L Plates, more of a hazard than a help?

[Ribenapigeon]

I am of the opinion that L plates just encourage idiots to try and mess with you or well meaning idiots to suddenly drive unaturally in unhelpfull attempts to be helpful.

Has anyone whos passed there test noticed a difference in their experiance of other roadusers behaviour towards them on getting rid of the L Plates?

[Sako]

you will always get bullies on the roads that are more than happy to push around L platers, see it ALL the time. it's a sad fact.

[Ribenapigeon]

White van drivers, Mummy-mobiles, Scoobies, Celicas, any FFFFFFFFINGGGGGG Audi!!!!!! not neccesarily in that order.

[lihp]

It's not just bikes, people do it to car L-Platers too that aren't with a driving instructor, it's quite amazing to witness actually.

It's another incentive to get your test passed though!

[JoeDougieDoug...]

I can vouch for this - I was driving along on my merry way, white van behind me and he tried to get infront of me. I wasn't going to slam on my brakes just for him to get infront, so I slowed down, he went into the left hand lane, narrowly missed a parked car, narrowly missed me, then undertook me and gave me a middle finger out the window...

I pulled up next to him at the traffic lights and gave him a peice of my mind.

https://i.qkme.me/35sbad.jpg
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[pendulum]

Car drivers see the L plates and think "learner - slow - must get in front". Most don't even care if the learner is actually doing the speed limit or even if it's safe to overtake etc

The last two days since I've passed and removed the L's I thought things were getting better, until last night which tells me some people will just always be idiots towards bikers. Maybe it's the 125cc causing the lack of respect and once I get a "proper" big in their eyes I will be acknowleged as a valid road user? But I doubt it.

Cops should get out on unmarked 125's with L plates and do some proper road policing!
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1998 CG125 (Sold) CB500 [+ Clio 172]
Usually_Wrong: I tend to fail more than pass. [Speaking about Theory Practice]
Usually_Wrong: im on unemployment at the moment

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[Rogerborg]

[snikks]

Definitely agree, even on the same precise bike I was treated totally differently by other road users as soon as I had no L plate.

For every one person who recognises the reason for having the L plates, gives you more space and is tolerant of your cock-ups, there are 9 who view them as existing purely so they can make sure that an excellent driver such as themselves is not stuck behind *shudder of loathing* a learner.
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- CBT: 02/01/11 Theory: 26/04/11 Mod 1: 19/05/11 Mod 2: 19/08/11
- 2007 Honda XL125V Varadero (Sold), 1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (Sold), 2001 CBR600F

[DrSnoosnoo]

I for one felt on a 125 with Ls everybody just wants to overtake regardless of speed limits and situation.

500 with Ls similar only they aren't quite as fast.

Now my 600 without Ls I get loads of room!
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[kernow24]

Couldnt agree more with these comments.

L plates are like a red rag to a bull.

Just yesterday pulling out of Tesco in Penzance, there was a ped a few cars infront,
Junction on the left, busy roundabout ahead, both enterance lanes full,
so pedboi stops before the left junction to allow cars from the right coming off the roundabout to crosover. Woman in a 4x4 behind him trys to overtake, to get where exactly? And starts beeping and having a go at pedboi, saying not to do that.

IMO he done the right thing, anybod that knows that spot will know that's how most act at it,  cant get on to the roundabout, you leave the junction free, its what I've always done, what I see people doing, it seems like commonsense to me.

Anybody know the proper way to handle it?
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[Teflon-Mike]

Commented on it many times, & see it often. As an instructor I frequently rode bikes with L-'s taking them to fill with petrol, or checking over a bike a student had dropped or whatever. These days, with Snowie on L's on her Super-Dream, while riding my identical bike without, or jumping on Snowies bike with to fill with petrol, check a 'problem' she's grumbled about, or simply popping to the shops when I have run out of tape to X out the L's (THAT seems even MORE vexing to them TBH!)

You have choice:

With L's they see you and treat you like an rolling road-block, or tractor that they HAVE to get past... if it kills you in the process

Without L's? well they just dont see you! And will try and kill you anyway!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[TamaJosh]

[Sako]

[GREENI3]

Well I've only been off L plates for 2 days, but I do sense a difference in car drivers behavior towards me.

A few months ago, I was doing the speed limit on a single carriageway and had just got to the end of a 2 lane overtaking section when some bint decided to just carry on and overtake me on hatched lines.
Then again on a different part, going about 65 (downhill), someone thought it was clever idea to overtake me. Double white lines as well.

Haven't seen anything like that so far, after binning the loser plates, but I'm not counting my chickens yet!

Like many have said; the L plates just set people off by not wanting there ego dented, so have to get in front of you no matter what.
Even if you were a learner on a full power rs125 doing a ton (until it blows up), you'd still have some cnut trying to get ahead.

[Ribenapigeon]

We should be allowed guns, after all the car drivers are in charge of a lethal weapon.

[janner_10]

[alex965]

I agree with everything said here. I can't wait to finish my mod 2 and shed the Loser plates. They seem to be a magnet for retards. I find most drivers are quite courteous and although they like to overtake even if I'm doing the speed limit, they usually leave plenty of room and are polite about it. At least it's like that around my area (Warwickshire)- lot's of country roads and such.

The problem I have is chavs in shit cars that see the L plates and jut assume that I'm fair game. My sister rides a 125 on L's too and she has the same problem with chavs tail gating, overtaking dangerously etc. When I had a 50cc ped one piece of shit even pulled onto my side of the road while he was coming towards me because he thought it would be funny to make a 16 year old boy swerve into ditch- Three years down the line and I'm a little more physically robust-I wish I could find that tosspot that did it now and teach him a lesson.

Oh and people pulling out when it's my right of way as well. Obviously L plates seem to send out the message that the rider/driver isn't actually a real person that can get seriously injured too so they just take advantage.
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Passed A2 licence 19th Dec '14.

[U_W v2.0]

frankly they should just do away with L plates on bikes all together.

theres no real need for them!

those stupid ass electric bicycles should be made to use L plates as well at the very least!
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BCF's biggest cunt list: Cansa, Pits, Rob

[Ribenapigeon]

I passed my drioving test back in 1984 so absutdly I can ride a 50cc scoter without L plates, what the F is that all about? Frankly if the law thinks my 28 years of driving exoerioence means I don't need L plates for a 50cc scooter then why do I need them for a 125 which I would class as a safer vehicle as its not under powered compared to general other road vehicles.

[Teflon-Mike]

[recman]

[bikertomm]

I can see the issue but to be honest I've only been overtaken ridicoulously a couple of times, there are lots of things you can do to try and minimise wankers, but granted some are just cocks.

I.e Ride 3/4 or 2/3'rds in your lane, get up to speed (and or slightly over) quickly, aware of what's behind you ect ect.

It's probably easier for me as I just go out on the bike for a ride, if I was commuting and on the bike more often I may have had more problems / experiences.

So, in answer to your Q, I think they are bad, but most people need them. The thing to do is pass the bike test.


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Llama-Farmer]

Completely agree, they see it as a licence to do whatever the fuck they please... ESPECIALLY on the work mopeds. Unfortunately the L is painted onto the back and screwed onto the front, so I can't remove them now I've got a full licence, and they have to stay on the bike for when CBT'ers ride them.

Had it on the day of my Mod2 as well, on the DAS bike... going from a 30 to a 60 a car had overtaken my instructor going through a village when we were doing 30, forced their way between the two of us due to oncoming cars, then pulled back out to overtake me as we came out the village onto the NSL road. As he was alongside I dropped a cog and nailed it, had the throttle right at the stops and was mentally shouting FUCK YOU WANKER.

The tosser couldn't outdrag me and had to pull in behind, then sat right on my tail, so instructor then overtook him and slowed him down to about 40, weaving and blocking him from overtaking to give me a bit of room.


The prick was in a FUCKING AUDI as well, not surprising.

[GrumpyGuts]

I have just bought a LOVELY little Suzuki B120p 1976. It's a bit rusty, but hey...

NOW it's looks HORRID with a stupid fucking L plate strapped to the front and back!
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My Bikes: Lifan Beat 125cc '11 -> Suzuki B120P '76 -> Suzuki EN 125-2A '08 -> Honda CG 125 '04 -> Honda CB600F Hornet '98 -> Kawasaki ZZR 600 '99 -> Kawasaki GPZ 500S '95 (Current)
Theory test passed - 09/02/2012 >>>> Module 1 passed 24/07/2012 >>>> Module 2 passed 24/10/2012