Tuv time, take two

[Sylvester]

Well I've spent a very frustrating day getting my bike through the TUV inspection. I picked a quiet village TUV station with vintage cars laying aound thinking that the guy could be laid back. Note to self: never assume anything.
I now am TUV'ed for another two years, all I've got to do is put all the bits he made me take off back on the bike. Lost the Acerbis handguards, Ermax screen and posh handlebars. He did not pick up the Y piece, brake line, tail light and other small crimes against humanity. I spent TWO FECKING hours waiting for him to decide if I had to junk the wilbers shock as I had no paperwork. Went back home telephoned Wilbers (Thanks Chaps!) who e mailed the paperwork. Unfortunately the ABE did not show if the shock fittment had to included in the bike papers so I had to wait while he looked it up. Eventualy I lost it (not cool) and demanded all the paperwork back so I could take it to a proper garage for the inspection. 5 seconds later, new TUV sticker on the bike and job done! At no stage were the brakes checked, frame and eng numbers checked or even the tyre pressures checked. Not impressed, stupid system open to abuse by numb nuts TUV inspectors.

 

[Redboots]

Well I've spent a very frustrating day getting my bike through the TUV inspection.

Take a qualude or something.

I'm not saying its right, but why would you not get as many ABE's together as you could for your embellishments? If its for sale in Germany there will be an ABE and you can usually download them from the company's web site.
If its not for sale in Germany, then you need to take it off or get the item approved... simpler to take it off. Don't get caught by by the police for stuff you have no ABE for though Cost me a bit on my 911

John

 

[Sylvester]

All the mods (apart from the handlebars) were done by the previous owner who just happened to have his own TUV station. When I bought the bike it came with a full TUV completed on the day I parted with the cash. I asked about all the mods and I was told that apart from the seibenrock kit which was entered in the bike papers I would not require anything else. I thought that taking it back to the place I bought it from would solve any worries come tuv time, the problems came when the previous owner retired sold up and moved on. To be honest it looks just like any other GS you'd see anywhere so I didn't expect all this ball ache. So for now I'm legal but I will have to assemble all the paperwork I can or hit e bay to replace the little things like the back light. I cannot understand how all these highly modded bikes appear on this site with a german number plate? Even then, I had the paperwork from wilbers to say which part number should be fitted but the papers did not list if the shock had to be entered in the ships log. If the guy had gone to town on the bike and checked everything I'd put me hand up and admit to a fair cop but the inspection lasted 5 mins plus a rip up the road (100m) and back. I remember a place near Bedford (Davies Brothers) where the owner helped carry out the brake checks etc at the time that was considered an easy MOT but in comparison I know which was the more thorough. I give it a better inspection when I clean it!

 

[Redboots]

I cannot understand how all these highly modded bikes appear on this site with a german number plate?

I know what you mean, but sometimes the Germans are also very sensible. I bought a Canadian import Beetle in Germany and all the things missing like repeater lamps, front sidelights, tiny CDN spec numberplate recess and a few other bits and bobs were noted in the Brief and all was AOK. When I took it to the UK, I had to fit front sidelights, repeater lamps and make a UK plate fit the small recess...

All the modded bikes you see there have the papers or the part cant be sold. You are not allowed to fit the Overland Solutions side stand to a German bike... NO welding to the is frame allowed... unless, like HPN you gain Type Approval for it.

Its just the frustration of having your English, or whatever, head on, instead of your nice new German one

John

 

[Sylvester]

Yep, I guess you are right John. I was once pulled by the rozzers in the UK near Dover because I had a dark visor on (Purchased susageside). Lovely sunny day, around midday just got off the boat, spare clear visor in my panniers. I wear specs and don't like to use sunnies on a bike because you can't flip them up like a visor. I was told I could wear any old sunnies with no shatterproof guarantee or just my glasses but not the dark visor coz it was too dark and did not have a "BS" marking or something. I was let off with a warning (on a German Plate again) as long as I changed to the clear visor. It was explained that I could crash at night due to the dark visor. That would never happen here as they have a law that says "Thou must not wear a dark visor at night" so you don't.

 

[Redboots]

"Thou must not wear a dark visor at night" so you don't.

Sense prevails

John

 

[mikyh]

I thought...

I was told that in Germany, you can approve changes also for on offs, but it requiers a special inspection, and then checked for its functional compatibilty with the laws and safety (you wont be allowed loud pipe or dirty exhaust etc)

Almost happy to hear that I'm not the worse off.

I have another oldy with modern wheels and tires (bought it with them) which were'nt written in the papers. i had a garage that I went to before each MOT inspection, who had his connections. It cost me.
Then I came across someone who is more "connected". It cost me around 400 pounds, and now I have new "numbers" in the vehicle permit Halleluja. No need for "help from now on.

 

[Sylvester]

Yep, you can get things approved on a one off but I'm not sure of the cost or procedure. I do know the place to get my vehicle papers changed is an hours drive and "X" hours wait. I had to change my car papers to add a particle filter which was fun (not!)
The whole TUV thing has even made me consider selling it and buying a new TUV friendly beast.

 

[mikyh]

In Italy, for example

Poeple cannot change anything, approval or not.

What they do is sell their bike to a German who will approve the changes in German TUV and buy it back changed. Imported bikes can have anything, and whatever engine and frame number, wheels and tires sizes is on the papers are OK.
They have garages do it for you. How much it costs I have no Idea.
Miky

 

[John Armstrong]

IIRC the British forces in Germany have / had their own version of the MOT / TUV.

No great surprises except when it comes to trailers. The trailers are registered seperately. If the car that's towing the trailer doesn't have a heavy duty indicator unit, the indicators flash too quickly, and the trailer fails its test

Return with another car with the heavy duty flasher, and the trailer will then pass

 

[Sylvester]

I have the car in for a service today, just had a call from the garage to say there's X number of problems with the car. Good job it has an auto box as I think I'm going to have to remove an arm and a leg to pay for it. This is rapidly turning into a bad week. And we're only half way through.

 

[Sylvester]

Deep, deep depression. Got my car back.........995Euros later