View Full Version : Would you buy a bike with no MOT?
I am looking at a new bike and have stumbled across the right bike, for good money but it has no MOT as it hasn't been used for over a year.
The seller seems straight when talking via emails (mind you who wouldn't).
My problem is:
a) the bike is a long way away (Scarborough, Yorkshire) so I cant just pop round and have a look.
b) I would drive it back but obviously with no MOT cant do that.
The bike is about £1k cheaper than any round here and they are a rare bike as it is.
it maybe £1k cheaper, but it may cost you that in getting it road worthy and through the MOT. Personally, i'd pay the extra to get one that is already road worthy and has been used regularly
Specialone
21-09-13, 08:45 AM
If its a rare bike then yeah I'd probably buy it, if they are ten a penny then no I'd walk away.
Hire/lend a van, job done.
Sid Squid
21-09-13, 11:16 AM
For a grand I'd go and have a look.
There are hundreds of bikes out there that the clueless shy away from because they *might* have problems, this makes such machines much less saleable, hence the price hit - so go have a look.
This is why and how I buy motorbicycles more cheaply than most people.
punyXpress
21-09-13, 11:27 AM
As long as you've got insurance, you could ride it back to a pre-arranged MOT
ps: I'm only 20 miles away if you wanted me to have a quick look although I make no claim to bike-buying ability!
I purchased my 08 sport with no mot, the owner had never used it hence no mot & on sorn, went & had a good look and feel, started her up and had a little test ride, found that not only did it ride & work as it should it was a snip. Go have a look & a prod then make a judgment & use the fact it has no mot as a bargaining tool. Good luck
atassiedevil
22-09-13, 05:24 PM
Likewise with my VF750F. Paid £230 for it, knowing it needed some work. £450 total, on the road and i know absolutely what has gone into it, and that the work that needed doing has been done. As long as you are fairly mechanical minded, i'd do this every time. There's a big stigma attached to the "has no MOT or tax" tag, mine had simply sat for 2 years, so needed the usual things.
C.
As long as you've got insurance, you could ride it back to a pre-arranged MOT
ps: I'm only 20 miles away if you wanted me to have a quick look although I make no claim to bike-buying ability!
Thanks for the offer...appreciate it. Not sure what i'm going to do at present.
I have emailed to see if they are prepared to put an mot on it.
An mot is only a small part of the story.
Plenty of junk can have a MOT
chris c
23-09-13, 01:39 PM
Yes... the MOT is only really a basic safety check, you could check most items when viewing the bike before hand and use it as a haggling point if needed
yorkie_chris
23-09-13, 02:32 PM
Yes I'd buy a bike with no MOT. Buy them based on condition not bits of paper.
Yes I'd buy a bike with no MOT. Buy them based on condition not bits of paper.
YC - You know your way round a bike though...I don't that's the problem.
It is a low mileage single cylinder BMW...sounds genuine, but I couldn't afford to have it blow up on me!
andrewsmith
24-09-13, 06:04 AM
What model?
sent from the shredded wheat factory
It is a G 650 X-moto, they get good reviews and there are not that many about either...this one has 5k on the clock.
atassiedevil
24-09-13, 11:09 AM
Being a Beemer, they tend to be built pretty well. I'd take a punt on that, if it were my thing at that price/situation.
Honestly i would not let the lack of MOT bother you much, take a look with your own eyes.
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.