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MOTORCYCLE SINGLE VEHICLE APPROVAL (MSVA) SCHEME PROPOSAL
From 17th June 2003 motorcycles, three wheeled and light four wheeled vehicles up to ten years old must
comply with a European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA).
Without such approval, vehicles cannot be registered for use in Great Britain (Northern Ireland is responsible for it's
own regulations).
Once a vehicle has successfully passed the MSVA test conducted at one of twenty two specific SVA test stations around the UK you will be given a Minister's Approval
Certificate (MAC). With a MAC you will be able to register and license your vehicle at your DVLA Local Office.
Who will be Affected
Manufacturers of mass-produced bikes will have to adhere to an "enhanced" MSVA scheme, which
will involve brakes, exhaust emissions and noise testing, and estimates are this will cost somewhere between £3000 to £7000. The cost would be spread over however many machines are manufactured and not
increase unreasonably the price of grey and parallel importers without full ECWVTA.
Amateur and professional builders, using new or manufactured parts (e.g. frames, wheels, petrol tanks, levers
etc) or using manufactured parts from a type-approved vehicle (e.g. single sided swing arm from a VFR). The estimated cost for a MSVA test is £100.
Main Concerns
MAG was involved in the initial consultation in August this year at that stage the outlook was looking
grim with fears that the scheme was the forerunner of a German TUV type approval system. Were each individual part of the machine is Type Approved and built and modification of motorcycles is affected by
cost and over zealous safety measures.
Informal talks took place at the NEC Show in November with the VI and a representative from BSH with promises of further consultation to iron out any
glitches.
The VI is taking a very practical and open approach to the proposed scheme but have their hands tied on some aspects contained in the European Directive.
Some of these are minor
for motorcycles for example a cut-out switch on the sidestand if it isn't self-retracting, lights in the speedo, all figures under the glass on speedos and not stuck on the face of the glass, and a
steering lock.
Of greater concern is MSVA for trikes in the regulations of the directive, dictating the position/size of headlights, indicators and marker lights would have to be in the position
that would make a trike into, well, a car with three wheels. There's also a requirement for the brakes on a trike to be linked and operated by one lever, possibly foot operated. Taking away effective
steering and braking in corners.
We will keep you updated and informed on any further consultations and developments that take place.
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