i've had my motorcycle inspected many times before with no problems until this time. i decided to take it to a shop around the corner this time cuz it was close by and i was pressed for time. so i take it and of course this prick decides to fail me because of illegal equipment. i have aftermarket signals that are amber however they do not bear the DOT symbol. so he says swap them out with OEM ones and i'll give u the sticker. then he proceeds to get on my bike and take it for a test drive. wtf is that? i've had my bike inspected plently of times and they never ever ever took it out on the road. so i left and never went back. so 3 months goes by and they call me this morning saying that i owe them for the inspection. i said well u took my bike on the road and i aint payin you shaZam!. he says its in the code that you have to test drive the bike during inspection and that he can show me the code. they threatened me with legal action and i told them to pound f%$king sand. any mechanics here? can you tell me if this is standard procedure during a motorcycle inspection?
In PA its not usually done but it is a requirement for MC Inspection.
(way down close to the bottom:
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter175/s175.160.html
(d) Road test. Perform a road test and reject if one or more of the following apply:
(1) The vehicle is not capable of stopping within the maximum stopping distance prescribed in Table I (relating to brake performance).
(2) There is a malfunction of the braking or steering mechanism—particularly shimmy, wander and pull—or another questionable operating behavior that affects safe operation of vehicle.
(3) The speedometer does not operate.
(4) The odometer does not operate except on motorcycles at least 25 years old.
(5) The vehicle cannot be driven forward.
At the shop where I work I have never seen them do it. They only test ride bikes that they work on or are questionable :thumb:
so it IS in the code?
Yea.. I just edited it and put the code link in there :thumb:
On a side note..
I looked at the requirements fairly quickly and it doesn't seem to say anything about the need for DOT signals... I do think it is a requirement but I didnt see it in my quick look....
It even says
"(i) An exterior bulb or sealed beam, if originally equipped or installed"
Sounds like after market is ok to me ?
(6) Check the lamps and lenses and reject if one or more of the following apply:
(i) An exterior bulb or sealed beam, if originally equipped or installed, fails to light properly, except ornamental lights.
(ii) The turn signal lamps do not flash between 60—120 flashes per minute.
(iii) The turn signal lamps do not properly indicate right or left when so switched.
(iv) The lamp shows a color contrary to Tables IV or V (relating to required motor vehicle lighting equipment; and location of required equipment), as applicable.
(v) The lamp or filament indicated at switch position does not light when the correct switch indicates the lamp should be on.
(vi) The lamp has a missing or broken lens.
(vii) A required lamp is missing.
(viii) Auxiliary equipment is placed on, in or front of any lamp.
(ix) The fog lamps operate with the high beams of headlamps.
(x) Auxiliary driving lamps operate with the low beam of the standard headlamp system or alone.
(xi) The headlamps are out of adjustment as follows:
(A) Mechanical aimer, if any of the following apply:
(I) Horizontal aim is more than 4 inches to the left or right.
(II) Vertical aim is higher or lower than 4 inches from the center.
I didnt see D.O.T in there ???
if they knew you were going to fail due to the turn signals they should have turned you away right there. Instead of continuing on and taking the bike out.
+1 on the last comment . if they want to fight you about it . i would be like " i failed a part of the Inspection before you went on to do the test ride . you SHOULD NOT have taken my bike out at that point " I live in texas most the time i'v taken my bike in they have never test driven it . one of the shops i use to go use to make ME do it . they had a spot on the side of the building and he said ok . you need to be at 30MPH here and be able to stop by here ( marked with lines ) and thats how they did it . but also in texas if you have signals they have to work . but its not a must have here .. but it might be now . i think they changed the law last year or so .
Dunning you for the service (or disservice) - what's the big deal ? You asked for an inspection, and got one. Shouldn't you pay for what you got ?
As far as 'how much inspection should you do' the answer should be: All of it.
If you're sore because you failed, and don't think you need to pay, maybe you're just cheap like me ?
If you're sore because your bike was ridden by the mechanic, think about it. The shop has insurance. The shop can, and most likely will be sued (by you) should they damage your gs. If the mechanic saves you life (or limbs) by finding a problem you hadn't noticed, would you still be ticked ?
Don't take my comment personally man, I'm just an optimist on Wednesdays. See the lighter side, pay the bill, and heck, he TOLD you he'd pass you if you swapped the signals out for DOT stuff. Maybe he was hinting ?
originally i was PISSED about the test drive. i've never seen it before (doesnt mean it isnt in the code however) and i thought he wanted to take it for a joyride. but i mean come on, who wouldnt? the gs is such a sweet bike :icon_mrgreen:
i think i'll just go in asap and pay it. i told them to eat it earlier haha