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

Anything you like about motorbikes
demographic
Posts: 3034
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:30 pm
Location: Less that 50 miles away from Moscow, but which one?
Has thanked: 1350 times
Been thanked: 1726 times

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

Post by demographic »

Theres often been enough other more expensive issues with my bikes when I was young that having the thin veneer of compliance over the easy wins meant people didn't look too hard and start spotting the other things.

Plus being rebellious with pathetic things seemed a bit mddle class, mummy didn't want me to have a bike and I'll show her :roll:
Ian
Posts: 373
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2023 9:25 am
Has thanked: 601 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 »

Do we actually have any traffic police these days or do they just get civilians to measure plates on dashcam footage?

I know they have unmarked cars but only to hide how few they have ;)
The Spin Doctor
Posts: 4096
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1523 times

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

Post by The Spin Doctor »

Nope, nope and nope.

My fellow couriers were always complaining about getting stopped by plod for a vehicle and document check. It usually ended with an inspirational 'don't be a naughty boy and let me catch you again' talk, but sometimes they got a 'fix it' notice. Occasionally, they talked themselves into a fine. In all the years I was zapping round London, I was rarely pulled and I think it was the lack of racket, standard plate and clear visor as much as anything else - I just flew under the radar.

I noticed back in August that the dibble targeted Cadwell's BSB round and were very pleased with themselves for the number of illegally modified bikes they pulled.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
The Spin Doctor
Posts: 4096
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1523 times

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

Post by The Spin Doctor »

Ian wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:41 pm Do we actually have any traffic police these days or do they just get civilians to measure plates on dashcam footage?

I know they have unmarked cars but only to hide how few they have ;)
Plenty of 'bikes stopped' stories via my newsfeed. Just had one about a chase that ended with a suspended sentence, and another that ended in a crash that hospitalised two riders - that one is under investigation.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16754
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10276 times
Been thanked: 6891 times

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

Post by Yorick »

Ian wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:41 pm Do we actually have any traffic police these days or do they just get civilians to measure plates on dashcam footage?

I know they have unmarked cars but only to hide how few they have ;)
El Filthio have regular stops here. I was done for no rear reflector on the GSXR
And warned about short mudguard on rear of the Gasgas
User avatar
MrLongbeard
Posts: 4598
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 2:06 pm
Has thanked: 599 times
Been thanked: 2451 times

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

Post by MrLongbeard »

I've always done the dark visor and small plate, been riding around 25 years, I've never been stopped by the police.
User avatar
gremlin
Posts: 5930
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:12 pm
Location: Kent (AKA God's own country)
Has thanked: 810 times
Been thanked: 4806 times

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

Post by gremlin »

Used to, but really can't be arsed with the faff of it all these days.
All aboard the Peckham Pigeon! All aboard!
Ian
Posts: 373
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2023 9:25 am
Has thanked: 601 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 »

The Spin Doctor wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:50 pm
Ian wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:41 pm Do we actually have any traffic police these days or do they just get civilians to measure plates on dashcam footage?

I know they have unmarked cars but only to hide how few they have ;)
Plenty of 'bikes stopped' stories via my newsfeed. Just had one about a chase that ended with a suspended sentence, and another that ended in a crash that hospitalised two riders - that one is under investigation.
To be honest if they tried to run I don't have a lot of sympathy, it's not a film, you are not going to outrun the police. You're better off stopping.
Unless the bike had been nicked in which case I have even less sympathy
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12176
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9836 times
Been thanked: 10149 times

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

Post by Skub »

Illegal dark visor always.

Not tiny,just neat 5"x7" plate on the zed. I think the triples are 6"x6"

Akrapovic cans on the Zed,but with baffles in,not loud. I leave early in the morning on a good day,so I don't need to be announcing it to my neighbours.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Zimbo
Posts: 204
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2020 5:04 pm
Location: Gloucestershire
Has thanked: 87 times
Been thanked: 135 times

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

Post by Zimbo »

Ducati 900 monster - open cans and slightly smaller numberplate, which was on it when I bought it some 10 years ago, looks better on the cut down tail.
Ducati 750SSie - just the open cans, it's what it came with 15 years ago but they aren't offensive, haven't got originals anyway.
Ducati ST3 - just open cans, (Quill stainless) which I put on 'cos it runs better than on the originals but they are loud enough to make nearby children cover their ears so I should probably get them repacked. MOT tester isn't bothered ...
Never bothered with dark visors, strip of insulating tape across the visor top as a sun shield in the old days, drop down dark visor more recently.
User avatar
MingtheMerciless
Posts: 3556
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:42 am
Location: Scarfolk on Sea
Has thanked: 2947 times
Been thanked: 1884 times

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

Post by MingtheMerciless »

AR Exhaust on the ZH2 but standard plate. I put the decorked Akra back on the bike for the MOT and even though it's noisier than standard it still passes, I'd be too embarrassed to present it with the AR😂.
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
User avatar
ChrisW
Posts: 2725
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:46 pm
Has thanked: 2919 times
Been thanked: 2061 times

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

Post by ChrisW »

Black visor pretty much all the time - only switched to the clear one a few weeks ago for a ride on a very dull day. Mirrored one, too, on a white helmet for those rare occasions when it's very hot.

Number plate size has never bothered me & I sold the last Akrapovic I had because the standard exhaust on this bike, whilst sounding much worse, is actually better.
Whysub
Posts: 887
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:53 pm
Has thanked: 1055 times
Been thanked: 861 times

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

Post by Whysub »

Here you have to carry your documents with you, including the Certificate of Conformity. So if you change the end can, you need to carry the fitting certificate too.

Lots of police here ensure that riding with a non standard number plate will get you pulled
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12176
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9836 times
Been thanked: 10149 times

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

Post by Skub »

Whysub wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:42 pm Here you have to carry your documents with you, including the Certificate of Conformity. So if you change the end can, you need to carry the fitting certificate too.

Lots of police here ensure that riding with a non standard number plate will get you pulled
Just tell them to go and catch some real criminals.

Police forces all over the world love to be reminded of their duty in this respect. :thumbup:
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
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: 4124 times

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

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

25 years ago I was one of the tiny plate, loud exhaust, black visor crowd.
Now - tiny plate, can't be arsed, more trouble than it's worth and the big plate works as a mudguard, loud exhaust, no thanks, I like to ride for a couple of hours minimum and a noisy pipe is annoying after 20 minutes, black visor, again no thanks, my 57 year old eyes need all the help they can get
Alan PBTD
Posts: 270
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:47 pm
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 209 times

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

Post by Alan PBTD »

Guilty on all three accounts - but luckly never been pulled. Mind u red hot on number plates down West Wales - £100 a pop.
User avatar
Dodgy69
Posts: 5467
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:36 pm
Location: Shrewsbury
Has thanked: 1750 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 »

In reality it's all bollox. Letter size ain't much different on 9x7 to 8x6 and from 20 meters I can see mine perfectly, with my lenses in. 🙂👍
Yamaha rocket 3
User avatar
formula400
Posts: 1732
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:14 pm
Location: London
Has thanked: 444 times
Been thanked: 863 times

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

Post by formula400 »

I’ve got a 8x6 plate
Just switched out the dark tint to a semi tint visor.
Exhaust- not yet, only reason being is the Akro or arrow for it is around £900 as it’s only a full system.

See and hear loads of loud pipes and black visors on my way into work.
CBR650r :mrgreen:
User avatar
Sunny
Posts: 550
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:56 am
Has thanked: 966 times
Been thanked: 524 times

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

Post by Sunny »

Always a dark visor. 😎

Never had a smaller plate, but have been tempted for the first time recently - I need to replace the original as it's cracked around the mounting screws - and I think it'd look better cos the bike is smaller.
Not done it yet cos I thought it was points, but if it's just a fine, I might go for it...
Scud
Posts: 203
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:06 pm
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 158 times

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

Post by Scud »

I have a standard plate, and standard exhaust as the noise just gets right on my nerves, but the superduke sounds good as standard.
I use a blue tint iridium visor, not particularly dark but takes the glare off things