This has probably been asked before but can anyone tell me when a cafe racer conversion of a Dominator would be constituted as "substantially changed?"
For instance, if the same engine/frame/gearbox are used with different (new) cycle parts, is that classed as substantially changed?
From a MOT exemption POV am I to understand that all cafe racer style dominators that are already 40 plus years old are exempt, but anything created today would require a regular MOT.
I'm just thinking of doing a tastefully styled Dominator cafe racer and wondered if anyone had fallen foul of any of the rules.
Thanks in advance for any advice that you can provide.
Al
Mod's but no Rockers!
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I think you will be ok
Hi Alistair,
From the DVLA, For Historic status, and MOT exemption, Acceptable changes state that it does not count as a substantial change if:
"They are changes of a type that can be demonstrated to have been made when vehicles of the type were in production, or within 10 years of the end of production "
There should be no difficulty proving that unless you are going monoshock, discs, cast wheels, upside down forks etc, which I don't believe you are.
Regards, George
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The registration goes with…
The registration goes with the frame. So, if you put period parts in a period frame, it will be classed as historic. They're bothered about the major components: frame, engine, forks, wheels. New parts manufactured to the original design are classed as period. To maintain historic status, modifications should only be of a type that was done in the period using parts from the period or up to 10 years later. So if you can find a photograph from 1980 or before of the bike you want to build, you're in. And nobody gives a damn about anything you can't see.
I don't know whether anyone ever did but you could, in principle, put a BMW R90 engine in a featherbed or a Domi engine in a CB72. But a Dominator engine in a GSX-R frame with upside-down forks, mono-shock rear end and 17" cast wheels would be a non-starter.
If the frame is new (or unregistered) but built to period design, e.g. featherbed, you'll need to apply for an age related registration and have the bike checked by VOSA, then it will be historic.
Small changes using modern items, especially safety related like uprated brakes (e.g. Fireblade discs and calipers) are fine as are changes to lights, electrics, switch gear, exhaust and footrests. Inform the insurance company but usually no extra charge.
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My personal view would be if the capacity, engine number and frame number match on the Log book, changing to rear sets, dropped bars a single seat and a Manx style tank, shouldn't affect the registration, however, perhaps, your insurance firm may need to know of the changes, under the modification clause and subsequent valuation.
John