Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Track day fairing = legal??

[KP]

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!


kp

[Rushjob]

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

[JPM]

Day light MOT?

[HW]

Originally posted by JPM
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.

[JPM]

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

[KP]

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??

[HW]

Originally posted by KP
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]

[Harv748]

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]

[Ray]

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

[ali]

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!

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