Have seen mention of 'nearly legal' 7x5 number plates. A standard numberplate does overwhelm the rear of the bike but has anyone had grief using a 7x5? Also, how and where to get one?
Nearly legal, so illegal then. I've got 7x5 playes on 3 bikes and have never had any trouble from Officer Dibble. There are loads on eBay.
Ebay is the most convenient place to buy, and I've had a small plate on my 999S all the time I've owned it with no probs from the police ,been stopped a couple of times and got cautions for speeding but the coppers seemed to spend more time admiring and asking questions about the bike like its from another dimension or something, they didn't mention the small plate on either occasion, mind you they were bike cops, maybe it would be a different matter if they were car bound traffic ociffers!
I have had 8x6 on most bikes that I have owned and only had it commented on once by a traffic officer, said it suited the bike and wasn't taking the piss like the bike next to mine with the tiny letterbox style plate.. They hate those.
Have always fitted 7x5 plates. Have a brand new bike turning up next week and have a plate ready to go straight on. Never had a problem with them.
All 5 of my bikes have 6.25" by 4.75" and we have never been stopped. Mind you they are all legal French registrations. ;-)
General consensus is that if u have a combination of pipes+Little number plate, and are looking like your riding slightly like a dick you are likely to get tugged, otherwise should be okay. There is a lot of crap on the internet though about what is legal, there is a font size requirement and a boarder size requirement which basically dictates the overall size
I bought my 749 new in 06 and put a 7x5 on straight away. Commuted on it daily into Central London for 7 years and never got pulled for the plate.
Also have one on my 1198 and have never been pulled either, rode into London today. The lettering is a good size and it is easily readable, which i think must help. Not like those all on the same line number plates.
If you are interested this contains the current legislation on the DVLA web site https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/359317/INF104_160914.pdf From this, plate sizes are implicit, there is no mention of a plate dimension. To save you looking is the following. Motorcycles and tricycles There are separate rules for motorcycles and tricycles. Motorcycles registered from 1 September 2001 must only display a number plate at the back of the vehicle. Motorcycles registered before 1 September 2001 can display a number plate at the front, but do not have to. The characters on the number plate must be set out over two lines and must be displayed on all motorcycles registered on or after 1 January 1973. Tricycles built from motorcycles must meet the rules for motorcycles shown below. 1. Characters must be 64mm tall 2. Characters (except the number 1 or letter I) must be 44mm wide 3. The character stroke (the thickness of the black print) must be 10mm 4. The space between characters must be 10mm 5. The space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 30mm 6. The margins at the top, bottom and side of the plate must be at least 11mm 7. Vertical space between the age identifier and the random numbers must be 13mm Have a look on the link for pre Sep 2001 and pre Jan 73 bikes
7 X 5 is my plate of choice as well. Touch wood, never had any problems. Behave yourself and don't take the piss (with you riding in general) and the police probably have better things to do if the plate is clean and properly displayed. Though if you're sticking two fingers up and generally riding like a hooligan where you really shouldn't be, I'm sure plod will be only too happy to add your plate size to the charge sheet when they pull you. At MOT time I make sure I have on my person an 10 X 8 plate which I didn't have time to fit beforehand.....:Smug:
Have ordered a 7x5 show plate from the eBay link kindly posted Less than a tenner delivered and they'll even put a discreet "Ducati 999" at the bottom.
8x5.5 I have got. Felt it was a nicer fit on my 848. The only plates I have had trouble with in the past is letterbox style, too much hassle. Doubt you will get any grief from 7x5.
Plate arrived this morning. How's that for service? Next problem is mounting it. The bike didn't come with a standard hanger. There is a pair of rather naff galvanised steel straps, bent to shape, to mount the plate on. Any suggestions/recommendations for a better solution?
Tricky right now, as hosting a party this evening. Don't think er indoors would be too impressed if I disappear into the garage... Standard light and indicators with two metal straps coming off a mounting bolt each, going forwards, then curling back round underneath the light and then down straight but at an angle to mount the plate on. It serves but is not terribly elegant.
