MOT checks for steering & suspension on motorcycles are divided into five sections. Please click on a link below to skip to the section of interest.<\/p>\n
steering controls<\/a> :: steering system<\/a> :: front suspension and wheel bearings<\/a> :: rear suspension and wheel bearings<\/a> :: wheel alignment<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n With front wheel clear of the ground turn the steering from lock to lock. There should be:<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n There should be no tightness or roughness when your motorcycles handlebars are turned lock to lock. Also, there shouldn\u2019t be excessive free play or movement in the steering head bearings or steering linkage. You can check this by applying the front brake and gently pushing the handlebars forward then backward or ideally by applying pressure to the front wheel whilst it is raised in the air as someone else holds the brake on for you. This way you can visually tell if any movement you may feel is actually as a result of movement in the forks.<\/p>\n note: excessively stiff steering can be caused by a defective or badly adjusted steering damper in which case it is down to the motorcycle MOT test technician\u2019s discretion to test ride your bike to establish whether stability or control is adversely affected. They may also adjust the damper within tolerance if adjustment is possible. You will be informed of this when you receive your test results.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n note: light misting or some pitting on a fork stanchion are not reasons enough on their own for a motorbike to fail unless this has caused damage to the damper seals. The motorcycle MOT test technician may pull back any rubber gaitors etc to conduct the examination if it\u2019s possible without dismantling but they *must* correctly refit them afterwards.<\/p>\n The MOT requires that the damping be checked which can easily be done by applying the front brake and depressing the suspension as far as you are able several times. The forks should not be stiff and nor should they bounce up and down, just react to the pressure you are applying. Any fouling between fixed and moving parts which affects the movement of the suspension would fail the bike\u2019s MOT.<\/p>\n The VOSA handbook says that an MOT certificate should be refused if any \u2018deliberate modification\u2019 has significantly reduced the original strength of a load bearing member or it\u2019s supporting structure.<\/p>\nSteering Controls<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Steering System<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Front Suspension and Wheel Bearings<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Modifications<\/h2>\n