My response from BMW UK regarding a certificate of conformity for my K75S:

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
Thank you for your e-mail.
 
Unfortunately, due to the age of the vehicle, it is not possible to obtain an EC Certificate of Conformity as this document is available only from certain production dates. Also, no technical information (including emissions) is available in our systems.
 
As your request is in relation to the ULEZ introduced by TFL, more information is available from their website:
 
[size=15]https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/motorcycles-mopeds-and-more[/size]
 
Motorbikes for which the NOx data is not available may need to undergo an emission test.
 
It is with regret we cannot be of greater assistance.
 
[size=15]Kind regards,
The Homologation Team



[/size]

I remember reading somewhere that the part of the reason for the ULEZ was to ban ALL vehicles that didn't have a relevant emissions spec.

Yeah, I think that's true, coupled with cleaning up Londons' air, which I am in absolute agreement with. Latest reports show that many older bikes which are pre 2007, (the cut off year for being ULEZ compliant), are passing emissions tests significantly UNDER the Euro 3 requirements. My suspicions are that when BMW refer to info not being on their "systems", they are referring to the fact that they have the info, but it's probably in a filing cabinet in Bavaria somewhere, and they haven't got the resources to locate it. If the info was available, it would cover all bikes of that class without the need for a test, and yet each bike has to apply individually for a certificate of conformity! Bad planning and execution, and rather than focussing on black taxis and other obviously polluting vehicles, TFL has tried it on with bikes, and are being slowly found out! All bike manufacturers must be pulling their hair out as they are inundated with requests, such as mine. Why should I be forced off my K75 if its actually compliant, and I'm just not aware that it is...? 

BooG wrote:Latest reports show that many older bikes which are pre 2007, (the cut off year for being ULEZ compliant), are passing emissions tests significantly UNDER the Euro 3 requirements.

Got a story about that, dating back to about 1995-ish. There was a crowd of us on the way to the Dragon Rally and we were pulled up by the Plod just north of Bath. Nothing wrong - they just wanted to do an emissions test on the bikes (all of them of varying ages) to help set some baseline figures for new MOT regs. I was riding a 1978 V1000G5 Moto Guzzi at the time. So, yer man sticks the probe up the Guzzi's exhaust and two things happened:

1. When testing the left cylinder the emissions were significantly under the regs-to-be-proposed
2. When testing the right cylinder the Guzzi promptly spat out the probe and comprehensively fecked it.

No more testing done that day.

I was under the impression that there was a place in London that will test your bike (Fee unknown), and if it passes then you have the information required.

Mike

There is a garage near the Olympic park, the fee is £150.

mike d wrote:I was under the impression that there was a place in London that will test your bike (Fee unknown), and if it passes then you have the information required.

Mike

Correct. Its the only garage in London which has a license to test the emissions and its in Hackney Wick. £175 for the test. But again, each bike has to be done independently. Nice little earner!

I love the fact your bike ate their test probe, Dai!!! "Go on" the Guzzi!!!! 

Hi all,

I’ve just returned to the fold after a decade’s hiatus from K1100RS ownership. And with impeccably bad timing for someone all of 5 minutes from the inside of the south circular.

Anyway, here’s the latest below. Such a shame to cut into a new purchase, but I’ll have to swallow the lung saving credentials, and think of it as an overdue upgrade.

“ A K1100 will need a suitable Catalytic converter to comply, as Oxidising Cats were not fitted from new at the factory. (This did not happen until 2003)
As the condition of every bike is different, it is difficult to give an accurate price on fitting as the bike isnt here for us to see, however most K1100/1200s have taken about 1.5 hours of labour to fit (£90), the Cat needed in the past has been £195, and the test is £175, (plus a £10 sundries charge for the welding) making a total of £470. (incl VAT) this would be the route I suggest you took, as it saves on the retest fee, and would gurantee a pass first time.”

My K100RS is 1983.

So, am I right in thinking at age 40 its exempt? Hope so!!! 

An early H2 could be nice and legal.

I was curious about this 'cos I sometimes visit my son in North London and my R100RS is now eligible for historic vehicle status. But it doesn't appear to be automatic; I put another, changed to historic some years ago, bike reg. into the TFL site and it still says there's a charge. Maybe that will change in October. For now, it looks like one has to register with TFL. And definitely if it's not registered at Swansea. Here's what they say:

Code:

All vehicles that have a historic vehicle tax class will be exempt from the ULEZ.

If your vehicle meets the above criteria but is registered outside the UK, you are also exempt, but will need to register with us before travelling in the zone.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/discounts-and-exemptions

I'm assuming my K75s (1989) won't be compliant but I won't be able to find out for sure without a costly emissions test. Be aware also that  London Mayor Kahn intends to extend the current perimeter of the ULEZ zone to the M25 in the next couple of years.

stanthomas wrote:I was curious about this 'cos I sometimes visit my son in North London and my R100RS is now eligible for historic vehicle status. But it doesn't appear to be automatic; I put another, changed to historic some years ago, bike reg. into the TFL site and it still says there's a charge. Maybe that will change in October. For now, it looks like one has to register with TFL. And definitely if it's not registered at Swansea. Here's what they say:

Code:

All vehicles that have a historic vehicle tax class will be exempt from the ULEZ.

If your vehicle meets the above criteria but is registered outside the UK, you are also exempt, but will need to register with us before travelling in the zone.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/discounts-and-exemptions

End of next year my K100RS is eligible. . . . . . Yippee!

Yeah. Low Flying Brick has just had its last-but-one MOT. According to the guy at the MOT station, historic status (no MOT or VED) is based on the month of build, not the month of first registration. Good job too because LFB sat around gathering dust for almost a year.