TRF Forums

Confused by what bikes you allowed to use while green laneing.
Says road legal but a lot of the enduro bike have no indicators or lights etc.

What can we use?

The bike needs to be road legal;

Licenced rider
Insured
MOT'd (if appropriate)
Taxed
V5 registered bike with number plate displayed (technically with a full size plate but these get easily damaged so most put on smaller, illegal number plates - hopefully PC Plod will apply some common sense.)

Head, tail and brake lights are required for MOT, as well as a horn, indicators are optional as you can give hand signals.

Hope this clarifies, if not PM me.

Cheers Steve

Do most manufacturers do a road legal kit for their off road bikes?

MOT tester made me put indicators on my bike. I found out later there is an exemption for 'off road' type bikes. That sort of depends what you ride. Mine is a Gas Gas EC300 and should be able to take advantage of the exemption. No harm in having them though, I suppose.

Don't need any lights if they aren't fitted but only during the daytime. If fitted, they have to work.

There are other things which are also unlawful but would probably not be spotted. e.g. Sidestand that retracts automatically and lack of fail safe switch on stand. Pretty obscure offences though and you would be unlucky to come across someone wanting to nick you for them!

Neil

If you have a licence to ride the machine

if your bike has a current M.O.T

if you have insurance and a valid tax disc

then your road legal

No they don't, but there are plenty of after market manufacturers that do. What bike do you have and what kit do you think it needs?

Neil,
When you say made you put indicators on your bike do you mean he would of failed it otherwise?

Oh and in relation to road legal lighting kits. I use Pro Racing.

Sorry mate:

A current MoT cert won't provide a defence if you are prosecuted for a C&U offence. The only dwefence an MoT provides is for riding a bike without an MoT.

Assuming your brakes work and the bike is in good mechanical condition regarding wheels and chassis, the things the police will check you for are most likely to be:

Lights and reflector (if fitted they must work). If there is no headlamp, or the lamp is painted over or masked, you do not need lights providing you only ride in daylight and good visibility. If you've no lights, you don't need a reflector.

Horn (all bikes must have an electric horn).

Speedo: must be fitted and work (should read in miles and km/h)

Indicators are only needed if your bike is post a certain date (I can't remember) and has pillion rests. No passenger provision, no indicators needed.

Mirror: no passenger footrest, no mirror needed.

Changuard: again I think providing the front sprocket is covered you don't need one unless you've got pillion rests.

Number plate: must be of approved size and font (the only time I've been pulled by the police in the last 20 years this was the only thing they checked).

Tyres must be suitable for purpose (no MX knobblies, but anything speed rated or marked M&S will be OK).

Exhaust must not be excessively noisy or smokey.

Bear in mind most traffic policemen are also motorcyclists: while they may be prepared to cut you some slack, you will find it difficult to pull the wool over their eyes.

The one exception to this is the chain. Many police do not realise how slack the chain has to be on a dirt bike. If they question the chain tension you may have to point out the huge variation in chain tesnion depending on where the suspension is on its stroke.