Harley Sportster Build, Pre-MOT, :- Shakedown check! 

It's a lovely looking bike Del, You're a braver man than me for using clip-ons on today's roads in the UK ! (maybe I'm just getting too old !..) - I do these checks with every bike I take for an MOT.. It just makes sense because I really don't want to have to go again !.. I make certain that every item or system on the bike that I know will be checked is up to scratch prior to taking the bike to the Testing Station.. I also make sure the bike is as clean as is practical, this obviously isn't easy in wet, winter conditions but I once asked my local tester what winds him up the most, he said being presented with vehicles for testing that obviously haven't been washed in weeks.. and they end up having to wipe things clean themselves to carry out the test..

Very well explained, always 100% pre checks. Excellent video, well said on everything 😊

Hi Del, bit disappointed you didn't cover the tires, very critical piece of rubber.

Del, you give really good sound advice on what any of us would be wise to do periodically and certainly before an MOT test. However, I think you'd need to be careful of your insurance legality riding to a test station after such a long break in test validity, as opposed to a temporary, short gap in proving roadworthiness. An insurer won't cover your bike to ride on the road without a valid MOT, so, you are also technically still breaking the law and in the unfortunate event of an accident, there might be difficulties. An insurer won't take your word that your bike is roadworthy.

Hiya Penny and Del - great video. Here in Ontario, Canada we have something similar - the safety standards certificate, colloquially known as a "safety". But it typically only needs to be done during the transfer of ownership - it's not an annual thing. And every province in Canada has their own inspection rules. At any rate, you've provided a very good overview! Take care, dear friends. Be well and ride safe.

Hi D&P, have you got a link for the rear shocks you went for in the end? Been looking through the Sportster build playlist but can’t seem to find it, thanks

For some of us, me in this particular story, we do inspections as well on our other family members bikes and then repair them LOL. That was the genesis of the head stock bearing replacement experience on the VFR1200. 😊

Here in Azores Islands (portugal) we have a anual IPO (MOT) for motorcycles, but mainland Porugal don't have . We have a decicated center for the IPO, they check brakes on a rolling road (dyno), tyres (the size), lights, horn, and thats it.

You're giving the HD a more thourough test at home than me with my Transalp 600 after riding unpaved ACT Croatia ;-) But then it's a (reliable) Honda. Have a great weekend, Penny and you. Günter/Nürnberg

Did you mention that you must, by law, have the bike insured if you are riding to the pre-booked MOT? Otherwise it’s a van or trailer in the UK? (Maybe you said that somewhere?)

I’m in Colorado United States, we don’t have safety check or testers here. Only requires insurance and licenses. Surprisingly, your UK requires such restrictions. I do personal inspections every spring for my own safety sake. Curiously, what’s the cost doing MOV??

Very useful. Could you explain how to pass the emissions and noise tests. Especially when you don’t have the original exhaust. Thx.

You know you put the bike together right come on now, I watched you do it haha

Woo hoo, time to get that beauty out twin the sunshine! I trust she passed all well & good 🤞🏻

This is one of my favourite sportster builds. I hope we see more of it on the channel!

How much is an MOT cert cost? I'm guessing the test costs and the Govt wants some too.

Sounds like a V-8, wow

Great video as always...very important stuff , that alot of people overlook. Your whiteboard comment at beginning of video resonates with us as well.

Very angry and snarly sounding. Me Likey :)

I'm so far behind ! I'm catching up now. ✌️❤️

Wise words and sage advice as always Del.

Appreciated Del! Best.

Solid advice Del - useful 🙂

Great video delboy 👍

Good video pal,

sound advice del

Pick a station 100 miles away and quit nitpicking about legal nonsense. You're a biker dude be a biker

Nice one Del 👍 Love the opening sentiment, so true 👍 Bike looks well smart, and sounds angry, love it 👍 Keep up the brilliant work Del 'n' Pen 👍

You know your stuff Del. A brilliant universal video. Definitely a keeper for future reference!

Great common sense video Del ! also a good reminder to check your bike because its your neck on the line ! Really great to see and hear that beautiful Sportster 👍

I always undo bolts half a turn before a torque test. My thinking is that if you just use the torque wrench on a correctly tightened bolt there is a take up as the spring in the torque wrench compresses and you end up with the with a few more foot pounds of torque than is recommended by the manufacturer. I may be wrong but loosening the fixings slightly takes little time and does no harm at all whilst ensuring the torque setting is correct..

Great video Del and spot on advice.. Here in N/Ireland we have to go to a dedicated MOT DVLA (driver and vehicle licencing) testing centre (Not a garage or other suchlike facility that does it) Obviously you have to go on their website to book it in Weeks or even months before (currently £34) and if you cant make it on the day, or are late...you loose your money.. So heading there and discovering an "issue" is not an option since you have an appointment slot time to be there for (at least 10mins beforehand..) You can reschedule and not loose your money...,but that has to be done at least 2 days before the day of your test... otherwise its too late. If your bike fails on something silly and avoidable like forgetting to fit the "proper sized" (legal) number plate or such like...,then you will have to book a "Re-test" @ an additional £29.50 for another date..,maybe weeks away... Last year a guy was in front of me and when the tester took his bike in and tried the brakes on the rollers I was standing outside with him watching and noticed his rear brake light failed to light (even though his brakes worked).. Turned out it was just the little connector had not been pushed 'fully home" when he'd switched out the tail tidy for the OE one the night before.. Examiner failed him even though the guy popped the pillion pad...,pushed the connector fully home in a split second and showed the brake light now working right there infront of him... Examiner said ...."thats all well and good but it wasn't working when you presented it and I inspected it a minute ago.." .....another £29.50 please and go back home and book it for a re-test just so the examiner could in a future date put his foot on the brake pedal to see that light work....(which he already knows it does.!) Maybe not an available slot for another couple of weeks..! So you need to be 100% 'ready'..! Oh.,and lastly when you pull up to the designated bay at the testing center you have to just hand the examiner the keys and wait outside pacing about like an expantant father on the corridor of a delivery room waiting on the "good news"..lol. (you dont Get to go in...you just have to wait till they bring it back out with a Yay or Nay..! Exactly the same situation with cars..,vans etc over here too.... Anyway very interesting video Del since doing many full rebuilds myself I tuned in to this one with great interest. God Bless. BG.

Вутэта опарат супер натоком повсему земному шару индересна придёт тэст драиф хороший 👍🏍️📝👀

Bang handy video bruv. I brought my bike back after they wrote if off after my accident on valentines day. I've just put the bike back to a roadworthy state. Great idea for me to do. Cheers bruv. Have a good un and be safe both of you.

You didn't mention the security of the seat and fuel tank and a strap securing the battery if it's not in a box!

Just catching up on the last few videos Del as Ive been spoiling the family in the sun. What a great video, I am approaching my MOT & 10,000 mile service on the Sport Glide so this video will be running in the workshop. Thank you

Great video, you two. and one I'm sure I'll be referencing in the future! That bike is really looking awesome and I'm sure will be fun to ride for someone that prefers those ergos! I've only ridden one bike that had those 'clip-on' style handlebars....couldn't get out of traffic and off the bike fast enough! Ha! Cheers to you both!

No mechanical work can be done without proper tools

From buenos aires argentina,realy i'm not understand much the english but see you, your visual explicación i learn so mucho whit your videos tank you

Top video Del mot very important

Awesome video brother !!! Lots of helpful tips !!! Sometimes (including me) we overlook certain checks that are critical for our safety, great reminder brother ! Bike is looking awesome !!! Stay safe guys cheers from New York 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

That bikes stunning Del. Not usually a Harley fan, but that looks and sounds great at idle. 👏👍

I like your watch. The bikes not bad either

You did such a great job on that bike. It is wild how the footprint of a sportster is so small. Such a classic bike. I got 2 of the 2014's both 48's and just love them. They are really more fun to ride then my other big Harleys. Here in Florida we are blessed with no inspections. It got to be such a scam over the years way back and so glad our state stopped them. Just more government intervention in our lives that is gone. No helmets here either but i will always wear one. just crazy not to but i don't want to be mandated by a government. You do some cool stuff man. take care.

Hiya mate, I hope you are well? I must give huge apologies for radio silence. Life threw me quite a few lemons recently which I am only just bouncing back from. Off the back of this, my 20 year old cb1300 passed it's mot the other week, no advisories at all, because, like you, I'm particular about looking after it and maintaining it!

Don't forget about the reg plate. Talking to the guy doing my last MOT and he said there's about two pages of stuff in the MOT handbook on stuff your plate can fail a test on..... More than brakes and suspension which even he said was crazy!!! Great video mate.

Hi Del & Penny. Excellent video mate , lots of great info. this one will help a lot of people for years to come. Penny and you enjoy the last part of your week and take care. Cheers

Hi del ,is the a 2003 anniversary as you know I have the fatty😂

Wow, this is one video jam packed with great information!

Will it pass with an aftermarket louder exhaust?

👌👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Stunning sportster Del love the sound

Very handy video thanks Del

Nice bike Del , pipes wouldn’t cut it for road worthy / mot here in Australia though , might have to stuff some steel wool up them ..😂

Found this build fascinating, great looking bike, well done Del I’m properly impressed 👍🏻

It's the gremlins I feel sorry for, up all night blowing air into fluids, they must now hide in the bushes. Banned from the Test Center's grounds by risk of purification, they lurk around discussing things like the half life of stressed latex in direct sunlight & other such degenerative topics. Will their pulling horrible faces at nicely secure gaskets have caused galloping shrinkage? Did Lip-Splitter Len have enough time to 'do over' the fork seals? Did Wild-Pixie fry the horn relay in time? They too must await the judgement, be it nicely bad or horribly OK; it's not easy being a *******! Good luck for cert; if not, tell them to 'live long & fester', they'll just laugh & likely give you one : )xx

i watched the vid about taking the bike to the M O T station as you say you are ok to do that but what if you have sorn it and then you want it back on road so you get it booked for a M O T but then you need road tax on it and as you know you carnt tax it until you have a M O T certificate so that means you are taking the bike to the mot station with no road tax

Afternoon del.

Sounds good

Hi Del, great video! In Germany we have to get the bike to the MOT (TÜV) every two years. Except the rules here are unfortunately stricter than in UK, I guess. This beautiful exhaust would be illegal here, basically anything on the bike with no E-Number will make you lose the road permit. You are not allowed to install a custom fairing if there is no number on it or no certificate of the manufacturer regarding the safety, which is never the case😊. I have rebuild my dyna fxdx and doing the shake down. On a bumpy road the front suspension, somewhere inside the forks, something is banging there. Have rebuild the forks completely and put new seals and oil in it. Should I fill more oil in it? The forks are softail, 41mm with, non adjustable.

So do you agree with the yearly MOT or do you think it should be 5 yearly? In Aust you can purchase a licence that lets you transport a vehicle that is unregistered to allow you to take it to a inspection on the road. Motorcycles, Cars, Trucks and Trailers... And it lasts for 48 hours... I would imagine that would be nice for shakedowns in England if you had something similar.

Brilliant Del. I live here in Canada so the MOT or Safety rules are a bit different. But I am going to use this advice to check my bike before a 3 day camping road trip. Thank mate.

Good to know ,thanks mate.

Good info there Del and that Harley cafe racer looks sweet as, I do remember those dreaded days just before an MOT will it pass or fail lol, I now live in Perth WA and there's not such thing as an annual inspection, the onus is on the owner to maintain their vehicles to the correct standard, PC plod will nick ya if not! then you have to go over the pits as they say, plus we have no such thing as SORN our vehicles always have to be registered. I personally think they should have an annual inspection similar to UK system, as I've never seen so many defective unsafe vehicles on the road.

Beautiful bike❤😊

Simple answer there mate. How do you know if the bike is perfect before inspection....Let Del build it !!! Amazing build and great info here. Lots of fun miles ahead on this Sporty I'm sure. Enjoy every one of them. Safe travels and good health D&P. ❤ 👍👍

You've just saved a load of bikers unnecessary heartache from an MOT failure and probably saved a few bruises too! Well done mate - good, solid and helpful video! 👍😀👍