Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Anything you like about motorbikes
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13945
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 15949 times
Been thanked: 10243 times

Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Taipan »

I use to favour the 9x3 plates but later moved to an 8x6 but haven't even fitted one of those to the X-ADV. The bike does have an Akra on it but is legal and with the cat on there its still quiet with the db killer out. I just wear sunnies now and haven't owned a dark visor in over 10 years.

Time was you'd see loads of bikes with race cans and tiny number plates and the riders with dark tinted visors, but today i hardly see any? Have we all just got old, compliant and sensible or did we fight the law but the law won?
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14197
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7526 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by KungFooBob »

My Bullet 500 has a loud pipe, it also had a black/silver numberplate, but I took it off for the MOT and never got round to putting it back on.

I'd like a pipe for the 1200GS, but the only ones that look good (the Akro and the Remus stacked ones) are stupid money.

The Gold Star might get a cat bypass and the baffle removed, maybe even a black and silver plate.

I always ride with a dark tint visor, always.
Last edited by KungFooBob on Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
DefTrap
Posts: 4495
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:23 am
Has thanked: 2259 times
Been thanked: 2190 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by DefTrap »

Fairly small plate. I have a selection of tail pipes, depending on how I'm feeling, currently it's sporting the least noisy (albeit still not strictly legal).
Never really got on with tinted visors, didn't fancy getting caught out in the dark.
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Mr Moofo »

I have slightly smaller plates on two bikes - which I forgot about for the MOT. May go back to std ones.
The Diavel has gone back to std exhausts as it runs much better on them. It used to be on. Remus but it started to really annoy me!

I do use a dark visor - mainly because I am a rebel.

No purple anodised bolts, iridium screens or number plate slogans.
Or coloured headlight covers
User avatar
Rockburner
Posts: 4375
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Hiding in your blind spot
Has thanked: 7814 times
Been thanked: 2527 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Rockburner »

Never bothered with small plates, although the Mirth may have had a slightly smaller than usual one, i can't remember.

Rocksters both have the can removed, but the catalyst fitted, it's nigh on as quiet as standard tbh.

Dark visor: wouldn't be without one, absolute life saver on bright but damp winter mornings.

Anodised bolts: never bothered, even on the ZXR.

Coloured headlight cover: never bothered but often thought about it.
non quod, sed quomodo
Dickyboy
Posts: 612
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2020 4:48 pm
Has thanked: 485 times
Been thanked: 343 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Dickyboy »

Guzzi race exhaust set the neighbours van alarm off so I got some cheap dB killers welded into place & had it dyno'd, small plate is legal coz it's only 6 digit & fits perfectly on the Morinis plate holder, never bothered with the other stuff.
User avatar
MrLongbeard
Posts: 4579
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 2:06 pm
Has thanked: 599 times
Been thanked: 2428 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by MrLongbeard »

6 x 7 plate, check
dark visor, check
'race' cans, check, but cats left in pipes so no totally anti social
Gregor
Posts: 603
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 10:20 am
Location: Kent
Has thanked: 1295 times
Been thanked: 872 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Gregor »

They had a purge round here on small plates so I bought legal plates for the K100,Tenere and Fazer, the KDX is the only one with a small plate.

The Black widow on the Fazer is pretty loud, debating wether to fit the original that came with it back on as my son’s got his test on it in a few weeks, don’t want to aggravate the Tester.
asmethurst99
Posts: 1006
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:01 pm
Location: The Gate of the Forest
Has thanked: 1042 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by asmethurst99 »

NC has 30 quid Ali Express Akrapovic exhaust that's not that fruity - normal plate
The CBR has Down-pipes from a later model that mean a standard pipe fouls the foot-pegs so Its got an Sp engineering stubby on it(came like that) - I always put the Decibel killer in when it goes for an MOT.
Don't like tinted visors
Ian
Posts: 371
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2023 9:25 am
Has thanked: 598 times
Been thanked: 319 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Ian »

I have an Akrapovic on the zx7r but it's E stamped with the baffle in.

What quiet aftermarket alternatives are available that arent just a can with something to block the end. Motad are long gone they were the only quiet ones.

I think the reason you don't race cans now is exhausts are made of better materials than you used to get on 90s bikes so the original pipe isn't full of holes after 2 years
User avatar
Rockburner
Posts: 4375
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Hiding in your blind spot
Has thanked: 7814 times
Been thanked: 2527 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Rockburner »

Gregor wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 8:40 am The Black widow on the Fazer is pretty loud, debating wether to fit the original that came with it back on as my son’s got his test on it in a few weeks, don’t want to aggravate the Tester.
I would. Might fix that lumpy idle too...
non quod, sed quomodo
Bustaspoke
Posts: 1804
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:55 pm
Has thanked: 3254 times
Been thanked: 1737 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Bustaspoke »

Taipan wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:50 am Have we all just got old, compliant and sensible or did we fight the law but the law won?

I've been compliant & sensible for years,the law got 6 points & a couple of fines out of me,they could easily have got a lot more...
Back in the day I had non standard exhausts fitted but always had a legal No plate & never rode on the road with a tinted visor.I was usually riding in a 'spirited manner' so why give the police audible notice that I'm heading there way?
I prefer to keep everything standard & not give the police any reason to stop me.
One of my SV650's has a Black Widow silencer fitted,it was on the bike when I bought it,I asked my mates if it was noisy,they all say it sounds really nice,however one of our mate's borrowed his brothers Harley,it was obnoxiously loud & we made him ride at the back of the group.He's only brought that bike once...
I know someone who got pulled for having a black & silver number plate on his old VW camper van,he got fined.
User avatar
Rockburner
Posts: 4375
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Hiding in your blind spot
Has thanked: 7814 times
Been thanked: 2527 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Rockburner »

Taipan wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:50 am Time was you'd see loads of bikes with race cans and tiny number plates and the riders with dark tinted visors, but today i hardly see any? Have we all just got old, compliant and sensible or did we fight the law but the law won?
I still see the occasional litre bike being ridden like a twat with a single-line-script-font number plate. Generally heading straight from/to a "biker-meeting-place" like Bury Hill, or Loomies on a sunny weekend afternoon.
non quod, sed quomodo
Buckaroo
Posts: 939
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:00 pm
Location: East of West
Has thanked: 734 times
Been thanked: 716 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Buckaroo »

After a round of tyre kicking and general prodding of the bike, the number plate measurement tool (plod) declared me a wrong un and fellon. £30 and a 7 day show us your documents reward.

Suppose it paid for the cake at their Xmas party.
User avatar
Cousin Jack
Posts: 4452
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:36 pm
Location: Down in the Duchy
Has thanked: 2550 times
Been thanked: 2285 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Cousin Jack »

Never changed my plates from the legal one, no need of dark visor as flip front helmet has internal dark visor, and never changed my exhaust. 100% legal me!
Cornish Tart #1

Remember An Gof!
User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16736
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10263 times
Been thanked: 6885 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Yorick »

The plates for bikes here are a sensible size.
Dark visors are almost compulsory here with the insane sunshine.
And it came with Yoishimura race can as standard new.
User avatar
Dodgy69
Posts: 5455
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:36 pm
Location: Shrewsbury
Has thanked: 1745 times
Been thanked: 2085 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Dodgy69 »

Just plates really (8×6) and that depends on bike type.
Yamaha rocket 3
User avatar
mangocrazy
Posts: 6892
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:58 pm
Has thanked: 2402 times
Been thanked: 3625 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by mangocrazy »

I really have a 'thing' (and not in a good way) about standard exhausts - way too big, weigh too heavy and way too quiet. The Falco has a custom exhaust and Akra cans (albeit baffled), the Duke came as standard with a baffled Akra can but I replaced the cat with a straight through link pipe and even the VFR has after market (baffled) exhausts. Never had my collar felt by Plod yet, so all good.

However the LC has standard (looking) exhausts even if the baffles are a shadow of their former selves...

Standard plate sizes all round, which is probably why I've not been pulled for noisy zorsts.
There is no cloud, just somebody else's computer.
Supermofo
Posts: 4999
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
Has thanked: 4359 times
Been thanked: 2850 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Supermofo »

Never bothered with small plates, always seemed a good excuse to get a tug for nothing.
Used to always have a dark visor but since the invention of integral drop down visors I've not bothered.
Used to have loud race cans. Now my Suzuki has a decent looking/sounding can as OE so happy with that.
Sadlonelygit
Posts: 952
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:10 pm
Has thanked: 85 times
Been thanked: 688 times

Re: Small number plates, loud exhausts, dark tinted visors, do you still use any of these naughty biker things?

Post by Sadlonelygit »

Since Mr MOT has got arsey about plates, it's std for me nowadays. Helmet has a drop down sun screen and the baffle is in the akra......still a bit fruity compared to std.
Do have a mirrored visor for the AGV, but rarely use it nowadays anyway!
I do have mini indicators though.......2 fingers 2 da man