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Becoming a Motorcycle MOT Tester (Uk) - Anyone done it ? Advice sought. Becoming a Motorcycle MOT Tester (Uk) - Anyone done it ? Advice sought.
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
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  #1  
Old 9 Jul 2013
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Becoming a Motorcycle MOT Tester (Uk) - Anyone done it ? Advice sought.
My work are putting me through for this....

I know very little about what I have to do. Some kind of two day course and some exams I think.

Anyone know some good training material ????

Cheers, Ted
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Old 10 Jul 2013
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Any chance of a dodgy MOT or two once you've qualified?
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Old 10 Jul 2013
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I did the truck one. Don't sweat it, it's just weird. Day 1 is such rubbish as what to say if a one-legged Welsh lesbian asks for their fail to be explained in Urdu, how sticking oily fingers up your nose (or in other places) is bad and not a reason to ring injury-lawyers-for-U and how you should put YOUR name in the box marked NAME, not "Dennis" because that's what the pumps called. On day 2 you hit things with a toffee hammer, good goes ping, bad goes through like wet cardboard. Leave your brain at home, do what they say and you'll be fine.

Andy
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Old 10 Jul 2013
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Blimey, that's going to be a bit of a poisoned chalice Ted. It'll be a bit like working as a traffic warden - the best you can do is break even. Everyone will hate you when you fail their pride and joy for something subjective and no one will thank you when their old nail passes. You're probably going to need to develop a whole new circle of friends outside of biking
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Old 10 Jul 2013
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Have a look here Ted, https://www.gov.uk/become-an-mot-tester/overview it probably has most of the info
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Old 10 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Senno View Post
Any chance of a dodgy MOT or two once you've qualified?
hah..... Not dodgy no. But HU sticker on the bike would probably get a favorable eye.


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Originally Posted by backofbeyond View Post
Blimey, that's going to be a bit of a poisoned chalice Ted. It'll be a bit like working as a traffic warden - the best you can do is break even. Everyone will hate you when you fail their pride and joy for something subjective and no one will thank you when their old nail passes. You're probably going to need to develop a whole new circle of friends outside of biking
I wouldn't be a t**t about it. I know some places who are just total con men. Failing perfectly good bikes just so they can get the work or a retest fee etc.

The bikes got to be safe though hasn't it. I think I'd be generous tester as long as tyres aren't totally bauld and the bearings aren't held in with blutack.

But I know what you mean
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Old 11 Jul 2013
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Ted,

It can't be hard to pass; my mate's uncle did and he's a muppet.

I've never understood why people get all stressed-out at MoT time, if you're riding the bike it should be in safe condition all the time not just one day a year. I've never had a bike fail on anything other than maybe headlight alignment or something daft like that.

Getting cross with the tester because he won't pass your bike with square wheel bearings and brakes soaked in fork oil is just stupid.
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Old 11 Jul 2013
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Originally Posted by Big Yellow Tractor View Post
Ted,

It can't be hard to pass; my mate's uncle did and he's a muppet.

I've never understood why people get all stressed-out at MoT time, if you're riding the bike it should be in safe condition all the time not just one day a year. I've never had a bike fail on anything other than maybe headlight alignment or something daft like that.

Getting cross with the tester because he won't pass your bike with square wheel bearings and brakes soaked in fork oil is just stupid.
Aye....... It shouldn't be rocket science..

However, I've had bikes fail in the past though over things I had no idea about..

de-aminating number plate for instance. Even thought it passed 5 times before at different places in the same condition. It was peeling slightly in one corner. He then charged me £20 for a new plate... T**t.

I had a bike failed due to no rear foot pegs because I hadn't removed the pillion seat.

Crappy stuff like that..... Pointless regulation interpreted by idiots.
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Old 12 Jul 2013
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Crappy, dishonest MOT places are proverbial. It might be an idea to get a list together of decent MOT places around the UK...and places to avoid!
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Old 12 Jul 2013
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Don't get me started on that soap box! It is a **** system. How can it be fair or seen to be fair when the bloke who fails you for having a strident horn, or indicators that flash at the wrong rate is also the bloke trying to sell you the repair? The solution is to separate off the inspection from the repair and automate it. Go to US states that have it or Australia and you'll find a big shed full of test gear. Drive in one end, the machines do the same test fairly on every vehicle, the one bloke has a quick look for corrosion and you get a pass or fail ticket. You can even buy the tax and insurance in the same half hour at the same place. Far too good a solution for UK gov and their industry masters.

The testers are stuck in the middle between the public who just want to jump through the hoop, their employers who want to sell as many tyres, shock absorbers and light bulbs as possible and their desire to actually make the roads safer.

Andy
Last edited by Threewheelbonnie; 12 Jul 2013 at 07:42.
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Old 12 Jul 2013
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Certainly round my way getting a bike MOT done at all is becoming a bit of an issue. One by one all of the old time oil stained dealerships where the MOT guy had been testing bikes since Noah asked him for advice on ark construction have closed down and the owner of the one remaining old time dealership has just developed skin cancer.

The other dealers are all of the shiny suits and corporate branding type full of monthly sales targets and customer service mission statements. I'm fully expecting this year's advisories for my bunch of old nails to be next years slick patter about how I need to let a fully qualified professional technician carry out the life critical repair. "Your safety is our main concern sir - what would your children think if you killed yourself due to faulty wheel alignment"
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Old 12 Jul 2013
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All the more reason to name and shame the con men and celebrate the decent guys. There should be a one-stop website where everyone can go to find out where's good in their area, and where to avoid!
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Old 12 Jul 2013
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If all goes to plan, i'll certainly not be failing road worthy bikes for the sake of tyre sales...

And yes, I know it goes on A LOT.... Not in our place, but others I've worked in.
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Old 12 Jul 2013
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All the more reason to name and shame the con men and celebrate the decent guys. There should be a one-stop website where everyone can go to find out where's good in their area, and where to avoid!
The problem there is that there is no way to justify someones judgement or remark.

Some honest and to the book testers could be slammed because the guy didn't like the fact he rode 20 miles in the rain to get failed for a dangerous bag of nails.

Unfortunately, a lot of bikers are arseholes.
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Old 13 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
The problem there is that there is no way to justify someones judgement or remark.

Some honest and to the book testers could be slammed because the guy didn't like the fact he rode 20 miles in the rain to get failed for a dangerous bag of nails.

Unfortunately, a lot of bikers are arseholes.
Not just bikers Ted, a lot of people full stop fit that description.....
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