Motor cycles – time to rationalise.

The BMW R65

My BMW R65LS
Wet weight: 207Kg,
 Power: 50bhp,
Max Speed 95mph

The Old Girls MOT

My old BMW is finally going in for an MOT in two days time. She rolled off the production line in 1983, and I have been hanging on as I thought I could get her registered as a Classic after 1st April 2024 as she is over 40.

 

But I thought wrong:-

From the gov.uk site:-

Vehicles that do not need an MOT

You do not need to get an MOT if:

• the vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago
• no ‘substantial changes’ have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years, for example replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine to change the way the vehicle works

If you’re not sure if there have been any substantial changes you can:

• read the full guidance on MOT exemptions for historic vehicles
• speak to a historic vehicle expert

And again from the same site:-

Eligibility

You do not need to get an MOT if the vehicle was first registered more than 40 years ago and no ‘substantial changes’ have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years.

So, built or registered?

From the historical vehicle expert:-

Please note: While the DVLA notes say that a vehicle is eligible to tax as a historic vehicle if it was "built or first registered more than 40 years ago", this  statement can cause confusion. The two instances are NOT interchangeable. For vehicles sold new in the UK and first registered in the UK it is the 'first registration' date that is used to determine eligibility. The phrase "built more than 40 years ago" refers only to vehicles that were sold new and first registered in another country (and therefore have been imported secondhand into the UK). In this case, the front of your V5C will say 'Declared manufactured in 19xx', while the '1st registration' date on page 2 will show the date when it was registered in the UK.

Currently, a vehicle "first registered" on/prior to 7 January 1983, will be classed by the DVLA as having been built in 1982, therefore it is tax exempt from 1 April 2023.

If your vehicle was 'first registered' after this date, up to 31 December 1983, you will need to wait until 1 April 2024.

So she was built in 1983 in December, but she was first registered on 1st Feb 1986. So I will need to wait until 1st April 2027 to get Classic status. 

So I have to tax and MOT her for another three years.

She has been off the road for well over a year and all I have ridden in that time is the Address. It will take me a little time to get used again to using the clutch, and using my feet for changing gear and braking. If she passes I will get her taxed again from 1st April (Hmm all fool's day). Then I intend to get a few more rides in this year, while I still can.

R65-Not so easy rider

I took the old girl out for a little half hour ride today after filling her up with petrol.  I zero'd the odometer so I can check the mpg.

She felt strange after riding almost nothing but the little Address for two years, but I soon got used to it.  The bit I kept forgetting was to change down gears as I approached a junction or roundabout.

R65 Float Replacement

Floats, Hoses, Float levels and Batteries

I usually get the information I need from Snowbums website.  He writes in great detail, and in great depth, and is incredibly verbose.  The site is a wonderful resource for BMW owners.

R65 Minor Mods

I have done a few minor mods to the old girl to make her a bit more comfortable.

R65 On the road again

She has been off the road again for almost two years since the start of Covid. I have just sold my Honda SH300i so I have some room in the garage and some spare cash

I got the old girl MOT'd and taxed today. I had to stop on the way to the MOT station to do the "Bing Dance".

Obsessions and Time wasters

 I have almost always had a motorcycle.  (The "a" singular is relevant here) .There was a gap of about 12 years when I had two motorcycles but both off road. One was a Honda Deauville and the other a BMW R65LS. 

I finally got around getting them operational again.  The BMW fired up with a jump start from a car battery. The Honda didn't.  It took a couple of days to get it started, most of which was removing body work. I decided to sell it and stick with the BMW.

Two Wheelers

 Bicycles

I got my very first bicycle when I was about 11. It was a very heavy 18" Raleigh Roadster with Rod Brakes and no gears.
I got my second bicyle when I was 14. It was a 21" Raleigh Gran Sport it with 10 gears. It got stolen when I was 18.
I bought my third bike from a friend when I was 20. It is a Jack Taylor tourer with five gears.
53 years later I still have it and still ride it.
I don't change my machines very often.

Bullet - the competition

The BMW is now working.

 

R65 - The old girls history

She came of the production line in December 1983 according to BMbikes,  but she was first registered in February 1986.

So she was built before 1 Jan 1984 and I can stop paying vehicle tax after 1 April 2024.

I don't know what she was doing between February 1986 and 12 December 1991, but she was registered to an owner in Dunfermline in 1991  I bought her from Dunfermline Motorcycles in 1993.