Bad attitude towards L platers

[Waaarrrggghhh]

So I was riding on my CBT for a while, and decided since I was going to be riding this 125 for at least a year, thought I might as well do the A1 light bike tests.

A few weeks ago I passed the module 2, took my L plates off and even though it is still the same bike, and I am still the same rider, there has been a world of difference when on the road.

On my L plates, cars would tailgate me, sometimes very dangerously, and would often honk their horns for absolutely no reason, even when they're in the opposite lane and going past me, or if they're waiting to exit a junction and I didn't slow down and let them go. Basically, drivers were complete cunts to me with my L plates. Its the tailgaters that made me the most nervous, sometimes being only a metre away from me.

I also got rear ended, and the lady never ever apologised, although she did pay for the damage. She probably thought because of my L plates, I was at fault.

Now that my L plates are off, drivers give me a hell of a lot more room and are much more courteous to me, and haven't had random honks. They even let me merge back into the lane safely when filtering, and sometimes make room.

Amazing isn't it how one red 'L' can turn drivers into absolute cunts.

[P.]

L is for loser. That is why.

[Waaarrrggghhh]

[tom_e]

No no it's definitely for loser and now you've gotten rid of them you can join the rest of us in abusing them

You may even learn to be a little less touchy.

[P.]

[DrSnoosnoo]

They are Loser plates. Trust me, I'm a doctor.

Just as the P are Prick plates.
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[MarJay]

Anyone who uses the word 'retard' in an argument on this forum (or indeed in general) has already lost.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Snowdonia Rider]

People think L platers are slow, so hate them.
____________________
I want your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Suzuki GP125 Suzuki GSX600F Suzuki SV650S KTM EXC250F SkyTeam Bongo 125
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SnowdoniaRider

[Holdawayt]

Uh oh! With a reaction like that you really won't last long here.

Be glad to be rid of the loser plates and enjoy your 125. When you're old enough you'll have a great time being a dick to learners on your full licence too.

[Fizzoid]

Can't say I've had any problems, other than the normal things like random idiots, and people not paying attention for various reasons

But then, maybe it's because I'm not one of the 'yoofs' who buzz around McDonalds car parks all night, and think L plates are optional anyway...
____________________
Rogerborg wrote: It'd certainly make it easier to ego-find my own posts on pages, given the number of fags (gay like traps) who insist on putting my name in their .sig

[owl]

[M.C]

[kgm]

I found it made a bit of difference, but not a huge one. That may also be because now I have a 125 in the fleet again I'm making more confident and effective progress now I have a lot more experience.

[pepperami]

[TbirdX]

Haven't noticed any real cuntish behaviour towards me beyond the normal cuntish behaviour of the average driver.

However, when I was out with the daughter in the car on L plates the attitude was nothing short of appalling.

The difference it made in a car was startling.
____________________
VFR800X - CFMoto 450MT - TTR250

[rhys99]

I ride on L plates and i have not received any of the abuse you mention, i get along with other road users fine on the most part. Maybe you lacked confidence when you had L plates?
____________________
21:16:02 Fin: I got a girl to believe I have a huge dick today, she's going to be so disappointed
K̶5̶ ̶S̶V̶6̶5̶0̶S̶ K3 SV650N

[M.C]

[Alpineandy]

[Beehive Bedlam]

[Alpineandy]

[Falco]

I can't say what it is like riding without L plates until I get my hands on a "big" bike in my price range but..... in the best part of a year on L plates I didn't have much trouble.

There was the usual nonsense (cars overtaking at 60 on a 50 road, tailgating and revving engine in the pissing rain etc etc) but for the most part I found cars pretty tolerant. Both at the start when I was doing stupid shit like stalling at junctions and later, when I was riding more confidently, they were as respectful as can be expected (ie no worse than other cars).

I tend towards the view that your attitude makes the difference, hold your position, don't be bullied and ride with confidence and cars tend to respect you (when they see you anyway).

Still glad to be shot of the plates though...

[struan80]

If you want to ride a 125 after ok but I agree with this L is fpr losers, get yer fu*in* licence ya dangerous cnuts.

[MarJay]

Having pretty much ridden solidly all year with an 'L' Plater, I can honestly say that car drivers treat you no differently if you have L plates than if you do not. The difference is that I can anticipate the actions of car drivers and handle situations differently with road positioning, distance, use of speed, observation etc. The reason car drivers tend to treat the L plater in question quite badly is that they just blunder in to situations I'd have been wary of from the get go.

As a slight aside note, there is nothing scarier than following someone you care about on a bike knowing all the mistakes you made as a younger rider, and trying to run interference for them to try to stop them from getting into bad situations. It's stressful and much harder work than you imagine. Thank heaven for bike-to-bike comms!
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Rogerborg]

I did have a few rage-overtakes while sporting Loser plates, and none (on the same 125) after I'd binned them. I don't count White Van Man or Postman Prat, who are cu​ntractually obliged to tailgate anything.

One thing I've definitely become aware of while commuting into town is the number of Loser platers that ride like complete divs - the worst of them are very nearly half as bad as a typical pedalist.

So I'm coming around to thinking that any abuse isn't necessarily unwarranted. I mean, not all small Nissans are being driven by Dithering Doris who will mash you up a treat, but it's not unreasonable to assume it until proven otherwise.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
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

[M.C]