Low volume vehicle certification

[Arborist]

My first post so hi to all. I appear to have descended into a bureaucratic nightmare. I have returned to biking after over 20 years with a lovely FJ1200. The bike needed some updating so I have done the usual mods, R1 callipers, 180 rear tyre and wheel etc and its a vast improvement on standard equipment. I also removed all of the ABS system as this was not operating anyway. Today when getting a fresh WOF, I I was told that as the bike has no ABS, it now needs to be re-certified at a cost of over 500 dollars. This seems a bit harsh considering that ABS was optional and the braking now is far better. Any ideas how to get around this nonsense greatfully received.

[Tazz]

Try another WOF place is about all you can do. There is no room in the law for common sense, what is written is what is written.

[Laava]

See if you can get a written dispensation from someone in nzta by writing to them and citing the optional abs on that model and it's age. It won't cost anything and it might get a result? But continue researching it first?

[Arborist]

Oh, it gets better, I'm in Queenstown and the nearest certifier is in Dunedin and he needs 2 days to check the bike, take photos, record details of any new part's and charge me a fortune for this, he doesn't have email and he specialises in vintage Chevrolets . This is yet another example of being gouged due to bureaucratic nonsense. Why cant small mods be assessed by the WOF folks and noted on the records! So, its looking like around 700 dollars, 2 days off work, accommodation just for someone to record the changes made before I can go back to VTNZ and get my WOF......... ridiculous!

[jellywrestler]

Oh, it gets better, I'm in Queenstown and the nearest certifier is in Dunedin and he needs 2 days to check the bike, take photos, record details of any new part's and charge me a fortune for this, he doesn't have email and he specialises in vintage Chevrolets . This is yet another example of being gouged due to bureaucratic nonsense. Why cant small mods be assessed by the WOF folks and noted on the records! So, its looking like around 700 dollars, 2 days off work, accommodation just for someone to record the changes made before I can go back to VTNZ and get my WOF......... ridiculous!

shout him a trip to queenstown then

[Blackbird]

I'll send the link to this post to a close friend who is involved with LV certification at NZTA - he's also a keen biker. At least you'll get a clear answer irrespective of whether it's the one you're hoping for!

Good luck!

[Arborist]

Thanks Blackbird, much appreciated. I will go back to VTNZ and plead my case tomorrow, worth a try as I really wanted to get the bike on the road this weekend!

[Drew]

Thanks Blackbird, much appreciated. I will go back to VTNZ and plead my case tomorrow, worth a try as I really wanted to get the bike on the road this weekend!

Plead what case? A warrant inspector is not legally allowed to give you a warrant when you have removed the ABS.

[Arborist]

Hmmm, is it illegal? With ABS connected the lever came back to the bar and actually stopping was a bonus. The ABS on these bikes is renowned as being rubbish. I guess I could 've covered the ABS stickers and the ABS light and nobody would be the wiser, you live and learn......

[Drew]

Hmmm, is it illegal? With ABS connected the lever came back to the bar and actually stopping was a bonus. The ABS on these bikes is renowned as being rubbish. I guess I could 've covered the ABS stickers and the ABS light and nobody would be the wiser, you live and learn......

Right or wrong it's in the warrant regs that non working ABS where it was OEM is a fail, when not certified.

[Arborist]

Soooooo, this is a 1993 bike in damn good condition that may have to be scrapped as getting parts is near impossible, seems rather petty, oh well!

[RDJ]

Soooooo, this is a 1993 bike in damn good condition that may have to be scrapped as getting parts is near impossible, seems rather petty, oh well!

Bureaucrats specialize in petty... sorry to hear this.

[R650R]

Right or wrong it's in the warrant regs that non working ABS where it was OEM is a fail, when not certified.

Yes you are right. Anything fitted as factory standard be it high stop brake light, ABS, airbags must be functional and cant be removed cause your ok with driving without it.
Like any law its to cover the lowest common denominator, if you start making exceptions it becomes complicated.

Reminds me of truck drivers that like to go fast through corners so they unplug their ABS/EBS trailer cable (some can be bit sensitive to g forces) and then complain when they get ticket....
Its kinda like turning up to a wof with slick tyres cause its summer time and not raining today.

The certifier needs a long time as he's signing his name to your mods.... and as far as he is concerned it might not just be the abs that has been tinkered with.
You've got all the teenage boyracer home mechanics to blame for all this....

Thank god they don't have a list of what bikes have a CAt conveter fitted as standard.....

[AllanB]

Thank god they don't have a list of what bikes have a CAt conveter fitted as standard.....

AMEN. But I may be stuffed anyway as the panel on the Termis state for racing use only .........

Meh - no WOF for 3 years on a new bike - pop the stock mufflers on then for a day Better yet - take it to the shop who sold me the pipes. Works for the HD boys.

[Arborist]

Ok, so any aftermarket upgrade item, exhaust, brakes, bodywork, suspension that alters the bike from its original condition requires the bike to be certified by a LLV technician?