Heads up, keep some cash handy in october

[Noggin]

It's 1988, so should fall into Vehicule de Collection status. Not sure if that's a plus or minus point. The entire front end (forks, wheel, brakes, bars, master cylinders) are non-standard, so it would take a fairly one-eyed inspector not to notice that...

I haven't done it yet. But I'm pretty sure it's a bonus that it is in the Vehiclue de Collection!

This group is the one that is brilliant for re-registering vehicles.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1194914370612560/

Mark Rimmer is the guy that is one of the best to help. But there are a handful on there that have the skills and will do the paperwork for a small fee.

[Skub]

I think the changing items on bikes away from stock is a bit of a lesser thing than it used to be in UK terms ?

Really?

If that's the case I must buck the trend! I've never owned a bike I've kept completely standard. There isn't a stock bike for sale that I wouldn't want to change something. Exhausts and cans are one prime example. I'd want those carbunkles changed even before it saw the road.

A new bike for me is only the start,then I need to change stuff to get it the way I want. It's a major part of the fun for me.

[mangocrazy]

I think the changing items on bikes away from stock is a bit of a lesser thing than it used to be in UK terms ?

Really?

If that's the case I must buck the trend! I've never owned a bike I've kept completely standard. There isn't a stock bike for sale that I wouldn't want to change something. Exhausts and cans are one prime example. I'd want those carbunkles changed even before it saw the road.

A new bike for me is only the start,then I need to change stuff to get it the way I want. It's a major part of the fun for me.

Absolutely. I started modifying the very first bike I owned, and I've not stopped since. The right to change stuff is absolute as far as I'm concerned.

[DefTrap]

I thought macron had canned the bike CT?

[mangocrazy]

Seems like an EU-wide ruling that France has to comply with.

[Noggin]

I thought macron had canned the bike CT?

Seems like an EU-wide ruling that France has to comply with.

I read both of those, but I suspect that, if there is any way at all, it won't restrict mods. And I suspect the first (if it is happening) will just confirm that the bikes are safe, allowing the mods.

I have no idea if that's possible, but I think there will be HUGE transport issues if the bikes have to go back to standard. Not sure Macron would be willing to deal with that after the last couple of years. I get the impression he only kept his position due to Le Penn being too far right, not because the French like him!!

[Mr. Dazzle]

The UK has always been a bit special with regards to modified vehicles, or even brand new vehciles which don't comply with all the build regs. That's why we have so many companies like Caterham making vehicles which wouldn't pass the standard new car tests - so long as you only make a few you're allowed to do it.

That was the case long before Brexit?

[Whysub]

Here in Spain mods to bikes and cars have to be approved, or not done at all. End cans seem to get swapped for the ITV test, hence you will see (but barely hear) some Harleys.

All my bikes are standard, and its not so much of an issue in reality , having owned some highly modified cars and bikes when I was in the UK. Couldn't bring them over to Spain because putting them back to an acceptable, legal, standardl was a complete non starter.

[mangocrazy]

I think that folk are conflating 'forcing France to have a Controle Technique (MoT) for bikes' with 'the EU banning bike modifications'. France is out of step with virtually all of the EU in not having a CT for bikes. That is what is being enforced. Knowing how France operates I'd say that it will only be a safety check, not a Type Approval check. I don't believe that the EU is enforcing a 'no modifications' regime, just trying to ensure that all powered vehicles have a mandatory safety check.

[Lutin]

Ireland (Republic of) also doesn't have any kind of MOT for motorcycles. And as far as I know, there's no hint of one any time soon.

[demographic]

Doesnt this show that countries within the EU (in this case France) still have control over their own laws to some extent and any law they have to follow has to be ratified in that particular country?

[DefTrap]

I tell you what, I'll take my terrible NTV bitsa/ratter/chineseEbaySpecial for its CT first - if it passes the rest of you can stop worrying

[demographic]

I tell you what, I'll take my terrible NTV bitsa/ratter/chineseEbaySpecial for its CT first - if it passes the rest of you can stop worrying

Can we blame the EU if it fails? Whilst thanking our lucky stars that our fine government are protecting us from ficticious onerous regulation about the bends of bananas?

I feel that we need that in our lives. Plus I want to buy meat on pounds, that seems a good way for my elderly brain to relive the good times when I was a young un.

[DefTrap]

I don't really care if it fails, I don't really ride that much any more and I have other vehicles so it's not as if I won't be able to get to work. It'll be a good excuse to get something else to play with.

If the bike CT is as slack as the French car CT it'll be easy to pass anyway....

[Noggin]

I think that folk are conflating 'forcing France to have a Controle Technique (MoT) for bikes' with 'the EU banning bike modifications'. France is out of step with virtually all of the EU in not having a CT for bikes. That is what is being enforced. Knowing how France operates I'd say that it will only be a safety check, not a Type Approval check. I don't believe that the EU is enforcing a 'no modifications' regime, just trying to ensure that all powered vehicles have a mandatory safety check.

TBF, I have been amazed that there isn't one here. Especially when I rode a mates TDM a few years ago. He used to spanner his bikes and sort any issues, so I was fairly confident it'd be ok. Head bearing had gone! He hadn't noticed When he came back from holiday, I mentioned the handling and maybe worth checking the HB and he said, nah, it's fine. He did check it and told me it needed changing

I'd guess that a basically safety check would be a bloody good idea for a lot of bikes I see here!!!

[The Spin Doctor]

TBF, I have been amazed that there isn't one here. Especially when I rode a mates TDM a few years ago. He used to spanner his bikes and sort any issues, so I was fairly confident it'd be ok. Head bearing had gone! He hadn't noticed When he came back from holiday, I mentioned the handling and maybe worth checking the HB and he said, nah, it's fine. He did check it and told me it needed changing

I'd guess that a basically safety check would be a bloody good idea for a lot of bikes I see here!!!

Who needs steering anyway?

A mate of mine rode my despatch XBR and said "don't know how you can ride it like that", and told me the head bearings were shot.

We were in France at the time, having a cracking ride back from the Bol d'Or through the Massif Centrale and I genuinely hadn't thought the bike had any issues at all. Some problems like this creep up so gradually that you adapt and don't even notice until it's pointed out or you make a specific check.

Mind you, not all problems develop slowly enough to be caught by an MOT. the time the front wheel bearing collapsed on the 400-F, there was no warning at all. The bike had just been MOT'd and the cage fell apart mid-junction, and jammed the front disc on. I was very lucky I was at walking pace and just stuck a foot out and saved it.

On another occasion, the top eye of one of the rear shocks somehow unscrewed itself from the damper rod. That came apart on a fast bend on the Great North Way just before I joined the M1 at J2. Interesting handling whilst I got the bike stopped. I seem to recall that I did a temporary fix with ring spanner and loads of gaffer tape to finish the day's work! I got hold of a pair of CBX6 shocks (a bit long, but adjustable damping) - they were a revelation after the OE Honda shocks, Girlings and Hagons!

[Noggin]

TBF, I did say to him that because it was only him that rode it, he probably hadn't noticed. Once I'd mentioned it he went out and could feel it, but wouldn't have noticed for a while longer if he hadn't lent it to me!

I'm just as bad. I kinda ride with the issue and manage - without thinking. But I do prefer someone to check the bike for me at least once a year so I'm fairly sure that the major things are ok

I've never done courier milage, so in general mine have been fairly ok, but the TLs, did have a loose suspension bolt that I could barely see to check!!

[DefTrap]

The flip (sort of) side of this is I'm seeing loads of silly buggers (cars and bikes) giving up on exporting vehicles post brexit as it's too expensive (plus the reregging is still fraught with difficulties). Hence loads of going cheap UK reg vehicles on the continent from expats who will surely take a bid to get rid.

[Demannu]

Well, been to look at 3 bikes in the last week, all 'bon etat'.
2 FJ12s and a fazer 1000. All had massive play in the rear suspension and the fj's both had gaitors on, so a quick squizz revealed well oil and pitted forks. The fazer had no exup fitted and sequential angular steering.......oh and a cracked centre stand as well!

[Dickyboy]

The flip (sort of) side of this is I'm seeing loads of silly buggers (cars and bikes) giving up on exporting vehicles post brexit as it's too expensive (plus the reregging is still fraught with difficulties). Hence loads of going cheap UK reg vehicles on the continent from expats who will surely take a bid to get rid.

I wonder how a bexit voting expat would be getting on with registering his Harris framed gsxr & heavily modded fj12 in the south of France