| Ah here we go small plates again.
I cant see the problem, its not as if the ducati looks dreadfull with a full size plate (or do many bikes in fact) and they hardly slow us down, so i really dont think its worth the hassle. at the end of the day the law states we must have a plate a certain size, fair enough. we have gotten away with it for years and years in the past and now unless you have a barn door fitted to the back expect to get your collar felt.
The black visor law is just stupid and i think the majority of police would agree and only a few jobsworths would bother anyone for a visor (esp if you keep a clear with you incase you are out later than expected etc etc)
Ducati's also seem to get away with far more in terms or pipes too, IMO there is nothing more invading that the sound of a IL4 wailing down a race can at speed, ducati's are often just as noisy with the std systems but far less obtrusive and offensive.
Anyway back to the plate thing, i have gone to the other extreme, on the little YSR80 gag bike i went for a larger than legal plate - about 4 inches larger actually just to take the ****, its not often you can hear anyone say that they got thier plate down is it ? not only does the bike look comical on the road with a 5'11 rider who weighs a healthy 15 stone, but a massive plate bigger than the bike really makes the bike look smaller and even the local police can see the funny side.
Northwales police have a bad rap, most are actually ok and live in the real world and are carrying out that divvys instructions under duress, however look at it from thier point of view, weekends are full of bikers from all over getting creamed on thier roads, making too much noise upsetting people and sheep and pushing up the accident stats, so something has to be done.
Avoid the usual IL4 brigade routes (aften not the best roads anyway) and you will have no problems.
Anyway back to the plates, i blame suzuki esp the srad era, as the owners almost have tail tidys and small plates and loud cans as std, as it attempts to mask the seriously ugly arse end. that is the john prescot of bikes IMO
[Edited on 30-4-2006 by crm250]  |