European stance on small numberplates

TheDonUK · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Karma :

Hi,

I'm thinking about popping to France etc to stretch the legs of the r1 only thing is the plate is a one liner, by no means the worst I have seen, very readable but still small, I know here it is a non endorsable fine but on the continent can/do they impound bikes or anything nasty like that for small plates?

Cheers
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Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

Not sure foreign police would do much unless it was very small, the one line thing could potentially be a country specific law, though I don't think it is, so they're unlikely to stop you for it. A small plate may be enough to fine you though for having a plate that isn't visible enough, i'd be more worried about the police at the UK port, often not much for them to do so every chance they'll pull you especially leaving the port on the way back into England when they usually have a good look at everything come out.

ninjabob · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 27 Nov 2010 Karma :

I think the French riders can pride themselves at having some of the smallest numberplates I have ever seen - or not seen Laughing

weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

Forget the small number plate - good luck with the "stretching legs" thing. Better carry a huge wad of cash for paying the on-the-spot fines you can receive for speeding over there. Their roads may be nicer and, in many places, emptier, but they are ferocious on speeding if you're caught. Why not keep on going through France, Belgium and Holland to Germany and find a nice stretch of clear, unrestricted autobahn (I bottled it at around 140 mph when the luggage I had strapped on initiated something of a weave).
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Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

They only go after people speeding by a lot on the peage so the answer is don't speed, 130kph is a pretty good speed so you can't really complain about the country for giving you tickets for doing over it. The only other place they usually catch you is in villages on the main through road, usually 50kph, stick to it and you'll get a wave, presumably because it's rare for bikers to actually stick to the limit. No need to be speeding through a high street so again why complain. The twisty country roads aren't full of speed traps.