Conundrum

[Percypuch73]

Hi all. I know my bike is not a genuine MZ but a special built in the 1960's with a MZ racing frame. Is there a way to get a dating letter for the DVLA. Thanks Andy

[Percypuch73]

Bike when I found it

[Percypuch73]

Bike now

[Puffs]

Hi Andy,

that bike looks lovely; what engine did you put in?

Recently David posted viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7960&sid=ad682675543111d8a1d90ea0529447ad#p49862, but that does not go back to the 60's ...

[DAVID THOMPSON]

Where i live you save the bills of sale for the major parts and it is given a title labeled assembled
but your insurance guy will frown on it if looks like a RAT bike ..it needs to look good not a rolling pile of junk
and lose the racing numbers as that will make the DMV and insurance guys not want to deal with it...they will think your trying
to get a race bike legal for street use
Dave

[Percypuch73]

It was built in 1965 with a Triumph Tigress 250cc engine. I have fitted a Ducati 160 single which has been played about with. The number boards have tape across them to make it legal. And it is far from a heap

[DAVID THOMPSON]

where i am located the race numbers need to be completely gone
it needs to look the part of a nice daily driver then you might have a chance of a title and licence
dave

my first bike was a R E frame and a 5hp water pump engine called a webee in 1964 still have engine with a broken
valve spring and the v belt pulleys rode it 1962 to 1966 and still have the paperwork (title)

had a tiger cub MAG would not stay locked in time and when it did run it would lock-up between gears in the transmission

[Puffs]

Yes of course, the Ducati singles had that bevel-driven OHC. And are very desirable. The bigger ones are highly valued collection pieces by now, don't know about the 160. Looks like the engine from this: https://motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/duc ... a%20jr.htm

It's obviously a Café Racer. Bikes like that are not uncommon in the UK, or elsewhere in Europe, and that on it's own shouldn't be a problem for registration.

But if you don't have any registration documents (either UK or foreign) matching that frame, I think you'll be looking at quite a stiff technical examination. Not sure exactly how registration without previous other registration documents (or a Certificate of Conformity) works in the UK, but I have done that in NL. At the time ('95) there were two possibilities: a) if the bike conformed to a Type Approval (so a model previously approved for road use), but does not have a CoC to demonstrate that, there was a relatively simple & cheap technical tests to assess compliance with that Type Approval; and b) if the bike did not conform to a Type Approval, the test were far more stringent, and particularly: more expensive. It will then have to conform to all current requirements, which I fear will also in the UK currently mean Euro 4 (until Boris changes that, of course). I fear your bike would fall in category b).

If you do have a (foreign) registration document, registering it with the DVLA is easy. That I have done, and nobody needs to see the bike (other than for an MoT).

But maybe it's all different in the UK nowadays. Best check with the DVLA.

Good luck!

[Percypuch73]

Sorted out a dating letter so be on the road soon. The 160 is the poor sister of the range but it has been modified by Pip Higham. Lots done to it so it goes ok. Want to put a 250 in it if I find one although the brakes are a bit big frilly pants lol

[Percypuch73]

Today they said I will get an age related registration number. For whatever reason they say 1958 which is ok with me. Preferred to keep ERY215C (1965) but this is better than a Q reg

[Puffs]

So no tests at all then, even without any papers?? That sounds very easy!

Could you share a bit more on how the registration of that bike went?

[Blurredman]

Strange how they thought it was 1958? What were their reasonings...? But as you say- at least it isn't a Q plate!

[Percypuch73]

No idea. I thought it most likely 55 but I'm ok with 58

[Puffs]

I thought you said 1960's, but that aside: could you please share a bit more on how the registration of that bike went?

What were the required steps, what did you do, what info was required, what tests, .., that sort of thing.

[Percypuch73]

The bike was built in 1965 using s/h parts. It was then given a current registration number. Because of information that ties the reg number with the frame number is lacking, although I have a bucket load of paper work , they go on what the VMCC says is the age of the frame. I have pictures etc from 1965 but this doesn't count, it is a one-off. It was registered as a Sunbeam in 65 but now it has a Ducati motor I have to revert to the frame make. I did try to download the history I have but being a thicky pants I can't lol.