Just moved, trying to get bike inspected.

[bmart]

Hey all,

My wife and I just moved to MA from Michigan. Just survived dealing with the RMV and now need to get my 1984 Honda VFR700F inspected. Anyone know a place around Hamilton/Wenham that will inspect the bike without giving me too much trouble?

Don't have a ton of extra cash around to change the bike to meet specifications...

Thanks for your help.

[jwm2k3]

Closest to you is Cycles128 in Beverly. They are a big multi line dealership, so they do check the bike. What about yours makes you think anyone would give you issues?

Lights horn, turn signals....that's kinda the standard.

[bmart]

Well, just from reading other threads, I was told to NOT go to a dealer. Also, from talking to a few guys around town I was told that Cycle128 fails bikes over minor issues to make some extra $$. Not sure if this is actually true, just what I heard.

Seems that some places are a bit more lenient than others. Wondering where would be best to take it.

Thanks for your reply. Anyone else, if you have a recommendation, feel free to PM me.

[bryco13]

Not sure about that area, but when I moved to central ma, I called auto places to see if they did safety inspections. Places that don't sell bikes or really do bike repairs I've found to be the easiest to deal with.

[OreoGaborio]

I was told that Cycle128 fails bikes over minor issues to make some extra $$.

They were strict when I went there, but I doubt that $ is the reason.

Last few times I've gone to a Shell station in Peabody on Rte 1 (southbound side) just before the 129 over/underpass. No issues.

14 Newbury St
Peabody, MA 01960

[bmart]

Thanks for the thoughts and recommendations.

Anyone else have thoughts? Appreciate y'all helping out a newcomer.

[Garandman]

Did you hear Hamilton and Wenham may merge? They are going to call it, "Hamham."

Well, just from reading other threads, I was told to NOT go to a dealer. Also, from talking to a few guys around town I was told that Cycle128 fails bikes over minor issues to make some extra $$. Not sure if this is actually true, just what I heard.

They suck.

Here's the "finder." Massachusetts Vehicle Check

I believe North River Cycles has closed. Only one I've been to in the area is Sacco's in Peabody.

[bmart]

Ha! It's a nice area, though I've counted more horses than people so far..

Thanks for confirming about 128. How was your experience with Sacco's? Would you recommend it for inspections?

[stonehodg]

Guess I'm weird, If there is something wrong with my bike I want to fix it.

[aldend123]

Guess I'm weird, If there is something wrong with my bike I want to fix it.

Certain aspects of the inspection process are subject to interpretation. Some inspectors may take a very conservative read, or perhaps even be wrong in believing something is not passable. No one is perfect. Obviously a turn signal, brake light, or horn are pretty cut and dry. But Tire condition, any visible smoke from exhaust (event a hint), flex mistakenly perceived as freeplay, etc isn't as simple. How bout if you have an aging windscreen which has become hazy? Sure you can't see it through it, but on my sportbikes it isn't used to look through anyway. That level of "obstruction" is to be determined by the inspector. If your frame has repairs in 'temporary manner', or is 'cracked, rotted, broken or are in deteriorated or dangerous condition'. We can all probably agree on what a dangerous frame looks like - but where's the tipping point?

Do you have an aftermarket exhaust on your car or motorcycle? Would you ever? I'm not talking about something loud, just not original, and not quieter than original. You have the little reflectors on the sides of your fork? There's a few rules that probably never should have been written. And a few overbearing ones that only a couple states have. Here's a funny one, if you have "auxiliary driving lamps" which operate with highbeam alone, that is grounds for failure. Uninstalled your foot rests for your passanger-seat equipped bike because you don't take passangers? Grounds for failure.

[oVTo]

Here's a funny one, if you have "auxiliary driving lamps" which operate with highbeam alone, that is grounds for failure. Uninstalled your foot rests for your passanger-seat equipped bike because you don't take passangers? Grounds for failure.

Minor correction - it's aux lights that operate with high beam or alone. If aux lights are on, low beam must also be on. I was once warned I could be failed because I had a separate switch that allowed me to use aux with low or high beam.

[bmart]

Thanks for all your help fellas (and ladies?). Glad I joined this site and got some good recommendations. I'll be following up on them this next week.

Hope to see y'all out on the road..

[bbhzx10]

+1 on the Shell on RT 1. Also Seacoast cycle in Newburyport, Rt. 1 traffic circle.

[mojobreakfast]

Ed & Vin's in Lynn on Chestnut St is my new go-to place. Even though it's Lynn, it is not sketchy at all and is in a safe area off a main street. Couple of older guys who basically just do inspections all day, doesn't look like they fix cars or sell gas or anything else. They mostly do cars but are actually licensed to also do bikes, brought both my bikes there this spring and was in-and-out in under 5 minutes for each. Lights, horn and blinkers and you are good to go.

And for the record, definitely DON'T take your bike to Canal Street Cycles in Salem unless you want to FAIL. I think this guy hates doing inspections and maybe only passes bikes that are friends or customers that have other work done ($$). I caught a lot of grief for bringing in a 100% stock, dealer maintained Ducati, so I don't know if this is some kind of bias of his, and he kicked me out for having "metal on metal" rear pads that were near 100% new. I wasn't going to argue with the guy because I don't think it was going to get me anywhere. Ironic because all of the garbage bikes around his shop look like it fell off a cliff and no way would pass an inspection.

[bmart]

Thanks folks for your recommendations. New to the site and am enjoying it already. Cheers!

[Garandman]

Ed & Vin's in Lynn on Chestnut St is my new go-to place. Even though it's Lynn, it is not sketchy at all and is in a safe area off a main street. Couple of older guys who basically just do inspections all day, doesn't look like they fix cars or sell gas or anything else. They mostly do cars but are actually licensed to also do bikes, brought both my bikes there this spring and was in-and-out in under 5 minutes for each. Lights, horn and blinkers and you are good to go.

And for the record, definitely DON'T take your bike to Canal Street Cycles in Salem unless you want to FAIL. I think this guy hates doing inspections and maybe only passes bikes that are friends or customers that have other work done ($$). I caught a lot of grief for bringing in a 100% stock, dealer maintained Ducati, so I don't know if this is some kind of bias of his, and he kicked me out for having "metal on metal" rear pads that were near 100% new. I wasn't going to argue with the guy because I don't think it was going to get me anywhere. Ironic because all of the garbage bikes around his shop look like it fell off a cliff and no way would pass an inspection.

The [former] Triumph dealer? I thought he folded up his tent?

[mojobreakfast]

The [former] Triumph dealer? I thought he folded up his tent?

No, that was the old North River Cycles (Dennis) who I bought two bikes from and is a stand-up guy. Correct, in that his shop is now closed. He was excellent for inspections.

The joint I'm talking about is "Canal Street Cycles", which shows up in the Mass RMV list of motorcycle inspection shops, and is an independent bike repair place. This place is very much open and a waste of your time for inspections because you will get failed if you have a bike he doesn't understand or like, or you're not a friend of the shop, or he senses an opportunity to up-sell you to service you don't need.

I brought two different completely stock and safe, maintained motorcycles to him and got the same treatment both times.

Ed & Vin's in Lynn was 100% no hassle and I'm glad I found them (via Mass RMV site since they are not in any kind of motorcycle business otherwise).

[jwm2k3]

Good lead on Ed&Vins, mojo....!