Small Number Plates

Anything you like about motorbikes
Le_Fromage_Grande
Posts: 11236
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
Has thanked: 607 times
Been thanked: 4125 times

Small Number Plates

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

My full size number plate gets in the way of putting my bike on my paddock stand, if I fit a small number plate am I likely to get hassle from the cops, or will they not care about something so petty?

We're not talking tiny here, I just need an inch less height.
User avatar
ajlog
Posts: 169
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2020 5:04 pm
Has thanked: 515 times
Been thanked: 417 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by ajlog »

I normally swap to an 8"x6", not had any issues yet and small enough to tidy up the rear and remove the dealers advert.
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14226
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7543 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by KungFooBob »

Mine is not only smaller than standard, it's also black and silver on my 2014 Enfield.

I've had the Five-O follow me, but never a tug.

I suspect that if they pulled me over for speeding or riding like a twat, they do me for the plate too, but just the plate on it's own isn't worth their effort.
User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16756
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10280 times
Been thanked: 6893 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by Yorick »

They're mustard keen here. But let us put silly small ones on the enduro bikes.
Dickyboy
Posts: 612
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2020 4:48 pm
Has thanked: 485 times
Been thanked: 343 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by Dickyboy »

From the amount of silly sized plates I see, I'd say no problem but to be on the safe side I got a 6 digit plate & got it made up to the smallest allowable size.
Have you checked the size of your letters & numbers - bikes are allowed to be smaller than cars etc
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13977
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 15994 times
Been thanked: 10261 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by Taipan »

I've run an 8x6 on pretty much every bike I've had in the last 15 years and I've never been pulled for it. I don't go to big bike meets though, which is where I think they target such things as a way of discouraging attendance, or so it seemed at Gt Bentley?
User avatar
dern
Posts: 2142
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:51 am
Has thanked: 1017 times
Been thanked: 1782 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by dern »

Sometimes they seem more keen on this than others from what I've heard. The fine is up to £1000. No one can tell you whether the risk is ok for you or give you any reassurance, only anecdotes.
User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16756
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10280 times
Been thanked: 6893 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by Yorick »

Small plate. No probs.
20200905_195537.jpg
20200905_195537.jpg (1.37 MiB) Viewed 996 times
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12182
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9845 times
Been thanked: 10157 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by Skub »

5 x 7 is my usual choice,purely because I think it looks tidier.

I've only had a tug for a number plate once and to be fair it was stupidly small and I was....misbehaving when spotted.

Probably down to individual constabularies and also to how you ride!

Image
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
User avatar
wull
Posts: 3067
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2021 6:09 pm
Location: Alloa
Has thanked: 881 times
Been thanked: 1552 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by wull »

I find so long as you maintain a rectangular shape that’s not a million miles away from standard then you’ll be fine, they’d really need to be pernickity to pull you, the ones that look more rectangular like a car plate are asking for trouble, idiots if you ask me.

I can’t remember the size i use but I’ve never been pulled.

Image
Image
Image
User avatar
Dodgy69
Posts: 5474
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:36 pm
Location: Shrewsbury
Has thanked: 1751 times
Been thanked: 2089 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by Dodgy69 »

8x6 is a good size. Cops won't bother you, their busy chasing burglars and drug dealers. 👍
Yamaha rocket 3
User avatar
Pirahna
Posts: 1952
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:31 pm
Has thanked: 1817 times
Been thanked: 1167 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by Pirahna »

Don't forget the rear reflector. :)
User avatar
Screwdriver
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2020 12:15 pm
Location: Wherever I lay my hat, that's my hat...
Has thanked: 256 times
Been thanked: 740 times

Re: Small Number Plates

Post by Screwdriver »

Sometimes there literally isn't enough room for a gigantic (legal) plate.

Image

...and even when there is room, smaller is better.

Image