New to biking, is my bike legal?

I've very new to the biking world and just got myself a 1999 SV650S and the number plate is only lit up by the rear lights (red) is this legal? or should it have a white light to show the number plate?

Any help is greatly recieved,

not sure tbh mate of mine has that and i questioned it but police didnt seem to care when he got pulled for speedin

[pmapp]

Needs to have a white light to pass the MOT.

p.s. Welcome to the forum

Hi guys, thank-you for the welcome and the speedy responses, I also thought it needed a white to pass its MOT but it looks to be stadnard and has passed every MOT since 2002 and not all at the same place.

Number plate light is NOT a require ment for a bike MOT, car yes, bike NO

The law says:



During conditions of seriously reduced visibility vehicles on the road, except when parked, must have illuminated:

• obligatory headlamps (main or dipped beam unless fog lamp lit)
• obligatory front and rear position lamps (side lights and rear red lights)
• obligatory rear registration plate lamp.

I don't have my booklet on me at the moment but it is likely to be dealt with by way of a £30 non-endorsable fine or VDRS (Vehicle Defect Rectification Notice) or a verbal warning. The light must be white but the regulations do not say what amount of the plate needs to be illuminated. Hope this helps.

my bike has passed 3 mots with no plate light and no reflector i think is down to the station you goto. ive had many a copper follow me but ive never been pulled on my bike and i have a full size but mis-spaced number plate!

MOT requirements and the law do differ slightly, as does the tester themselves and what they deem as necessary. In an idel world they would all test to one standard but we all know this is not the case and they put their own personal interpretation on things.

As for the police its a bit of luck really, mostly we are to busy doing more important things to pull someone for such a minor offence plus many officers are not standard (blue light) trained for the first two years so cannot easily pull you over anyway.

Saying that however if you are caught speeding/riding dangerously then expect these points to be included on any ticket or court summons.

[Nicky S]

well mine dosent have one the only light at the rear is my rear/brake light. but when i stick it in for moto i allways stick my normale sized numberplate on that has a little reflecter on it. which seems to pass fine