OBTAINING AN AGE-RELATED PLATE

Well before the riding impressions can be written about, one has to actually ride the thing and make sure everything works well. Before this can be done legally one has to register the bike in the UK.

Well… everything was now in place to get that very important agerelated plate for the bike. So I duly filled in the necessary forms (V55) and sent off the data to the DVLA expecting problems – even though I have been through this procedure several times now. This way I am not disappointed when an issue crops up. No real issues this time except that after a week I was informed that the bike had to be inspected, presumably to verify it was what I said it was. So there was another delay as under the new system from the DVLA the machine has to be inspected by the company representative from SGS. Something now subcontracted after the closing of all the local DVLA offices and local inspection services. I contacted SGS, who appear to have offices in the DVLA, as the telephone numbers are very similar and the lady was very friendly and helpful. She informed me that within five days I would be contacted and offered an inspection date. With Swiss-like efficiency after four days this happened – they contacted me on the morning of the inspection 30 minutes beforehand to let me know the time of arrival of said inspector. The inspector was very knowledgeable on bikes but had not seen or heard of a MI-VAL before.

Soon after, I received a notification from DVLA with the age-related plate reference.

So, out and about. As suspected the front suspension is a little stiff, the engine is a little smoky – working on the assumption that a little more oil is better than less – but she runs very well. I am trying out a Lambretta carburettor, just to see if things have improved over the years in the carburation dept…