TRF Forums

Hi,

I am new to the TRF and intend to start laning on my Yam WR250F enduro bike. I have tax, insurance, AC 10s and a 'daylight only' MOT. The only thing I think I am lacking to make me legal is a speedo.

Can anyone please tell me what defines a Road Legal speedo? (as opposed to just lashing on the spare one from my MTB)

Cheers. Colin B

Must be accurate within (I think) 10%

Must read in both mph and km/hr (switchable is OK)
Must illuminate when headlamp is on.

But it's not part of the MoT.

So, your MTB one will do fine.

Thanks, that ties in with what I initially thought but a couple of things raised a few doubts.

The first is Construction and Use Regs, which quote a whole load of EU directives:

Every motorcycle first used on or after 1 April 1984 and capable of more than 25 mph must have
a speedometer which reads in both miles per hour and kilometres per hour either simultaneously
or separately by the use of a switch. A speedometer which is approved to Community Directives
75/443/EEC as amended by 97/39/EC, 2000/7/EC or to UNECE Regulation No.39 is acceptable.

The other is retailers/manufacturers who label their products specifically as Road Legal or "quote" EU homolagated and ECM approved and E marked "unquote"

Is this just an MOT consideration (n/a) or something Plod is likely to pick up on if doing a 'nit-picking' bike check?

Any expert opinions out there please?

If your Yam is the enduro (not trail) version then the V5 will probably say "Enduro/competition exempt) opposite the bit where it gives the TA number.

The rg you quote only suggests a type of speedo that will conform...it doesn't say that it has to be of this type.

Therefore I wouldn't worry about having the speedo E marked

Suppose it's down to how much cash you have to splash. MTB speedO will be fine, but you could always fit a trail tech speedo, seen them for about £100. Do speed, trip meter, time and a few other bits. Look good too.

EDIT: It's one less thing for plod to pick at too. And would imagine it will be more accurate than a MTB speedo too.

Paddy

I fitted a Trail Tech Vector last weekend and used it for the first time yesterday - a brilliant piece of kit and about £70 direct from Trail Tech.
I didn't bother with the water temp installation as it hasn't really been a concern on the trails (apart from once ).

......my Honda XR400 has a "kilometer only" speedo and seems to pass its MOT and frequent police "spot-checks" without a problem

Not part of the MoT, nor the sort of thing the police care about unless you used it as an excuse for speeding.the police would regard that as 2 for the price of one and do you for both.

Never use a defect in your vehicle as an excuse for an offence.

A woman I knew was driving a company pool car when she ran into and killed someone.

She indignantly explained to the police that it wasn't her fault she hadn't seen the pedestrian, the car had a dirty windscreen and the washer wasn't working.

Oh dear.

In those few words she threw her defence away.

She went to prison.

Thanks for the input everyone.

I have bought a cheap 'n' cheerful (non E-marked) electronic speedo/trip computer off ebay and will fit that.

It should do the job, look the part, and not be so great a loss as a Trail Tech job if (OK, that should read when) I next decide to park the bike upside down.