Hi all,

Bikes due for a MOT soon! Has anyone got any idea about the law regarding indicators? (my crm hasn’t got any fitted!)
I’ve heard that if there are no indicators fitted, it is not a problem when it comes to the mot??? It only becomes an ‘issue’ if they are fitted, that they must be in good working order! Is this true???

Any advice on this, gratefully received.

Thanks

Steve.

no pillion pegs means you need no indicators as far as i understand it!

If direction indicators are fitted they must meet the requirements of this inspection, but need not be fitted to a machine which:
. cannot exceed 30mph / 50kph, or
. was first used before 1 August 1986, or
. 'off road' machines which are designed
to carry only the rider.
. 'off road' machines with side car designed to carry the rider and one passenger in the side car.

off road machines are constructed or adapted primarily for use off roads (whether by reason of its tyres, suspension, ground clearance or otherwise).

if they are on the bike and not working then u can be failed but if the y are not on there in the first place then they are not a problem. I donr it to mine

As I understand if indicators fitted, must work, if not fitted no fail, this has worked for me twice.
Phil the point about the rear footrest's is if these are fitted you must have a chain guard fitted, if not fitted then you do not need the chain guard.

Regards

Russell.

theres that as well.

but if you modify a bike for offroad use by removing the pillion pegs and fitting nobblies then the mot rule above says youdon't need indicators either

Phil,

The general rule of thumb is that if there is a bulb on the bike, it must work but bf you are going to have indicators then you must have all or none.

agreed.

interestingly enough you could take a road bike made after 1986, adapt it to off road use by changing the tyres remove the indicators and it would pass (according to the text I pasted from http://www.motuk.co.uk)

Rule of thumb, if its fitted, it's got to work. Technically you've got to remove the switchgear & wiring before the indicators are classed as 'removed' Most MOT testers will over look this as it isn't really a safety issue & not a major part of roadworthyness (is there such a word?) unlike bald tyres, useless brakes etc. If you do get picked up on it, find another MOT station.

Ugly

a strange thing happened to a mate of mine with a road regitered YZ400, he got nicked for no indicators, he went to mot station to get checked out and it says he didnt need them, he then took this info the the cop shop and they compared it to the police road traffic laws, which say it must have indicators(built after 1986 or whatever, regardless of usage), they both contradict each other. the bottom line is you can get an mot with no indicators but you can still get nicked for not having them, bloody wierd eh!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers Guys,
Didn’t expect this subject to create such a good respond! So thanks to all for the replies & advise.

Judging by Karl’s posting, it seems that indicators are a bit of a‘grey’ area as far as the law is concern? Will choose my mot station carefully!!!!
Let you know how it goes early next month.

Steve.

Hello chaps

I see every one has had a say on this topic and if I may be so bold here is mine.

I am also taking my bike in for a MOT in the next week or so and to get it ready I asked Leisure Trail about the indicators, if they need to be on or not, their reply was that if there is a switch fitted then they must be on and working. So by my understanding if you remove the switch as well as the indicators it should pass, best of luck any way let us know how you get on.

Regards

Ian T-B

Karl,

The difference is between what is 'road-legal' and what is legal in the eyes of the law. But your right, its weird!

just hope i dont get pulled for it cos im never fitting blinkers, they'll only get smashed 'cos i allways end up on me ear!!!!!!!!

Sorry, should have done this posting a couple of weeks ago!

Well the bike did pass the MOT (2nd time!!) failed 1st time!, Not because of the indicators (or lack of them!) but because it didn't have a horn fitted!!!!!!(plonker!) Suppose the conclusion is, that if there are no indicators fitted its not an mot issue!?(althou I’ve still got the switch fitted?) so if you wanna pass an MOT, make sure you've got the 'HORN'!!!!

Thanks again for all the help & advice

Steve.