To L plate or not to L plate...

**jared** · 19th November 2009, 18:07

yay or nay? Personally I don't use it but I'm wondering if I'm in the majority or not here...

**Dirty Heathen** · 19th November 2009, 18:20

Had my bike about 3 days no L plate.

I don't have one becuase I am not going to do 70km on the main road the way I look at it if i do 100km with L plate I am more likely a cop going notice and do me for speeding.

I live rural so I go on a busy main road every ride there is no way I am siting on 70 km on that road.

**sil3nt** · 19th November 2009, 18:20

Had an L plate on my bike for less 3 hours and that was when i did my restricted the other day. If all your riding is around town then throw it on. If, like me, your rides are mostly spent in 100k zones then i would take it off. Cops are only going to pull you over if you give them a reason too. Riding at 100kph with an L plate is a reason. Just be sensible and they will leave you alone. In saying that don't come here and bitch if you get ticketed for riding without an L plate!

**sunhuntin** · 19th November 2009, 18:30

i rode all the way to bluff with an l plate, at times at speeds of 110k if the wind was strong enough. at one point, where the wind was threatening to push me into the ditch, i was overtaken by a cop. he looked at me as he passed, and just kept on going. i never got pulled up once for riding over 70k on the plate, but i was also not riding like a cock, all over the lanes, splitting at high speed etc. my goal was to keep my license and stay alive. i had that l plate on for about 2.5 years without any hassle by police.

**slofox** · 19th November 2009, 18:33

ARrrrggggghhh when I was a lad getting a licence we dint have none of dem new fangled "L PLATE" thingummies....ya just gotcha licance and fell off next corner...

**JimO** · 19th November 2009, 19:20

my son got knocked off his bike by a old git going through a compusary stop, totally the old guys fault, i arrived as he was being taken to hospital in the ambo, a cop went over the bike checking on rego, wof, and L plate after checking his licence, he was itching to give him a ticket for something at the hospital he asked him how fast he was going about 6 times trying to get him to admit to speeding even though witneses said he wasnt speeding....moral of the story you may get away with it or you may not, dont bitch if you get fined for no L plate whats the fine $300??

**nothingflash** · 19th November 2009, 19:27

70km on the Wellington motorway with a yellow target on the back of the bike - no way. AA guy did comment that my L plate looked brand new at my restricted test. I told him I look after my things.

**sunhuntin** · 19th November 2009, 19:36

Originally Posted by nothingflash

70km on the Wellington motorway with a yellow target on the back of the bike - no way. AA guy did comment that my L plate looked brand new at my restricted test. I told him I look after my things.

the aa guy tried to fail me on my l plate due to it being so tatty. i was tempted to tell him that is was hanging from the back of a bike for 25,000+ k, he would be a bit tatty too.

**bogan** · 19th November 2009, 19:41

just tape it to the bottom of the rear mud guard, the wind flips it round and under so you cant see it (does on vt250's anyway), put if you get puled up, just un-flick it and say, huh, wonder how it did that

**jade** · 19th November 2009, 20:06

I was on learners for 4 and a bit years, never wore it except when I went to sit my restricted, got pulled over because I had it, Cop suspected it wasnt a 250, fortunately my shit was legit, Did I mention I hate the police ?

**marine0089** · 20th November 2009, 08:51

Nah don't sport one.

I'm new to the workings of a motorcycle but not to driving on the roads.

**Hanne** · 20th November 2009, 08:58

Well I did wear one, with no problems.
Didn't keep to the 70kph rule but no cops ever batted an eyelid.
Plus it was only for 6 months. Hardly an eternity!

**Ender EnZed** · 20th November 2009, 09:09

If you skip on the L plate then you're breaking at least one law every time you ride. It's probably not going to be a problem but if you do get seen at 61km/h or rolling through a stop sign at 0.0004km/h then it becomes a much bigger fine. I put one on the first day and didn't bother taking it off until I did my restricted, I wouldn't have gained anything taking it off sooner. 108km/h past dozens of cops and I never had a problem. Only a real arsehole is going to ticket you for riding safely at the same speed as traffic.

**Blossom** · 20th November 2009, 09:13

Ok. I'll flog this dead horse.
Yes I used one every time I went out on the bike.
Why?
Cause our kids watch how much integrity we have. We break one law.. keep another.. it sends a message I dont want to send.

**Cheshire Cat** · 20th November 2009, 10:51

Originally Posted by jared

yay or nay? Personally I don't use it but I'm wondering if I'm in the majority or not here...

If you don't want to use an L plate then get your licence at least 6months before you get a bike. then you only have to ride enough to get your restricted...