Is it safe to by a bike without MOT's and a Service book?

Motorcycling
1

Hi all,

need some advice, my other half is thinking of buying a 2002 Yamaha Fazer FZS 600. Even though the bike is 10yrs old, it’s
only got 1802 miles on the clock!! After checking the bike out last week (it looks in show room condition) the dealer
told us that the guy he bought the bike from could not find the service book and all the old MOT’s bar the most recent,
which ran out in May 2011 and shows a recorded mileage of 1700
My question, is it safe to buy a bike without this paper work?

Cheers

2

I think you can get copies of the old MOTs. I’m not 100% sure though. Check on the VOSA website.

3

Yep! The VOSA website can supply you with the old MOTs.

4

Also should the bike have had a higher mileage at a previous inspection, the MoT system would have flagged it would it not?

So if you take your bike in one year with 30,000 on the clock and the following year with 5,000 on the clock doesn’t the system red flag it?

Not entirely sure on that, but would think it would, it would be common sense to do so.

5

Personally I’d walk away. As said on C4 weekday afternoons “Sorry no deal”

6

If the MOTs tally up don’t walk away that would just be silly.

If its a dealer you can have him shut down and most probably heavily fined, if not jailed for rolling back the clock so it isn’t really worth his livelihood.

7

That works out at about 180 miles per year, kind of suggests the bike may not be very reliable doesn’t it?

8

Good thing he’ll get warranty with it

9

It’s all about price.

Forget the MoT’s and service book they’re easily sorted.

There is a strange belief that low mileage cars and bikes are super buys. They are, but only if you want a piece of mechanical sculpture.

In this country machinery sitting around get internal condensation that can easily ruin bearings, oil seals go hard and can stick to the shafts and lose their edges, cylinder bores get pitted, piston rings leave rust rings, carbs get internal lacquering, … need I go on?

I’m not saying this has happened in this case, but it is far from rare.

If the price is right and allows for some bills soon after you start using it properly, just do it. If it’s top dollar, think carefully about the possible bills.

10

My fz6 only had 1750 miles on the clock. One owner only used it on sunny Sunday’s. 5yrs old and the price wAs right from a main dealer.

If its a decent dealer you shd be ok. But digital clocks on take 30sec to clock, if your in doubt call the previous owner.

Personally I’d buy it if te price is right.

11

i had this with a car, had only 18k miles on it but 10 yrs old, had no mot’s or service history etc.

way i looked at it if the owner looked after the car so well (which it was in excellent conditon) they would have looked after the paper work too.

12

Yes, or the owner got scared of the road or has health issues (or whatever) and has been reluctant to sell it despite the lack of use. It does happen, just saying.