L plate hazard

[MaxCannon]

Has anyone else found their L plate to be a bit of a safety hazard ?

When I first got the bike I had it mounted on the left side of the licence plate where the previous owner had put it.
Problem was it was blocking the indicator a bit.

Once I figured this out I moved it to the centre where it hands above the rear tyre.

Today on the way home something didn't feel right with the bike.
I thought perhaps the rear tyre was going flat so I pulled over.

The L plate had become folded up somehow (It's pretty stiff plastic so I don't know how) and was rubbing on the rear tyre.
It's now got a chunk missing from it (the L plate not the tyre).
I've cut it down so it's not as tall as it was before.
Can't wait to get rid of the damn thing.

[Seraph]

Haha yeahh a little while ago the rear on mine dropped so low it hit the tyre and actuly got ripped off...I know it didnt drop off cos I found it sitting on the back of the swing arm a week later..

[zeocen]

<Bad advice incoming>
Just get rid of it now, I too thought the yellow L of doom was just all speculation and ghost stories but I actually IMMEDIATELY noticed danger increase 87.4% when I put it on.

[ZeroIndex]

Throw it away, L-plates are only necessary for your restricted licence... just give them a "everyone is after me" story if a cop ever asks...

[vifferman]

They're farkn stupid. In theory, drivers on the road should be alert and considerate, and shouldn't need extra prompting to make them take care. However, (in D'Auckland at least) the L-plate is like a target on the back of your bike. For some reason drivers are scared that if they follow someone with an L on their car or bike, they're in dire danger and must overtake at all costs. I was absolutely stunned when teaching sons #1 and #2 to drive at how reckless and rude other drivers were. It was OK in Tauranga, where I started teaching #1, but in D'Auckland I had people passing dangerously, tooting, cutting us off. And it wasn't situational: I once left the plates on the car, and drove to Glenfield Mall and back, and despite travelling at well over the speed limit, I had cars still trying to pass. Wankers!:mad:

It was better back in the Pleistocene when I was a looner; there were no L-plates, and if you were on your provisional bike licence, you were supposed to have a rego sticker with a discrete L on it. Of course if you didn't, it was no biggie.

If I was a looner now, there's no way I'd stick one on my bike. I'd go with the "bolt it on, snap (most of it) off" method. Sounds reasonable to me. I wouldn't stick to the 70? 80? km/h speed limit either. (Mind you, I don't stick to the speed limits now, although I'm trying to. It's a very strange sensation...)

[fjones]

Been experimenting as of late, and find people tailgate much closer with the "L" on. Mainly in the efforts to pass at all costs.

Didn't think of bolting it on and snapping it off though. I'll do that tonight. Or maybe I'll just explain I value my safety more that the $400 fine for removing the target off my very exposed ass......

[discotex]

The L plate had become folded up somehow (It's pretty stiff plastic so I don't know how) and was rubbing on the rear tyre.
It's now got a chunk missing from it (the L plate not the tyre).
I've cut it down so it's not as tall as it was before.
Can't wait to get rid of the damn thing.

Hehe I had exactly the same thing happen. When I mounted it I jumped up and down on the bike to make sure there was plenty of clearance but somehow it managed to get hooked up anyway.

Burned out the exact shape of the tyre on a run down the southern motorway. I'm guessing it was something to do with the compression of the suspension under acceleration and the suction of the tyre spinning. I didn't notice any performance hit tho.

I can't wait to be rid of the damn thing but mainly our of pride than anything else. In 3 months I haven't been pinged at ~110km/h on the motorway and I've been past plenty of cops. Seems like they're pretty relaxed on the 70km/h rule.

As for the cagers targeting the L plate.. I just make sure I'm far enough in front of them :)

..Matt

[Babelfish]

Wow...it would be an um...."shame"....if it folded into the rear tyre again and um....tore off, leaving only the top corner of it wouldnt it....officer :shifty:

[vifferman]

Didn't think of bolting it on and snapping it off though. I'll do that tonight.
Just stick the broken off part in your bag, under your seat, or whatever, and if pulled up you can say some vandal just broke it off and you're going to put it back on when you get home/to work/the bike shop.

[Static]

yea i diddent and still dont use one yet apparently i diddent get a happy cop as i used that everyone is out to get me story and he still gave me a $400 fine

[MaxCannon]

Just the other morning on the way to work I was on the motorway keeping up with the traffic which was doing about 105 (the GN only does 110 on the flat)

Passed cop who was stopped at the side of the rd.

Just as I think he hasn't seen my yellow plate of shame he pulls onto the motorway (no lights though so maybe he wasn't after me)

I was just coming up to an exit and not wanting to chance a ticket I pulled off and threaded my way up the queue.

I've no idea if he was planing on pulling me over but doing 70kph on the motorway is just stupid.
Given I pretty much have to travel on the motorway to get to work I think the broken L plate in the bag might be a good call.

[YLWDUC]

but I actually IMMEDIATELY noticed danger increase 87.4% when I put it on.

And 75% of statistics are made up on the spot.
Sex Panther: "60% of the time, it works, everytime..."

You could always buy a cheap high vis vest and get a black vivid and mark out an L on the back. That way, if you feel like being a nanna and riding at 70, the cage drivers will think you're a safety freak anyway and stay well clear of you. if you want to go faster, tuck the vest up in a pocket and away you go.

But I agree with y'all: the 70 speed limit for an 'L' doesn't work.

[Stirts]

Yeap, have to agree....the 70k limit is STUPID, and as a learner myself, I would have thought it better you go with the flow of traffic?....I mean if they are doing 90ks +, surely you would be safer matching ???? of course staying within your limits also....but why set us up to piss other road users off by limiting us....I mean hell we are limited to a 250cc...is that not enough...and.....why not limit drivers too, some cars out their are too powerful for the moron sitting behind the firken wheel! NANA MOMENT OVER!

But I guess that is just too simple for our simple minded law makers :yes:

As for the L plate....I haven't noticed any difference actually...I think it actually just comes down to the fact that majority of drivers in Auckland are a*#holes......and yes I confess I was one not that long ago :( amazing how, all of a sudden you see all these bikes on the road

[2stroke or no stroke]

The whole not going over 70 on open roads is bs man its dangerous at best because people try and run you off the road. coming back from welsford the other day i was tailgated by a guy in a ute and i was going at 130 so i dont know what the deal with that 70kph shit is

[Hanne]

My first L plate (bolted on) snapped off.

My second L plate (taped on) fell off.

Today I had my restricted test. No more L plate, yaaaay!
I think just put it where you can see a fair portion of it and not obscuring anything important.

[Vapor]

heh, Pulled over 2 weeks ago

Cop "Wheres your L-Plate?"
Me "I don't have one"
Cop "Oh mate....."
Cop "Lecture on safty issues, insurance and everything else"
Me "Sorry, I will get one put on"

One week later...
Me - Riding down the motorway and notice a police car closing up behind..

Lights start flashing.... I pull over, look at the cop getting out of the car and as I see his face..... DREAD - Its the same one from a week ago.

Cop "Can I see your license please"
Me "Sure, here ya go"
Cop "hmmm, you are on a learner license but where is your L-Plate"
Me "I dont have one yet, was just going to get it"
Cop "hmmm, your the guy I saw a week ago....."
Me "Ummm , yeah... bugger eh.."
Cop "That will be a $400 fine"
Me "Cheers mate"


So yeah, I now have an L-plate on my bike... I cant stand it, but I seem to see this same cop everywhere..... Got no choice, unless I want another fine :) Fair enough... he gave me a warning.. He was actually ok about it.

[Grub]

Nasty and I (in the car) saw an L-Plate hazard tonight on the Welly motorway between Aotea onramp and Ngauranga Gorge at about 5.15pm.

He was riding a 4-stroke trail bike at around 80-90kmh and weaving between three lanes of traffic that was doing about 30kmh!!!!

We don't think he had proper gear on, I think it was a black/grey Roost jacket and f-all else. We seriously didn't think he'd make it as far as the gorge. Neither of us have seen anything like it ... ever.

If you know this young man, shame him, kick him and then take him to A&E at midnight to observe what happens to brain-deads like him

[ZeroIndex]

Nasty and I (in the car) saw an L-Plate hazard tonight on the Welly motorway between Aotea onramp and Ngauranga Gorge at about 5.15pm.

He was riding a 4-stroke trail bike at around 80-90kmh and weaving between three lanes of traffic that was doing about 30kmh!!!!

We don't think he had proper gear on, I think it was a black/grey Roost jacket and f-all else. We seriously didn't think he'd make it as far as the gorge. Neither of us have seen anything like it ... ever.

If you know this young man, shame him, kick him and then take him to A&E at midnight to observe what happens to brain-deads like him

Some people are just skilled...

[Big Dog]

I hate F#$^ing L plates.
At present i often have to ride back marker for the no longer a pillion as she gets tailgated everywhere with it.

I took it off when I rode it and no one tailgated me.

Mind you the 70kmph speed limit probably has more to do with this than the actual plate outside of town.

But even in 50's that little yellow horror is a red rag to a bull, especieally to boy racers (who are probably on L's themselves).
When ever I am out with her I am often having to drop back from the lead to force them to back off, or if following from a few cars back split up the middle to back them off.

I gaurantee you I would not have to put myself at risk like that if she did not have one on. (this was not an issue on a couple of occasions that this bike was ridden without an L, test ride, taking it home etc)

[vamr]

I'm waiting till I get a larger displacement bike to finally use an L plate.

[Puddlejumper]

Yep, gotta agree with those who hate the 70k thing. This has to be one of the stupidest rules ever. You can see how it got brought in....Lets keep those inexperienced new bikers at a safe speed. But obviously made by non bikers who never thought that a small bike at less than the prevalent road speed was nothing but a hazard to the rider. A rider lacking in confidence and experience at that.
Still, lots of ppl have to put up with it. Where do you guys think the best position on the road is for those at 70k on learners? At the side they will be swept past by everything, often very close. I've seen a bike go off the road when a truck did just that. In the right hand wheel track they will be likely collected from behind.
Glad I don't have to worry about that.

[Rosie]

I used my L plate the whole time I had my learners. I did get tailgated by a few cars, and I did have some people overtake me in a dubious manner, but I'm not sure whether that was because of the L plate itself, or because I was going a little slower than the surrounding traffic, or because some people just like driving like that. :angry:

One thing I never took any notice of was the 70km/h rule. At first I wasn't confident doing much more than 70, so I would stay towards the left hand side of the road, and would pull over whenever someone faster came up behind me (obviously I avoided busy roads during this time). Over time my riding improved, and I could keep up with the general flow of traffic.

From what I have heard on KB, if you are travelling at the speed limit with an L plate, not drawing attention to yourself and are following all the other licence conditions, you should be ok. I saw quite a few patrol cars around when doing 100 with the big yellow L and have never been pulled over.

[deanohit]

never been pulled over either,probly to do with the fact i'v never botherd with the yellow target.most guys i know have never came off at 90-100, but they've all had an off at 10-20(myself included).the thing is if you have even a little common sense to ride to the conditions,it's not hard to ride safely.

[Big Dog]

Where do you guys think the best position on the road is for those at 70k on learners? .
In the usual place a rider should be.

The right wheel track unless conditions dictate otherwise.
Then move to the left wheel track when you are ready to be passed.

If you don't own the lane others will try to share the lane and they may not have a clue about bikes and cause you grief as a result.

I do believe I would get tailgated less than my partner even with an L on but that would still be more than me without an L.

[Hanne]

I used my L plate the whole time I had my learners. I did get tailgated by a few cars, and I did have some people overtake me in a dubious manner, but I'm not sure whether that was because of the L plate itself, or because I was going a little slower than the surrounding traffic, or because some people just like driving like that. :angry:

One thing I never took any notice of was the 70km/h rule. At first I wasn't confident doing much more than 70, so I would stay towards the left hand side of the road, and would pull over whenever someone faster came up behind me (obviously I avoided busy roads during this time). Over time my riding improved, and I could keep up with the general flow of traffic.

From what I have heard on KB, if you are travelling at the speed limit with an L plate, not drawing attention to yourself and are following all the other licence conditions, you should be ok. I saw quite a few patrol cars around when doing 100 with the big yellow L and have never been pulled over.


I also wore my L plate and I don't think cars gave me any more grief than they do now. The only time I had a problem was on a group ride to Kaiaua when another biker was pressuring me to remove it because he chose not to wear one and didn't want attention drawn to us. I told him I had never had any problems before and left it on, because as Rosie said, as long as you follow all other conditions there is usually no issue. I guess it is up to the individual rider, but in my experience things were fine with one on. Plus it is only for a couple of months, and I didn't fancy risking the fine for not having one.