trike MOT

[deano]

I've just taken my car engined trike for its mot It failed on a lack of rear view mirrors :eek: (but passed last year). They also said that next year I will need a wieght certificate for it. A few daYS later a friend took his VW trike to a different local garage and he was told that trikes now need hazard lights, two headlamps if they are over a certain width. and seat belts most now be fitted if a trike uses car type seats. All this appears to tie in with the new registration regs but is being applied to trikes that have been on the road for years. Has anyone else found this to be the case recently. Is it happening nationwide. and will everyones winter rebuilds fail there spring mot's 'cause a load of new mot regulations have been brought in over the winter.

[Alik Windrush]

Yeah shame but it's true.
We did warn everyone about this in the mag. There has been a recent review on trike MoT standards and distributed it to all testing stations.
You don't need seat belts on a bike type saddle/dual seat but bench and outboard seats need lap belts.
You must have hazards- and we've explained how to fit them in the mag.
You must have two mirrors.

[davesatan]

so is this all trikes alik or just ones newer than a set date ?

[Alik Windrush]

I'm sorry to say that this is ALL trikes.
It's more of a pain in the arse than a potential disaster though. If you've been reading TRIKE TEK then the MoT will hold no fears for you. The scariest thing is how MoT testers decide to interpret the new rules.
Just for the record I put a trike through the MSVA today and it was easier than some MoT's I had. The MSVA testers have no grey areas so if it's in the manual it has to be on the trike. Unfortunately MoT testers are allowed 'DISCRETION' which is sometimes a bit like making a bag lady prime minister..!

[BlackPig]

...a bit like making a bag lady prime minister..!



UMMM !! I think we've already tried that,how is her plucky son these days?Still in Africa,somewhere? :D :D

[Alik Windrush]

I guess thst it's possible that he's going to be kept by one taxpayer or another for some time..!

[hellorgh]

anyone know where a copy of these rules can be obtained? am scared that my trike is very much not compliant. is there a back issue with a summary of said rules available?

cheers
iain

[Gypsy]

what the width the trike needs to be before needing twins at the front?

[Gypsy]

tis ok i found it
1700mm needs twins on the front
means i'm ok as ours is only 1300mm :D

[Creature]

nope that is fine

[Alik Windrush]

It's just as well that you left the indicator warning lamps wired in because they represent the required 'tell-tale' warning lamps.
Yep on our 'V'6 trike we wired the hazards through a double pole domestic 'cooker' switch. You could of course just put a switch between the left and right hand indicator wires and hazards would then cost about 60 pence.
Did you see the more reent simplified wiring diagram? Sure the bits cost about £30 (from vehicle wiring products) and you could save money by going to your local Maplin Electronics store; but it takes about 5-10 mins to fit and always works.

[RebuiltYorkie]

Hi happy biker an Alk

I have a old 77 GL1000 engined trike.

Happybiker will your electric diagram work on my bike, or is it just for car engined trikes? :confused:

Alk

What things do I have to watch out for, :confused: as far as new MOT gose? I know about the hazards, etc...

[Alik Windrush]

If you have more than two seats then you'll need to think about lap strap seat belts. Wider than 1700 mm then you'll need twin headlamps.
Two handlebar mirrors and running lights mounted within 400 mm of the widest point.

[RebuiltYorkie]

Thanks Alik
My trike is only 54 inches wide at widest piont. It as running lights on rear mud gaurds. It's got a hand brake (park brake) So I think it's ok!
I sent for the bits that are listed in the Trike Tech section of 100% biker (issue 54) So when they arrive I am going to be busy.

[RebuiltYorkie]

Alik
I got the hazard light bits (as recomended in issue 54 of 100%) from the place in Derbyshire. So here gose! Wish me luck, I mean I am a woodcarver not a bike sparky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

[SPOOK]

One of my best mates is the owner of a car MOT station, (doesn't do trikes, more's the pity), and when I asked him about the situation, he's adamant (the people are the warriors...) that they can't impose new requirements on trikes which have already been registered and MOT'd, and that the whole thing will be date-specific.
His example was classic cars - no seatbelts - little flip-out indicators (remember them?) and various other "missing" things that are now neccesary requirements. Imagine the uproar (and the compensation claims for loss of value) if the owners had to add extra lights, indicators and hazards.
That said, he's due to go on a refresher course next month, so if anything's changed, I'll pass it on .

[RebuiltYorkie]

Thanks for that Spook, I bought 'em so I might as well fit 'em or have 'em fitted if I make a hic-up.

I think that they would be good to have; the trike broke down on me in the Queens way under pass, in Brum a few weeks ago! I am a disabled rider an had no way of getting out o' the messy situation; car's an' other bikes an' bikers just went around me obliviouse to the fact that I had actually broke down. I even had some car drivers pip their car horn's an curse at me for blocking their way! Eventually a couple of guys stopped in a van an give us a push out of the tunnel! So I think i'll carry on an fit em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[Sir Ewok]

I have an old trike, built ages ago and is registered as a classic vehicle. How do I stand on the handbrake, which is underneath the trike and upside-down. To apply it, you have to get off and kneel down beside the trike to apply it. If the lihts, hazards, handbrake etc have to be altered it would no longer be the classic vehicle it is now.

[wegit]

Not sure on a classic but on a new registration you have to be able to apply the handbrake with one hand while sitting on the trike

[Alik Windrush]

As far as I'm aware; the regs for the MoT are simply that you have a handbrake that works.
Its a bit like the speedo MoT rule where you have to have one but they aint got the means to test it so it don't have to work.!

[wegit]

Its a bit like the speedo MoT rule where you have to have one but they aint got the means to test it so it don't have to work.!
MMmm not sure about this. My mates reliant trike failed because the handbrake was not effective enough !!

Just as a note:- I have recently heard that the handbrake can lock any one of the three wheels. So things could be tidied up by locking the front caliper ??

[addjunkie]

Handbrake has to work on all the wheels of any axle, according to DVLA test station man when i spoke to him, so front wheel would be ok so long as it dosnt use same hydraulic pipe used for front brake...........having said that I have heard of folks using lever clamp on bars and passing trike mot, so I guess i all depends on how you mot man interprits rules, or accepts bribes...............if id wanted to wander round a minefield id have gone to iraq..........

[Alik Windrush]

One of my best mates is the owner of a car MOT station, (doesn't do trikes, more's the pity), and when I asked him about the situation, he's adamant (the people are the warriors...) that they can't impose new requirements on trikes which have already been registered and MOT'd, and that the whole thing will be date-specific.
His example was classic cars - no seatbelts - little flip-out indicators (remember them?) and various other "missing" things that are now neccesary requirements. Imagine the uproar (and the compensation claims for loss of value) if the owners had to add extra lights, indicators and hazards.
That said, he's due to go on a refresher course next month, so if anything's changed, I'll pass it on .

You don't remember when cars had to be retro fitted with windscreen washers and seatbelts then...?

[cx500_triker]

Yeah shame but it's true.
We did warn everyone about this in the mag. There has been a recent review on trike MoT standards and distributed it to all testing stations.
You don't need seat belts on a bike type saddle/dual seat but bench and outboard seats need lap belts.
You must have hazards- and we've explained how to fit them in the mag.
You must have two mirrors.

You do not need hazards if your ride was 1st registered before 1986
i have a Honda cx500 trike 1982 .. never needed hazards for MOT

[cx500_triker]

Handbrake has to work on all the wheels of any axle, according to DVLA test station man when i spoke to him, so front wheel would be ok so long as it dosnt use same hydraulic pipe used for front brake...........having said that I have heard of folks using lever clamp on bars and passing trike mot, so I guess i all depends on how you mot man interprits rules, or accepts bribes...............if id wanted to wander round a minefield id have gone to iraq..........

On a Trike .. ONLY 1 wheel needs to lock to pass the MOT

[Mari Sepultura]

On a Trike .. ONLY 1 wheel needs to lock to pass the MOT

Bollocks......

[Conon]

Bollocks......

Aye, and he revived a 6 year old thread just to misinform everyone

[devon-tony]

its actually bollox on both counts, not just one LOL

[Dusty]

Bollocks......

Whereas, a simple " I think you may be mistaken, I was told it had to be both ", might have been a bit more helpful. :rolleyes:

[johnr]

One of my best mates is the owner of a car MOT station, (doesn't do trikes, more's the pity), and when I asked him about the situation, he's adamant (the people are the warriors...) that they can't impose new requirements on trikes which have already been registered and MOT'd, and that the whole thing will be date-specific.
His example was classic cars - no seatbelts - little flip-out indicators (remember them?) and various other "missing" things that are now neccesary requirements. Imagine the uproar (and the compensation claims for loss of value) if the owners had to add extra lights, indicators and hazards.
That said, he's due to go on a refresher course next month, so if anything's changed, I'll pass it on .


my 53 bsa still needs a brake light switch even though it never had one from new. and the rule requiring it was brought in later.