NC motorcycle inspection, requires "raising the bike"?

Jayne

Jayne

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Went to get my bike inspected and the place I've been going to has changed hands and no longer does bike inspections, only cars.

Went to another shop and the guy said he didn't have time because "you have to lift it off the ground and I only have 1 lift and the risk is too great anyway". He pointed me to one of the high volume inspection places and said "they don't even make you leave the area and don't lift the bike even though it's required and I don't know why they don't get busted cheating like that".

I've only had the bike done 4 times at this point and it was just basic lights/horn/turn signals/tires/brakes. Never once did anyone say anything about putting the bike on a lift, and I don't even know what that would give you a view of that's not visible normally. Looking for oil leaks?

Anyone do motorcycle inspections and/or know what the dude was talking about? There must be something, or the first (now commercially owned) place would have done the bike.... right?

Going to try a 3rd shop tomorrow, the 'cheater' place the 2nd guy told me to try, but am genuinely curious wtf is up with the inspection process.
 
Yeah NC law states that you have to lift both wheels off the ground. Not at the same time so a floor jack meets the requirement. I have never bothered to lift them, and I have been an inspector for 25 years. The jiffy lube type place up the road from my house never even touches the bike just looks at muffler, lights and tires.
 
Infamous1 said:
Yeah NC law states that you have to lift both wheels off the ground. Not at the same time so a floor jack meets the requirement. I have never bothered to lift them, and I have been an inspector for 25 years. The jiffy lube type place up the road from my house never even touches the bike just looks at muffler, lights and tires.
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On page 13 it says the vehicle must be lifted to check for steering components of which are on cars and trucks.

In 30 plus years, never lifted one wheel off the ground for a motorcycle inspection.
 
The instructor at ACC said in the last safety class i took a few weeks ago that you were supposed to check the triple tree bearings for "play" but didn't have a spec. Thats why you had to lift them.
 
The whole idea of a "safety inspection" is a farce.

If they took all the money that people spend on this "inspection" and used it to provide free rides from the bars for drunks, they'd save money and lives.

It's all about the appearance of safety rather than the reality....
 
JohnFreeman said:
The whole idea of a "safety inspection" is a farce.

If they took all the money that people spend on this "inspection" and used it to provide free rides from the bars for drunks, they'd save money and lives.

It's all about the appearance of safety rather than the reality....
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You got that right. Went to get my company vehicle inspected some years ago and the guy there told me that the person in charge of the area he was in came in a few days before and told him he needed to stop putting passed on everything and show some things as failed and fixed so they could justify their jobs. I asked him if he told her that his job was not in danger.
 
Never had either of mine lifted for inspection. Normally pull in the bay, hit the horn and all the lights and never get off the bike except to pay.
 
Coltdefender1911 said:
What about turn signals. Are they required in NC? I've been told yes and no. Anyone know for certain?
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I believe they are required if they were own standard. If it is an old bike that never had them I believe it would be ok. The question is, why would you want to remove them if they were standard?
 
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Funny I just saw this thread. I just took my motorcycle in for it's inspection on Wednesday.

I was there about 15 minutes and was told the bike was ready. Never heard them pull it into the shop. I paid the bill and walked out to my bike. It was parked in the same spot I left it in when I arrived.

I know it wasn't touched because the handlebars were in the exact same position they were when I got off the bike before the inspection. I always park my bike with the handlebars slightly turned to the right when the bike is resting on the kickstand.

If the handlebars would have been turned to the left when I went to leave, I would have known that they pulled it in the shop.
 
SPST said:
I believe they are required if they were own standard. If it is an old bike that never had them I believe it would be ok. The question is, why would you want to remove them if they were standard?
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Excellent. Mine are removed. For looks.
 
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Coltdefender1911 said:
Excellent. Mine are removed. For looks.
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The look of making you harder to see? I changed all my bulbs to LED's. My front turn signals are in the mirror housing like a car. I changed the lens to clear and have dual white/amber LED bulbs that function as running lights until you hit the turn signal, then they flash amber. Plus, I can keep both hands on the bars instead of having to use my left arm as a turn signal when negotiating intersections. To each his own. Ride on and be safe.
 
Rode through some rain today but it took all of 5 minutes to get the bike inspected at the "high volume" place the 2nd mechanic pointed me to. Maybe even less than 5 minutes. No lifting required.
 
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