L plates and speeding

[Str8 Jacket]

I tried searching to see if this questions been asked already, but couldn't find anything.
As you all know learner riders are limited at a speed of 70k's, but I was wondering if you would still be fined if say you were riding @ 75 (on an open road with 100 being the limit). In other words what kind of "leniancy" (sp?) do the cops give to this. The reason I ask is everyone keeps telling me that I can legally ride around at 55k's (around town) and that I would not be fined . So if they are correct by telling me this then surely you won't be fined going 5k's over the limit in any situation, or am I just plain wrong?!
BTW, I am completely new to the roads, as have never gotten round to getting my drivers licence - so sorry if this is a dumb question . . .

[MSTRS:Me]

Probably not a problem. Until you meet one of 'them' who's having a bad day.

[Beemer]

I know someone who has been done for doing six kms over the limit so I'd be careful! You probably WON'T get a ticket, but if you meet a cop who is having a bad day, they could ticket you for breaching the terms of your licence if nothing else.

[Str8 Jacket]

Well im guessing that cops who are having a bad day don't give out any signs or anything to warn you . . . . Its funny that you both bought that up! Never thought of it like that, ive just always tried to keep just on or under the speed limit, you know, "just in case".

[Beemer]

Well im guessing that cops who are having a bad day don't give out any signs or anything to warn you . . . . Its funny that you both bought that up! Never thought of it like that, ive just always tried to keep just on or under the speed limit, you know, "just in case".

You're right there - cops having a bad day are like women having a bad day - they don't wear flashing neon signs saying "go ahead, make my day!"

We had three cops in the family at one stage and one would give you a ticket as soon as look at you some days!

[Eurygnomes]

Hey Str8 - youv'e been out on the mway haven't you? How did you find going 70kph on it? I've had a really hard time keeping myself orientated - the wind pushes me around something shocking (apparently, I'm not exactly 'low-profile') so I'd rather go faster than end up swerving all over my lane looking out of control.

[bugjuice]

you might find a lot of cops think the 70kph rule is stupid, and it is dangerous. They'll give you a 5 minute wonder at best and say 'don't speed' and most like not think anything of it. Just don't be acting all nervous on the road, cos that translates, and everyone can see that.. Just be cooooooooooooooooooool

[vifferman]

You're generally OK up to 12 km/h over the limit, but could be pulled up for less than that, as others have said. As far as exceeding 70 on your learners, it's a bit of a lottery. If you get Constable Peter Pragmatic, he'll turn a blind eye to it, knowing that you're safer at 100 than 70, as there isn't a huge speed differential between you and the rest of the traffic (although riding with a L-plate on is in and of itself enough of a hazard!) However, if you get Sergeant Sam Sticklerfor therules on a bad day, you could get a speeding ticket and another for breaching the conditions of your licence. It's your call what you do - if it was me, I would do the "snap the L-plate off and stick it in my bag" thing and travel at the same speed as the traffic, and make sure I didn't do anything that made me stand out from other motorists (as far as getting pulled up).

But then I am / was a naughty boy - I rode bikes without a licence, and then rode bikes bigger than I was supposed to when on my 'provisional'. And didn't obey the speed limits (although every other rule was observed).

[Str8 Jacket]

Hey Str8 - youv'e been out on the mway haven't you? How did you find going 70kph on it? I've had a really hard time keeping myself orientated - the wind pushes me around something shocking (apparently, I'm not exactly 'low-profile') so I'd rather go faster than end up swerving all over my lane looking out of control.

Hey Nomes, stay in the left lane, look straight ahead, put your head down and don't look at anyone . . .

No, um I hate the fact that our handle bars are soo high up you look like your riding a chopper, cause I find that the lower I can put my head down, ie lie across the tank, the more stable I feel. However it's damn near impossible with those handle bars . .
I went up the gorge to Newlands in the weekend, and I was literally being blown from one side of the lane to the other - its most of putting, but I guess we'll get used to it!

Vifferman - You crack me up, that was a very entertaining read. And yes im thinking it's about time to snap the L plate of . .

[Ixion]

Hey Nomes, stay in the left lane, look straight ahead, put your head down and don't look at anyone . . .

No, um I hate the fact that our handle bars are soo high up you look like your riding a chopper, cause I find that the lower I can put my head down, ie lie across the tank, the more stable I feel. However it's damn near impossible with those handle bars . .
I went up the gorge to Newlands in the weekend, and I was literally being blown from one side of the lane to the other - its most of putting, but I guess we'll get used to it!

Vifferman - You crack me up, that was a very entertaining read. And yes im thinking it's about time to snap the L plate of . .

Yes, you get used to it. It's seems more frightening than it really is.

About the handlebars, yes, in general, lower bars give better stability . Someone on the site (Mr Paul in NZ ?) helped Ms Jazbug5 replace hers with a lower set, which she apparently found much more satisfactory.

Back in the day, first thing anyone did when they got a "new" (to them) bike, was go down to the bike shop and select a set of bars that fitted them and the bike.

Then adjust everything so that it "fitted" and "fell readily to hand"

Hard to do with modern bikes, which is a pain.

[Sparky Bills]

Ahhh the old broken L plate excuse.
Used it many times.

Just think...
If you got the l plate on you have to go 70, but if you dont, you can get away with doing 100 without being pulled over.
just something to think about.

[vifferman]

Vifferman - You crack me up,

I crack me up too.
No wait - I'm cracking up... falling apart... crapping out - that's it.

[Wolf]

rode bikes bigger than I was supposed to when on my 'provisional'.

It's been a long time since I heard the term "provisional" for a licence - feeling quite ancient, now.

[Ramius]

A while ago, cops were told that people going more than 10km over the limit are to be fined. Anything less than 10km is at their own discretion.

I have been done for doing 112km with my learners licence, I was just up front with the officer and he only gave me a ticket for 12km over. WHAT A LEGEND! He never pinged me for failing to display my L plate either. Or failing to comply with the conditions of my licence. I imagine, when it comes to speed, it is the control that you seem to show as well (not that I had much control earlier in the year)

[spudchucka]

To my way of thinking the appropriate offence is the breach of licence conditions, $400. In a 100 kph area the learner M/C rider doing 85kph isn't riding in excess of the posted speed limit but they are breaching the 70kph restriction of their learner licence.

What I'm saying is that it would be wrong to issue a speeding ticket and a learner licence breach unless the rider was actually doing in excess of the posted speed limit. Getting a ticket for both offences when the speed was still less than 100kph, (if that was the current posted limit) would amount to double dipping, anyone in that situation should defend the tickets.

Anyway you wouldn't get a ticket from me because as I see it 70kph on a M/C in a 100 kph area is stupid and dangerous for the rider.