Musings on being 100% legal.

[Tristan.]

I've been riding for about a year, of which I've only been completely legal for a couple of months for various reasons*

Now I've never had a problem with this, but I've noticed most of my friends who drive stick religiously to speed limits and get very worked up about things which I view as completely insignificant (filtering, appropriate speeding and overtaking to name three) But the other day I was walking round a corner to be met with a traffic car parked up outside co-op. My reaction was to think "bollocks" and concentrate on being sensible and act inconspicuous, before I realised I wasn't actually on a bike

Anyway, as I said, I always thought I was pretty relaxed when it comes to bending the rules a bit, how do you feel about being a bit illegal, and when you swop between being legal and naughty do you feel a difference?

*CG's mot ran out, and I couldnt get one cos the front mudguard was broke, garage messed me around for a few months before I got hold of it, the NSR was above the legal learner BHP, and the few times I've been on the CB it's been untaxed, since I'm waiting for the logbook to come through, plus little things like dark visors etc.

[----]

I have rode/drove without tax/m.o.t. loads of time myself,no big deal in my opinion.

As long as you have insurance and a driving licence it's all good.

I just find i dont enjoy the drive/ride if im not legit, so will avoid it at all costs...

Hope you dont get caught.


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DRZ-400sm

[Tristan.]

I'm not really worried about the possibilities of getting a tug, the bikes off the road at the moment anyway, I'm more wondering if little things like loud cans or unrestricted bikes alter peoples mindsets and to what extent, I never really thought it did to me, though after being scared of a traffic car while on foot I think I might enjoy riding more when I'm legal, like you said.

[yambabe]

I have a big finger over my head (like the lottery one) that poins directly at me. Most of the time it is switched off.

However the moment I go out when something is not 100% kosher it lights up, plays music and displays a sign that says "Here she is! Go get her chaps! Knock her off, crash into her, if you are police pull her, do your worst!"



So I stay legal. Too scared not to.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Nebzor]

I am, in general, perfectly legal. I ride a restricted 50cc (SHOCKER!) and that's fine by me.

I don't think anyone on here really expects anybody to be fully legal, but I'm sure the majority will draw a similar sort of line (e.g. dark visors aren't going to kill any kittens but 60mph in a busy 30 limit is)
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Peugeot Speedfight 2 - Honda VFR400 - Honda CB500

[thegubner]

[----]

I see what your saying,theres a load of people around my area driving without a licence that are actually good drivers,but at least if you have a licence (even if you just got lucky on the day) it proves you know how the rules of the road work,and understand all/most of the signs.

A mate of mine is driving everyday in his car with no licence but has l plates and a qualifyed driver in with him,so he is perfectly legal but imo is a danger to everyone on the road.
Driving laws are not very well thought out me thinks.
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DRZ-400sm

[stinkwheel]

Anyway. I'm sure you're one of the several people I have told that the front mudguard is not an MOT requirement. If it's broken, take it off.

So, you were riding about with no MOT for no good reason.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[scorps]

see i dont agree with this stuff, if you are riding or driving with a licence and insurance but no MOT or tax then you can kiss your insurance claim goodbye if you have an accident, It doesnt matter if someones a better rider than someone with insurance etc because you are still breaking the law. I am not squeeky clean as I have a licence plate thats all on one line on the bike and a loud can but because i an always taxed insured with an MOT i am the one who ends up paying higher premiums to cover the cost of accidents caused by non insured drivers etc.

I dont agree with the way we are financially shafted but I accept that because its the law then begrudgingly I have to pay the piper, A more fairer way of being taxed etc is to have a policy where you are automatically taxed for the vehicle you are driving / riding at the time but as this is an argument that comes up time and time again people will still break the law, next time i am shunted by an uninsured driver, I am not going to bother with the police, i shall deal with the bastard myself unless i am injured of course
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Do not presume that I am male.

[st3v3]

[stinkwheel]

[iand]

[Endless Nameless]

I always make sure the vehicle is more or less legal, i.e. MOT'd, taxed and insured. And except for a few drives in a mates car on the lanes, I've always had a license when I've been behind the wheel (don't have a bike one yet...).

So I know I can be legal if I need to be, which means for things like speed limits it's my decision if I ignore them or not. After all, changing your speed means altering one or two controls, there's a bit more involved with getting an MOT!

In short, I make sure the basics are in place, and let common sense dictate the rest.
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A2 passed 22/07/08; restriction up 22/07/10 (just so I don't forget)
'79 Suzuki GS550E. Yes, that's a GS550, not a GS500.
Supersports "In a video editing competition I'd kick your sorry ass"

[----]

[st3v3]

[Tristan.]

[Ghost]

In my opinion there's no such thing as being a 'little naughty' you're either legal or you're not. My bike and car might not be 100% legal, I do like a spirited ride or drive every now and then and I always travel quickly, but at a speed which is safe for the conditions regardless of what the limit is. This may mean I do 40mph in a 60 limit, or I might do 100mph+ on an empty road.
But to answer your question, yeah I still 'jump' every time I spot a police car, even if I'm doing nothing wrong. The fact is I and many other people break the law every day in varying degrees, and thus it's ingrained into my mind to be wary of the authorities

[cestrian]

Only my numberplate is illegal, and I could argue that point if stopped. I don't speed in places where I am likely to be caught, I don't pull wheelies. I don't 'jump' when I see a police car, in fact the last time I spoke to a copper, I told him I was sorry for him and that I look forward to the day when we can begin to respect the police, again. Thick cwnt didn't know what to say

Regards

[-Savage-]

I've ridden for a time with

no restriction,
no R plates(N.Ireland),
no Registration,
Illegal numberplate,
no MOT,
and no tax.

I had my test, but this would be void as I was on a unrestricted machine on a 33bhp license,

and I was insured, but since I had effectively no license, mot, tax, or registration I doubt that it would be insured.

When I put it all down in writing it kinda amazes me I was never in sh1t for it lol.
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My Bikes - - - Royal Enfield 500 with sidecar, VFR800, CBR600FX,
Peugeot Speedfight 100, Kymco Hipster 125, GSXR750K5, Jawa TS 350

[fredsredhat]

I've ALWAYS been 100% on the tax, MOT and insurance side of things, car and bike. If it isn;t taxed i dont ride it. as for loud cans? i've got a can and use a dark visor in the sun, and in the high summer i dont always carry a clear spare.

[Fadel]

Im riding derestricted, got an illegal can on the bike which i've chopped down aswell so definately not legal now even with the baffle. Never carry a clear visor with me, never wear a clear visor.

Been out on my bike once without tax but that was because my insurance docs hadn't come through, though was only round the block for 20 mins (had to, new bike ) I then put it away and 2 minutes later the post man came back on his own accord (his little red micra bless) and posted them so back I went to tax the bike (Y)

[The Tot]

I'm probably a hypocrite for slagging off all the un-33bhp'd license holders since i was riding my 2 years unrestricted, both on my 250 and 600. I was very lax about the law and i bent it to the a reasonable degree, which i still felt comfortable about doing. If i wanted to read into the specifics, i could have been done for riding unlicensed and uninsured if caught. But i'll let you guys read into the enforcement aspect of it. A fair few of us will admit that we've done it, and a fair few have conformed strictly to the 33bhp rule. I believe in the principles that rules are meant to be bent, so police officers can keep their jobs!

I already had a riding without accordance to my license... that was carrying my dad on pillion on HIS NRG50 - bike had L plates, but both of us were licensed and insured - my dad got moped entitlement on his car license (pre 01) and copper that stopped us was unsure of the ruling on this - let my dad ride off with me on pillion since he interpreted is being legal (i wasn't particularly sure about the moped entitlement - I'm assuming you can carry pillions since you were able to ride any moped without a CBT back in those days). Either way, i got pulled and got no points, not even a fine... i guess it was because it was my dad on the back... He commented that i was only wearing my jeans and hoodie and a dark visor, for which i didn't have a spare, but i was pretty calm and collected and treated the cops with respect and they thought that i weren't such a bad lad... So no, I've not been legal a few times.

Now, I'd consider myself erring on legal; tax, license, insurance, MOT. Any others is just my understanding and appreciation of bending the law - my bike has a loud but unmarked full race system, I'm running HID's, I DON'T display my tax (because i've had 3 tax disks nicked previously), I have a 8x6 plate, I ride with a dark smoked lens cover which emits purple light (take it off when its dark - along with my dark visor). BUT, i DON'T act or ride like a dickhead, to my own perceptions or other road user's perceptions, hence why i never get a tug. If i get stopped, i normally start chatting to the plod and get them relaxed and co-operative.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[tutton]

Used to ride the dirtbikes on road ocasionally, but sensibly, to get to the track etc,

Rode the 50 around on nearby streets, slow control tho.

De-res on the 50, but then arnt most 50's these days?
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Cigaro]

I've driven a car without MOT and tax a few times. Don't make a habit of it, but sometimes the alternative would be too expensive.

[Wave2k]

Ive never had a 100% legal bike in my life.

Race cans, Small plates, casual speeding and tom foolery.
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299