Hello S.F.
I’ve been hearing rumours saying that soon all motorbikes will have to pass the French Controle Technique a show the relevant sticker. I’ve asked several sources and some think it’s correct and coming soon while others say it’s impossible. Is this just a rumour, personally I hope it is because I own several motorbikes and ride whichever suits the occasion and will this affect insurance ?
It applies from this April.
Apparently it is being geared up for this coming Spring! But my friend who has a CT business says it is all very wishy washy as they cannot get many takers to do the CT! He makes a nice living out of cars only, and is not very interested…
He rightly points out the cons for him - manoeuvring heavy bikes between each testing bay, supporting them on ramps etc. Then he will be inundated with noisy two stroke wanabee machines that will disrupt his wife’s side of the business that is driving licence tests!
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there is already at least one thread discussing this, but the nub is here
can’t recall where, but I’m sure I read that the Owner will be responsible for manoeuvring his own bike, from place to place… as necessary during the Test … 
complete info will obviously be made available … as and when… fingers crossed…
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Yes this is so, BUT as my friend points out he does not want customers in his testing area! He has a yellow line where punters ‘cannot’ cross. Not sure if this is regulation or just this chap not wanting people milling around…either way, he is not keen on the idea of doing Motos 
as has been said elsewhere… how this will pan out remains to be seen.
Quite likely there will be a testing station for bikes… within a certain distance/department… not necessary for every centre to offer the service… but, wait and see…
MOT tests for motorbikes have been compulsory for many years in the UK (I believe they came in at the same time as for cars and vans, in 1960).
UK bike dealers and workshops seem to cope pretty well with doing them (including “moving heavy bikes around”!!) - and they also benefit from “inertia selling” if the vehicle needs something fixed in order to pass the MOT!
The UK bike MOT is a bit simpler than the car test (and from the document linked above it looks like the proposed Contrôle Technique for bikes will be fairly similar to the UK MOT) - I don’t think they check emissions for example, just whether the exhaust system is in good condition and is not “overly noisy”.
So I suspect this is just nervousness due to it being a novelty where French mechanics are concerned, and once they’ve done a few it won’t be such a big deal…
Which does not apply in France as CT centres are only there to inspect i.e. they therefore cannot be seen to be failing things just to get more work.
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auto-moto.com has been keeping track of developments on this with regular articles.
Latest article said yes from Spring depending on age of the bike (it’s in waves of how new the bike is) controle technique will become mandatory. However auto-moto’s most recent article also said the instructions for what, exactly, has to be tested, at the controle technique are still awaited by the testing places.
Exactly.
A system I for one feel far more comfortable with i France
I have owned many vehicles when in the uk both light and heavy goods and the system of allowing for profit garage owners to provide an MOT testing facility has been exploited for years.
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In the UK though the workround is to get your MoT test for motorcycle or car at the Council testing locations which Council must provide, ie local government, and not the garage if this can be an issue.
OK my mistake!!
one can see the points which will be tested… and it does include the emissions (pollution)
Contrôle technique moto, le CT 2 roues 2024 | Codes Rousseau.
The emissions test will be interesting as they only started fitting catalytic converters to some bikes from around 2003. I think a lot of manufacturers fit them now, but not all. They do not check emissions from motorcycles in either the UK or the USA. In the UK classic vehicles are exmpt from the MOT test if they are 40 years old. It doesn’t look like France will be doing anything similar.
I have a 1981 BMW R100cs (1000cc) and a 1989 Ducati Paso 906 (900cc) which would not pass any modern emissions test.
As of a couple of weeks ago I now also have a bmw, but an f650 1996 model. Not too sure what to expect with this new bike CT, but can’t believe the emissions control will be too stringent as there are alot of older bikes in circulation, as well as older cars in France. Surely there will be uproar if the emissions check is too demanding🤷♂️
I would guess it will probably align with the Crit’Air standards i.e. you will most likely be able to ride anything you like in the countryside but the emissions test will determine which grade of Crit’Air sticker you have to display, and therefore whether you can ride in cities or not. 
My 2014 Honda NC750S is in Crit’Air category 2 (yellow sticker) - based on Honda’s stated emissions on the V5 document - bikes don’t get emissions-tested at the MOT in the UK (although if you want to avoid the charges for the London ULEZ zone and your bike’s manufacturer hasn’t stated its emissions or the Euro category is not on the V5, you have to pay for an emissions test yourself - that test costs £175).
I hope it is nothing more “sinister” than that. I am perfectly happy riding my bikes (one at a time) on nice quiet roads far away from the madding crowd
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That would be a pragmatic way of dealing with the emissions. Then in a couple of years time I plan to apply for a classics carte grise, and then critair exemption 
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My 1981 Beemer has a classic bike carte grise already. What is the cut off point to be considered a classic ?