Hey guys, as some are aware I'm doing my own "cafe" type build and as such need a few answers before i do something that'll fail an mot. 

I'm making my own rear seat and want clarification if it has to cover a certain proportion of the rear tyre or not. For example does it have to cover the highest centre point, or are there no rules. And similarly does a rule/law exist on rear mudguards/Huggers?

Finally what's the law on the position of the number plate? I know it's got to be a set size and be vertical (ish), but can it be tucked under the seat, quite far forward... Or does it have to be the rearmost point?

Thanks guys. Need some answers before I make the seat!

Cheers

It's all in here...

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/contents/made

...but you might have to search a bit for the motorcycle bits.

Well I am due to have mine mot'd next week after altering the rear frame and rear lights plus the angle of the No plate and removing front mudguard and shortening the exhaust and full removal of one internal baffle section albeit replacing it with stainless steel wool etc.

So I popped down to my regular man and clarified a few issues. He is for want of better word well up on everything but using a non fully computerised MOT system as this does effect how he can progress through the test and how he inputs answers.

The lights are fine as long as the relevant bulb lighting can be seen - ie enclosed rear lights with indicators. I am also using an LED brake light separated from the rear  ride lights similar to one of those seen on the centre of rear vehicle windows.

The rear number plate can be angled to the point where the letters can still be clearly seen from standing to the rear as per the normal site test after that you are in the hands of the blind plod driving behind you or at a roadside check etc.

My rear lights are tucked under the rear seat base and can be seen to the rear and at an angle to the left and right but not the side and this should be okay.

No issue on a rear guard although as he said it will save an awful lot cleaning to have one.

Front guard not required but he wished me luck keeping my visor clean in the rain.


Exhaust is not an issue as long as I have not altered any specification stamps but as I have wrapped it in heat wrap it wont even be a discussed.

His main issues where that as long as the bike retains it's road worthiness and could be ridden on the road correctly it should be okay to test .... I'll let you know how I got on next weekend   ... hopefully?

Englishstiv wrote:Well I am due to have mine mot'd next week after altering the rear frame and rear lights plus the angle of the No plate and removing front mudguard and shortening the exhaust and full removal of one internal baffle section albeit replacing it with stainless steel wool etc.

So I popped down to my regular man and clarified a few issues. He is for want of better word well up on everything but using a non fully computerised MOT system as this does effect how he can progress through the test and how he inputs answers.

The lights are fine as long as the relevant bulb lighting can be seen - ie enclosed rear lights with indicators. I am also using an LED brake light separated from the rear  ride lights similar to one of those seen on the centre of rear vehicle windows.

The rear number plate can be angled to the point where the letters can still be clearly seen from standing to the rear as per the normal site test after that you are in the hands of the blind plod driving behind you or at a roadside check etc.

My rear lights are tucked under the rear seat base and can be seen to the rear and at an angle to the left and right but not the side and this should be okay.

No issue on a rear guard although as he said it will save an awful lot cleaning to have one.

Front guard not required but he wished me luck keeping my visor clean in the rain.


Exhaust is not an issue as long as I have not altered any specification stamps but as I have wrapped it in heat wrap it wont even be a discussed.

His main issues where that as long as the bike retains it's road worthiness and could be ridden on the road correctly it should be okay to test .... I'll let you know how I got on next weekend   ... hopefully?

Thanks for that, really cleared a few things up! Is your frame significantly chopped at the rear? As mine is going to be about a foot shorter (where the horizontal cross section is, behind the original ECU holding area)

Cheers

Rear mudguards seem to be a thing of the past.........judging from modern manufacturers. 

Paul.

sidecar paul wrote:Rear mudguards seem to be a thing of the past.........judging from modern manufacturers. 

Paul.

Am I the only one that actually extends mine to keep the crap off a) the oil/water pump and b) the pillion passenger?

Dai wrote:Am I the only one that actually extends mine to keep the crap off a) the oil/water pump and b) the pillion passenger?

An alternative would be to move to Australia, where it doesn't rain as often  

Bill

Dai wrote:

sidecar paul wrote:Rear mudguards seem to be a thing of the past.........judging from modern manufacturers. 

Paul.

Am I the only one that actually extends mine to keep the crap off a) the oil/water pump and b) the pillion passenger?

I'm gonna create a sort of barrier behind those parts, and as for pillions - my Mrs is a super bike girl, won't go near the K! Haha  so I'm looking for an MV Agusta F3/4 next year :p

So the K is my fun solo rider

Dai wrote:Am I the only one that actually extends mine to keep the crap off a) the oil/water pump and b) the pillion passenger?

No, you're not alone.  I left my rear fender long because it fit the style I was after.

I've even added a Suzuki hugger to my outfit. 



This is an old picture, before I painted the swing arm and bevel box black.

Paul.

Paul

I live on a rural road and the mud is bad, have been looking at doing something like that. What model Suzuki and were there any issues fitting it?

Olaf.

I'm not Paul (at least, I don't think I am!) but I do have a hugger fitted to my twelve-year-old 600 Bandit. It's held on with two bolts to existing swingarm threads, was fitted from new and I can't praise it highly enough. Bandits usually rot around the sub-frame/swingarm area and the rear shock dies for a pastime. I don't have either of those problems because the hugger keeps the crap off both areas.

I'd guess the big advantage of fitting a hugger to a K would be protecting the clutch arm and GPI switch.

sidecar paul wrote:Rear mudguards seem to be a thing of the past.........judging from modern manufacturers. 

Paul.

You are right there Paul, they will probably go the same way as centre stands and other parts and offered as optional extras.  



BIG D

Wow .... I would just take some time and see what Insurance quotes you get before you pull down the bike and change it as I have had to go through all sorts of hoops to get mine sorted today as no one would quote without a lot of explaining.

Even Carol Nash whom I have now gone with could only find one and that was Aviva after a lot of chatting with their specialist advisor's.

I ain't that happy with the cost but hey ho you gotta do what yah gotta do. Hopefully I can get it tested tomorrow?

sidecar paul wrote:I've even added a Suzuki hugger to my outfit. 



This is an old picture, before I painted the swing arm and bevel box black.

Paul.

Paul, that looks really good. Can you expand on the specifics? Part #, necessary mods, etc?

Olaf & Kyle,

It's from an '80s GSX750R. Fixing is not that easy and I had to make an attachment point on the swing arm for a strap on the LHS.



The two extra swing arm fittings can be seen on this picture. I then made a strap that followed the internal profile of the hugger that was fixed to the front caliper bolt and the other end of the strap was connected to the swing arm boss. As I said, it's not straightforward, but when you've got the hugger and the bike things just evolve.

Paul.

Thanks, Paul. Inspired by your handiwork 

Englishstiv wrote:Wow .... I would just take some time and see what Insurance quotes you get before you pull down the bike and change it as I have had to go through all sorts of hoops to get mine sorted today as no one would quote without a lot of explaining.

Even Carol Nash whom I have now gone with could only find one and that was Aviva after a lot of chatting with their specialist advisor's.

I ain't that happy with the cost but hey ho you gotta do what yah gotta do. Hopefully I can get it tested tomorrow?

I did consider this might be a problem, but since I'm not really riding at the moment I'm delaying the process... I'm going to sell it as a standard naked K100, with a few minor alterations.... Honest of course, but deliberately vague. It's worked for me in the past on cars, even when I've had to make a claim

Well for me the UK MOT was passed without any issues other than the ride there and back in torrential rain and flooded roads which convinced me to spend the rest of yesterday evening somehow resurrecting the front part of the mudguard I cannot recall ever swallowing so much road water with any of my previous Cafe Racer conversions. !!!