Common practice in Holland 
email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl
It sounds like good news..but I have learnt to be cynical over the years..There is also talk in Europe of random road side testing..That would be a lot more inconvenient and intrusive if it came to pass.
Some over zealous official will always find something wrong with your bike..and it could happen at any time of the year...
So don't book me in for the party yet...and I guess there would be some sort of initial inspection after a vehicle is restored..
...Ian
Hi Ron..Also exemptions for any vehicle that you live in...That probably originates from the showmans side but also explains all those wrecked out horse transporters and buses the Travellers use
...Ian
Theres a lot of truth in the points you made Danny..specially about you not being smarter today ...Seriously though, Mot (and paying road tax) go someway towards verifying your right to use the road in an unrestricted way as others do. My greatest fear is any proposal that restricts use of old vehicles....and the more marginalised you are as a road user the easier it gets for the Government.
I also agree an annual check to make sure the basics of the vehicle are sound and safe for use is a good idea...and that was why the MOT was introduced in the first place.
It is certainly the case that an increasing number of people have very little mechanical apptitude, now that the sort of jobs that taught them that have largely gone. Most things we own are the product of a throwaway society that doesn't even bother to try and repair anything....so where are all these competent vehicle owners supposed to come from?
The MOT in its current form does what it is supposed to and isn't too much trouble...I'd be happy to retain it if I had even the slightest suspicion there would be repercussions from a change...and of course I do ....Ian
It should also be remembered that although MOT exempt your vehicle still has to comply with all 'Construction and Use' regulations...and those are the regulations that will apply if roadside checks were introduced...are you familiar with them all?
I don't want to be a 'scaremonger' but some Police forces have already had 'stop and check' days..for motorcycles only. The official line is that they were training Traffic Officers on what to check when they stop a vehicle...Seems to me they could do that training in a Police workshop...Ian
In answer to Rik's point, I have no idea where these proposals have come from, but there's usually a government accountant at the bottom of these things. In fact, the bike trade makes a fair amount of money from MOT checks, not least that it gives them the opportunity to upsell goods to customers, such as: "Maybe you'd like to test ride a modern bike, Sir, while we scrap the rust off this old heap ...".
The question of trying to apply modern regulations to old vehicles is worth a second look, except that the government could just as easily raise the MOT fees (to allow for extra testing time) or provide guidelines.
In answer to Ron's point, yes, I'm aware of all kinds of vehicles being exempt, but I'm not aware of too many 100+ mph vehicles being exempt - and many pre-1960s bikes are capable of these speeds (not that many owners try it). Also, it's a question of numbers. We're talking about not a few hundred vehicles, or even a few thousand, but tens of thousands. And apparently not just bikes, but cars too. There are tens of thousands of pre-1960s vehicles capable of the national speed limit and beyond.
I do know that the government rarely, if ever, acts without looking at the stats. Many years ago, I interviewed Peter Bottomley MP (then at the Department of Transport) and his response when you put an argument to him was "what are the numbers?". So it might be that that the accident risk really is viewed as very small.
In answer to Ian's point, I should remind him that he's got a year or two on me, so is probably down to his last few brain cells too , but I am a little concerned about the marginalisation argument. Except that this sounds a little convulted for the British government (of any party). Generally, the government has been happy to indulge our fascination for old crocks. But I am paranoid enough to wonder if this isn't a precursor to something else.
I remember wondering why supermarkets began asking customers if they wanted cashback with their shopping. It seems that they do so because cash handling costs them money (I'm talking about transporting money by security guards), and they'd rather their customers took the cash home - my point being that the answer might lie in a completely unexpected direction.
I think the current MOT test is a small price to pay for the extra security of knowing that the most basic components of your vehicle are up to a certain standard - except that for guys like Ron, it's probably quite a large price to pay , but that's what happens when you own more vehicles than you can count
If I had to guess the single most likely reason for these proposals, I'd say it's cost. The government needs to save money, maybe by sacking staff and making computers redundant. They're already talking about cutting a lot of health and safety rules. Here's a way to do exactly that, and make themselves popular with more people than they upset.
email (option): dannydefazio@sumpmagazine,com
On an older subject Danny...Any word on the Irish and French Dayglo issue?...Ian
Haven't heard anything else of consequence regarding the Dayglo thing - which is a bigger concern if it ever comes this way.
On the MOT exemption issue, I've just been talking to someone who argues that have no MOT will throw the onus for vehicle roadworthiness back on the owner, which is a point I agree with. And is a good thing. If you take away the "safety net", people are more likely to think twice. And it might be that there simply isn't enough vehicle usage for old crocks to worry about; the government can abolish the MOT for pre-1960s vehicles and get a lot of votes.
I'm not concerned about the 90% of owners who are reasonably sensible. I'm concerned about the 10% who haven't enough wit to know when something is dangerous - and even then, it's not really bikes that worry me. It's the cars.
But it's a proposal so far, so we'll have to see where it leads. If they scrap the MOT for old bikes, I'm taking my M20 to Ian or Ron each year to make sure I've put the nuts back on properly.
email (option): dannydefazio@sumpmagazine,com
What makes you think I know what I'm talking about?.. ..Pass me that spanner would you?...
...Ian
It's one of those American military vehicles isn't it?...Ian
We don't have vehicle inspections over here in the States, except for spotty commercial things.
I believe the thinking is we can clean out the gene pool that way.
email (option): britool51@hotmail.com
Sorry Jeff, I don't agree. A 1944 vehicle is a 1944 vehicle whenever it was registered.
A friend of mine thought he'd missed the free tax cut off date for his VW camper because it was registered 1963. But as it was actually built in 1962 he got the free tax.
Something to clarify with DVLA though. 
Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
They've actually done quite a lot of work already. It seems to stem from a desire not to be accused of imposing more than Europe requires although to be honest, the UK probably led the way with vehicle testing originally.
It seems as well that Europe doesn't require motorcycles to be tested at all so there will be a future study that may suggest discontinuing all MOTs for motorcycles.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-27
The consultation document is heavy going in that it is so repetitive but if you plough through the pdf, there are interesting statistics regarding numbers of historic motorcycles etc and how often they appear in accident statistics.
Basically, riding a pre-1945 motorcycle seems to be safer than staying in bed !
I think that's right Rik! Very difficult to get someone pregnant whilst riding your bike
Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Why not bring it to England, use the website for an age related plate, then re-export it back to Germany? Better still leave it in the garage and do the same.
email (option): stinkypete80@hotmail.com