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Upt'North ¹ said :-
I think my memory dates back to a classroom in Ryton Upon the Dunsmore in 1981 (!), flipping ink.
It would basically be down to the court to decide if the law was being complied with, I think the example was something like, a bloke puts his family in the motor and drives from Walsall to The Lizard in a car with no MOT and pre books the MOT in Penzance before leaving. Would that be reasonable and of course if it failed he could do it on the return. All this before ANPR and digital records.
Obviously this example would never work because no one from Walsall can accurately communicate anything to someone in Cornwall, ooooo arrrr rrrr kid.
Upt.
14/04/2026 12:22:58 UTC
nab301 said :-
No bike test (yet) in my part of the world but a quick check reveals that a car declared off road (but still insured) can be driven directly to a pre arranged test and back home with no deviation.
I wonder though if the issue might be with insurance ? Would you have to declare the off road declaration to your insurer? It may not be an issue with a single bike policy but with a multi bike policy I'm guessing the calculated risk may alter ( enough to affect any claims submitted)...
Nigel
14/04/2026 13:42:30 UTC
Glyn said :-
Well done on the B mot Up’t. My MOT tester told me that I could ride to the station whilst on sorn and back again if it passed. If it failed however, I would be breaking the law driving / riding a dangerous vehicle. A failure usually ends up with a piece of paper that says vehicle in a dangerous, unroadworthy condition, not to be used on the highway.
14/04/2026 13:52:31 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I think there are different classification of faults Glyn, but yes if you ride it there in a dangerous condition I believe they can slap a no ride/drive type notice on it. Although it was obviously illegal to drive it there anyway and just because it's going to a pre arranged MOT wouldn't provide a defence.
That's the case for the Crown m'lud.
14/04/2026 16:36:46 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
The purpose of my original question was - I know we can ride a motorcycle to a MOT station if the bike is not taxed because you can't tax a bike if there's no MOT. But with ANPR everywhere I wonder if people get fines through the post "You were seen riding along the A123 at 1230 March 23. This vehicle is not taxed (or MOT'd) please send us £100 you naughty naughty criminal".
I have heard tales of riders booking a MOT many miles away to "bypass" the law. Or to have an agreement with the local dodgy MOT place in that "if PC plod calls asking if I'm booked in - tell him I'm booked in OK?" Much as I hate spending money and hate the pensive wait to see if I've passed - I do agree it's probably for the best someone casts an eye over my questionable spannering every now and then.
15/04/2026 09:58:44 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I'm sure you would receive the digital knock on the door Ed. I text Timmy Tester and retain it for proof if required.
Plus I'm pretty sure there's no ANPR on that journey. Although strangely I did see a scuffer in a motor.
Upt.
15/04/2026 13:11:37 UTC
Glyn said :-
I’ve just had a most unfortunate week at the mercy of EBay. I put the TZR on there for sale on a classified ad. Within the 7 days the ad was viewed over 2200 times and 101 people had added it to their watch list. The notifications came offering to swop wives, cars and other bikes for it. On the last day I had many offers to take this “unpopular bike” off my hands, some of which were offering £1k less than asking price. I’m beginning to think there are various classes of motorcyclists. The Triumph attracted sensible questions and offers. It eventually went to a chap who arrived in a Porsche and lived in an executive home. The TZR appears to have been attractive to a different type of person. Needless to say, I didn’t accept any of the offers and still have it in my garage.
19/04/2026 09:36:48 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
It's funny how variable ebay can be. I've never had any real problems apart from the odd fairly cheap thing not arriving when buying but always been sorted out eventually. I don't sell a lot of things but can't remember ever really being messed about. It's easy to get carried away with the number of watchers, who in many cases are wanting to sell something similar and are seeing what they fetch. I confess to doing the same on occasion.
I've also had excellent transactions on facebook although I hate to admit it. I've bought at least 3 bikes there - all sight unseen (including the B'Zuki) - and all have been easy friendly processes. I've also sold 2 or 3 bikes there and again have had no hassles. Maybe I'm just lucky given the horror stories I hear.
Re the TZR - of course Triumph enthusiasts are a cut above whereas people interested in lairy 2 strokes mya be a different demographic.....
19/04/2026 10:10:31 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Yeah Ian's right - demographics. See the Triumph is a 4 stroke purchased by people who understand logic and sensible engineering. 2 stroke buyers are obviously comfortable with the concept the some of the air and fuel might just get into the piston and maybe some of it will burn, the rest of it will loiter in the crankcase or bypass ignition altogether and go straight out the exhaust. All of this while intentionally burning oil in the hope piston rings last longer than 5k miles.
These people are clearly not of sound mind and therefore can't understand the value of the TZR. Plus they're off their heads on Castrol R and being thrown off mid bend due to the power band kicking in unexpectedly.
20/04/2026 08:12:12 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren , such negativity ! I know there's no (willing) gardeners on here but realistically two stroke emissions are no worse than pollution caused by mowing lawns.. apparently
Nigel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smell_of_freshly_cut_grass...
20/04/2026 13:28:23 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
And of course. Castrol R is a plant based oil so it must be good for the environment, despite the clouds of smoke.
20/04/2026 15:09:14 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Can anyone please recommend a good travel insurance policy for EU which covers motorcycle touring use. We are presently with CN but won't be after todays debacle. Their customer service has lost the plot. Life's too short to deal with CN any longer.
Thanks in advance.
Upt.
27/04/2026 15:36:24 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Oh you've opened a can of treacherous worms there Upt'.
In the interest of openness I must declare a bias. In my opinion the whole insurance business is simply a money making scam with the entire raison d'etre of making money out of people's misery. They'll promise to be helpful and cover your costs when life throws an unpleasant curveball at you. What they'll actually do is make a miserable experience 10 times worse while doing anything and everything to get out of paying.
I pay a small ransom each month for a Nationwide Flex account. For this I get breakdown and travel cover. I have checked several times and as far as I can tell (I am not a trained lawyer) I am covered to ride motorcycles as long as I wear a helmet. Don't quote me on that... I don't know how to read between the lines.
As for "pre existing conditions".
"I went to see the Doc 9 months ago about a mole, she said it was fine - nothing to worry about."
"Yes Mr X, but you neglected to declare this to us. As such we are not going to pay out on your hospital visit in France after you stubbed your toe"...
They're just a bunch of robbing scheming lying scam artists in my opinion.
28/04/2026 08:01:00 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I junked the flexplus account when they stopped using Britannia for their vehicle breakdown cover in favour of the AA. As an ex-AA patrol myself and knowing of several disaster stories with them* I took out a freestandinmg Britannia policy which gives me everything I need, is very flexible and decently priced. I've used them a few times over the years and they've always been excellent.
Re travel insurance I'm increasingly minded to rely on the GHIC card. My brother in law has a pacemaker and quotes for him are nearly £1,000 so he's doing the same. The only place I think health cover is essential is the USA and I have no intention of ever going there again and risking being flung in jail by ICE.
*My dad had AA membership for decades. Shortly before he stopped driving I decided to have a look at what he had. He was paying over £400 a year for cover he would never use like foreign travel. Rapacious private equity b*****ds.
28/04/2026 10:12:30 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Thanks so far boys, your views are mine but we are thinking of heading to Europe later in the year and really don't fancy doing it without cover. We had CN for the last twelve months and it seemed good cover, the price for this year is actually less, but I can't renew it at the moment. Their computer says No and they no longer accept calls for travel insurance, you can finally talk to someone if you persist but they just refer you back to www. which says No! I remember when CN were the company to use for anything motorcycle related but sadly those days are well and truly over. They're probably owned by one of the big ones now, shame.
28/04/2026 10:55:33 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ed, who is that cover with, do you know?
28/04/2026 10:56:47 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
My feelings regarding health cover, at least in the more longstanding EU countries, is that I'm likely to get similar or better treatment from their indigenous health services as I would here. The only time that falls down is if repatriation is necessary. I'm sure I could find someone to rent a motorhome and get me in the back for a return trip to Blighty.
Interestingly enough (or maybe not) said brother in law managed to fall over in a pub in Gloucester where we all were and fractured his hip. I keep telling him to take more water with it. He lives in the Scottish Borders ie north of Upt'. I was envisaging a similar rescue mission but the local ambulance service happily took him back to his local hospital. I was very impressed.
At the end of the day insurance is really only necessary for those costs you can't bear yourself like your house burning down. If you have a bit put by for the very unusual occurrences then it's probably optional.
Re Carole Nash - yes it was started by the eponymous Carole and was related to the VMCC. But has since passed into the hands of said rapacious private equity parasites as have a number of others. Peter James or Howden are now my favoured suppliers although no doubt they will be taken over in due corse.
28/04/2026 12:55:34 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
The travel insurance with Nationwide's Flex Account is - errrr - Aviva (another rapacious....) The breakdown cover is - errr - yes with The AA as Ian states.
Ideally I'd like to use neither of them... but needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle. As stated though their promises will vaporise as and when you need them....
28/04/2026 16:43:36 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Yes, yes, yes, ta me duck I will check out the Aviva info.
You're a good person, yes you are.
Regarding B/D cover it doesn't matter which company you're with upt here the same independent comes out from Seahouses. They're a very good company apparently although I've never had reason to use their services.......yet.
28/04/2026 18:58:26 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Aviva checked and appears OK Ed. Cheers, I'll try an application.
Upt.
28/04/2026 21:35:45 UTC
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