Friendly bike MOT testers around Berkshire/Hampshire?

Are there any friendly, (read lenient) MOT testers within an hour or less of
Reading or Basingstoke?

I've just fixed the exhaust on the bandit by welding on a new stainless
section and then bolting on a slip on can (got an MTC one off ebay for £50).
Now it's not a totally straight through exhaust, at the inlet end it's got a
funny spiral thingy and at the other end a single baffle. It's not too loud
and it's not stamped with anything to say it's not road legal, but then
again it's not 'E' marked either. Is there a nice place that will let it
through?

Just got to get the new petrol tank and the fairing on and she'll be ready
to go I hope.

Email me offlist if you prefer... matthew dot horn at spamcop dot net

Your help as always gratefully appreciated.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Matt Horn amazed us all with this pearl of
wisdom:

I asked about a similar thing with my local test centre and his words
were something like "If it isn't too noisy"

I don't know if that's law or because I've been going in there for ages
and spent a King's ransom.

 

Lack of 'E' or 'BS' stamps no longer matters, so if it really isn't too
loud, you should be ok anywhere. If it is a bit loud, & nobody comes up
with a friendly[1], you could just buy a sheet of baffle material from
your local emporium & stuff it in the pipe in front of the spiral
thingy.

[1] Bike Treads in Swindon too far to go I would think.

 

I use Lloyd Cooper in Watford

I also have a micron race can

Never had a problem getting it through

and its within an hour of you I guess

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, BigJ amazed us all with this pearl of wisdom:

That's worth remembering, cheers.

 

The rules have changed. The test is whether or not the exhaust is
significantly noisier than a stock system. The definition of
"significantly noisier" seems to be down to the tester.

 

I thought it was "noticeably" rather than "significantly"?

 

Does anyone have the exact rule?

I only ask as pre-86 bikes were exempt from exhaust markings but could be
failed for being very loud and I'd be interested how the wording has been
changed.

Not that I consider the Guzzi to be 'taking the piss'...

 

According to http://www.motester.co.uk/qanda.html the noise shouldn't
be "clearly in excess" of what would normally be expected. It seems
that no matter which wording is used, you're just at the mercy of the
tester.

 

Yup, same here