Strange MOT

[Notty]

For some of us the MOT can be stressful. Of course checked all the basics, lights, horn etc but still a doubt there. Checked the forecast and dry so rang the garage to book  it ( asked about LED bulb). Sorry but the guy who does MOT's only works a few mornings as its winter hours. Bugger, rain forecast but booked. Thankfully no actual rain but roads very wet. Social distancing meant waiting outside reception office to book in. Peter the tester came and took the bike away asking if I had actually used it since last year when he failed it failed it for being too clean !! He started the engine, tried headlight dip/main beam horn indicators then got a torch and looked under the headstock and the swingarm. "Nothing wrong with this bike no point in checking anything else " He came and stood next to me and had a fag (2 meters of course) then looked at his watch and said its time to print off the certificate and pay - WTF .. At the time I thought this is great but now I look back and think brakes, steering not tested !!. Like all of us I do regularly check brakes and wiggle the bars but it should have been tested. Think I will get MOT again Before riding season starts in the spring.

[Del]

I get the same mate but the fella who does mine knows im very meticulous with my bikes and his general rule of thumb is if the bike is very clean you have more of a chance of a pass than someone who rides in a manky bike cause he says they are not even trying - I do get brakes and suspension checked though 

[Blubber]

Wouldn't a small service check-up suffice after the winter lay off?

[seth]

The guy I went to up in the north corner of Scotland.
Always checked the bike over but he knew I prepared it properly .
The new guy I go to near Dundee is a guy I've known for 25years and he again gives the bikes a good look over we chat about rallies and stuff we've done over the years but still gets a proper mot .

[Big Phil]

I find most people are in the camp of "if your keeping a vehicle you want it checked thoroughly at the MOT but if your selling it you don't really care as long as it passes"

Can't believe in this day and age any tester would be that slack. But hey ho people get too comfortable and become blasé. Then the government inspector calls and they are fuxxxd! Then again worse still, something goes seriously wrong, someone crashes, gets hurt and the Tester ends up doing time!

I always take my car to an independent MOT testing facility with no servicing or after sales if possible. That way I always think they have nothing better to do than provide a stringent test. Not so the bike, as firstly it's very hard to find an independent and secondly it's much easier to check your bike over yourself and spot any problems.

[gsxbarmy]

My MOT guy is great - every year he kids me that one year he will fail it for being too clean LOL, but having said that he goes over it with a fine tooth comb in all the areas that matter. Is he worried if your exhaust is a tad loud? no. Is he worried your brakes are right? Absolutely. IMO he worries about all the things that keep your bike in top condition for the road to keep you safe and doesn't skimp on any of it.

[Irish in Oz]

You's don't know how lucky you are on the mainland, over here it's all government inspection stations, nothing gets by them. Car's have to go through an assault coarse.
Oz can be a joke at times, I have an old Pajero (Shogun) in very good condition all round, one bloke looked at the tyres, they put a brake tester under the brake lever and go for a drive, he didn't but I seen him hit the tester a thump while sitting on the bench, 10 minutes and $33 later I have my certificate.

[Tally]

The guy I go to is an independent tester, doesn't mind that the bike looks untidy just does a professional job, does a brake test f/r , suspension, chain/sprocket, headstock bearings, even checks that the ignition key opens the fuel cap,h/lamp,high/low beam,indicators, horn,and whatever else I've forgotten, 30 mins later it's passed with flying colours.

[Mick_J]

The check on the fuel cap is to ensure it has a good sound seal and won't leak under acceleration or breaking.

[Tally]

I know that @mjgt , I originally thought that is was a check to see if the bike was a ringer where some lowlife had swapped out the ignition barrel but had no access to the fuel tank.

[Mick_J]

Sorry mate didn't want to teach you how to suck eggs, but some peeps don't know these things. 

[Tally]

 

[VladTepes]

haha you Brits have the opposite opinion to us Aussies if we need what we calla  "roadworthy" we don't want them to find anything even if it's there. We know what's wrong and don't rely on some paper pusher to tell us. If we need real mechanical inspections we go to a real mechanic. 

[Hooli]

I know myself exactly what is up with my bike at any time, I don't need anyone to tell me.

Which is why the horn hasn't worked since May, I'll fix it before March when the MOT is due.

[Irish in Oz]

I know myself exactly what is up with my bike at any time, I don't need anyone to tell me.

Which is why the horn hasn't worked since May, I'll fix it before March when the MOT is due.

I find that amusing, some on here want to put very loud horns on their bikes and yours doesn't even work.