What is the bare minimum required for an MOT test?

[imperialdata]

I see rusty old motorcycles with desirable number plates that are not MOT tested – basically a bag of bits. If you want the plate to be transferred to another vehicle, I understand that the bike has to have a current MOT certificate.

What is the minimum that a bike can be rebuilt to to get an MOT test certificate? Does it need an engine, electrical system etc or is a straight frame and front and rear brakes enough?

Edit: Just noticed Pete asked a similar question, sorry about that. Still interested to know for the engine/electrics 

[HippoDrones]

I remember taking an RD125LC for an MOT without a clutch cable many moons ago and it wasn’t even an advisory (the bike failed on a few other bits still tho lol)

[slim]

Evening gents 

The simple answer is to get an MOT the tester needs to run the bike & then its back to the basics of, steering/suspension……… lights……..brakes, thats what the 3 triangles in the MOT sign stand for by the way 

There isnt any real short cut & VOSA are pretty hot on dodgy testers who try it on !

[imperialdata]

Thanks Slim, was sure I read somewhere that you could pass the MOT without an engine. Another urban myth!

[slim]

just a litte more on the subject so that you know why a working engine is needed to pass an mot

First & most obvious is by the letter of the law i need to hear it run to assess if its too loud (see other post on exhausts)

Other less obvious reasons are …..
Any tester should turn the bars & rev the bike to see if the revs hang or rise on full lock (very common problem) also some bikes & particularly scooters need to be running to check the lights, i should also check for fuel leaks both before i run the bike & with it running, any leak means the immediate end of test

[Author]

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