Subversive L-plating from experienced bikers

[Swoop]

There it is then.
The idea goes no further than an elusive dream of baiting cagers.

[Marmoot]

Thanks. That answers my 7 year old question. Bling awarded.

[klingon]

A person must not drive, on a road, a motor vehicle that displays an ``L'' plate as specified in clause 66 unless that person—

(a)Holds a learner licence of the class that relates to that vehicle in accordance with Schedule 3; or
(b)Immediately prior to driving has been, or is about to be, accompanying the person in paragraph (a) in accordance with clause 16(1)(a);

Being a paragraph (a) person, I hereby volunteer to be 'about to be accompanying' you at any time that you get pulled over for displaying an "L" plate.

Just gimme a call and I'll tell the nice occifer that I'm on my way, and could he please wait with you until I get there, which might take a while because I'll be walking now that he's interrupted you on your way to pick me up.

[Marmoot]

You are, however, aware that L-platers are not supposed to carry passenger (or 'being accompanied') on a motorcycle, aren't you?

[Ixion]

Yes, but TECHNICALLY a full licence holder could carry an L licence holder as a pillion , on the grounds that the full was instructing the L . Not totally stupid taking a learner for a blat on the pillion is not a bad way to teach them lines and stuff.

[Big Dog]

Yep. I was consciously riding in the right hand tyre track and doing the same speed as the rest of the traffic (around 55) but I definitely think the truckie could have sensed my newbieness (even if I didn't have a giant yellow LEMON bolted to my bum). Just like a dog can smell fear.

I reckon learning in Auckland you could do worse than to take a "tail gunner".
Someone with a little more confidence and presence to sit behind you and give you room.

Far better to get your bio mechanical practice out home, in streets you already feel confident in.

I find tracking the right wheel gives the peeps behind all the encouragement they need to try a little lane splitting themselves and to tailgate.
In heavy traffic I sit in the same lane position a cage driver would be in (about a foot to the left).

There are plenty of people who will tail gun for you. Including me.

[Indiana_Jones]

Wait till you are at a red light and THINK you are in 1st?
Only to realise that you are in fact....in neutral.......

lol done that a few times. Or missing 2nd and hitting Neutral when taking off lol

-Indy

[Big Dog]

lol done that a few times. Or missing 2nd and hitting Neutral when taking off lol

-Indy

Or get too enthusiastic and launch a riderless bike into an intersection (seen it)
Or get too enthusiastic and drop the clutch before the engine is up to speed (anyone who says they have never done it is lying, I last did it after lane splitting past amongst other things a group of L plates
Cue next intersection giving it too much and then dropping the clutch while it was still coming down and stalling it again......)

But that's what they call charachter building.

[klingon]

Or get too enthusiastic and launch a riderless bike into an intersection (seen it)
Or get too enthusiastic and drop the clutch before the engine is up to speed (anyone who says they have never done it is lying, I last did it after lane splitting past amongst other things a group of L plates
Cue next intersection giving it too much and then dropping the clutch while it was still coming down and stalling it again......)

But that's what they call charachter building.

ooh yeah in that case I just can't wait to develop a bit more character.

[klingon]

I reckon learning in Auckland you could do worse than to take a "tail gunner".
Someone with a little more confidence and presence to sit behind you and give you room...

There are plenty of people who will tail gun for you. Including me.

Aww thanks Big Dog. Actually I just had an offer of a couple of 'tail gunners' - an SV1000 and a TL1000 to take me for a little tootle on the motorway on Sunday. That would look very comical with me wobbling along in the lead on my Volty doing 69.5 kph and the two big bikes straining at their bits and never getting out of second gear.

Needless to say I turned them down for now. If the sun's shining I'll just head off at my own pace and, like you said, stick to roads I know.

[Big Dog]

Nice work, as I always say ride your own ride and let me ride mine.

[RiderInBlack]

Yep

LAND TRANSPORT (DRIVER LICENSING) RULE 1999
PART 16 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO RESPONSIBILITIES OF DRIVERS

104.Prohibition on display of ``L'' plate except in appropriate circumstances—

A person must not drive, on a road, a motor vehicle that displays an ``L'' plate as specified in clause 66 unless that person—

(a)Holds a learner licence of the class that relates to that vehicle in accordance with Schedule 3; or
(b)Immediately prior to driving has been, or is about to be, accompanying the person in paragraph (a) in accordance with clause 16(1)(a); or
(c)Holds a driving instructor or testing officer endorsement and is driving a vehicle used for purposes connected with that endorsement.

Thanks Ixion. Bloodly annoys me that they don't make these rules easy ta find. Could have been pinged for that (see: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...42&postcount=1 ).

[surfchick]

I would like some help, ...
Better still, get an L plate and stick it on your big hairy Harley. Let's see if they'll take a learner on then.

** klingon puts two notches in belt

ummm...unless they bring out an "L" plate in red, the "L" plate will not be doning the rear of my ducati... may-be you could ask someone with a yellow 996?


but...some sympathy for the cause I must admit...although i noticed (as I wore my L plate for 2 years...) that as you get to be a meaner rider the "L" becomes pretty invisible and no-one tailgates at all. i just had a few horrid drivers yelling at me on my very first outing in te atatu pen the day after I brought my first bike home... which was fair enough cause I was wobbly unco blah blah...

not now tho no siree-bob now I end up in motorway showdowns with holden ute drivers. who loose.

[90s]

So all I'm asking is for some un-intimidatable more experienced riders to call the bluff of the cowards behind the wheels of the larger vehicles.

We are all intimidatable (is this a word?) on a bike. Even the biggest, hairiest Harley rider is going to come off much worse than a car in any smack-down. And we've got to remember that when we are out there.

I did 4 yrs in Ackl on a cycle before getting a motorbike again last year. Generally cars push around smaller things more. Learners have smaller bikes. You wouldn't believe the crap you get on a cycle. The 'L' seems to infuriate some driver - why, who knows - but there are enought random ones around anyway for that to not matter.

ImDying is right - there is an online form. If you google #555 you get straight to it. For the first time in 20 years on bikes this week I reported a driver to the cops (using the form) because I was subjected to sustained dangerous driving my a Mitsi Pajero (driven by a woman concentrating on eating her breakfast) from Titirangi Rd right through to the SH16, where she attempted to push me off the entry slip-road by undercutting me.

Things might improve when you loose the L-plate. But there are still loads of nutters. Take care.

[Stickchick]

This is not just an Auckland Problem either. I get tailgated goin for Hastings to Napier, mainly but Flash Holdens or Fords with V8s but i won;t take my L plate off as there are actually considerate drivers that when passing me give me alot more room due to it.