So my Vsepa failed it's MOT....

[knight2]

Did you inquire as to how painful his haemorrhiods were. I know exactly what my MOT tester would have said and it wouldn't have been fail. It is a very nit picking thing, as there is car spares shop not far away it would have been got get one and stick it on.

[mottza]

It's bollocks. If there is one on the rear light then no other reflector is required. To be honest that dinky thing isn't going to reflect much.

I'd standard and with the relevant markings then it's OK, plus if it had none built in it would fail a type approval. Hence imports like jap cars need rear fogs on cars.

[Data]

Mottza is right. Your bike should not have failed. There is in fact a built in reflector already in the centre of the lens. The rear light on my GTS is almost completely identical except for the fact it's mounted on a chrome base. The reflector may not be as easily spotted in daylight but it's there and reflects the light in compliance with the regs. I suspect the MOT tester was either new to the job, half asleep or incompetent! Did you have to pay a retest fee? If so, go back to the test centre, show them the rules, point out the reflector built into the lens & get the fee back.

[OneFootInTheGravy]

I didn't have to pay for a retest, if I had then I would most certainly have kicked off! I was charged a quid for the reflector though.

It was the same chap that MOT'd it last time, and he's not a young bloke either. To look at him I'd guess he's been in the business a while. Do MOT centres get audited/inspected? Is it something they could have been told it's something they need to check for more thoroughly? Or they could just have a load of reflectors they are trying to shift!

When is yours due it next MOT Data? I'd be curious what they say.

[Data]

My GTS300 had it's MOT last November. No issues. Rear light is fully compliant. Years ago I was an MOT tester as part of my job (tech). The reflector rules haven't changed in years to my knowledge. Having said all this, there's no harm in having an extra one.

[capitano]

It's been a bugbear with some MOT testers for at least 2 decades.

I had to stick a small, self adhesive reflector on my Valkyrie's numberplate, for MOTs 2001 to 2003.

This being because it, "doesn't have a separate reflector," despite being a stock UK Honda model with a reflector in the rear light lens.

[roadster]

Do MOT centres get audited/inspected? Is it something they could have been told it's something they need to check for more thoroughly? Or they could just have a load of reflectors they are trying to shift!

MOT test stations do indeed get audited ( electronically now ). This is part of the problem because its largely a statistical exercise and if there are two few failures and warnings the testers are put under pressure and accused of not doing the job properly. This is why a large number of largely spurious warnings are usually put on the test report. For example corroded brake disks on cars will be noted year after year even though the brakes test as 100% OK.

[Data]

Yeah, got to say as an MOT tester from a few years ago, I never ever got put under any pressure from the ministry to fill some sort of failure quota. We were audited of course. Most of the pressure I suspect comes from the commercial side of "some" dealerships. They can sell an awful lot of brake pads, discs etc etc and gain all sorts of other work from failures and advisories. I usually go to an independent MOT centre these days now I'm retired. Ultimately, there are few "bad" MOT test centres these days. Things are much better than they used to be in my opinion based upon what I see and experience.