Bike MOT time...
 

I am aware that it is a legal requirement to display a rear reflector on your bike, but is there a legal requirement for a seperate number plate light?

The reasoning I would use to suggest this is not necessary would be that most older bikes didn't have a number plate light fitted at all, but the difference was that the under side of the tail light was clear to allow light through.

But when I ride with the lights on, it still sheds light on the numberplate, and will probably shed more when i get the mountings sorted out to angle the plate out backwards. Is this a grey area, or am I looking at an MOT fail?

Note that I fitted an undertray without a facility to mount the original light, see below:

http://bikepics.com/pics/pics/suzuki...ics-482197.jpg

I think that would be technically a fail... But that's not to say it definately would. How cheeky is your bike otherwise?

At the minute, it has no reflector, but I'm fabricating a bracket to get that sorted. It does have a blatantly illegal ART can on it, but it was damaged and then repaired and I "accidently" used BS numbered straps to fit it back together. The number plate is a standard one, has standard font, size, spacing etc but I chopped it down to a more appealing size, so perhaps the outer spacing isn't 100% legal.

Other than that, I think stuff's pretty much above board. I also have a friendly MOT place where the plate and can wouldn't be an issue, but was mainly concerned about the number plate light.

Pot luck then I suppose!

Never been pulled by a bobby for it or anything, so hoping I'll be ok. The place I go is run by a bike enthusiast who happens to love loud cans, I hope he also likes undertrays!! :D :D

I've been through an MOT and passed without number plate light in the last 2 years. Actually it was led lights, but they showed white to the rear so the guy said "you chose: lose them and pass, keep em and fail". I must admit I was a bit suprised, but when I queried it he said it wasn't an MOT issue, but you could get pulled if riding at night.

Easy bit.... buy a simple stick on reflector for push bikes and stick it to you plate. Now you are legal on that aspect.
the issue with the lghts you mention not being on older bikes wont apply to you. Its like cars that didnt have rear belts dont now have to go get em put in, but if your car had them and you took em out you'd fail the mot.

If your place is friendly, then i'd take the bike there, ask them your questions before booking it in so it all above board when they test it.

hth

You can get small stick on reflectors from moass bike shops they're about the size of a 10p coin and cost about £1.50.

You'll probably get away without the number plate light but if you do need one, motrax have got a little led number plate light in their 2006 catalogue for a tenner

i got two of those bolts with the coloured led,s in them used for custom bikes they hold my number plate on and passed mot as lighting too, even though they are blue.

I wired 2 recessed LED's into my rear light after getting pulled one night.
Have a look at this thread to see my picture of it.