Minimum requirements for a MoT

[Knowledge]

So I have acquired a new frame with no paperwork. I can obviously get a dating certificate from the club, but I don't want to do too much work on the scooter before getting it registered. Perhaps you have the same feeling as me: you paint and build a scooter, go to register it and you are told it is a stolen frame. Gulp. Confiscation? Probably.

Anyway, this got me thinking. How little have you got to do to a frame to get it through an MoT?

Frame and tank
Forks
Headset
Engine
Brakes and wheels
Control cables
Seat
Horn
MDF floorboards


Do you need a front mudguard or any lights? What have I forgotten? What can I leave out?

[dickie]

I'm in pretty much the same boat. Can't you (or me) just enquire with the dvla or police before we plough time and money into them?

[roli150lam]

Daylight only Mot is possible.So lights not absolutely necessary.

[bsso78]

Minimum requirements for a MOT are
Rear reflector
Horn with continuous tone

Obviously the machine must have working brakes, decent tread on tyres etc.and nothing hanging off it.
This will give you a daytime MOT, I don't know if DVLA will accept it when registering but I can't see any reason why not.

[MickYork]

you can MOT a vehicle with no lights.....this will be a "daylight only" MOT. A lot of motocross (of road) bikes get this MOT

[bsso78]

Forgot the front mudguard bit, on a scooter it's pretty much down to the interpretation of the "rules" by the tester. It could be argued that the legshields form a mudguard but it would be better to fit one.

[citydaz]

It also helps not to have any exposed sharp bits of metal

[drivera]

I did one a few years ago using a bulb horn that you squeezed by hand , MOT tester wasn't happy about it but the rule book said ok

[Knowledge]

Thanks for all the replies.

I understand that a bulb horn used to be OK, but now it must maintain a continuous note. The rule was changed a few years back.

(The legendary Steve "Klondyke" Cook of Derby had a a scooter with a bicycle bell on it. At the time (1987), that was legal too)

[Knowledge]

Once the scooter is registered and fully built, it is my plan to get it re-MoT'd so the scooter can be used after the hours of darkness.

[Shaun]

Thanks for all the replies.

I understand that a bulb horn used to be OK, but now it must maintain a continuous note. The rule was changed a few years back.

(The legendary Steve "Klondyke" Cook of Derby had a a scooter with a bicycle bell on it. At the time (1987), that was legal too)

Bulb horn fine pre '73, if a dual seat fitted rear pegs/boards will be needed (single seats easier), don't worry about front boards, sharp edges not an issue unless caused by accident/corrosion (but that mainly relates to cars/vans). And NO lights at all, not even a brake light. (this does break the law on the road though).

[Digger]

MOT'd and registered this a in 2012 - no lights so daytime running.

[MK Monty]

in the old days when a scellie was 2 tin tea trays for footboards I had one fail for no front mudguard, I couldn't find an aluminium one but he was happy with the inner from a series 1/2, He said it was good for F all but was a mudguard, nothing in the book about how long. Happy days but riding home I got stopped by the boys in blue who booked me for no MOT as I hadn't prebooked it to go for the MOT so the return trip wasn't covered. He was also a bit iffy about the rear floorboard legs I had to sell it as a passenger foot rest

[Shaun]

in the old days when a scellie was 2 tin tea trays for footboards I had one fail for no front mudguard, I couldn't find an aluminium one but he was happy with the inner from a series 1/2, He said it was good for F all but was a mudguard, nothing in the book about how long. Happy days but riding home I got stopped by the boys in blue who booked me for no MOT as I hadn't prebooked it to go for the MOT so the return trip wasn't covered. He was also a bit iffy about the rear floorboard legs I had to sell it as a passenger foot rest

Not sure about the 'old days', but since I have been testing 15ish years, no muddy is required for MOT, unless it is a structural part of the forks.
On the road I think it is illegal to ride without (another x-over of law and MOT not being from the same book.)
Same a hot rod without fenders/mudguards, MOTable, not road legal.

On the subject of the support legs, I pass them as footrests, its just about possible to rest a foot on them

[Knowledge]

So I was down the workshop tonight and thinking about what I needed to get the bare forks equipped and into the frame.

Forks
Two rebound rubbers
Two top hats (top of springs)
Two springs
Two rods
Two fork links
Two nylon fork link bushes
Two fork link inner bushes
Fork link pivot bolts and nuts
Complete drum hub
Wheel and tyre
Bottom bearings
Top bearing nuts (both parts)
Top tab washer
Top bearing

Is that everything to get the front complete, before I put the headset on?

Needless to say, I had only about half of this stuff....

[MK Monty]

do your bushes have the spacers with them
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAMBRETTA-FOR ... FHnVPianww
Just an example pici

[Knowledge]

Good point Monty.

I also forgot to mention the two ball bearings for the bottom of the front suspension rods.

[byron]

on this subject, what's the definitive answer on speedo for mot...?
got a cutdown build with drops going on, it would be easier, and look better, if it had no speddo fitted at all.
I think this shouldn't be an issue for mot, but good to hear from somebody qualified to confirm.
never been an issue on my Lui, but that never had one from the factory.
bike is on a '77 plate
but is a speedo a legal requirement on road ?
it is likely the owner will strap his garmin on to the bike when he rides it anyway...
thanks

[Shaun]

on this subject, what's the definitive answer on speedo for mot...?
got a cutdown build with drops going on, it would be easier, and look better, if it had no speddo fitted at all.
I think this shouldn't be an issue for mot, but good to hear from somebody qualified to confirm.
never been an issue on my Lui, but that never had one from the factory.
bike is on a '77 plate
but is a speedo a legal requirement on road ?
it is likely the owner will strap his garmin on to the bike when he rides it anyway...
thanks

No speedo required at all for class1 and 2, bike and scooters.

[byron]

No speedo required at all for class1 and 2, bike and scooters.

thanks Shaun, was hoping that you'd answer that one.