Classic bikes and NCT

Boskowski

I bought a 33 years old bike a month ago and it only struck me now that there was no NCT papers or a badge or anything. I thought every motor vehicle has to have one?
Also what's the story with modifications?
I'm German originally and back home even a different air filter (since it's likely to influence power) must be either pre-approved by the TÜV or else presented to the same and approved for roadworthiness.
Any info appreciated.

EvilMonkey

Their is no test for bikes in Ireland

Boskowski

Wow. Nice one. Modification paradise.

Paparazzo

EvilMonkey wrote: »

Their is no test for bikes in Ireland

One of the advantages of the government barely noticing that bikes exist

professore

It's a different story when it comes to insurance though, you should notify your insurance company of any mods or it may invalidate your insurance.

carsQhere

It's worth noting that the EU Commission is looking to "harmonise" pertiodic technical inspections across the EU as a whole, and that includes an NCT for motorcycles despite there being no evidence that mechanical deficiencies are in any way a statistically measureable factor in motorcycle accidents.

MAG has a page about it here http://www.magireland.org/2010/campaigns/bike-nct/

FEMA has a page here with more details: http://www.fema-online.eu/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=142&cntnt01returnid=15

It could be worth over a billion a year to the private companies who carry out the tests so expect them to lobby strongly to have it brought in.

grumpybore

A few years agoe Norwich Union introduced a requirement for testing on bike over a certain age .One of my bike is an MZ with sidecar .A local shop specialised in honda 50's ,so I brought it there .When the guy realised the outfit wouldnt fit in the door ,he wrote out the cert there and then.

Modify at will ,respect the bikes originality though

Boskowski

grumpybore wrote: »

A few years agoe Norwich Union introduced a requirement for testing on bike over a certain age .One of my bike is an MZ with sidecar .A local shop specialised in honda 50's ,so I brought it there .When the guy realised the outfit wouldnt fit in the door ,he wrote out the cert there and then.

Modify at will ,respect the bikes originality though

An MZ with sidecar?!? Good old GDR technology

Run_to_da_hills

I would be fcuked if NCT was required on my classic.

No brakes, no lights and plenty of noise.

There would have to be allowances for type approval, ie brakes, lights and exhaust sounds that were compatible to a bike of a certain period.

Pkiernan

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I would be fcuked if NCT was required on my classic.

No brakes, no lights and plenty of noise.

There would have to be allowances for type approval, ie brakes, lights and exhaust sounds that were compatible to a bike of a certain period.

Me too!

No indicators, no horn (not necessary with my Supertrap exhaust), 3" by 1" rearview mirror etc. etc. etc...

Tomohawk

Me too! No NCT for me either.

Front brake upgraded from Hub to Disc, Indicators "decomissioned", Autolube system deactivated (I mix straight into the tank now) cutdown front mudguard, "Piped", reg plate moved and body work "modified extensively"...

It used to be a Vespa PX

grumpybore

Boskowski wrote: »

An MZ with sidecar?!? Good old GDR technology

yup ..have it over 20 years now .....even taxed it for a few.....attached photo shows me ,my son and our dog (peppy) out on the bike ,my mate is on my other MZ ....a 1973 model

Neither of these ,or indeed any of my other bikes would get within a mile of passing a NCT tpye test ,yet I maintain them to a high ,and safe ,standard

Jackasaurus rex

Nice cutdown Tomo, you should look into a set of drops, would look great with the angles of the cut on your panels

Tomohawk

Thanks I probably won't do another cutdown for a good while, actually that bike doesn't exist anymore. Last year I put that engine into a old T5 vespa, and sold on the frame and logbook to a mate. He plans to make a nice matt black "Rat" of it in 2011...

I do most of my own mechanical work and customising myself something I really enjoy. I was a KTM motorbike mechanic in another lifetime before the recession hit.

As regards a NCT for bikes, I'm in 2 minds about it, the amount of sh'ite in Ireland that I had to fix up that came in the door when I worked was unbelievable. 'Cause of the NCT German and UK bikes tend to be in better condition in the main when they are on the 2nd hand market. But then a NCT might put a lot of cool customised bikes off the road. I know that the German scooter regulations are extremely strict for "customising", something that the German lads envy the UK Scooter Scene with its less restricitve MOT...

Jackasaurus rex

Thats how i feel about it too, i like the idea that you shouldnt have to worry about a bike you buy being held together with tape and spit, but then again can you imagine what the insurance companies would be charging if you register your scoot as having a malossi top end and a few go faster parts. We would be proper fu**ed by them.

Plug

Lads I don't want to go off topic here but do motorbikes have OBD and cats? Its been bothering me lately:D

KamiKazi

WTF are OBD and cats?

Plug

On board diagnostics and catalytic converters.

Jackasaurus rex

Its like cars matey, the new ones or the old pricey ones do generally

honeybadger

the newer aprillias rs 125 have cats in them and they have to cut them out of them and reweld the exhaust to get any good out of them,,,all to do with emissions and saving the planet diagnostics are more todo with the fuel injected bikes

Del2005

Jackasaurus rex wrote: »

Thats how i feel about it too, i like the idea that you shouldnt have to worry about a bike you buy being held together with tape and spit, but then again can you imagine what the insurance companies would be charging if you register your scoot as having a malossi top end and a few go faster parts. We would be proper fu**ed by them.

By not telling them you have these parts fitted you are giving them an easy out whenever you make a claim or someone claims against you. If don't inform them of modifications then they don't have to pay out for any of your claims and they are also able to recoup any 3rd party claims paid out also.

A bike test like the UK would be OK once we don't get the local garage doing it.