Hitchcocks Forum

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18146326 Perhaps few of us here have anything that early, but it may interest some.

----------hang on, I'm sure that's a mis-print on my 2005 Classic 500's V5c. What a pity the wording doesn't say "Designed before 1960" ?? At least all the iron-barrelled bikes would be in on that one. I'll be watching the Brighton Run with added interest now. Oh well, at least it's a start. I wonder where the re-balance of lost income will strike ?? You don't get 'owt fer nowt with this mob !!

Not a good move. I was agin it and said so. There are a few of my cognisance who are complet bodgers and will unless controlled will ride completely lethal bikes. Well now there is no control and these daft buggers will ride lightless brakeless with crappy tyres until such time as they come seriously unstuck as one already has. He could not see that he was the authot of his own expensive misfortune, as is the modern thinking - IT WAS NOT MY FAULT

A mixed blessing! Once 'old' vehicles are treated differently in one respect (no MOT) it is but a short step to treat them as special cases in other areas - e.g restrictions on use?? I don't trust the powers that be - what they give with one hand they tend to take away with the other, and it is sometimes better to simply conform to the normal requirements so that there is no excuse for other controls or restrictions to be imposed.

Or am I just being cynical......??

An interesting point Winkie.
Hadn't really thought about it in that light.

Hi guys ----------- I would like to see a "layered" costing for motorcycle MoT's as the next objective. At the moment the charge to test a Valkyrie, Fat Boy, rocketship etc is the same as it is for a Puch Maxi, Mobylette or Honda 50. In fact, as an incentive to get urban commuters out of their Chelsea Charriots--if only for the Summer(whatever that is ?)-- why not take the up-to-50cc group out of taxation altogether---and administer it in the same manner as pre-1973 vehicles are at the moment ?? A forlorn hope I know but it's just another case of a Government going on about "fairness" but not doing anything about it. Just look at the pro-rata rates for 2-wheeledvehicles on the M6 Toll. They could be on there for free ---it would make little or no difference to the overall income.

---------------sorry about that, had a sudden attack of "Britishness"-----------winge, moan, gripe, form a queue (no, that's tomorrow ), mention the weather. NORM --- can I take the Ozzie "Fosters" test ???

Sounds like a great idea to me, I'd wish they'd do it here. Lets face it the brakes on an old bullet are painted on and the last time I took mine for a WOF (our version of an MOT) the boy that was supposed to test the front brake said to the older official "this thing doesn't stop at all" and the old boy said "no it's British, don't worry about it".

Damn ! They've done it again !
When Historic Vehicle status (and free Road Tax) was announced for pre-'73 vehicles the oldest I had was '73.
Since then, I purchased a pre-'73 and patted myself on the back for being able to use it with a tax disc showing "amount nil".
Of course, that vehicle is presently the oldest I have and it's - you've guessed it - 1960...................

Alan,
I don't know what all your reg details are but out here we hav 2 types full reg or club reg. Club reg is for vehicles over 25 years old. Full reg costs $600 Club reg $66 for 45 days unrestricted riding but controlled by a log book. A couple of years ago the government decided to bring in this scheme of unrestricted riding as compared to riding to club organised events.I guess they could see there was money to be had with the new system because immediately thousands of 25 year old cars and bikes were dragged out of sheds and put on club reg and just because they are registered doesn't mean they are going to be ridden that much, it is just the fact that it is registered and you could take it out on the road. I looked at my Honda and Inter log books recently and I had ridden them each about 14 times in the last year so the government is miles in front, money they wouldn't have collected before they changed the rules.