Track day fairing = legal??
 

I am getting some trackday bodywork for my 999 & will be coming to the TA5 at Brands Hatch.

Do I need a headlight and mirrors/indicators to be able to ride it on the road? It may be a stupid question but if its daytime and I have my rear number plate and stop light (and rear indicators) is there an issue Officer??

I would obviously be riding sensibly and within the speed limits! :rolleye:

:puzzled:
kp

Ah, yes, well......
in the wordsof Yoda.....
" Pandora's box opened have you.... "
This has been done several times, see here Daytime MOT for the latest thread with links to others too.
Many will say it's legal, I'll tell you that I can successfully prosecute you for it.
It comes down to your choice...
Enjoy reading it & follow the otherlinks embedded in it too if you are really masochistic.
Andy

Day light MOT?

That would take care of the light issue, but mirrors and indicators are another matter? I know those are not (always) neccessary, because old(er) bikes are not always fitted with them. I've had several old brit bikes with no indicators or mirrors. However - they were built like that, whereas your 999 was built WITH them.

If you are thinking of dong this more than the once, then how about drilling the extra 3 holes for the mirror mounting pegs and cable then taking those off when you get to the track? Not ideal, but a reasonable compromise. My personal choice next year on the 749 might be to get a QB track fairing that has a single cutout for the dipped beam. I have also seen one with an oval cover over the 2 light cutouts.

To be honest Lily's bike has a daylight MOT, no lights, just brake light, no mirrors, and indicators

Thanks all for that - my apologies for not searching the site properly.

I have a carbon nose cone (that will shortly be for sale!!) with the oval cover - and I cable tie that when i take my mirrors off.

Looks like I will be getting my drill out for the mirrors on the new stuff too then.

Mr Rushjob & HW - could I drill a honey comb effect series of holes in the nose rather than one big hole for the light - would that be acceptable??

No good asking me, I'm not qualified to say, and the consequences of "wrong info" are not trivial! Andy (Rushjob) is your man ....

[Edited on 26-9-2005 by HW]

As said...Rushjob must feel like slitting his wrists everytime this comes up for discussion.

The general synopsis as far as I could tell is...yes you can get an MOT for a bike with no lights (I have just had my DR350 enduro done, no lights mirrors etc), and that will get you the ticket, but it doesn't necessarily mean you are legal on the road.

The same way that an MOT does not cover the numberplate...so in theory you could get an MOT with an illegal numberplate (or perhaps even no plate?)...but the second you left the testing station, you could be legitimately stopped and prosecuted by the police.

The way I see it is that I have an MOT, which allows me to get my Tax, and of course I have insurance. I'm happy with that, and if I get stopped and asked about my bike...I'll tell them the score. I have been stopped before on it because my numberplate is stuck up ontop of the mudguard and can be a little tricky to see from behind (especially when I have just come back from an off-road blast and the thing is covered in mud!). I was asked if I was taxed and insured...and off I went.

It would take either a) a very very keen and up to date policeman with all of the finer details of the road traffic act or, b) a policeman who is very very anal.





[Edited on 26-9-2005 by Harv748]

If I remember correctly you may well be "legal" bike wise with lack of headlamp, mirrors etc BUT if you have an accident your insurers might take a dim (please pardon the pun) view of the state of your bike if they consider that your (undelcared???) modifications contributed to the accident in some way.

It's like a lot of stuff, no problem still something goes wrong, i.e. an accident.

Ray

I've ridden to lots of TDs with TD fairings and no indicators/mirrors, without any problem. As most have said, it'd depend who stopped you, but I'd be more worried about the other offences I'd have been committing at the time! :lol:

Personally I really like doing it as the bike feels a bit more racey without mirrors (not like they bloody do anything anyway!), and it forces you to use the lifesaver look over the shoulder all the time, which is pretty good practise.

If you don't want to do it just pack a roll of tape and leave everything on.

Cheers,

Ali

Thanks Ali - have to confess I like the feel too! :frog:

I will probably compramise and remove my mirrors but hopefully get one single hole cut in the nosecone and have a cover made for the light.

Thanks all for your advice - apologies for opening a buried can of worms.

kp

Pass me that shovel - I'll sort it! :eureka:

I can see more people getting problems when they take this chance in the future.
VOSA ( Vehicle & Operator Standards Agency ) the replacement for the old DOT have become much more proactive regarding vehicle checks.
They now have the power to stop any vehicle to check its condition & they regularly run road checks in our area.
If you think that a traffic cop knows their way round a Con & Use manual, you ain't seen nothin yet as the song goes.
Look out for Ford Galaxies in black & yellow battenburg markings......they could have you for their next snack :devil:

The enduro bike is one of the very few which legally can run without lights..... it has a specific exemption in the regs.

just trackday it up and stick on a Trailor or in a Van.

That's what I do. I haven't the space (or didn't) for a fixed trailer so I bought a folding one. It's stores under the bench in the garage and will go in the back of the car when needed. Not cheap, but very effective.

http://82.70.86.166/images/bikes/trailer/100_0308a.jpg

http://82.70.86.166/images/bikes/trailer/100_0302a.jpg

If I had a trailer or a van I would not have asked the question. :P I do intend to get a trailer but the chelsea tractor hasnt got a tow bar yet so that would all be cost for TA5. I think it will keep until next year.

I have seen a lot of those black and yellow jobbies around the M25 - dont think I will chance it.

Meanwhile I have asked the manufacturer if he can come up with a cover like I have on my Casoli nose cone. By the responses I have had I am surprised that this type of thing isnt catered for more fully. Gap in the market Mr C?

Would have thought that no lights could be a particular issue in October, as the twilight could fall very quickly if it is overcast...it would be a shame to have to leave a dry but cloudy trackday early in the afternoon in order to get home before the light fails

Would have thought that no lights could be a particular issue in October, as the twilight could fall very quickly if it is overcast...it would be a shame to have to leave a dry but cloudy trackday early in the afternoon in order to get home before the light fails


Indeed - hence my erring on the side of caution and asking about the cover.

Incidentally I noticed at the last Brands TD that there were quite a few bikes out with all lights/indicators left untaped, mirrors on, numberplates, and brake/head lights on. Focused/marshalls didn't seem to care, which is a bit of a shame as brake lights are seriously distracting. :o

No Limits say there is no need to tape anything up if you don't want to. I only tape up my brake light and my mirrors now.

If I ever get to do a track day there will be a lot of seriously distracted people then:D

I regularly ride my bike without mirrors and indicators. In my humble opinion and understanding they are not legal requirements for an MOT or to ride in the road. When I was lats stopped for speeding (at a high enough speed to visit court) nothing was said about the lack of indcators or mirrors.

Working on the Daytime MOT theory then head lights are not required either.

I have rode previous bikes, and my 749, in track day guise a few times on the road and have never been stopped.

Not a definitvie answer to your question, just my own experiences.

A trackday nosecone (from Dave at H.C.Racetech) with proper light holes will be available by mid/late next month, so no problems Henry it has been sorted, nosecone for moulding from arrives this week:D

Chris.:burn:

My R1 has a track fairing fitted and I've made it road legal so I can ride to trackdays/go on runs and still use it for trackdays as thats the only fairing its got (was cartwheeled by previous owner...).

The only thing I do is remove the mirrors & replace with bolts, disconnect the rear light as its on a connector under the seat and remove the number plate. No need for tape as the light is plastic. Dont forget to switch off the headlight too... its so distracting.

WARNING - NON DUCATI RELATED PICTURE !!!

Andy

oops, forget to mention, we cutout the headlight using tracing paper and a junior hacksaw blade... the headlight is a ex-smashed up one from a breaker.

[Edited on 26-9-2005 by andys 900ss]

While i was confident in myself to ride to a track day at caddwell i did have the knowlage that should i bin it i could ring home and have a trailer there in 30 mins, that gave me peace of mind, but had i not had that option i dont think i would have taken the bike without a trailer\van,

Its easy to have an off as i experianced a few weeks later on a trackday, fortunatly i had taken the bike on the trailer so i would think the legality of track day fairings on the road is outweighed by the whats it going to cost to get it home if you drop it. Having a trailer\van means you dont need to faf about removing mirrors etc at the track.

Ok thats my ten cents i will shut up now :)

Thanks for all the responses.

My trackday fairning is coming from Dave at HCRace tech. I spoke with him yesterday and he said about the road version being avaialble soon as well.
Last night it was fairly dark around six'ish so I will be using my standard nosecone - or my carbon one if I havent sold it by then (it has the removable headlight cover).

Going foward, it seems sensible to have a trailer, then I can use track day body work for err track days!

Agian, thanks for all the points of view - see you at Brands on the 5th!!

Or get 'er indoors a Kia Sedona, and take the bike in that. I do!

See you at Brands where you are welcome to inspect said Sedona! :sing:

Ha-ha, I am afraid my good lady likes her luxuries - part of the give and take of me and my Ducati.
See you at TA5 where the weather is forcast mostly sunny and 17'C!

Whe I phoned up an MOT centre and asked them what I'd need to get my VFR400 a daylight MOT, all the guy said I'd need was a rear reflector, chain guard, number plate, road legal tyres and horn - and all the switch gear not being used had to be removed or taped over.

Didn't say anything about mirrors or even a brake light

Kerry coming from Hildenborough I would have thought you could come through the lanes in which case the chances of you getting stopped are VERY slim.

John

Take your point Monty - I was more concerned with the dusk light and maybe having to come away early from the track. What time do these events normally finsh? It was headlight time around 6/6.30 tonight I would have said.:puzzled:

[/quote]

Take your point Monty - I was more concerned with the dusk light and maybe having to come away early from the track. What time do these events normally finsh? It was headlight time around 6/6.30 tonight I would have said.:puzzled: [/quote]

I did a track day on Tuesday at Donnington. Had no problem with riding each way with track day fairing, no head lights, no mirrors, no indicators, race can etc etc.

Did have a slight problem with setting out. I planned to leave around 6:45am and it was still dark :( Had to wait until around 7:15 before the street lights went out and I felt happy to ride without lights.

both Freak and myself have been riding on the road under a daylight MOT with no headlights, no mirrors, only rear indicators for about 3 years now and its not been an issues, even riding in some of the most heavily bike related policed areas (north wales).

We only ever ride in daylight and we are sensible, have full size plates and don't tend to ride in large packs of sportsbikes.