Motorcycle MOT Soon? 9 Simple Checks Before Test Day
If your motorcycle MOT is coming up, this Moto Planet guide presented by Liam Simm is all about the simple checks that can save you from the hassle of a preventable fail. Rather than overcomplicating it, Liam runs through the kind of walk-around most UK riders can do at home before heading to the test centre.
This is a practical motorcycle MOT checks guide. The aim is straightforward: cover the basics that catch riders out, from lights and tyres to chain slack, brake feel and that all-too-easy-to-miss rear reflector. It is a good reminder that the small stuff often matters most.
What This Pre-MOT Check Is Really About
Liam’s £1,000 bike is due its MOT, so the video takes a realistic rider-first approach rather than a workshop-heavy one. The point is not to replace a proper inspection. It is to help you spot obvious issues before you waste time booking a test and then end up going back for a retest over something basic.
That is what makes this feel useful for everyday UK riders. It is based on common-sense checks you can do on the driveway, and it covers the areas many riders forget until it is too late.
You can check to save you that hassle of testing twice.
Lights, Indicators and Brake Lights
Liam starts with the obvious but essential stuff: headlight, full beam, tail light, indicators, hazards and brake lights. It sounds basic, but this is exactly the kind of area that can catch you out if you have not looked properly in a while. A quick ignition-on check is often enough to spot a dead bulb, a weak rear light or an indicator that is not working as it should.
One especially useful reminder here is the brake light check from both controls. On many bikes, riders tend to use one brake more than the other in day-to-day riding, so it is easy to miss a switch issue until the MOT. Liam also calls out the rear number plate light, which is another easy one to overlook during a normal wash or chain clean.
Number Plate Security and the Rear Reflector
This is one of the best sections in the video because it zeroes in on a classic rider mistake. Liam checks that the number plate is secure and not loose, cracked or ready to flap about. Then he gets to the bit plenty of riders with aftermarket rear setups forget: the rear reflector.
If your bike has a tail tidy fitted, this is worth checking properly before test day. A tidy rear end might look better, but if the reflector is missing, damaged or badly positioned, you have handed yourself a completely avoidable problem. If you are running aftermarket rear hardware, it is worth browsing Moto Planet’s motorcycle tail tidy range with a bit of MOT common sense in mind.
A lot of people forget, especially those with the tail tidy and myself included.
Tyres: The Simple Check Riders Skip
Tyres are one of those areas where a quick glance is not really enough. Liam keeps it simple: check tread depth, check the whole circumference and do not assume the part you can see first tells the whole story. That matters, because a tyre can look acceptable in one spot and be far more worn elsewhere.
He also mentions the tread wear indicators built into the grooves, which is a handy driveway-level check if you do not have a gauge to hand. More importantly, the video encourages riders to look at both tyres properly rather than treating the front as an afterthought. For commuting, weekend rides or longer trips, it is one of the easiest checks to get right before the MOT.
Brakes: Feel, Fluid and a Quick Visual Check
Liam’s brake section is refreshingly practical. He is not trying to turn this into a workshop tutorial. Instead, he focuses on what most riders can assess sensibly: whether the lever and pedal feel firm and progressive, whether there is too much travel, whether the fluid level looks healthy and whether there are any obvious leaks around the callipers, hoses or fittings.
That is the right mindset for a pre-MOT check. You are not carrying out a strip-down; you are looking for signs that something is obviously wrong. If the front lever comes too far back, the rear pedal feels vague, or you can see fluid where it should not be, that is your cue to sort it before the bike gets near the test station.
Steering and Chain: Quick Checks That Matter
The steering check is one of the fastest in the video, but it is still worth doing properly. Liam wants a smooth, even sweep from lock to lock, with nothing catching, clunking or feeling loose. He also checks for play by holding the front brake and giving the bike a little rattle, which is a sensible way to catch anything that feels obviously off.
From there, he moves straight to the chain. Again, this is not overcomplicated. The aim is to look for obvious wear, damage or looseness, then compare the slack with the guidance on the swingarm sticker or in the owner’s manual. For many riders, that alone is enough to flag whether the bike is broadly in good shape or whether it needs attention before test day.
Exhaust Checks and the Small Signs of Trouble
This section is especially useful for bikes that have changed hands a few times or have been modified along the way. Liam points out that if an aftermarket exhaust is fitted, you need to be sure it is road-legal and not clearly marked for track use only. He also folds in another smart habit while you are already crouched down by the bike: look for drips, puddles and leaks.
That matters because a pre-MOT check is not just about ticking boxes. It is about spotting clues. If something is weeping, hanging loose or sounding wrong, it is far better to catch it on your driveway than at the test centre desk.
Riding Experience: Why This Guide Works for Real Riders
Although this is a workshop-style checklist video, it still feels rider-friendly because Liam keeps everything grounded in real ownership. There is no pretending every rider has a lift, a full toolkit or loads of spare time. The checks are framed around what you can reasonably do yourself, which makes the guide more useful for commuters, newer riders and anyone running a bike on a budget.
That is also where the Moto Planet angle comes through nicely. It feels like advice from a UK motorcycle hub that actually understands how riders use their bikes, rather than generic filler written for search traffic alone.
Common MOT Myths Liam Clears Up
The final section is a good reminder that riders often worry about the wrong things. Liam points out that the throttle does not have to snap back to its original idle position for the motorcycle MOT in the way many riders assume, provided it is functioning correctly. He also flags the speedometer as one of those items people expect to be a deciding factor, even though it is not part of the motorcycle MOT checks covered in the DVSA’s motorcycle MOT guide.
That does not mean either point is irrelevant to safe riding. It just means riders can sometimes waste energy panicking about the wrong issue while missing the genuinely testable basics.
Easy wins before the MOT
Lights, indicators, brake lights, horn, tyres, chain slack, fluid levels and the rear reflector are all quick checks that can save a wasted booking.
Things riders often overthink
Minor myths and assumptions can distract from the obvious. Liam’s guide is strongest when it keeps riders focused on what is actually worth checking first.
Verdict
As a pre-test checklist, this is exactly the kind of video most UK riders will get value from. It is short, practical and built around the sort of faults that regularly cause frustration because they were easy to find beforehand. Liam keeps it friendly, but the core message is solid: do the basics, do them properly and do not leave them until the morning of the MOT.
Presented by Liam Simm for Moto Planet, this is the sort of content that works because it respects the rider’s time. If your MOT is booked soon, this is a sensible watch before you roll the bike out.
Pros
- Clear, practical checklist most riders can do at home
- Strong focus on easy-to-miss MOT basics like reflectors and number plate lights
- Good myth-busting without making the advice feel dry
- Useful for commuters, newer riders and budget bike owners alike
Cons
- Not a substitute for a proper service or deeper mechanical inspection
- Some checks are visual only, so hidden issues can still slip through
- Riders with heavily modified bikes may need to dig further into specific parts
Key Takeaways
- Do a proper walk-around before the MOT rather than relying on a quick glance.
- Check both brake light switches, the rear number plate light and the rear reflector.
- Inspect tyre tread across the full circumference, not just the easy-to-see section.
- Make sure the horn works, the steering feels smooth and the chain slack is sensible.
- Do not let common MOT myths distract you from the basics that actually get tested.
Motorcycle MOT Checks Review – UK FAQ
Start with the basics: lights, indicators, brake lights, horn, tyres, number plate security, rear reflector, chain condition, brake feel and obvious leaks. Liam’s video focuses on the simple checks most riders can do at home before test day.
Yes, it can. That is one of the most useful reminders in this guide, especially for riders with tail tidies or aftermarket rear setups where the reflector is easy to forget.
On most modern bikes, the stop lamp is expected to operate correctly from both brake controls, so it is worth checking both before the test. Liam specifically highlights this because riders often forget one side.
For motorcycles over 50cc, the legal minimum is 1mm across at least three-quarters of the tread width in a continuous band around the tyre. Liam also recommends checking the full circumference rather than one visible section.
It can be a problem if it is clearly not suitable for road use or if it is excessively noisy. Liam’s advice is simple: check for markings and confirm legality with the manufacturer if you are unsure.
Not in the way many riders assume. The throttle control needs to function correctly, but Liam rightly points out that this is one of those MOT myths riders often repeat without checking the actual guidance.
It is often assumed to be a key MOT item, but it is not part of the motorcycle MOT checks covered in the DVSA’s motorcycle MOT guide. That is why Liam includes it as one of the surprises at the end of the video.
Yes, many of the basic checks can be done at home with minimal tools. That is exactly what makes this video useful: it helps riders catch obvious faults before they waste time on a failed test.