Katanas and the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)

[craik]

As you are probably aware if you live in London, the ULEZ is due to come into force on 8 April 2019, and will initially cover the existing congestion charge zone in central London, but will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From 25 October 2021, it will expand to an area bounded by the north and south circular roads.
Vehicles, including motorbikes, that don’t meet the tighter exhaust emissions standards will have to pay £12.50 every day that they are used within the ULEZ – the city centre one from this April, the bigger one from October 2021 – plus the £11.50 congestion charge if they enter the city centre between Monday and Friday, 7am to 6pm.
More here: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ed-to-know

It would have been nice if motorcycles were exempt, but unfortunately my 1986 Suzuki GS 650 G Katana is caught up in this since it doesn't meet modern clean engine requirements.
Any one else in the same position? Any ideas how to get round it? One person I spoke to said if your motorcycle is ofiicially classed as a classic ie built in 1980 or earlier, you're exempt. Unfortunately, the old Katanas fall short by some years.
Thanks in advance.

[fossie]

MAG (motorcycle action group ) are on to it , originally Sadiq Khan, said in his voting campaign that motorcycles would be exempt......but a combination of EU directives and the fact that bikers are a minority who generally only bother the transport system for a few months a year. The focus is now conning the green vote to stay in power ( hoping to lead Labour). These people ride bicycles , in Lycra!

This very same issue is raising it ugly head here in Manchester, where motorcycle parking bays are being closed , so bicycles only use them......the future plan is to charge commercial vehicles £100 a day , but private will be free......go figure........more votes from Range Rover owners than van drivers ....Mr Burnham who has the same dreams as mr Khan.
Join MAG ! At least you would be trying to add a voice .....and avoid London.

[stockcar]

they are pricks first class.....................

complain about pollution, etc. but then fail to see if they actually keep traffic moving instead of sitting for hours tail to tail it would actually improve things???

with some newer stuff there is a 'testing centre' based in London that can undertake exemption if your emissions meet the target

[Kryten]

According to the weekly comic....

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/201 ... ulez-test/

Wonder if a Kat would get through the test

[pookie]

£175 to be told your bike doesn't qualify looks like someone else trying to make money out of this 'legislation' the fact that motorcycles produce only 1% of pollution in the capital proves that this is a money making exercise, the mayor should be encouraging more bikes and less cars if he really wants to lower congestion and pollution, the charge should also be based on usage by maybe adding the cost to fuel seeing as my 1989 Kawasaki Kr-1 has done 15000 miles in nearly 30 years whereas most cars cover that mileage in just over a year, if you'll pardon the pun the whole thing stinks.

[craik]

Thanks guys.
Took it to Riverbank Motorcycles as mentioned in Kryten's post for the emissions test and it just scraped through and passed.
However, maybe I should have waited and saved my money though, since I have a feeling that at some point in the future eg in 2021 when the ULEZ is expanded to create a single larger zone bounded by the North and South Circular roads in London, the outcry from all those affected would have forced them to abandon the idea.
From what I've read about other planned ULEZ zones in eg Manchester etc, all motorcycles should be exempt, so no need to worry for other Katana users.
The whole introduction of the scheme seems a little haphazard and poorly thought out, to say the least. Even though I now have a certificate of compliance from TFL, the online ULEZ checker still comes up as me not being exempt. So they don't appear to keep the online database up-to-date.
Also, when driving in London, new signs have been put up on the roadside, just stating 'ULEZ Zone', giving the impression that once you pass them, you are in the zone and will be subject to the charge. However, the actual zone starts some distance further on from the sign. It's not clear that the signs are just an advance warning that the ULEZ zone is ahead but actually still some distance away.

[johnr]

im told that vehicles covered by the historic vehicle ved and mot exemption will also be exempt from the ulez charge, so dont sell your kat yet, hang on to it for a year or two!