Perhaps been discussed before? I need to get a new one. I guess the UK legal size is 9"x7" . This is what is on my bike (998) and actually does not look that bad to me so I'm likely to just go with that again. I have run smaller ones in the past but not sure I am going to bother this time. Some years ago (when I was a bit younger and dumber) I had a single line one (not a tiny one) and the font was still quite large but got pulled and fined for it. I then went to something like a 8"x 6" and never had issues with that. The stock plate looked stupid on the back of the R6 with it's narrow pointed tail.
7"x5" on all my bikes. Smaller than legal, but not ridiculously so. I believe the boys in blue hate the single line plates, as do I.
Just ordered a 7x6 for mine, only 6 Characters/Numbers though so not I'm hoping the boys in blue will leave me be
7x5 on the Panigale and original on the FT although it did have a ridiculous 7x2 1 liner which I think was asking for trouble. When I refit the tail tidy I'll be going with 7x5
It's been said before, but the rules do not so much specify the required size of number plate, but mandate the font and size of characters and the spacing between them, as well as the size of border. I think it's all here: Displaying number plates - GOV.UK The end result is that if you want to be squeaky clean, you can still use smaller than "standard" number plates (as long as you use two rows) but can only reduce the plate size by a worthwhile amount if you have a registration that helps - for instance, if you have an old registration with just 3 characters in each row, or a modern one where there are 1s (which are narrower than all the other characters of course), so some 2011 registrations conveniently have the number 11 in them which takes up only one character space. Finding someone who will make up plates that are "exactly legal and no larger than they need to be" does not seem to be that easy though, and it's easier to order "show plates" which are smaller. Speaking for myself, I have never been pulled with a "smaller than legal, but not silly" plate and depending on the age of the bike I have even found it unecessary in some cases to have a separate "MoT only" plate - the testers seem to be able to be more flexible for older registrations (pre 2001 I think).
From the DVLA leaflet INF104 on number plates. If you are interested in staying totally legal......... I never realised the car lettering was bigger. I guess I never thought about it......
Post cards on all my bikes...carbon fibre of course...keeps the weight down....:Angelic: Fined twice in +250,000 miles and 34 years.....bashtards.
I got pulled by the cops and they said they had never seen anything so small... And yes, that was before the strip search! I was told to hand it in and they would put it on their wall of shame .. Nice! If I remember correctly at the time I think it was 7x1.5 inches ... I wouldn't call that small at all!... Fairly average I'd say!
In all fairness, it was not my reg plate that got me pulled over - it was the chasing a Honda Fireblade, with a loud pipe... The police on the opposite side of the road (later told me) they heard us coming, hence did a u turn. I got had for plate, visor, exhaust and perhaps head light protectors. Matey boy on the blade, disappeared into the sunset. I thought if I keep it nailed (long straight road) no turn offs, what's to say we won't meet more men of the law up the road or a helicopter. I don't think I got any points at the time, so was a result. I was nearing red line in top gear before I spotted the officers, turning round (someway up the road). And got on the brakes, applied the air brake - sat up. Stupid really. I was about 21 at the time and a bit of tool.
The Zed and RSV4 have 9x3 strip plates. In the last 3 years ive been stopped once on the RSV4 (but that was on poole bike night) and I had the baffle out of an AR can so I was asking for it I think - saying that I got stopped but didn't get a fine....copper was a nice bloke and he was more concerned about the noise which was understandable. My new 1100evo sp has a 7x5 but, its inbetween the sc project evo system so a stip plate wont fit anyway so itll stay like that.... Ironically I got pulled on my last hyper ( a couple of years ago ) by a copper on a push bike....he caught up with me while I was waiting at the lights and had the cheek to put his hand on me to steady himself as he was out of breath...if id have known he was behind me I would have ran the amber light....even then I just got a warning... Ive been on the zed (with a full system on) and pulled up besides all manor of coppers, focus estates with the normal beat bobbies, unmarked traffic cars, and even M5 Gunships and not even been given a second look... Id rather run the risk of a small plate and go through a speed trap and know that after ive gone through it (not intentionally fast) knowing that my plate hasn't been snapped....
If it was a coloured one, you deserved 25years hard labour at her Majesty's pleasure. Along with anodised nuts / bolts, they are the most repugnant item you can put on a bike :Vomit: (but there'a another thread altogether)
Agreed - having said that ive just fitted a red anodised oberon clutch slave to the hyper but ive gotta say their stuff is so beautifully made it'd be a shame not to have it in some colour....!
