The legality of the decat

[PT1984]

Leaving the moral / environmental issue aside.

I’m getting a 2021 Ducati Scrambler 800 Icon Dark delivered next week. Being a V (sorry, and L) twin they sound good standard. But I know they sound excellent with a slip on.

The issue being that the EU5 scrambler has limited exhaust options as the cat, baffles, and pipe are a single box. So they all do away with the cat.

So say I look at the Ducati dealer fit option of the Termi pipe and Upmap which disables the lambdas.

Come MOT time I believe it’s not so much of an issue. But what about insurance? Declare the exhaust, of course, but what do you say with the catalyst, as the emission control has been removed?

I’d prefer to always stay on the safe side of the fence when it comes to insurance.

Cheers in advance. Oh, and the baffle will be left in.

Edited by PT1984 on Monday 14th August 17:25

Edited by PT1984 on Monday 14th August 18:00

[MrGman]

It’s illegal to remove the cat.

That’s all you need to know. The rest is down to how you feel about it.

[littleredrooster]

MrGman said:

It’s illegal to remove the cat.

That’s all you need to know. The rest is down to how you feel about it.

Bikes never used to need a cat - when did that change?

[black-k1]

MrGman said:

It’s illegal to remove the cat.

That’s all you need to know. The rest is down to how you feel about it.

Are you sure? Do you have anything you can point to in support of that?

Cat/emmissions is definitely NOT part of the MoT

[airsafari87]

I might still have an SC project exhaust that I took off mine when I sold it?

If I can find it in the garage you can have it, it came off a 2017 bike though, I’m not sure if or how much they have changed since then though?

[GriffoDP]

black-k1 said:

MrGman said:

It’s illegal to remove the cat.

That’s all you need to know. The rest is down to how you feel about it.

Are you sure? Do you have anything you can point to in support of that?

Cat/emmissions is definitely NOT part of the MoT

My nan/horse/water feature removed their cat and spent the next twenty years in prison so it must be true*.

• My nan AND horse AND water feature all murdered several people but I don't think that had anything to do with it.

[stevemcs]

Emissions are never tested, just make sure it doesn't say for off road use or track only on it.

[PT1984]

airsafari87 said:

I might still have an SC project exhaust that I took off mine when I sold it?

Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately they changed the exhausts for the 2021 euro 5. It’s now a single piece exhaust, not the spring fit sectional one.

[anonymous-user]

Most of my bikes are decatted and it's never been an issue as the mostly had them in the stock exhausts. I've let the insurer know by stating it's got an exhaust - full system. Some might ask if there is an HP gain, and you can say cosmetic - largely true unless you tune. It's easier if you deal with a proper bike insurer.

[Donbot]

Bennetts don't class a road legal aftermarket system as a modification for some reason. I guess you just add the exhaust value to the total value of the bike.

[Biker9090]

MrGman said:

It’s illegal to remove the cat.

That’s all you need to know. The rest is down to how you feel about it.

Funny how the insurers even have a specific mod box for "decat" though eh?

I've read into this a lot and have never found a sinlge piece of evidence for anyone ever getting done for it by either plod nor insurer.

[carinaman]

It's my understanding that removing a cat on a motorcycle isn't an MoT failure. Some used bikes are advertised as having a decat. A friend had his decat fitted by a dealer for that brand.

[PT1984]

carinaman said:

It's my understanding that removing a cat on a motorcycle isn't an MoT failure. Some used bikes are advertised as having a decat. A friend had his decat fitted by a dealer for that brand.

This is my thinking. It was just the insurer element. I suppose with cars it’s different as if you remove emission controls, you would fail the MOT either through the visual check or the emissions readings. An MOT is a requirement for insurance.

[airsafari87]

The manufacturer supply and dealer fit Akra that came with my Tuono also does away with the cat, iirc I had to sign some kind of disclaimer in the dealers to say that I wouldn’t use it on the road or something like that?

It’s too young of a bike to require an MOT, but my older bikes with full systems and no cat have never had any issue or advisory against them when they get MOT’d

[Oceanrower]

PT1984 said:

An MOT is a requirement for insurance.

I can assure you it isn’t…

[carinaman]

Useful thread.

[PT1984]

Oceanrower said:

PT1984 said:

An MOT is a requirement for insurance.

I can assure you it isn’t…

I just assumed it was. To ride on the road the bike should have tax if required, and an MOT if required (again assuming no requirement for classics). Also, not driving over the prescribed limits!

[Oceanrower]

PT1984 said:

Oceanrower said:

PT1984 said:

An MOT is a requirement for insurance.

I can assure you it isn’t…

I just assumed it was. To ride on the road the bike should have tax if required, and an MOT if required (again assuming no requirement for classics). Also, not driving over the prescribed limits!

To name a few, less than 3 years old, over 40 years old, to and from a prebooked place of repair or an MOT…

Also (And I know this wasn’t what you meant, but anyway…) a SORN bike could well be insured and have no MOT.

And a lack of MOT doesn’t “uninsured” a bike anyway. It’s still insured but it may’ affect any payout as the bike will, presumably, be worth less without one. Your third party liability will be unaffected.

[PT1984]

So I think my answer is the bike will pass the MOT with no catalyst. Then speak to the insurer to see if they will insure it!

However the Termignomi Sport Line exhaust with upmap is marked as race use only.

Edited by PT1984 on Tuesday 15th August 14:31

[airsafari87]

PT1984 said:

So I think my answer is the bike will pass the MOT with no catalyst. Then speak to the insurer to see if they will insure it!

However the Termignomi Sport Line exhaust with upmap is marked as race use only.

Edited by PT1984 on Tuesday 15th August 14:31

They nearly all are, mine is too.

If you’re worried about it then don’t get it fitted.
If it’s not a concern to you then do get it fitted.