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WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:04 pm
by Alan R
Hi guys ( Have just transferred myself from the wrong thread---bad boy!!). So here's the conundrum}---- I have recently bought an Ex-Canadian registered bike that has been in ( and on) the UK books since 2002. It has been on the road for the majority of this time with the relevant MoT Certificates to prove this. It has a Kms-only speedometer fitted. Do I need to have it changed to an MPH one for it's next MoT ?? ( It's a SUZUKI MARADER 800 grunt-mobile !!) and if so---why ??

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:18 pm
by Leon Novello
Hi Alan: There used to be transfer /stickers that read kilometres, which were stuck onto the dial; so there was a dual reading in mp/h and km/h. Not much help to you I suppose if they are no longer available, but a cheap solution.

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:24 pm
by rado53
Hi Alan,
Find a "friendly" MOT man/woman. If the cops stop you it's not an endorsable offence. Just a rectifercation job and I doubt they'll notice.
regards,
Alan

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:27 pm
by Alan R
Hi LEON---- I was toying with the idea of fitting one of those commercially available converter gearboxes that are attached to the speedo cable. I think they are of the epi-cyclic type with a reduction ratio of 6 to 1. Your speedo then reads directly in MPH. Currently I have a thin white tape at 100Kph (60MPH) and one at 50 Kph ( 30 MPH)-- being the ones most easy to convert.

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:29 pm
by Alan R
-------- damm !! Another post crossing in the night !!---------- Yes, I'll think for now it can stay as is.

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:53 pm
by Pwayman
Hi Alan,

Don't know whether the following link clarifies but I read it that a km speedo should also have mph if registered in UK. If your bike has gone through previous MoT's without problems though,why worry?>>>>>>>>
http://www.bikingandbeyond.co.uk/uk%20v ... ents1.html

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:59 pm
by Leon Novello
Thought for the day: Is an Imperial mile the same length as a Canadian mile? an American mile? or a Country mile? Correct answer will win a frozen chicken to be posted from Australia.

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 6:32 am
by Chris Tindal
Alan I had a Japanese home market Yamaha SRX 600 for six years with just a Km speedo. It was never an issue come MOT time although at the time you could get transparent MPH stickers to go on the speedo glass for the grey imports. Technically I think it should read MPH but my tester never bothered so neither did I.

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 7:33 am
by Dennis C
Leon, The answer is no, I claim that Chicken. a country mile is variable. depending who is giving the directions,the others are not

WHAT'S THE LAW ON-----------SPEEDO's ???

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 7:36 am
by Mark M
Alan, I think this is the difference between Construction and Use Regulations (which define how a machine should be equipped and suitability for use,) and MoT roadworthiness regulations. Confusingly, some C&U regs are in the MoT but most are not. For instance, C&U says you must have a chainguard but the MoT leaves it to the Tester's discretion as to whether it's dangerous or not. Your converter box seems to be fine to me, the previous dodge of the stick-on label was changed to specify that the markings had to be under the glass, not stuck on.
REgards, Mark