will a trike pass an mot with an hydraulic handbrake?

Answer 1

A bike doesn't need a handbrake, does a trike need one to be legal. If it doesn't then it's irrelevant to the MOT. If it is required then if the tester notices that it's hydraulic then he may fail it.

Answer 2

Is it a new trike that you are building?

Check the SVA regulations as you'll probably need to get it through an SVA test which is more involved than an MOT.

I looked into what was needed for my VW Buggy, and the general consensus was that a handbrake has to be separate to the main brakes. You can get those parking lock devices that hold pressure in the main brake lines, therefore keeping the brakes applied when you release the pedal (or lever in your case), but they won't pass the MOT 'cos they aren't separate.

My MOT man said that as long as it's separate, and stops the vehicle from rolling, anything goes - even molegrips on the brake discs will pass the MOT!!

I know of people who have built VW buggies with hydraulic handbrakes and they have been OK, but they use separate hydraulic lines to the main brakes.

But I guess the first thing to do is find out if it actually needs a handbrake in the first place.

Answer 3

Depends what Class it's in:

Class 1 - Motorcycles - With or without sidecars up to 200cc.
Class 2 - All motorcycles, including class l with or without sidecars.
Class 3 - 3 wheeled vehicles, not exceeding more than 450kg unladen weight.
Class 4 - Cars, including motorcaravans, dual purpose vehicles, and goods vehicles not exceeding 3000kg.

Unless it's one of the "motorcycle" classes, hydraulic parking brakes as a sole means of operation are not acceptable on vehicles first used on or after 1 January 1968. However, they may be used to assist the application or release of a mechanical brake.