MOT any use when buying?

[Skeptisk]

I am looking to buy a K6 GSXR. I viewed it yesterday and it looked straight and sounded okay - but I couldn’t ride it. It has just had an MOT with no advisories. Owner has been self servicing for the past 5 years so no recent invoices. It has low recorded miles.

My gut feels says it is okay but I am not a mechanic. How good is the MOT at picking up problems?

[CallorFold]

When taking my own bike for an MOT all the checks seem pretty basic.

Do the lights work, do the indicators work, does the horn work, are the tyres ok... seems about the extent of it.

I'm sure there is a bit more to it than that, but I dont think just because it has an MOT you could ensure its a sound bike.

If it seems well looked after, has been ridden relatively regularly, even if low miles between MOT's and gut feeling says it's alright, then I'd say that's your best indicator.

[RazerSauber]

An MOT is a check of roadworthiness, not condition. There are tonnes of battered bikes and cars around that scrape through an MOT each year.

Buy on condition. If you get there and it's a rough example, walk away. With no proof of servicing, it's harder to check. I keep every receipt for my cars including wipers and bulbs. It all adds up to look to a comprehensive service schedule that lets buyers know I haven't deferred maintenance until it's critical.

[black-k1]

All the MoT says is that at the time of the test, it was deemed safe to ride. That's it! The rest is up to you.

[myvision]

I found this online.
A list of everything checked on the MOT.



From here.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a8...

[PT1984]

Does he have the receipts for the consumables he purchased for the self servicing? If not then treat as not done. There is no excuse for at least not saving the receipts. I take pics when I do mine too.

Edited by PT1984 on Tuesday 20th August 16:35

[KTMsm]

It's basic at best and quite a few will MOT without the bike even leaving the van it was transported in

I wouldn't consider buying a bike without a test ride - I'm happy to hand over the cash / bank transfer subject to a 20 minute test ride which should keep sellers happy too

[crofty1984]

The MOT history may well be worth a good read. If the same advisory appears year after year, is the owner the kind of guy that just does the bare minimum? New rear tyre every year and baggy chain, is he a burnout hero, etc?

[AKjr]

PT1984 said:

Does he have the receipts for the consumables he purchased for the self servicing? If not then treat as not done. There is no excuse for at least not saving the receipts. I take pics when I do mine too.

Edited by PT1984 on Tuesday 20th August 16:35

100% this, in my opinion. Keeping paperwork for consumables ETC is not a big ask.

[Rubin215]

No mot on a bike instantly makes me pitch low for it; why hasn't the seller spent £30 getting it done?

On the other hand, a current mot means very little to me anyway and I will still go front to back and top to bottom inspecting the bike before I even sling a leg over; the mot test itself is very basic and, even done correctly by a strict examiner, really only skims over the true mechanical condition of the bike and its safety.

[Tam_Mullen]

Rubin215 said:

No mot on a bike instantly makes me pitch low for it; why hasn't the seller spent £30 getting it done?

On the other hand, a current mot means very little to me anyway and I will still go front to back and top to bottom inspecting the bike before I even sling a leg over; the mot test itself is very basic and, even done correctly by a strict examiner, really only skims over the true mechanical condition of the bike and its safety.

Not sure where the OP is but theres no motorcycle MOT testers within a 30 mile radius of me so to take a bike for an MOT is a day/half day annual leave from work and its a right ballache.

And having watched the guy perform the MOT it really is very very basic and although I would prefer a bike I was looking to purchase to have one, I wouldnt let it put me off!