once had the reverse light switch in my 97 Nissan truck short out, which caused a fault that made it fail the yearly emissions inspection (check engine light is on,you fail). No fun.

Hope you get it sorted.

Horn had a bad earth. Sorted. Baffles in, Sorted, Stupid reflector stuck on. Sorted. Integrated indicators dis-integrated. MOT. Passed.

MOT time that is.

End of the month I need a new MOT so it's the usual rigmarole to get everything ready for inspection. Booked into Fowlers (which is a new one for me 'cos I've always used small workshops who are more lenient than the big multis I think).

1. Small numberplate off and a massive big legal one fitted with a big stupid red reflector stuck on the corner.
2. Integrated stop light wires disconnected so it doesn't flash at the same time as the indicators.
3. Usually I have to fit rear indicators but this time that are still on from last time (saved a lot of time)
4. Baffles fitted to Akras just in case the tester is a jobsworth.
5. Run through all basic checks....

Bloody horn doesn't work! As usual (like every year for ten years) the winter salt has caused some problem so:
1. Remove engine crash bobbins.
3. Remove sidestand and bracket.
3. Remove belly pan.
4. Check fuses, wiring, solenoid, with no effect.
5. Dig around in workshop drawers and find a spare horn. No effect.
6. Disassemble handlebar switch gear to check for loose wire to no effect.
7. Resentfully unclip and remove wiring mess to access battery compartment to check for broken or loose wiring.
8. Give up.
9. Ride over to Fowlers and ask mechanics if I bring my bike in for an MOT will they sort out the fooking horn for me.

Feel like a total failure. Cold, oily, dirty, unsatisfied.

Jeez all because of a fooking MOT

Ha! That's funny.

Here in SA, we don't even have vehicle inspections. And I just bought my new SDR, and all I'll have to do to register it in my name is get it inspected to ensure it's not stolen and that's it.

And it was 34 degrees all the way home for 8 hours and 38 today....

In the U.K. Can you get your bike check done at a local mechanic or do you have to
Take it to a bike machanic?
I never get my bikes checked by a bike shop I go to my local car machanic with all the aftermarket stuff on the
Bike and never have a problem getting it past.
But I've heard of others taking their bike to a bike machanic and being knocked back.

As SpeedFiend says - no yearly inspections. I guess it's a good thing although when I think back to what I used to ride when I was a boy ... It probably would have been doing me a favour if somebody had insisted I had tyres with some tread...

Be that-as-it-may, we do have inspections for new and repairable written off vehicles. My experience of getting one of the 990's reregistered was that the people at the government inspection office were real Nazi's, throwing their weight around and behaving despicably - a real surprise in this day and age. In other states i'm aware that there is some corruption that goes on eg. "That horn cost GBP500 but we're prepared to register the bike".

Surprisingly, the actual inspection of my 990 (a few years ago now) went quite well except the inspector took exception to the original braided brake lines (you figure that). When we eventually found some markings all was Ok.

Fowlers of Bristol.

Hmmm. Another bad experience. Dropped bike off yesterday to get MOT. Needed horn sorting. They rang in the afternoon saying that horn was sorted but that the back light was flashing when they tried the indicators. This was a bit strange because I'd disconnected the leads which operated the integrated flashers to the unit. I agreed they should take a look and get it through the MOT.

Today they ring me and say that they've fixed the back light but that the indicators don't work.

"Can we fit some new ones?"

I say, "No - because the indicators are Rizoma Zero units and they have worked for eight years without a problem and they actually worked yesterday didn't they?"

They say, "Well they don't work now".

"Because you've broken them then - they worked yesterday".

So I go round to get my bike. So they fail the MOT and want to charge me for three hours work on top of the MOT bill. I have a bit of a talk with the manager (!!) and end up resentfully agreeing to pay for one hour for the time spent fixing the horn (£50 plus VAT).

I take my bike round to my garage and look at what they've done. They've chopped off half the socket connectors I carefully installed eight years ago and replaced them with bullet connectors, two of which pulled off in my hands when I removed the seat. They've removed the alarm unit in the tail and reinstalled it wonky with one of the screws missing. They've cut the Rizoma leads short (why?) when putting on the bullet connectors so they are too tight and can't route properly.

And yes, they've managed to somehow damage one of the Rizoma units so it doesn't work anymore. I've tracked it down to the actual unit so somehow the LED inside is broken and they are sealed units. They say it was a coincidence that it must have just broken at the same time as them doing all this work. They say it wasn't them - even though when put on the spot they accept that both rear units were working yesterday otherwise that's what it would have failed the MOT on in the first place, not the rear light issue.

And to cap it all. Bu the time I'd spent two hours going through all the wiring and identifying all the problems and re attaching new bullet connectors when I tried to start the bike I had a flat battery! Haven't got any power at my lock-up so I had to push the bike home 2.5 miles!!!!!!! I was absolutely knackered. Took an hour and a half with a LOT of breaks. I'm getting too old for this. ha ha.

So I have no MOT, therefor no legal tax, a broken Rizoma and a flat battery (now finally on charge)

What a shit day.

That does sound like a shit day!

Just in case you didn't know, a cheap clip on bicycle horn counts for MOT purposes (clip on, MOT, Remove) Less than £5

I may have some old std indicators in the garage somewhere if you want them. Attach, MOT, remove.

Job done.

Thanks mate but Aphex has sorted me out with a pair of identical Rizoma units he had.

Just got to wait for them to arrive from the States now!

I used to fix a rubber ended honking horn if I needed an MOT and remove straight after .
I have my MOT booked for March 1st and use "Just Mot's" which seem bike friendly and always seem to be on my side, and as long as the exhaust has an inscription saying road legal, I'm good to go