MOT exemption.

[Barry]

My bike had it's last MOT today.  When next year comes around it will be 40 years old and exempt from both the annual MOT and road tax. 

I've been thinking about having it MOT'd anyway for safety reasons but frankly I've watched the guy do it for the last 12 years and the only thing he does that I won't have already done myself in the pre-MOT check is the roller brake test and even that isn't of great value as the pass criteria for brake efficiency is very low at 30% for one brake and 25% for the other. If a bike fails on the brake test then the brakes are truly awful. Mine today were over double those figures. Anyone know what efficiency their bike achieved or what is considered a good figure ?

[Adrian]

Here - in South Australia - there are no yearly checks on vehicles. Although it is different in other states.
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Recent studies here show that in almost all road accidents here - only about 3 - 5 %of the vehicles show serious defects that contributed to it.
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Personally I think that vehicle checks should be done periodically. I am close to finishing the rebuild on my R65 (now really an R86) & will have my mechanic look it over just to be safe.
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He's over 100 kilometers away - there aren't many specialist BMW mechanics in my state - so the ride itself will show me if I got it right [ch128521]

[skippyc]

Recent studies here show that in almost all road accidents here - only about 3 - 5 %of the vehicles show serious defects that contributed to it

That's discounting the nut that's holding the stearing.
We don't have MOT in Victoria and personaly I think its a money spinner for mechanics
We do have them for initial registeration.

[Tony Smith]

Same in QLD, no yearly inspection, but a roadworthy inspection for any not new vehicle seeking to be registered. The "roadworthy" process is very hit and miss, some inspectors do their job with an over-abundance of zeal, pinging machines for quite improper reasons, whilst others see it as a quick way to make $60~$80.

What the Government does do from time to time is set up a roadside checking station and inspect vehicles for roadworthiness - there isn't much they can do as far as motorcycles go, just very generic inspections and movement tests on steering and suspension. But they can test for emisisons on cars and bikes and they do a very comprehensive suspension test on cars on a device called "the shaker" and are able to test brakes with a dynamic roller on the same machine. There are usually a large number of cars with registration plates removed left awaiting collection by tow truck after the test  on "the shaker'.

[wilcom]

There are usually a large number of cars with registration plates removed left awaiting collection by tow truck after the test  on "the shaker'

Are you saying you're just driving down the street to work or fetching a child at school and they yank your car out from under you and give it the friendly $500 tow?

You're not drunk, crazy on drugs, properly registered, no outstanding warrant from the courts, just driving along and your 02 sensor takes a dump and you roll up on the inspection site and {{Wammo}} your walking!

If I'm reading you correctly , it sounds a tad Draconian to me..... 

[Tony Smith]

Are you saying you're just driving down the street to work or fetching a child at school and they yank your car out from under you and give it the friendly $500 tow?

You're not drunk, crazy on drugs, properly registered, no outstanding warrant from the courts, just driving along and your 02 sensor takes a dump and you roll up on the inspection site and {{Wammo}} your walking!

If I'm reading you correctly , it sounds a tad Draconian to me..... 

Yes and no, these are not cars with minor "technical" infringements (like say a failed Lambda sensor), these are cars with major suspension, steering and braking defects. Also, believe it or not, they always seem to find a few rustbuckets that are so bad as to be structurally unsound. The other major reason for having your plates taken is that the car is unregistered. Now that I am old and don't drive cars that are borderline mechanically, I think the random stop and test program is a very good idea.

[wilcom]

Now that I am old and don't drive cars that are borderline mechanically, I think the random stop and test program is a very good idea.

It's pretty much the same here without the "check points". If you're "rolling dirty" without proper registration they can impound on the spot but usually give you a citation.

In my youth I would have never passed a check point My idea of a brake job was to go to the scrap yard and find a car with better brake shoes than I had. I think I was 20 years old before I ever purchased a NEW part.

Our roads and traffic conditions dictate that you have a better car than you could get away with back in the day. When you inter an Expressway( you can't get anywhere without being on one) you need toi be able to maintain 70-75 mph and be able to stop quickly or you will get run over. Conversely, stuck in 5mph traffic at rush hour on a warm day will test the metal of your steed quickly!

[Hardgravity]

My '65LS has another 5 years to go before she no longer needs an MOT..

...but my RD400 hits it next year!

I've just had both done, that's £60 I'll miss,  but can only afford to tax the beema, £88 a year for a bike that'll only get ridden for 1000 miles is a little steep.

Roll on next year and fee Rd'ing