Pass your MoT first time

This 10-step check will see your bike sail through its MoT

1 Put your standard plate on

Although it’s mostly about making sure your bike is safe to ride, the MoT also ensures that your machine conforms to any required legal standards, of which the numberplate is one. To pass an MoT, the size of the plate as well as the spacing and font of the lettering must be in accordance with the regulations.

2 Make sure your lights are right

All your bike’s lights need to function correctly. Indicators, if fitted, must flash orange at the correct frequency. Check the brake light illuminates when both the front and rear levers are actuated, sometimes the rear switch may need adjusting. Check dip and high-beam operation, and ensure the heights are set correctly.

3 Don’t create any pipe problems

A stock silencer isn’t a problem but if you’ve upgraded to an aftermarket can you must make sure it’s legal. As long as it’s not offensively loud and/or marked ‘Not for Road Use’ you should be fine. Other parts of the exhaust system need to be in good condition with no leaking gases or excessive corrosion. All exhaust system components need to be secure.

4 Look for leaks

Inspect your forks for any sign of leaking oil. To do this, gently lift the dust seals and wipe some workshop paper around the inner seal to see if any oil has been seeping through. The rear shock also has the potential to leak if its seals are worn. The damping action of both forks and shock must be even and without bounciness.

5 Ensure your steering is smooth

The steering bearings are located under the top and over the bottom yoke. Check their condition by raising the front wheel, hold the fork legs at the bottom then pull backwards and forwards. Any play or knocking indicate wear. Also turn the steering full left and right; it should turn smoothly.

6 Re-evaluate your rubber

Make sure tyres have sufficient tread. For any bike over 50cc this is 1mm across ¾ of the tread’s width. The tyre’s overall condition needs to be considered, so look for cracks, bulges or cuts, and should be at the correct pressure, under inflated tyres are a Minor defect under new MoT testing criteria.

7 Stopping power must be at its peak

Check the condition of your brake pads. There needs to be an obvious amount of usable friction material still in place. The lower limit is 1mm on sintered pads and 1.5mm on organic type pads. Check both back and front brake calipers. Also assess disc condition by spinning the wheel and making sure they run true, and that they are not damaged by way of cracks etc.

8 Get your bearings bang on

Check your wheel bearings by first spinning the wheel, it should rotate without binding or rumbling. With the wheel in the air, hold the wheel at opposite sides and try to move it from side to side looking and feeling for any play. Do the same test for both wheels. Test the swingarm bearings by pushing and pulling the rear wheel sideways.

9 Check your chain’s condition

The drive chain and sprockets need to be in good condition. The drive chain should be adjusted correctly with no signs of significant wear. If a link is fitted it should be secure, and if it’s a split link it should face the right direction (open end facing backwards when the link is on the top of the rear sprocket.) The sprocket teeth should show little or no signs of wear.

10 No fuelling around

The fuel system needs to be in good order, this means that there should be no evidence of fuel leaks. The petrol cap must close properly and have a rubber seal fitted. The fuel hoses must be in good condition with no perishing, and they must be secured with clips. The petrol tank itself should be securely fitted to the bike.