So first winter with my Daytona, it’s been in the garage all tucked away. Booked in for an MOT in a couple of weeks. Just wondering what are this list of things people do to check their bike is shop shape before an MOT/new riding season. I changed the oil and checked the valve clearances before putting it away for the winter. It’s been on a battery maintainer over the winter and I’ve run it every 4-6 weeks up to normal operating temperature, and a couple of little blips when there has been good weather . I’m intending to check the pads/rotors and change the brake fluid over the next few days. In terms of chain/sprocket wear, what does one look out for? Anything I’m missing? Any help / advice is greatly received!
Check the steering is nice and smooth each way. Apply brake and turn handle bars, clutch too. Checks the free movement. Horn and lights, number plate light. Check the wheels turn smoothly. Brakes Other than that you'll be fine, they're not gonna check your dipstick for oil. But if you've done a valve check I'm pretty sure you know what to look for that they cover in an Mot
Generally reasonably well mechanically minded, so that side of things I’m hoping I have covered. It’s more the slightly odd aspects, like with cars the MOT fail work no windscreen washer fluid, and the £25 to fill it up by the garage when I forget to fill it up . Is there anything along these lines with bikes?
Fwiw it sounds to me as though you look after your bike precisely as you should. The way to check for chain/sprocket wear is hold the chain at the rear of the back sprocket & try to pull it off/away. Wear will show as movement there where it should be held firm by precise unworn tolerances. Other things that can get missed are a rear reflector (if you have an aftermarket tail-tidy), sporty silencer that is stamped "not for road use", HID lamp conversions (possibly apparently tightening up on that ? ) Personally, rather than being intimidated by the annual procedure, I like to think of the MOT (car, van or bike) as an opportunity for a professional critic to check my vehicle over and report any issues I have overlooked. Not a bad deal for £ 30
Thanks StMarks, I will relax a little! The rear reflector is a good point, I had one but it’s removed itself at some point (or I might have when cleaning as the sticky bit around the edge attracts grime that I don’t like). Thanks again, I shall await my score sheet from the judges!
