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

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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:
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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 ;)
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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😂.
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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.
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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
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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:
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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
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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.
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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. 🙂👍
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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.
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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...