TRF Forums

Firstly big hello, newbie here, bought a bike and only ridden it for an MOT and not on a trail, yet still had a grin bigger than a Cheshire cat...

So long story short, really want to get into greenlaning now the wife has banned me from sports bikes, so bought an 'OK' cheapish 2003 gasgas 250ec. Just finished sorting it and took it for an MOT deciding that daylight one was fine for now.

So here's where I am confused, according to a daylight cert ALL positioning lights must be removed, taped up or permanently disconnected.

Good news is the bike sailed through the MOT, so tax next week and find someone to go for a ride with

But this has left the bike with NO brake light which is fine for an MOT, but, is it legal to operate a bike on the road with no brake light (forgetting its probably stupid)??

Whats your take on this, I am legal as I have an mot but what if I get stopped is the bike actually legal???

Cheers Jez.

There is a difference between legal and what will pass teh MOT, but thats a bit of nit picking, as I found out for about 30 mins last week with a local member of teh constabulary.

Yes the lights need to be taped up and no visable light and the light switch taped up too. This is due on mine to only having a single front filiament.

I do not have a brake light either, but then I have no brake light switch either....if you have a switch for whatever bike part, then that part must work.

I actually then take teh tape off my lights for daytime use, but that would be the illegal part, but I am sure if all your bike was in good shape you would be okay.

There was a disussion at the road side about not having a brake light and he was happy I did not have a front or rear switch, but was unsure if I could ride without a brake light. He left saying he would find out, but no effect on me.

This is one of my pet irritations, and regularly comes up on numerous forums, where a load of urban myths and other b/s is repeated. This usually results from asking a mate in thepub, a MOT tester or Copper who gueses rather than admitting they don't know the answer.
This is compounded as if you half read the lighting regs without checking the exemptions you will wrongly believe that you need a brake light, just as an ignorant traffic cop dis with me!
The bottom line is if you have no front and back lights fitted YOU DO NOT NEED ANY LIGHTS OR REFLECTORS AT ALL. If the law doesn't require it for the test then you don't need it for the road.
You could fit a brake light if you wanted, but would have to make sure that it didn't count as a rear position lamp, perhaps use a single filament bulb?
I have ridden many trials bikes with no brake lights, and do not feel too vulnerable on minor roads.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24439520@N03/4337899339/

The exemptions are below.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

Exemptions—General
4.—(1) N/A

(2) N/a
(3) Nothing in these Regulations shall require any lamp or reflector to be fitted between sunrise and sunset to–

(a)a vehicle not fitted with any front or rear position lamp,.
(b)an incomplete vehicle proceeding to a works for completion,.
(c)a pedal cycle,.
(d)a pedestrian-controlled vehicle,.
(e)a horse-drawn vehicle,.
(f)a vehicle drawn or propelled by hand, or.
(g)a combat vehicle..
(4) Without prejudice to regulation 16, for the purposes of these Regulations a lamp shall not be treated as being a lamp if it is–

(a)so painted over or masked that it is not capable of being immediately used or readily put to use; or.
(b)an electric lamp which is not provided with any system of wiring by means of which that lamp is, or can readily be, connected with a source of electricity.

Hi, I hope I have not taken this out of context, well I have.

I did mention legal or MOT, and my understanding is that a speedo is not required for an mot but is a legal requrement

I was refering to lights, but you are correct the speedo isn't tested, but is required for use on the road. I think the speedo is the only exception though.

At the risk of hijacking this thread (sorry):



My XF got an mot advisory for having no chainguard. The tester said it wasn't a fail but if a copper noticed I'd get a ticket.

And I believe it's similar rules for front mudguards.

Bikes built for enduro use don't need chain guards, but dedicated trail bikes do. If the XF is the Freewind, then I think that was that was correct

Chain guard is when taking a pillion, in which case you need rear pegs and a strap on the seat

Thanks for the replies, sounds like its just going to be down to the person who stops me. probably worth taking a print out of the mot regs.

How do you know if your MOT is a daylight MOT?