You last part of the post gives the game away the thought of European police being remotely interested in your pipe being legal is funny they won't give a monkeys,the major issue in Europe particularly France and Spain is the speed limit and double white lines,in the last 3/4 years both countries have had a major clamp down on speeding.

The result being things are changing rapidly and maybe we'll all be travelling Europe on an XT!!,your comment on 'Doing' Spain was a hoot we've been on a bike including last couple of weeks must be 30 times at least(to Spain and France) and we are a long way from doing Spain there's a lot to see.

Re the MOT,I have a bit to do with the bike trade,the average punter never ceases to amaze me,the guy doing your MOT needs to know you,the risk of letting something go with a total stranger is way to risky the man from the ministry will jump on you(MOT tester) like a ton of bricks even though the test has some major loop hole's like there's no minimum thickness for disc wear!!!!!,and if you read the certificate it's only legal when tested,when your around the corner it's null and void,hence why if they know you things like small numbers and pipes can be let go,turn up as total stranger expecting favours it ain't going to happen.

Re pipes with 4 bikes on the go,I dread to think how many after market pipes I've been through the best by a mile are Akra's won't stop me trying others though!!.