Number Plates

[AZZ3R]

Some of you may know I've just recently got a SV650 and the stock number plate is rather large.

I know changing it to certian sizes are ilegal but I can't find anywhere where that sates the sizes.

I've managed to find that I can have it whatever size I want aslong as the numbers/letters are a certian size, width, space & character style.

My SV plate is
-9'1/2" Wide
-7" Long

My Rs plate is
-9" Wide
-6'1/2" Long

My question is, Can I just go to Halfords and ask them to make the same plate as my RS but ovbiously with the SV reg? Will it be legal.

Just wondering as I'm changing the undertray and I've read that the stock number plate is rather big and it does look that way compared to my RS's.

I don't know if my Rs's plate is ilegal but I've filtered past, stoped infront & rode infront of police and I've not been pulled over. Would anyone be kind enough to measure there plate and check the sizes, the more legal difference the better the options I have to ask for.

 

[Sphynx]

Try this: http://www.theplatemarket.com/display_o ... otorcycles

Note that actual size of the number plate is irrelevant - it's all about size and readability of the numbers themselves.

Also take note in that article of the two-line rule - something that is specific to motorcycles. When it says that one-line number plates are illegal, this refers to the single-line number plates as used on cars. The reasons for this are two fold: first, a single line number plate with the correct size lettering is far too wide for a bike while; secondly, a single-line number plate with lettering that brings the plate into a reasonable width for the bike results in numbers that are far too small.

I see a lot of these latter ones, and they are illegal even if at any given moment a police office lets it go - it can be a £1000 fine and (nowadays) confiscation of the bike in extreme circumstances.

I remember a few years ago Sven was pulled over and fined for this but later claimed that it was actually wrong and neither he nor the office knew this (his explanation was that it was for an off road bike that is mainly off road and therefore has different rules). Not sure where he got this (I think that he quoted another policeman friend) but from what I understand from local traffic officers, this has never actually been the case. The rule is the rule - the only time this may be the case, is if an off-road vehicle is required to for example, cross a taxable road but not travel on it for any duration.

 

[pizzaonaninja]

I honestly think, that as long as you have the valid license number you shouldn't have any problem.

It's not like the police carry a measuring tape to see if the license plate is of the official size.

check this pic for ilustration

at least that's what i think

(That's not my license plate btw, i don't even live in CA.)

 

[AZZ3R]

I honestly think, that as long as you have the valid license number you shouldn't have any problem.

It's not like the police carry a measuring tape to see if the license plate is of the official size.

By law now you have to have clear lens light, lighting up the number plate, and must be visable from 10ft away, I never knew this untill I was up at the Cat & Fiddle (Cheshire) where a couple of guys on R1's told me. they had small number plates and a GP can on it so I was surprised when they where telling me this haha.

 

[TheSvBiker]

It's not like the police carry a measuring tape to see if the license plate is of the official size.

In the UK... Believe it or not, about 3 years ago, I got pulled on my scooter, and he did infact have a measuring tape..lol It was more of a couple of lines in a rule book, As stupid as that sounds, they can be really padantic over here, got told to change it, and if they saw me with the same small font size plate again they would issue a fine. :?

 

[Sphynx]

Problem is Pizza, that in the UK they tend to go from one extreme to the other and are not really at an arguable few-mills difference. They tend to be correct or clearly far too small (i.e. absolutely bloody tiny - can't see how people can even think that they'll get away with these). I agree however, that if a plate looks correct, a plod will probably not even look twice.

If it's a traffic cop however - forget it. That's their job, they'll probably be carrying a tape or fixed guide and can probably tell the difference by eye even without a tape.

 

[CurlyBlakey]

Another key thing to remember is the makers mark, that's the standard thing police look for as a guide as to legality. The makers mark is the info on the bottom of the number plate. BTW, if you're worrying about how you look from behind, you're evidently not going fast enough

 

[AZZ3R]

BTW, if you're worrying about how you look from behind, you're evidently not going fast enough

Haha, brilliant that was good.

Yea, Halfords make them so it's fine there, but I've seen a few that say "if you can read this I'm on one wheel" the small font under the bottom set of letters. was on a Z1000 so... kinda suits it.

But I must say I never knew that.

 

[Friz]

As long as the numbers and letters fit in at a certain size and font, its legal to have the plate any size just as you said.

As well as the light rule, you also have to have a reflector fitted on there somewhere.

My tail tidy didn't have a reflector on it, so we stuck a small one on the bottom right corner and hey! its legal.

 

[Bloke]

You also need a BS (might be a bac/bas) number on it for it to be a legal plate.

So you can't just chop the borders of your plate down, as that's where it tends to be written.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[pizzaonaninja]

ok... so don't follow my tip....

 

[Ducman69]

I honestly think, that as long as you have the valid license number you shouldn't have any problem.

It's not like the police carry a measuring tape to see if the license plate is of the official size.

Maybe in the UK, but in the US it will go by state law, and in TX you have to have an official TX license plate, be it standard or an authorized novelty design.

Obscuring even part of the official plates is also illegal, such as a license frame for example.

Now, there is a difference between enforced and unenforced law though. I have been driving without a front license plate on my Corvette for a decade now without issue. Whenever pulled over though, it takes half a bottle of hand sanitizer and a wet towel to get all the poop off my nose its usually so far up the officer's butt which goes a long way in my experience, heh.

 

[Sven]

Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if:

The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval

AND

The vehicle's construction/design cannot accommodate standard size number plates

ALL KTM's for instance are imported... (it would ONLY be the British makes for bikes actually MADE here that would NOT be imported...)
and "can't accommodate" means:

By virtue of both size, available space and main intended use.. (I.E. off road/racing...) where a standard plate would be quickly damaged by virtue of it's required positioning and the available space at that location.

The law then only states that it must be readable at a distance of 20.5 meters so tell the BiB to get their measuring wheel out.

Beware though lots of police either don't know about this law or choose to ignore it.

Obviously applies to UK only, IANAL

 

[Sven]

Oh and IIRC they made it illegal for shops to sell a numberplate the wrong size. You can however get showplates from places outside England.

AFAIK

 

[AZZ3R]

Oh and IIRC they made it illegal for shops to sell a numberplate the wrong size.

I thought they could sell any size number plate they want aslong as they state it's not for road purposes? just to cover themselves?

 

[Chuckles85]

A guy I work with rides with a totally illegal plate, if he gets pulled he gets issued with a provider or something to that effect, making him change his plate back to the original at a garage and getting the slip signed y the garage to say he has a legal plate on his bike. There's no fine and it only costs him £5 each time he gets pulled to get the garage to change it for him. Myself I can't see the point in changing your plate to a slimmed down version, a loud exhaust already means I get looks I don't want an excuse to get pulled, but that's just me.

 

[DownShift43]

on monday im going to go into my bike dealer and ask them whats the smallest number plate you can have is cause i really like the small numberplates

 

[AZZ3R]

A guy I work with rides with a totally illegal plate, if he gets pulled he gets issued with a provider or something to that effect, making him change his plate back to the original at a garage and getting the slip signed y the garage to say he has a legal plate on his bike. There's no fine and it only costs him £5 each time he gets pulled to get the garage to change it for him. Myself I can't see the point in changing your plate to a slimmed down version, a loud exhaust already means I get looks I don't want an excuse to get pulled, but that's just me.

I'm not saying I'd choose a illegal plate, but I'd like the smallest possible for a legal requirement. (if that makes sense)?

I have always been told that if your willing to have something ilegal then make sure it's only 1 thing I.e just the number plate, or. Just the can.

Having more than one thing ilegal your asking to be pulled.

 

[AZZ3R]

on monday im going to go into my bike dealer and ask them whats the smallest number plate you can have is cause i really like the small numberplates

Its not the smallest number plate its the size of the lettering.

You could walk in to Halfords and ask them to make you a small number plate and it only cost you £20.

You want to make sure all the letter sizing is correct and spacing as there the only issues with number plates.

Check the size guide out on .Gov