Front L Plate

[ayfy]

Hi, just wondering if you have to have an L plate on the front of your bike. I've seen bikes around with just the one on the back and some with both at the front and back. I've looked at my CBT and on the DVLA website and can't find anything that says you have to have one on the front. It just says with a CBT you must ride with plates.

So can I get away with just one on the back or is it a legal requirement to have one on the front as well? Also the problem with the front is there isn't many places you can put it.

[Davo]

Yeah you do need a front plate. Fixed penalty if you don't.

I used to use one with a clip that could fit around one the right front fork, you can get them from most bike shops.

[Ste]

Yup, you're meant to have one front and rear. And putting them on isn't too much of a problem, either on one of the fork legs (you can get hard ones with a bracket thing) or behind the screen or somewhere sensible. Remember you can get three points per L plate you're not displaying so riding with one is very very pointless as you're more likely to be stopped than if you have none at all. The same goes for if you have a cut down L plate so not worth it. Either have them both one correctly or both off really.

There aren't many places to put it, but there are some and they will stay on (despite what lots of people claim "it just broke!!" as mine never came off and know lots of other people who it only came off if they took it off) and the police won't care at all the reason why you don't have one as that makes no difference to the fact you don't have one,

[Nath]

[Frost]

Its stupid really, I'm on a 125 with no plates (passed test) but the police have never pulled me, or even given me a second glance. yet i bet you that before i had passed my test i would have been pulled the instant i went out missing one or both plates

[Ste]

[Nath]

I'm not saying that 100% of people with 50cc machines haven't passed their test, but since the majority of 50ccers are 16 and can't even take their test, it makes sense. It's also generally understood that people over 16 with a 50ccer are just after cheap instant transport, and therefore don't bother with the test when they don't have to.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but in my opinion, it would be a reasonable assumption to make that anyone on a 50cc machine should have L Plates. Since it's so obvious, i'm sure most sensible learners on 50cc bikes wouldn't risk it. Therefore, those riding around without plates are likely to be the kind of idiots that drive dangerously, drive without insurance, and think that driving on the pavements is a good way to beat traffic jams!

Coppers should pull over anyone on a moped without L-Plates imo. Assuming they don't have more important things to do(traffic police mostly don't). Would make the roads safer.

[Ste]

Well it's quite good that you're not trying to say that 100% of people will a 50cc havn't pased their test, as a fair number have done. Quite a high percentage of people riding a 50cc bike are 16 and therefore can't have passed their test, but the people I know who are over 16 with a 50cc no of them use it for cheap instant transport and quite a large number of them have passed their tests.

It is no more reasonable to assume that than it would be to say "all bikers break the speed limits so its right that the police target bikes speeding and pay less attention to cars". I'm sure you'd love it if you had passed your bike test and used a 50cc for something and the police just pulled you over and refused to believe you'd passed your test! Nope thos riding without L plates don't think that riding without insurance is a good idea and the same about riding on pavements. I rode my NSR without the L plates and know lots of people who did the same due to the way other road users treat people with L plates so just took them off, but had insurance and didn't use the pavement to beat traffic.

Cops should instead pull over anyone called Nath to see how he would like victimisation.

[Nath]

If a fair proportion of the people you know on 50ccs have passed their tests, then i can't argue with this as i personally don't know anyone who has a moped.

I'm not convinced that it isn't a good idea though. Okay, so you'd be pissed off if you were pulled over, but flashing them your license solves the problem, and unless you're riding around the city center all the time, it's probable that you won't see to many different coppers(who wouldn't know that you are genuine).

My comment on no plates = idiot more refers to the kind of moped riders who think they've above the law. A bike is different to a ped as the idiots all seem to be on mopeds. The fact that these people know that they're pretty unlikely to be stopped is the key problem. I would like to see the police crack down on scally street urchins as much as possible, and stopping them from being a menace on the roads seems an obvious and much needed step. I can't believe that the majority of these lads have insurance, as no insurance company with any kind of sanity would touch them even with a big stick. But then again, are any insurance companys sane?


I try not to be too judgemental, ie i wouldn't bother telling you my views on riding your NSR with no plates, but i draw the line at scallies who are a genuine menace to other road users. When i see them so blatantly breaking the law, it just really pisses me off. If i'm victimising 16yr old kids who wear tracksuits and baseball caps, and act like total prats, then i don't care. I hate 'em.

[Gazdaman]

I agree with the L plate victimisation thing.

I'm a learner driver at the moment aswell, people treat you like absolute shit. When I'm more competent than a lot of people out there...

Gaz

[Ste]

If so, prove it by passing your test as until then they have proved that they are able to drive or ride at test standard.

[Gazdaman]

agreed, but the standard of my driving on the way to the test centre with L plates, is the same as the standard of my driving on the way back without...

It's prejudice.

Gaz

[Ste]

Eh? You can only drive back without L plates if you pass your test, but you said in the post above that you're still a learner.

[Nath]

[Gazdaman]

Ste, what I said was theoretical, I could ride back from the test centre without my plates after a pass, and have exactly the same skills as if I drove there with plates. But I'd get discriminated against with the former. (I've failed one test , my second is next thursday )

I agree, the kids on their RS50s round here are dangerous, they made it into the local paper for terrorising a neighbourhood.

I've seen them overtake at about 35-40 on the pavement.

Scarey stuff.

Gaz

[Frost]

[Gazdaman]

I agree, the moment I pass, the L plates are off. If I happen to get a 7-day wonder. Then I'll just tell them the truth..

I'm sure not waiting for my licence to get back before I drive. I'm even insured already for when I pass.

Gaz

[ayfy]

[Ste]

If you can show your test pass bit of paper then they accept that just as much as if you show them a full DVLA license. As soon as you pass your test you are no longer classed as a learner, and you can do anything which your license allows without waiting for the DVLA to send you your full license. Know people who have been asked to produce their documents and have shown them the test pass and no problems with that.

[ts50x0]

im pretty sure the law says that you have to have an L plate with every number plate. ive never had one on the back and ive been in a accident where i was asked if i had l plates. i said yes on the back and that was that, no penalty or fine.
dont know what was going on there but i personaly dont have one on the front

[Ste]

No, you're meant to display one at the front and one at the rear of the vehicle.

[Trunecka]

My 125 had a big white trailbike headlight surround, which I stuck an L-plate on with ease.

When the L blew off at 50mph, I measured the rear L and cut out an identically-sized L out of red card and stuck it in the correct place on the headlight fairing.

Was the L legal?

Was it legal when I wrote YAMAHA down the left side of the L in dark-red felt tip?
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[T.C]

It has to be 7 inches square (the size when new) and clearly displayed to the front and rear of the machine. If it is not clearly displayed, or if it is trimmed down from the standard size or defaced in any way, then it is a £60 fine and 3 points for each L plate offence.

Answer your question?
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[ts50x0]

sorry but everyone i know(including me when i had an L plate) just has a very small l at the front of the mudguard on a moped. knowone has ever been stopped or fined. just dont worry about it. the police have better things to do than that.

[Spiral]

I used to have 2 for the tzr one front one back with the cbr i only have one on the back never been stopped for it.

I was pulled the other week by cops at a checkpoint (we have these here in N.I. for you know what and if you don't well i might tell ya if you ask nicely ) they never even mentioned it or looked at my L plates just asked for licence were i was going where i was coming from what my fav colour was well the last one was a lie and then i was on my way.
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