What Motorcycle Parts are Checked at an MOT?

Owning a motorbike is a lot of responsibility. It is about taking care of your ride and ensuring it is legally fit to be on the road. MOT or Ministry of Transport test is an annual test for vehicle safety, roadworthiness aspects and exhaust emissions. To avoid hefty fines of up to £1,000, you need to have annual motorbike MOT evaluation done. In the UK when your motorbike is older than three years you need to get MOT done every 12 months.

An evaluation of the overall condition of the motorcycle helps determine what parts need service and which should be replaced. Also, the cost of Motorbike MOT done by a mechanic is much lower and lets you know whether your motorcycle is roadworthy or not.

If you are wondering what all motorcycle parts are checked at an MOT, here’s a list:

Suspension and Steering

Foremost importance is given to suspension and steering as both are an important part for road safety of the motorbikes. Also, it is important for the safety of others on the road. Your mechanic will go through the most crucial parts that include head bearings, damping effect, swinging arm, forks, handlebars, grips mounting and shock absorbers. All these parts must be secured to your motorcycle and working normally. Any malfunctioning part will need complete replacement.

Lights

For road safety it’s important that motorcyclists are visible to other riders on the road especially heavy vehicles like trucks. Lights play an important role in making bikers visible to other road users which is why they must be properly secured, working in good condition and of the correct colour. Your mechanic will test the bike for indicators, reflections and inclination of the headlamp.

The Frame and Fuel System

One of the most detrimental factors that can undermine your motorbike’s steering and braking ability is corrosion. During a motorbike MOT, the cracks, distortion and corrosion of the frame are checked. It is important you rule out any kind of damage to the frame of the motorbike. The fuel system also needs checking for leaks and blockage.

Brakes

Brake efficiency test is an important part of the MOT which is why your mechanic will check the motorcycle for proper controls and will evaluate if the braking system is in good condition to operate properly for the next 12 months.

Exhaust

If you have done modifications to the exhaust, you have to watch out that it's not too loud. During the MOT, it is looked into whether the exhaust is complete and secured and not too noisy.

Tyres

Conditions of the valves, tread depth, alignment and gauge, there’s a lot to check in tyres. All of these factors will be checked during the motorbike MOT to ensure that your bike has a good grip on the road surface in all weather conditions. The tyres must be current fit for the class of motorcycle.

Seats, Throttle and Horn

Seats need to be attached to the motorbike frame securely and it must be comfortable for the rider. These are some important requirements. The same goes for the throttle and horn too. There must be no surprises and both must work properly.

Sprocket and Drive Chain

These are the components that are most worn out during a ride. This is why your mechanic will check the condition and they will need replacement if they are worn out. The drive chain must be a proper fit not too loose or tight. The accompanying guard must also be secured.

Identification

The number plate, frame number and the vehicle identification, all need to be correct and present. It must be legible to other road users and traffic cameras.

Footrests

Most bikers are lenient about footrests, but MOT requires bikes to be fitted with footrests.

Clutch Lever

The clutch lever must be easy to use when you are on the road which is why it must be replaced if it has become too short or bent.

Sidecars

Not applicable to all motorists, still if your motorcycle has a sidecar, you will have to check for suspension, alignment, lights and wheel bearings.

Motorbike MOT is in place to make roads more secure. You can easily avoid getting fined and fix the problem by getting your ride evaluated by a mechanic every once in a while.