Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Licence Plate law UK - where to stick it

(possibly the wrong forum, but as it applied to me chopping my bike's rear end this was my best guess).

Been a busy beaver over the weekend and chopped my bike's rear end. Looks like it should be okay (though needs the edges filing to smoothness) and the Victory light i've fitted into it works well.

However now i'm left with the quandary of where to put my licence plate. Originally i was going to let it sit just under the fender, but having exposed all that nice tire i'm kind of loathe to block it all off again.

so my question is :

1) How (legally or 'almost' legally )small have you managed to get your licence plates - any good reputable sources?
2) does the licence plate have to be totally vertical? or can i obscure part of the top (as long as the reg is visible) and angle it along the arc of the fender.

i've had the usual mooch through DVLA stuff and it's only helpful to a point.

[image]http://www.eden-cabal.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=0&pos=-5[/image]

is a fairly poor picture taken on my phone to show where i'm at so far..

Ant

Try here Ant

Number plates

You coming to Dent to show us it, when done...

With a bit of luck both me and the missus will be up there - i'll know for sure this weekend though

in terms of plate, i can get the legal average size but i'm aware that quite a few people have plates that are on the very edge of that limit (and quite a few way over).

if i can get a plate that's as small as possible (while remaining legal) i'd be inclined to put it at an angle coming underneath the bike fender (like about 45 degrees rather than 90 degrees). What i'm not sure (and am having difficulty finding out on the british standards website) is if thats okay.

i mean, it says on the back of the motorcycle...so one would assume that as long as it's not horizontal then it'd be okay...

our laws are dumb, where's the 'if it looks good' clause eh?

What's a "licence" plate? :P

When I ordered my plate, the bloke in the shop suggested no smaller than 6x4". I've not had any problems so far and I've been followed by cops and, also, I've stopped on a number of occasions to ask them for directions, etc. Same applies with the TORS. It really depends on how the cop is feeling that day as to what you can get away with. My mate rides round with a black-and-white plate about 3x2" on his Harley, with straight-through (LOUD!!) pipes and he's not had any problems, either.
The law changed late last year banning the sale of 'show plates' but it is still possible to get them.

try side mountin it.but youl havto hav a smaller reg plate cos if you hav a standard size one youl keep catchin yer leg onit. had one on th harley reet pain in th leg til i cut it down. th reg plate that is not me leg ha ha.th coppers dont seem to be botherin cruiser types for plates only tupperware boys

As a UK rider thats been nicked twice now for number plates I have gone back to the normal style, I have trimmed a bit off around the outside but the most important thing is the SIZE / STYLE of the lettering... I have however seen small plates that have nice block lettering and they seem to get away with it.. all depends on the copper.



Mine was by a new officer trying to get his ticket count up.. twat.

TrOjAn

I was told by an MOT tester (who passed my plate) that they were being told to concentrate on plates that had "different" lettering, or where the spacing had been changed.
My plate has letters 50 - 60 % of the proper size and I've got away with it so far (and if that doesn't mean I get pulled tomorrow, nothing will)

here is the pic he tried to post

Side plate would look nice, put it on the right side and its less likely to be caught by a Gatso

TrOjAn

I'm kind of half and half on a side plate (just because of the unevenness) do the standard ones get in the way of panniers at all? (any pictures of UK ones?)

Sounds like generally if i go for the correct size and font i could get away with shaving a bit off the edges..

terrible picture though, next time i'll take on in the day when it's done.

I'm in the middle of a similar conversion... I've made a shorter fender though I think... My plate is side mounted on off side at approx 38degs (from ground)... I have 3 bikes at the moment whcich all have a 7"x5" plate on. the only thing I stated to the supplier when I ordered them is no fancy lettering or background. The plates can still be read clearly from 20mtrs away and I've never been tugged for them... I think this is the key to size dilema... Can the police clearly read your plate from 60ft away ? Can you ?

Dont the transport dept. or licence dept. or whatever you have supply your plates ??

Officially no,licenced stores can sell original plateswith your documents, but You can still purchase "show plates" in the uk...

Michael, don't suppose you've got a picture of your rear end (fnar fnar) so i can see your licence plate setup?

nice Spawn pic btw.

This is my licence plate on my Speedy, never been stopped up to now, used it have the surround on my America with no problems for the MOT

Ray you really should change those yellow screws to black.. technically its a nick with that border / frame but as the lettering is standard could never see you getting a tug on it.

TrOjAn

Sorry, but I just gotta say somethin' here....

MAN!!! Them's some BIG UGLY OL' LICENSE PLATES them poor ol' Limey's have to put on their bikes over there, AIN'T THEY???!!!

(but hey, on the bright side, I think I've seen a picture or two of what those german dudes have to bolt onto THEIR bikes, and MAN, now THERE'S ya some REALLY big ol' ugly plates for ya, HUH?!)

Standard plate is 11" x 9" and as you say.. its huge.

The only BIG thing we have over here

TrOjAn

A couple of pics of my small enough no. plate... 7" x 5"...
Mounted originally and when I finish it off side mounted..

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp202/Warlock_customs/Originalish.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp202/Warlock_customs/SideMountPlate.jpg

Sorry haven't worked out how to post the pics yet...

Quote:

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have you had any problems with that exposed rear tyre of yours

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u gonna get all that s.h.i.t from road on your back or u just riding on clean dry roads............

Ray what mirrors are those ?

Hi Bill,

You will have to ask Michael (Warlock) as it's his bike

New fender sorted today, it is slightly longer to prevent "chopper back"... Not really had any problems with exposed tyre but not really been anywhere on it yet still making parts to finish the project... Will sort out some better pics...
Hopefully if all goes well this weekend the fender will be replicated for sale..
New shocks expected monday... Put the bike on it's ****** so to speak (11")... will keep updated as I go. All being well will be in Dent for a "live" examination...

The mirrors are a 3D custom or Bologne mirror in chrome... The seat is a custom Leather, made by self... along with a lot of other bits (pillion rest finishers, sissy bar etc... Also available to buy soon...