Failed the MOT - Number plate light

[menzies3032]

Thought I would try and give everybody a heads up. I have just taken the bike in for an MOT and it has failed due to not having a white number plate light. Apparently this is a new law that has come in for Motorbikes within the last 12 months. So if your bike is coming up for an MOT might want to check that you have one rather then getting the fail.

[pieeater]

Have you modified your bike with an aftermarket light or is this going to affect a lot of OEM rear lights?

[Jimbo04zx10r]

Simple answer is take all the lights off and go racing or trackday as roads are to dangerous

[Jay]

I always thought it was a part of the MOT like a car? .....Everyday is a school day

[Jug]

Well, and there it is..
4.7 Rear registration plate lamp
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/ ... tion_4.7.1

My trail bike has no white light on the number plate yet it passed without issue when I had it done last month.
I guess you got unlucky with your tester.

[royb]

Admitted on a car, but if you have two lamps to illuminate the rear number plate then both must work, so I've been told.
I assume it's the same on a bike.

[Jug]

Nope, if you have 2 lamps but one out or missing it's now a minor, which is still a pass.

A minor is I suppose like an advisory was.

[menzies3032]

Have you modified your bike with an aftermarket light or is this going to affect a lot of OEM rear lights?

The bike has a tail tidy so it is not original. Luckily SP Motorbikes keep in stock an R&G light for this purpose as they started to stock them following so many bikes failing this requirement. Apparently this came in last year and is something that was a requirement for cars for decades they have now only applied it for bikes.

[Millsyboy]

mine also failed on rear number plate light last Sept

[Kata]

Just had an Mot on my GSXR and it failed because of the same reason. Must look into this R&G light...

Bugger.

[Jimbo04zx10r]

If you guys have aftermarket tail tidies then i would check the colour of the number plate light, as it has been pointed out it requires to be white in colour.

there are a number of products the are suitable, see links below. this day and age go for LED as the are bright for the bucks you pay.

https://www.rg-racing.com/browsetype/Ta ... le/LA0002/

it does say speed_triple but this light will be compatible with all R&G tail tidies.

Just be aware as it is LED you willneed to get positive 12v and negative 0V the right way round or it won't work

[ptolemyx]

I thought that for bikes with lights (normal m.o.t. not "daytime" m.o.t.) the number plate illumination has always needed to be white. That's why a lot of older rear lights had a clear section in the lens throwing light down on to the number plate and the main rear/brake lens was red.

And a red lens is suitable as the requirement for the red reflective area needed on the back, so you wouldn't need one of those red dot thingys.

[Jug]

I just bought these to fit to my trail bike for when that next comes around, not until next year now so I can afford to wait for China delivery.
£1.59 delivered... should last a while, not....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-LED-SMD- ... 2256562244

[Robbo87]

. . . or you could go for the full-on daytime MOT where you don't even need a brake light, or flashers, or a speedo, or lights. Just a number plate and 'An audible means of approach' e.g. a horn.
Now then . . . . what to do with that under-employed CBR 600 track bike in my shed? . . Hmmmm

[Ruffian]

I just bought these to fit to my trail bike for when that next comes around, not until next year now so I can afford to wait for China delivery.
£1.59 delivered... should last a while, not....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-LED-SMD- ... 2256562244

I have a few of these. Seem to last about 2 months before they pack up. Brilliant to see them on my old msx125 as pulsed due to the charging system.

(Still went through the mot )

My bikes used to always get fitted with the brightest number plate light I could find.
As most people will tell you my z750r the plate was illuminated that well it was more of a glow (still couldn't see the number plate through the dazzle) but still hit mot requirements.