Contrôle Technique for motorcycles
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2023 2:31 pm
I'm posting this in English to alert English-speaking members here in France to the position on CT tests for older machines, starting next year. Our French members, if they haven't already seen and digested it from other sources, can read the attachment and the French classic and rétro-moto press better than I can! The attachment here doesn't specify all of the stuff we need to know - that has to be dug out by reference to other bits of French legislation, in the "Code de la Route", but it DOES set out, in Annexe 1, what is to be tested, and what defects amount to a minor advisory, a major fault or a critical 'do not proceed'. (This covers mopeds, three-wheelers and 'voiturettes' as well.)
However, as I understand it (and please, any French members who understand it better than I do, correct any mistakes and add or amplify any points that need it):
1. From 25th April 2024, all machines built since 1994 will be subject to a three-yearly test from the age of Five. So that's a lot of our 'moderns' covered. (Cars, it's Four years and then every two, so I hope I have that right . . . but as my only 'modern' bike is 23 years old . . . not my primary area of interest!)
2. All machines from 1960 to 1994 IF REGISTERED AS VEHICLES de COLLECTION will be subject to a five-yearly test; while
3. pre-1960 machines so registered are exempt.
The date is a big disappointment I think. The FFVE (Fédération Française de Véhicules de l'Epoque) itself asked for a 1980 cut-off for motos de collection, but didn't succeed.
This is a far cry from the earlier chit-chat of 'visual inspection only' for oldies, but as the whole document is written to cover machines old AND modern, it is to be hoped that requirements will be judged in an appropriate context. VIN identity will be the first thing checked though, so it's going to be important to make sure that the info on reg docs is in line with frame numbers etc.
We won't really know what it all means and how it all works for a while yet. Personally, I have 2 exempt machines, 2 in the 'collection' category post-1960, and the one modern. I'm glad, given a fee of 72€ a pop for the CT test, that I don't still have the dozen or so machines I had until quite recently. Many friends and members will, though, be faced with very significant costs if they wish to keep multiple motorcycles on the road . . .
All somewhat galling frankly, given that the number of accidents and incidents caused by 'defects' in our kinds of machinery has always been the square root of zero, but we'll have to make the best of it, being grateful for the fact that we have been spared hitherto.
However, as I understand it (and please, any French members who understand it better than I do, correct any mistakes and add or amplify any points that need it):
1. From 25th April 2024, all machines built since 1994 will be subject to a three-yearly test from the age of Five. So that's a lot of our 'moderns' covered. (Cars, it's Four years and then every two, so I hope I have that right . . . but as my only 'modern' bike is 23 years old . . . not my primary area of interest!)
2. All machines from 1960 to 1994 IF REGISTERED AS VEHICLES de COLLECTION will be subject to a five-yearly test; while
3. pre-1960 machines so registered are exempt.
The date is a big disappointment I think. The FFVE (Fédération Française de Véhicules de l'Epoque) itself asked for a 1980 cut-off for motos de collection, but didn't succeed.
This is a far cry from the earlier chit-chat of 'visual inspection only' for oldies, but as the whole document is written to cover machines old AND modern, it is to be hoped that requirements will be judged in an appropriate context. VIN identity will be the first thing checked though, so it's going to be important to make sure that the info on reg docs is in line with frame numbers etc.
We won't really know what it all means and how it all works for a while yet. Personally, I have 2 exempt machines, 2 in the 'collection' category post-1960, and the one modern. I'm glad, given a fee of 72€ a pop for the CT test, that I don't still have the dozen or so machines I had until quite recently. Many friends and members will, though, be faced with very significant costs if they wish to keep multiple motorcycles on the road . . .
All somewhat galling frankly, given that the number of accidents and incidents caused by 'defects' in our kinds of machinery has always been the square root of zero, but we'll have to make the best of it, being grateful for the fact that we have been spared hitherto.