'L Plates'??, Who out there actually uses them? [Archive]

View Full Version : 'L Plates'??, Who out there actually uses them?

nicmotors

18th October 2005, 17:24

froggyfrenchman

18th October 2005, 17:34

the fact 70 is dangerously slow on the open road is the exact reason most learners wont display an l plate, wether to stay safe or satisfy a need for speed they all do 100 on open road and dont show the plate as to avoid attn from the law. My fiancee is on a learners, i left hers on till she was safe and didnt need any special treatment from other road users then ripped the bloody thing off.

Welcome to the site too..
Frogman

Coyote

18th October 2005, 17:39

I kept it on. Couldn't afford 400 bucks if i was caught. I did get pulled over but fortunately I had it on

nicmotors

18th October 2005, 17:45

I kept it on. Couldn't afford 400 bucks if i was caught. I did get pulled over but fortunately I had it on

Do you think the cop pulled you over cause they saw your plate?? You know being an easy target?

poorbastard

18th October 2005, 17:57

The only time I had mine on was the day I sat my restricted.

I know alot of people put it on then break it off leaving a little corner of yellow behind then use the 'Sorry sir it must have broken off I didn't realise' Or keep it under their seat. Probably a better idea then just not puting one on mind you I never got pulled over without it.

Gremlin

18th October 2005, 20:24

I have used it for the whole time, 5.5 months... so soon I get to take it off.

That said, I don't really follow the 70 rule... unless the limit is 60 or less... :whistle:

The way I see it, its better to use the L, and if a cop wants to bust you for exceeding 70, I hope to reason with him/her and my lack of suicidal tendancies. Without an L, well... there ain't really a proper excuse is there? Not to mention the number of cops that have probably read all our posts about "the plate fell off and left a little tag".

And I don't want to pay $400 on something not related to gear or bike... me is poor student.

SkOrM

18th October 2005, 20:35

ive always got it on but i dont comply with the 70 rule.
the only time i didnt have it on was when it fell off mid ride
as well as the rego but other than that its been on all trhe time.

VasalineWarrior

18th October 2005, 20:42

Your right 70 is dangerous. A friend told me how to get around this. Put the L-plate on your bike, then take a large hammer/smashing instrument of your choice and bash the corners of the silly thing off. You should be left with a convincing stump of yellow plastic remaining, still attached to the back. If you get pulled over, explain to Mr Plod how you just dropped your bike and how the unfortunate L-plate was broken in the process. If stopped on the motorway, use the argument that you were almost rear ended by a truck whilst doing 70km/hr and came to the conclusion that it was in the intrest of self preservation that you were doing 100. Works a treat :laugh:

WildBoarMouse

19th October 2005, 10:36

I reckon it depends on how bike-savy the cop is...

Sorry officer, there must have been some oil on the road and it slipped as I took off from the lights - coming from a boy racer. Honestly!!!! How many cops would believe that...

The same officer might be bike savy and know the "it broke off trick". Like a couple people have suggested, keep the plate on and carefully ignore the 70kmh rule. If you're on the motorway, and it's busy, just stay with the traffic flow... if it's light enough that you can move to the left and do 80-90 without holding up traffic then just do that (that's what I do anyway...) If there's plenty of room for a car to move around you then they will. Either way, you *should* stand a pretty good chance if a cop decides to pull you over. Use the ol' it's not safe and I was just staying with the traffic excuse. At least it's a valid, true, excuse.

The other big reason for the plate is insurance purposes... I can only imagine how much fun you'd have trying to claim insurance if something interesting happened and the insurance company tried to pin it all back on you because you were in breach of your license conditions. This is the one that scares me the most... just imagine hitting some new BMW, causing $20k damage, and not having the insurance company pay out because you didn't have your L-plate on. Irrespective of all the other reasons, and as much as I HATE doing 90kmh on the motorway (after driving for 8 years), this is the one thing that keeps the L-plate on my bike.

Oh yeah, if you've already got your full car license you probably stand a much better chance of getting off the speeding with the L-plate as you can then say that "being competent on the motorway" is not a problem as you've already been driving for x number of years...

There's nothing stopping you from doing 100 on the back roads though... ;)

anyway... just my 2c :p

Indiana_Jones

19th October 2005, 12:44

I've got mine on at the moment cause i've got no rego, but when I get that, which will be soon :p...I hope...I'll take the dreaded L plate off

-Indy

Leong

19th October 2005, 12:51

Phenoix

19th October 2005, 13:33

I've seen some people on here put there on selectivly an then do a very nice speed in speed camera area's.
It's a pity that an L plate takes up most of the space of a number plate when turned upside down, the camera's cant read your plate :2thumbsup

oscar the cat

19th October 2005, 20:14

I've got mine on at the moment cause i've got no rego, but when I get that, which will be soon :p...I hope...I'll take the dreaded L plate off

-Indy

not quite sure of the thinking here, is have a "L" plate like a get out of jail free card for not having any rego ?

Flyingpony

20th October 2005, 09:06

Motorcycle always displayed the L-plate and in fact it wasn't removed till two weeks after passing the restricted test. Can't see what the big deal about not displaying it or wanting to get rid of it. Stops people trying to tail gate and they’re more understanding of your mistakes or slow speed. Never did go on the motorway, can't legally do a 100, so took the long way around.

Lias

20th October 2005, 09:28

Never had mine on until my restricted test.

GR81

20th October 2005, 12:23

Never had mine on until my restricted test.
neither... now its gone, as of last tuesday ;)

Mrs Old Farts

20th October 2005, 13:26

Ive found having my L plate on has made drivers behind me hang back abit as they are probably to scared to come to close incase they end up with me as their bonet emblem. :whistle:

surfchick

20th October 2005, 22:07

mine is staying on till i'm on me restricted.matter of maths. busted for 30 over kph is cheaper than fine for not riding with the L. so the L it is. i wear me L from here to everywhere... not for much longer tho, gonner get to the invisible R soon.

GN1NiteStnd

26th October 2005, 11:05

My fiancee is on a learners, i left hers on till she was safe and didnt need any special treatment from other road users then ripped the bloody thing off.

Yeah I didnt agree with it at first, thought that i was gonna stick out like a sore thumb. Luckly I havent been pulled over, and i think that even the little tab he left behind came off not long ago.

Oh well dont have to worry about it for a while, the clutch is f@#ked and not to mention the regos out again. :argh:
--who knows where i can get the clutch fixed for cheap? like <$400?

pyrocam

26th October 2005, 17:27

ahhh finally I can belong in this forum.

yeah I wore my L for 2 weeks then found it was too dangerous (other drivers treating you like shit) so took it off until my R test when I sellotaped it on.

shcabbeh

28th October 2005, 15:54

Never wore one, except for the 20 minutes or so the restricted test took.

I've found that cops don't even notice me. I remember riding up to Auckland from New Plymouth while on my learner's, got to the motorway, most people were doing around 90, including a cop. I was doing 100 and slid ahead of the cop on the right hand lane..he glanced once, and only once. I think part of it has to do with what you're wearing too. If you're in full protective gear they're probably less likely to consider pulling you over than if you're wearing say jeans and a t-shirt. Plus you get the benefit of protection too, wow! ;D

I've never been pulled over while on my learner's or restricted, you're more likely to get noticed if you're going considerably slower with or without an L plate on than if you just relax and ride normally.

the legend

28th October 2005, 22:11

well if u dont want a $150 odd fine dont bother plus wat a pain eneway

nicmotors

29th October 2005, 10:02

Well i think that if you are pulled over without l plate on it's more like 400 buck, tho it seems to be a very uncommon thing to get pulled over for these days. That is if you keep the clown factor down, eg, be sensible.

ther also is another advantage of having an l plate on your bike which someone mentioned earlier, that is if mounted in a particular way not all of the licence plate will be visable to speed cameras (OPPS!) never thought of that one, oh well wouldn't that be a shame to miss out on getting a free photo! LOL!

Think however i will mount one on the bike eventually to satisfy insurrance purposes, but on saying that i will uese discression when i'm riding on the open road...

Most of the post is pretty much 50/50, so its each to their own really :niceone:

scooterboynz

29th October 2005, 10:17

i never used one , infact when i went to sit my license i had to rent a 250 for the day , couldn't turn up to do it on my gsx-r 1100 i had at the time ;-)
the 250 i rented had a "L" plate allready on it ,,,

MagicMarker

29th October 2005, 11:32

didn't have my L plate for the first 2 months, got pulled over by a cop, and i became $400 dollars poorer. After that i just ride with my L plate, but i don't abide to the 70kph rule, it's just dumb. I do 110 instead and hope not to get caught. :psst:

29th October 2005, 13:39

didn't have my L plate for the first 2 months, got pulled over by a cop, and i became $400 dollars poorer...

Just wondering why did they pull you over?

My "L" is in my jacket pocket and I am at risk of the same loss of $400 at the moment. :whistle:

MagicMarker

29th October 2005, 23:45

it was quite dumb, was riding with my brother he had a pillion on a cb400. Cops thought the bike looked too small for 2 ppl, so sirens on and flash flash, so i pulled over, but he actually wanted my brother, i should've kept riding but as i was a learner i pulled over. To top things off the cop was a real ass! I told him it fell off, but he replied with a "well that's not good now is it?"

They normally don't have a real reason to pull you over. unless they feel like being pricks

Phenoix

30th October 2005, 09:00

Well my R test is due in a few weeks (Once I bok it)
And I need to borrow an L plate, I belive there is one floating around on for for just this occasion ?
Im to cheap to buy one as its life span will be very short

thealmightytaco

30th October 2005, 09:55

I use one, but on my first ventures onto the open road I havent stuck to the 70k rule, just kept with the flow. I passed a motorway patrol that was doing about 70ish escorting a mechanically hampered bus too, he didn't seem to mind, though was preoccupied obviously.

And Phoenix, my L is made from a $2 shop lunchbox, cut the yellow lid into shape and put the L on with black PVC tape. Perfect.

Zed

30th October 2005, 10:03

As you will see, I'm a learner rider.
I've been riding for quite some time, however it is very seldom that my eye will catch a nice law abiding fellow who is proud to say to the rest of the road that they are still on their learners by diplaying the 'L Plate'.
I just haven't got around to it 'yet'...
I also think 70kph is a danger on the open road...
just curious to read other opinions... :niceone:If you are a capable rider and don't ride silly or get involved in any accidents (hmm?) then the absence of the displayed l-plate will probably go unnoticed, but then again you run the risk of a fine if questioned by the fuzz!

70km limit on the open road is ridiculous, i'm sure most people on here would agree...with the exception of maybe Ixion? :laugh:

Ixion

30th October 2005, 10:14

Nope. Ixion thinks the 70kph limit is silly and dangerous. Speed itself, appropriate to circumstances is not dangerous . Tis not the going fast that hurts, it's the stopping.

Zed

30th October 2005, 10:16

Well i think that if you are pulled over without l plate on it's more like 400 buck, tho it seems to be a very uncommon thing to get pulled over for these days.I'd say that they never pull you over for just not having an l-plate on the back, them discovering that you are blatantly disobeying the law by not displaying your l-plate is usually from the result of seeing your licence, and how many reasons can you think of for them wanting to do that!? :o

ther also is another advantage of having an l plate on your bike which someone mentioned earlier, that is if mounted in a particular way not all of the licence plate will be visable to speed cameras (OPPS!) never thought of that one, oh well wouldn't that be a shame to miss out on getting a free photo! LOL!Just mount it facing to the side and not the rear then, that also saves motorists from seeing your l-plate from behind and getting their minds filled with stereotype thoughts about 'what you are' because of the dreaded l-plate staring them straight in the face! :Pokey:

sunhuntin

30th October 2005, 11:20

mines still on, and will be displayed until i get a new bike and get my restricted. while im not fond of it, it causes me no harm and would save me $400 for not having it on. but in saying that, i obeyed that 70 law once and never again. i kept up with traffic and even kept ahead of traffic after that. other than that, i obeyed all other rules attached to the learners license.

ducatilover

30th October 2005, 16:28

i never used a L plate. mind you i have a 650.....i'm not on my learners......honest :whistle: :devil2:

Pathos

31st October 2005, 06:54

no L for me.

sunhuntin

31st October 2005, 09:46

i never used a L plate. mind you i have a 650.....i'm not on my learners......honest :whistle: :devil2:

got a buddy only on his learners...hes riding a harley. last time i saw him hed been knocked off as well...dunno if he got charged by the cops for only bein on learners. hes been riding that bike since before i met him, and thats a couple of years now.

ducatilover

31st October 2005, 13:06

got a buddy only on his learners...hes riding a harley. last time i saw him hed been knocked off as well...dunno if he got charged by the cops for only bein on learners. hes been riding that bike since before i met him, and thats a couple of years now.yeah its quite risky, but, h-d's arent very powerful, my bros is much faster :niceone: :devil2:

gamgee

31st October 2005, 13:45

haha i didn't even wear an L plate to sit my test, beat that!!! that means i've never worn an L plate

ben

2nd November 2005, 12:58

I’ve been riding 3months with no L plate, never worried about the 70km rule, been pulled over twice and gotten off Scott free both times.
1st time- speeding 80km in a 50km
2nd time- no tail light, speeding, overtaking on the median. I got a lecture but no mention of the L plate even after he looked at my license!!!

nicmotors

3rd November 2005, 07:19

No way!!??

Gee think your self luck dude! I've heard some shocking stories on this web site about cops with a chip on their soulder regarding bikers. I guess you caught the cops on a good day...
Maybe he left you alone cause of the sixe of ya bike, i once had a 150 as well, seems that cops don't worry about them so much as the others...

ben

3rd November 2005, 19:26

Did a bit of ‘yes sir’ ‘no sir’ ‘three bags full sir,' thats the trick.

CB_Cam

4th November 2005, 17:53

Sometimes the "Long way round" is more interesting. As for the L plate, didn't come with the bike, can't be bothered buying one, anyway all the cop's are on the motorway with speed guns and I ride the long way!!!

John Banks

13th November 2005, 18:43

Only reason I have mine on is for insurance. Why bother paying for it if I won't get any payout because of a missing piece of plastic?

Maha

13th November 2005, 20:58

One of the first places i went to when i got a bike 2 yrs ago was the Puhoi pub, Nooooooooooo way was going to wear big yellow there, so never really used until i sat my restricted, and it still looked brand new that day. I always felt it best to at least keep up with traffic flow, seemed safer.......