L plates, who's used them?

**BUNGY** · 8th September 2006, 09:30

Hi. Just got my bike and hate the L plate. Would take it off but not sure if it worth the risk. Just wondering how many of you did and didn't use an L plate and whether or not you were caught and fined

**Flatcap** · 8th September 2006, 09:33

Only put mine on for the test.

Didn't get caught, or stopped at all for any reason...

**Fishy** · 8th September 2006, 09:35

The only time I put an L plate on was when I rode to the cop shop to do my restricted. I reckon the attract unwanted attention from cops and idiot cage drivers.

**Joni** · 8th September 2006, 09:35

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=24252

**sunhuntin** · 8th September 2006, 11:30

had one from day one....too expensive not too...for both fines and insurance reasons. i cut one corner off [was blocking me indicator] and the tyre had a munch of the opposite corner going to bulls one day. its there, but barely a "plate" any more, lmfao.

**Karma** · 8th September 2006, 11:39

Where's the option for never needed one? Some of us never had to do learners / restricted

**Freakshow** · 8th September 2006, 11:43

Never used it and was done for sppeding and no L put it on and broke of 50km later and only used on the test day after that.

**Filterer** · 8th September 2006, 11:47

Well i used a L plate when I learned to drive a car 6years ago but the only time Ill use it on the bike is the day i go for my restricted...

Ive been on the learners for 5 months now riding most days and have never pulled over or stopped by the fuzz. Having said that the other rule that you should break is the 70km/h rule. Its just ludicrous on the motorway.

From what I have read on here if your doing 70km/h and the rest of the traffic is doging 100km/h cops will pull you over to tell you to speed up or get off the motorway....

On the other hand it is a $400 fine for each infringement so could be expensive if busted after 10pm doing 100km/h and no L plate....... not that I would have ever done that many times

**jumma** · 8th September 2006, 11:50

Been riding about a month now and haven't got round to putting one on. Had my license / wof / rego checked at a checkpoint and the coppa said he wasn't losing any sleep over the lack of an L plate.

When my flatmate got pulled without one, he sent the cops a photo of his bike with one on to show he'd fixed the problem and his ticket was cancelled.

However, if you're insured and you don't have one on you're breaching your license conditions - so that equals NO insurance.

**Swoop** · 8th September 2006, 12:14

Originally Posted by Weasel

Where's the option for never needed one? Some of us never had to do learners / restricted

x 2!

10 chars

**Filterer** · 8th September 2006, 12:47

Originally Posted by jumma

However, if you're insured and you don't have one on you're breaching your license conditions - so that equals NO insurance.

From what I understand this only applies if the condition you were breaching was a factor in the crash....Somebody correct me if im wrong.

I think an insurance company would be hard pushed to prove not having an L plate contributed to the crash, on the other hand if you had a passenger on the back and you crashed because you couldn't stop in time with the extra weight or something they would have a much better case to decline your claim

**McJim** · 8th September 2006, 12:50

Mine is always on - but it so covered in dried mud you can't see the detail - just looks like a mud-flap. It's the only part of my bike I don't clean.

**sunhuntin** · 8th September 2006, 12:51

Originally Posted by Filterer

On the other hand it is a $400 fine for each infringement so could be expensive if busted after 10pm doing 100km/h and no L plate....... not that I would have ever done that many times

i used to ride after 10pm [midnight - 1am to be exact] due to work...did it illegally before i applied and was granted an exemption. i actually see those hours as the safest due to the lack of traffic. ive also ridden before 6am...think it was 5am, and that was beautiful....watched the sun coming up on the foxton straits. if i was a morning person, id do that more often! LOL.

**Dodger** · 8th September 2006, 12:53

Originally Posted by Filterer

I think an insurance company would be hard pushed to prove not having an L plate contributed to the crash, on the other hand if you had a passenger on the back and you crashed because you couldn't stop in time with the extra weight or something they would have a much better case to decline your claim

Dont think I want to risk killing my bike and then not having the insurance backup, so I think I'll just leave the plate there. Only need it for a few more months anyway.

On the plus side, Yellow bike, Yellow plate, so it doesnt stand out that much.
Also, the plates you get from the bike stores are smaller than the ones from the AA/$2 shop (which are enlarged car sized)

**inlinefour** · 8th September 2006, 12:54

Originally Posted by Weasel

Where's the option for never needed one? Some of us never had to do learners / restricted

That and if ya ever did need one, one well placed wheelie tends to help with the thing. Have a nephew who got pulled over, but still had some of the plastic from the L plate on the back. He was just told to get another one, guess what happened to that one as well...