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Motorcycle MOT Checklist

Below is a quick MOT checklist. For more in-depth information about each section of the motorcycle MOT just click on the titles or the relevant area on the bike image above.

Lights and Signals : Quick MOT Checks

Make sure all your lights, brake lights and indicators work. You must also display a red reflector to the rear of your bike and have a functioning horn.

Steering and Suspension : Quick MOT Checks

Nothing should prevent the smooth rotation of the moving parts of your bike. This includes badly routed cables and worn head stock or wheel bearings. Forks or rear shocks mustn’t leak and should be firmly attached and filled with the correct amount of oil.

Brakes : Quick MOT Checks

Easy one this. Your bike’s brakes need to work and there should be a decent amount of brake material standing proud of the backing plate. Grooved or worn disks or drums will also fail.

Tyres : Quick MOT Checks

Mopeds must have clearly visible tread on both tyres whilst motorcycles must have at least 1mm. Bulges or cracks in the side wall are not good at all, nor are cuts over 25mm and and everything must be seated correctly.

Side Cars : Quick MOT Checks

If your motorbike has sidecar it must be securely fitted, the tyres and suspension must be up to the standard of the rest of the bike and all three wheels of the combination should point in the same direction.

Body and Structure : Quick MOT Checks

Fairly obviously loose parts or missing engine bolts will do you no favours. Rider footrests must be fitted and secure and if there is a pillion seat there must be a second set as well. Enough corrosion to affect the structure of the motorcycle will fail the MOT too, so check headstocks, swing arms and suspension mounting points etc.

Fuel and Exhaust : Quick MOT Checks

Put simply exhausts which leak or are too loud, or both, will not pass. Nor will anything stamped with ‘not for road use’ or anything which leaks fuel.

note: The annual motorcycle MOT test is simply a thorough check of all the components which are essential to keep your bike roadworthy. If your motorcycle fails this MOT checklist it is almost always because it would be unsafe for you or other road users if the bike were ridden on public roads – with the obvious exception of illegal number plates, which aren’t a danger to anything except your licence and your MOT pass.

116 questions on "Motorcycle MOT Checklist"

  1. dave says:

    DOES A BIKE NEED A TEMP GAGE TO PASS A MOT

    1. admin says:

      No it doesn’t 🙂

  2. dave says:

    do i need a temp gage to pass a mot as mine doesnt have one thanks

    1. admin says:

      Nope. It will be fine 🙂

  3. Paul says:

    His do I need a kick start to pass An mot on a moped thanks

    1. admin says:

      Nope 🙂

  4. brad says:

    i have replaced my engine mount on my bike is it a fail

    1. admin says:

      We would have to see what you have done to answer this but assuming any welding is strong and it is properly secured it should be OK.

  5. Ian says:

    Does my bike have to have a steering lock

    1. fasttrack says:

      Hi Ian,
      No your bike doesn’t have to have a steering lock to pass an MOT.
      Cheers
      FTMC

  6. Tony says:

    Hi,
    I have a 1977 Vespa T.S 125 I recently bought it in Italy, brought it back to the UK and now have the NOVA document from importing it. I now need an MOT to register it. It doesn’t have a battery (it shouldn’t have one), will that be ok or is this a problem for testing the lights. Also it won’t be registered is that ok for the MOT? Is there anything else I might need to know for the MOT?
    Many thanks
    Tony

    1. fasttrack says:

      Hi Tony,
      The bike not being registered in the uk is fine, we can MOT it on the chassis number. The bike not having a battery shouldn’t be a problem as long as all lights are functioning whilst the bike is running. There is not a lot else we can tell you regarding the MOT until we have inspected it. To book in please call 0116 262 3099
      Thanks

  7. peter gregory says:

    Hi. do i need to change my v5 if fitting a sidecar to my motorcycle.regards pete.

    1. fasttrack says:

      Hi Pete,
      We’ve never been asked this before but we’ve looked into it for you and it seems that you are fine to keep the logbook as it is.
      Thanks,
      FTMC

  8. Tim says:

    Hi,
    I have an imported and unregistered 1973 Honda CB750. At the moment it has no wiring/lights/speedo etc. What is the minimum it would need to get an MOT? I’m not worried about it receiving advisories as I just want an MOT to allow registration with the DVLA.
    Thanks
    Tim

    1. fasttrack says:

      Hi Tim,
      You could pass a daylight MOT if you have a continuous tone horn, but you would not be able to use the bike at night.
      Thanks

  9. Kyle says:

    Hi there i have a yamaha aerox and was wondering would it need the belly panel fitted to pass m.o.t?

    1. fasttrack says:

      Hi Kyle,
      No you wouldn’t need the belly panel fitted to pass.
      Thanks

  10. Damon. says:

    Hi I have recently restored a 1963 Raleigh RM5 moped that does not have indicators and the lights are very dim as they work on a 6 volt dynamo, would it still pass an MOT or would I need to modify it to a 12 volt system as I am seriously thinking about adding indicators from a safety point of view what are your views regarding this given the amount of traffic on today’s roads.

    1. fasttrack says:

      Hi,
      Yes that would pass an MOT as it stands, you don’t need to give it indicators.
      Thanks,
      MOT

  11. Jacob shone says:

    My swing arm has a smale hole.in it is it ok to weld it or put a new bit of box sEcton in yo pass the mot

    1. fasttrack says:

      Hi,
      Yes that is completely fine as long as it doesn’t affect he structural integrity. Hope this helps.
      FTMC

  12. Kurtis says:

    Hi i have a honda cbr 125 the fairing on the left and right belly are taped along the top to the left and right front fairings in front of the tank this was the previous owner as i have just got the bike and not put it through an mot yet and underneath the pillion seat the 2 bolts are not present due to the holes on the fairing being cracked do you think it will pass or just wait for my new ones witch will be here in 2 to 3 weeks

    Reply

    1. admin says:

      It’s difficult to say for certain without seeing the bike. But as long as the fairing is secured, by whatever means, and not liable to falling off and getting caught in any moving parts it should pass.

  13. Peter says:

    Hi. The clutch on my 125 slips slightly. Would those be an automatic fail or would it just be an advisory?

    1. admin says:

      Neither. It doesn’t form part of the MOT test 🙂

  14. Peter Tuke says:

    Hi I’m taking my Ducati 848 for its MOT,it is totally standard except there are no pillion foot rests, never has had, and has had 3 previous MOT’s with out a problem. I have been told it will not pass.

    1. admin says:

      No problem at all, as long is it has a solo seat. If it has a pillion seat, or you added one, it will need rear foot pegs as well.

  15. sean says:

    hi, my gn125’s front mudguard is fairly rusty, would it pass an mot like this?

    1. fasttrack says:

      Yes as long as it doesn’t have any sharp edges.

  16. kingfisher says:

    is the Mudguard still not part of the MOT, as I just read another MOT’s center what as a check list for the bike and the guard was included in there list, is this something what is just there for there own checks or is it now part of the checks?

    1. fasttrack says:

      The mudguard does not form part of the MOT test

  17. James says:

    Hi I have a 07 ktm 450 exc that’s due for mot, do the clocks/dials need to illuminate as mine have stopped lighting up. Also is it a legal requirement to illuminate the licence plate as I have a stop/light but it’s my off-road one so doesn’t have a dedicated plate light. Thanks

    1. fasttrack says:

      It is indeed a legal requirement to illuminate your licence plate, also your clocks/dials do not need to be illuminated so long as they are still clearly visible at night.

  18. Paul says:

    Hi was wondering if you could help I have a motorbike and the mountings have snapped so I have had a bracket made and welded onto the motorbike to hold the exhaust would this still pass the mot

    1. fasttrack says:

      So long as it is secure and no sharp objects are showing this should pass 🙂

  19. martin says:

    Hi i have a gs moon buggy and wanted to no what gets checked for daytime m.o.t and what dont as got booked in for m.o.t on 29th thanks

    1. fasttrack says:

      Unfortunately i am unable to answer this question as Quad bikes do not fall into Class I or Class II (quad’s are Class III) and so we dont MOT them but on a motorcycle we cover everything from a normal MOT, there can be no lights but you need a functioning horn.

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