Classic Moped MOT's

Unread post by **DHallworth** » 26 Jul 2011, 18:24

Hey Guys,

Appreciate that this isn't really a moped or motorcycle forum but I know that everyone here seems to be into all sorts of different things so I thought I'd ask anyway!

I've recently bought a 1965 Raleigh RM6 moped. Mainly because I want the number plate from it. The plate starts DRH and my initials are DRH.

This thing is basically no more then a push bike with a 49cc petrol engine mounted on the frame just above the pedals.

Before I can swap the number plate around it needs to be MOT'd.

Does anyone have any ideas what the guidelines are for an MOT for such an old piece of kit?

If it's not got lights I know I can apply for a day time MOT. However there's not really a lot to test on them to be honest! It's got no suspension, and the brakes etc are the same as those on a standard push bike!

Here's a picture of it anyway:

David.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 26 Jul 2011, 18:48

I remember those so well David.

The Raleigh was a derivative of the Mobylette and by moped standards it was a quick machine and quite prized by complementary sixteen year olds.

The Puch Maxi was another quick one surprisingly even though it was the preserve of little old ladies...

I had an NSU Quickly as my first moped and quick it was not

I have happy memories of the well known fast mopeds along that time; the Yam FS1E, Honda SS50 and many Italians such as the Garelli and so on.

Happy memories

Good FS1Es are now pretty valuable and so are Raleigh runabouts too. Yours looks in good nick from the picture...

Any motorbike place will MOT it. As you say, not a whole lot to MOT is there

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 26 Jul 2011, 19:06

We've got a Puch Maxi in the barn!

Dad only bought it to for old memories sake as when he was 16 years old he got 'nicked' on it because it wasn't MOTd and the stand was hanging down hence dragging on the floor and generating a spark or two!

The local bobby made him push it home 6 miles and kept checking ever so often to make sure he didn't ride it. I don't think that the same would happen today!

Dad's after a FS1E now though to add to his 'collection'; he's also got a Vespa with a sidecart too - mad!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 26 Jul 2011, 19:18

Citroening wrote: he's also got a Vespa with a sidecart too - mad!

Aggrrggggh! Kill it!

I hated scooters with a passion then and I still do...

We used to call 'em pregnant sewing machines and mercilessly tease and insult anyone who had one of the horrid things. A pal had one once and boasted it was fitted with a Anchelotti Racing Piston. Thinking on he may have meant racing pigeon...

They're lethal deathtraps.

There's someone around here with a Lambretta restored well in period. It has about 600 spot-lamps and 300 mirrors on it as was the fashion in the 60s and 70s.

By the time the engine has generated current for all those lights it has nothing left for any forward motion. Hence why you used to see scooters being pushed everywhere

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 26 Jul 2011, 19:21

Was the Puch Maxi banana yellow? If so my lasting memory of them is my mate having one and him taking me on a ride through the woods at night

the only trouble was that the headlight was so dim neither of us saw the huge log across the path in front of us,,,then flying through the air with me landing on top of him and being unable to stop giggling

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 26 Jul 2011, 19:37

MOT requirements will be on the relevant dot gov website but there will be checks for brakes, wheel bearings, steering head bearings, tyre condition, horn, reflector, control cables, spokes, frame corrosion, etc.

Try to find a classic bike sympathetic tester or you will get some jobs worth failing it on all sorts !

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 26 Jul 2011, 19:38

They could be banana yellow Richard and as I recall they were available in a range of colours; I particularly recall one Maxi colour being a very nice 70's metallic purple.

Another well-know yellow one was the hideous little Jawa. I know they were hideous as I had one for a while...

Mopeds and mirth went together like bread and cheese... Happy days..

I'm trying to think of an Italian moped a pal had in about 1977. It was a miniature racer look-alike and was good for 60mph if you 'planked' across the tank and there was a fair following wind.

I can't recall it's name except it was very Italian, not common and the sound of it was slightly funny..

That's niggling me now and it'll niggle me until I remember...

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 26 Jul 2011, 19:43

CitroJim wrote:Aggrrggggh! Kill it!

You'll be pleased to learn that he doesn't ride it! Dad's not even got a test for it either!

Luckily the driveway is long enough to give it a quick blast up and down but that's all. I have riden it a bit and it does feel lethal with that sidecart on it - quite disturbing actually!

Dad's original Puch Maxi was in Purple (as per Jim's post above) and the current one is a gold colour.

He fancies a FS1E now though...mainly because that was the one he wanted when he had the Puch...all the rich kids had the FS1Es!!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 26 Jul 2011, 19:52

Citroening wrote: He fancies a FS1E now though...mainly because that was the one he wanted when he had the Puch...all the rich kids had the FS1Es!!

Exactly! I used to lust after a FS1E almost as much as I did a certain Mandy Lisle when I was 16.

Sadly, never rich enough to get a FS1E but that never worried Mandy

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 26 Jul 2011, 19:56

CitroJim wrote:They're lethal deathtraps.

As are all motorbikes, another fatality on the dual carriageway close to me on Saturday

every weekend bikers race up the dual carriageway completely immune to the threat from junctions, this one 'T' boned a coach.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 26 Jul 2011, 20:49

CitroJim wrote:Thinking on he may have meant racing pigeon...

Hahahahahaha

Right on the nail Jim

There's a lad at work who talks that kind of crap - god help us if he ever gets a licence (he's 28 and been threatening for the past ten years)

David - it is very odd that you bring this up now as just last Friday I was chewing the fat with someone at work and years ago he bought an identical one for £15 - purely for the numberplate

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 26 Jul 2011, 22:14

Around here, a "Vespa" is something that's fun to ride but you probably wouldn't show your mates, if one gets the drift!

Jim - was the Italian jobby you refer to, a Fantic?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 27 Jul 2011, 05:42

addo wrote: Jim - was the Italian jobby you refer to, a Fantic?

No, although I remember those

More Italian than that. I'm going to have to ask its ex-owner. It's still niggling me...

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 27 Jul 2011, 08:58

CitroJim wrote:That's niggling me now and it'll niggle me until I remember...

Is it Malaguti, Jim?

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 27 Jul 2011, 09:53

Benelli, or maybe Ducati?