qcpmsame 

Tomorrow is the Rare Air VW show at Five Flags Raceway here, an annual VW show we used to make every year when our daughter had her 71 Bug. Quite a show with every imaginable iteration of a VW, be it car, sedan or bus, on display. The vendor's area does a brisk business, too. We will miss this one to ride. They sure are fun cars, Monica had 2 when growing up and she loved them dearly, they fit her personality too.

Bill

cranky old dude

Here in New York State we have the annual New York State Safety Inspection. It includes an emissions test and can only me performed by NYS licensed Inspection Stations.

Fortunately for me, my regular mechanic is also a licensed NYS inspector. Our relationship is such that my vehicles are kept up to snuff at all times...after all, safety is a priority 100% of the time. The emissions test is computor controlled and monitored by the State. As I understand it, the vehicle gets it's electronics (computer) connected to a monitor which is directly linked to a New York State master server or whatever. Not sure how they effect the tail pipe emissions testing but I'm sure it's in there too. All emissions results and vehicle computer codes are instantly recorded in the NYS computer so it is pretty much a done deal. If you fail the emisions test you get the car repaired and retested within a specific time frame or it gets pulled off the road. The same is true of the safety portion of the inspection only it's a enforced by withholding the issuance of the "Inspection Sticker".

As far as comparing the Safety inspection to my Physical....we probably shouldn't go there as I would most certainly fail both parts. Eeew!!

stapfam

The UK MOT is quite tough and very item that involves safety is involved. Chassis and major structures are checked for corrosion. All steering and suspension are checked for Wear. Headlamp alignment- Wipers and screenwash checked that they work efficiently. Exhaust emissions have to meet certain levels. Safety belts checked that they work and have no wear on the straps. Tyres checked for correct rating for vehicle- condition and sufficient tread left.

On top of that chassis number is checked to ensure that it is not a ringer and then you get onto the "Minor" things like battery firmly located-seats located properly and other general safety itms that could affect the driver. It is a tough test but if your car does pass it- then you have another year before the ordeal is gone through again.

Basically the same as a bike but to me an unsafe bike is obvious. Brakes to work- no frame cracks- headset have no wear or overtight. I know when a bike is in need of attention but I can't tell what a trained verified tester is going to find on my vehicles.

stapfam

[QUOTE=NOS88;I just looked at the photo again. That wouldn't happen to be you in the bright neon jacket riding the only bike down the center, would it?[/QUOTE]

Naah- we drove the camper down and parked on the road on the Saturday morning. But Madeira Drive is part of the cycle lane that goes from the pier- (Behind me in the pic) right through to Saltdean-about two miles up the road. The cycle ends with a 20% slope up to the top of the cliffs and used to be part of my monthly commute back from work. I remember the first commute I did up this slope and it was on the OCR but I thought it was hard and stopped for break on the handy bench at the top. Looked at the bike and I had done it in middle ring. 42/26 was not the right gear to do that 1/4 mile slope.

nondes 

Wogster - the Bruce peninsula is our favourite place to ride our tandem - it doesn't need an emissions test either!

ragtoplvr

I have had few horror stories with vehicle inspections in Missouri. They have to pull a wheel to check brakes. I did get a disk warped once, they over torqued it on install.. And had a plastic hubcap not installed correctly. Now I take my torque wrench, take the hub cap off before they pull it in.

Rod

Wogster

Yes, and hopefully you have mountain gearing on it, we got some nasty hills around here.....