Trimming the L plates

[BG5067]

Hey Guys been meaning to ask this. I see quite a few learners on my route to work and out and aboot where people are cutting there L plates so you can't see the white around the L.

Just wondering if that's legal?
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Current. Kawasaki ZX9R.

Theory passed 17/01/2014. Mod 1 Passed 03/02/2014 (0 faults) Mod 2 10/02/2014 Passed (0 faults)

[Tomzo47]

nope, has to be a certain size, for some reason though they always get away with it.
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Ybr 125 > Bandit 650SA > GSXR 600 > Triumph Sprint St1050 > CB1300 > Z1000SX + FJ1200 (written off) > VFR750 >FJ1200

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

As above really.

Technically speaking the L plate has to be a certain legal size, which is the size they're sold at.
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[_Troy_]

They have to be the size they come. A lot get away with it, but if they want, police can quite easily throw some fines and points your way. L plates look shit either way, so just accept it and get your tests sorted.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[janner_10]

Ripping them off after doing the tests is the best and only decent L plate mod.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[Rogerborg]

They're riding otherwise than in accordance with their license. The cretins are actually giving Plod an excuse to tug them - they'd be better off riding without them.
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GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Ayrton]

Ive cut my front one fown to fit on the front mudguard. I cant stand the look of square ones on the forks and im not riding around with a big square L stuck to my screen.

[Gunhawk]

The cut down L looks ridiculous IMHO, even worse than the full square!
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Current: Honda VFR800 VTEC
Previous: Honda CBF125, Honda XL650 Transalp, Honda CBR600f3
CBT: 19/5/12 > Theory: 06/08/12 > MOD1: 29/08/12 > MOD2: 16/10/12

[binge]

When I had a scoot I cut my front L out with a 1cm border of white.
Rear one I made a custom one with a smaller L so it was the same aspect.ratio to my reg plate which was 7x5.
Rode for 18 months and didnt get a single tug.
IMO its no different to loud pipes and small reg plates on big sports bikes. But most big bike owners feel the need to go all nazi on learner riders.
We were all there once!

[Shinigami]

I trimmed the bottom of my front L due to having it between the forks and it hitting the mudguard, never had any bother about it.

As long as you don't trim it stupidly it wouldn't be an issue,

and even if you did it would be a total jobsworth to do you for it
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Ayrton]

I dont think the police really care as long as you dont take the piss with it. I saw someone on a moped with a L sticker than had about .5cm of white around it and it just looked stupid. Trimming your plate down to fit onto a mudguard or something would be fine, unless you got pulled for something else and they wanted to pin whatever they could on you.

[Matt-]

Yeah cutting down it fine as long as you don't take the piss.
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Current Bike's - Road Legal TZR 125 Pitbike, Aprilia SR50R 2010

[covent.gardens]

It's like speeding really, you'll get away with it almost all of the time
But if you're the unlucky one and do get done, a driving otherwise in accordance is worse for the insurance than a speeding conviction
I did not risk it personally, reward doesn't justify the risk imo.

[BG5067]

Thanks guys.

Dont plan on cutting mine just wasnt sure if it was or not.
____________________
Current. Kawasaki ZX9R.

Theory passed 17/01/2014. Mod 1 Passed 03/02/2014 (0 faults) Mod 2 10/02/2014 Passed (0 faults)

[skylineonfire]

I've seen some of the most shocking L plates in Bedford. Yesterday a guy on an ancient scooter in shorts, tee and an open face helmet with trainers, fat as hell, with a duct tape L plate, the white was silver tape, the L was red tape, all on a bit of cardboard taped to his number plate. He flew past me at about 45 in the 30 zone on my way back into town, pissed me right off with his attitude, filtering terribly, cutting off cars, just shocking.

I see loads of black L plates, the tiny ones, barely anyone runs front L's here too. So grateful I've ripped them off now I've passed, it's embarrassing being associated with the scrotes that ride L plates around here. Plus my ratio of bikers nodding to me has greatly increased since I've ditched the L plates.

[Teflon-Mike]

full licence holder, on 125 dirt-bike, with a single cut-down L-Plate on the rear....

"Whats the problem officer?"
"Thought you might tell me?"
"Don't know officer; give me a clue?"
"OK... its something your bike should have?"
"Wheels?"
"No, think again.. its got a letter on it?"
"Some-ones stolen my number plate!?"
"No... beneath that....."
"You said it wasn't my wheels!"
"L-Plate, sonny, L_PLATE!"
"What about it?"
"Regulations, supposed to be full sized. And you're supposed to have TWO, properly displayed! THAT ent an L-Plate!"
"err...."
"Two points for each missing plate, AND, your licence entitlement requires that you display them, so you are riding other than in accordence with your licence, and THAT...... sonny... means I can seize your machine for riding without insurance!... would you like to bend over here...... or at the station"
"But officer..... that only applies if I'm a LEARNER"
"What you talking about?"
"I have a FULL licence orificer!"
"What you doing displaying an L-Plate then? L-Plates shouldn't be displayed by drivers other than a learner!"
"But I'm NOT officer... you just said so!"

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[moonzoomer]

Look on the bright side, at least you can remove them after passing the test, we have to display R plates for a full year after passing the tests and stick to a max speed of 45 mph for a whole year.

[Ollossm]

Daft question time........

Wife has passed her test....I'm on L's

She is on insurance on the 125, can she ride it without having to remove the L's?
I appreciate if I'm on as pillion we stand a good chance of getting pulled over but legally is she ok with a full to ride on L's?
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current bike: 2012 Honda CBF 125
past bikes: 2004 Suzuki VanVan 125 - 1988 MZ/Simson 50cc

[Kickstart]

Hi

There is a legally allowed tiny amount of trimming down allowed (essentially rounding the corners off a touch), but otherwise having trimmed down L plates renders them invalid.

[binge]

Again, I dont see the problem with it.

It's hardly different from having a tiny reg plate on a sports bike, or like has been said, speeding.

At the end of the day, you can tell a learner from a non leaner anyway. Ped-boys stick out like a sore cock!

Here's my old scoot anyway. Tiny L plate under a near 1/2 size reg plate.

https://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/33641_451175815605_6773077_n.jpg


18 months of problem free riding. BUT I did wear an armored textile jacket, gloves, and a decent helmet (Not a spunky MX lid) every time I rode the bike.




Ben

[Kickstart]

Hi

Official dimensions are given here:-

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/2824/schedule/4/made

All the best

Keith
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[Shinigami]

saw a scooter with the L plate cut into a heart shape not that long ago o_O
____________________
Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Teflon-Mike]

[Ollossm]

thanks Teflon, much appreciated.
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current bike: 2012 Honda CBF 125
past bikes: 2004 Suzuki VanVan 125 - 1988 MZ/Simson 50cc

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