Hi

I am putting a 1974 cota 247 back on the road. I am fitting an electric horn and it has a speedo and number plate. My question is do I need a chainguard to pass the MOT

Thanks

Yes

A chainguard is not required for the MOT according to the tester's manual, however if one is fitted it must be secure and not foul the drive train. Many bikes have passed the MOT without a chainguard, however some testers do have a problem with one not being fitted - perhaps a good idea to get your local tester's view on it before submitting the bike for test. Or of course you could buy (or make - not a hard job on the 247) one just to be sure.

As a further anomaly, regardless of the MOT requirements a motorcycle does not meet construction and use regulations if it has chain drive and no guard, so a well informed member of your local constabulary may well take a dim view of an absent chainguard should your paths happen to cross.

Edited January 29, 201511 yr by cleanorbust

Thanks I think I will try and make one

Sounds like a plan. Easy enough to make a template from card then form the guard from tin or similar, making sure there are no sharp points or edges (another potential MOT failure!)

Best of luck!

andy m,

Not many people will recognise Toad... but I do!

Mags

No, Not required for MOT. Speedo not required either.

Edited January 30, 201511 yr by gasserguy

Get a small reflector, some MOT stations insist on them.

Just a point... wouldn't you want a chain guard anyhow? If you ride in muddy areas they keep a lot of crud off the chain.

Not just prolonging the life of the chain and making it easier to clean but mud clogged in a chain can force it off the rear sprocket. A friend of mine had this problem on his trials bike. It had a chain guard fitted but it only covered the top of the chain leaving the bottom run to catch all the mud from the tyre. He extended the guard and it's kept it's chain on ever since.

Here's one I made earlier

Wow, what a great looking bike.

Wow

That looks really good, the whole bike I mean.

Black and silver sets it off well

You do not have to have a chain guard fitted to pass an MOT however if it is fitted it must be secure.

If the motorcycle was originally fitted with a chain guard and you use it without and not informed your insurer your insurance could be invalid. There is case law on this where pillion passengers trousers have caught in the chain causing an accident and where arms have gone into the chain during an accident.

wooah, yamanx, just about to respray a restored cota 348 in VW mars red with newly painted black frame! If I'd seen that photo before I may have just changed my mind, that looks terrific, I know the purists won't like it but I think that is an awesome job!

Here's one I made earlier

Splendid bike.