This is the definition of what requires a license:

SCHEDULE 2. MILITARY GOODS, SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY
PART 1. MILITARY, SECURITY AND PARA-MILITARY GOODS, SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY AND ARMS, AMMUNITION AND RELATED MATERIEL

ML6

a. Ground "vehicles" and components therefor, specially designed or modified for military use;

Technical Note:

For the purposes of ML6.a. the term ground "vehicles" includes trailers.

Note: In ML6.a. modification of a ground "vehicle" for military use entails a structural, electrical or mechanical change involving one or more specially designed military components.


Searched the ECOChecker (Dept of BIS), and no mention of bike, cycle, motorbike, motorcylce, which agrees with what the department told me, that motorcycles do not require an export license, unless been modified to include specific military equipment. Asked about Land Rovers and was told they are the same.

Again I'm new to MT's but isn't the fact that the bike was made in purely green mean that it was modified purely for military use? which means it needs an export licence? I dont know if the MT500/MT350 was ever made as a civilian bike but if it wasn't and was only made for military use proves it needs an export licence

The MT500 does come as a civvy piece but is called the MT CV500. Also to be pedantic, the paint on the 350s is IR non reflective so technically is modified for military purpose. Also I may well do normandy with a scabbard on, that may give the game away!

Looks like some of it could be read either way, Im not taking a chance, apparently takes minutes to get a license so Ill look into the process and report back, then ya takes ya chance....

I've no intention of riding outside the UK on the MT, but was thinking of applying for an export license just for the challange.

Although I did take my ex-army green long johns with me on a recent visit to SE Germany. Don't think you can get civvie ones quite like these, must count as special military equipment

If memory serves, the label on these used to say DRAWERS, PYJAMA (MENS) and came complete with back flap and rubber button.

(I've just looked at this in preview and thought that I'm a bit off the original topic !)

Once you get an export license, does it stay with the bike for it's lifetime? Or is there a time limit for when it's valid?

I just read the list and its application to our motorcycles.
From what I understand is that the "modification" they refer to is any vehicle with armour plating, more specifically its probably aimed at active armour, of the bullet replelling type. I seriously doubt that customs would be interested in a plain motorcycle, considering they also build variations of the bikes we ride in civilian form.
It is worth double chequing with HMRC themselves, just to make sure, and/or take a copy of their defenitions of military modified vehicle with you to argue the toss.

from the BIS website

My interpretion of this is that a jobsworth COULD stop our humble general liaison bikes, because they are defined as 'military'.

How would the jobsworth know it's infra-red reflective paint anyway?

Besides, Civilians can buy IR reflective paint as well - it's to stop the paint fading in the sunlight?

By using an appropriate viewer

Yes they can and a vehicle painted with it could be deemed as 'modified for military use' and would theoretically require an export licence.
I think you'll find that it's a bit more sophisticated than that


The legislation is trying to prevent unauthorised movement of arms, which is fine, but it is a blunt instrument, hence these little anomalies. Looking at the procedures to get a licence it wouldn't surprise me if the process took a month to go through the process, even if you fill in all of the documentation correctly first time.