plate sizes

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Oct 11th, '05, 13:33

here we go agian

but i was just wondering what the smallest legal size plate is, and what people use/would recommend? i'm looking at an 8 x 6.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Oct 11th, '05, 13:48

NUMBER PLATES FITTED AFTER 1 SEPTEMBER 2001
Number plates fitted after 1 September 2001 must display characters that meet the dimensions shown below.

Characters
Height 79mm
Width (except the figure 1 or letter l) 50mm
Stroke 14mm
Space between characters 11mm
Space between groups 33mm
Top, bottom and side margins (minimum) 11mm
Space between vertical lines 19mm

The character width has been slightly reduced from 57mm to 50mm to accommodate the Euro-symbol on the number plate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NUMBER PLATES FITTED BEFORE 1 SEPTEMBER 2001
Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001 must display characters that meet the dimensions shown in one of the two groups below

Characters Group 1 Group 2
Height 89mm 79mm
Width (except the figure 1or letter l) 64mm 57mm
Stroke 16mm 14mm
Space between characters 13mm 11mm
Space between groups 38mm 33mm
Side margins (minimum) 13mm 11mm
Space between vertical lines 19mm 19mm

All the info can be found at http://www.dvla.gov.uk. where it also states that all motorcycle number plates must be over 2 lines (or 3 for classic bikes) but not 1 line.

At the end of the day its a personal choice but my opinion is your better off staying legal, its just another thing to draw the coppers attention to you and another thing for them to do you for.

For a small plate you can get fines, points etc i just don't think its worth it for something u don't even have to look at when your riding the bike.

But i'm sure lots of people will disagree

ZXR400Lee · Post by **ZXR400Lee** » Oct 11th, '05, 14:02

I got a 7x5, the lettering is pretty much the same size, just there is literally no yellow area around the outside.

clunk · Post by **clunk** » Oct 11th, '05, 14:20

andrew wrote:But i'm sure lots of people will disagree

I agree with you.

1blue · Post by **1blue** » Oct 11th, '05, 15:10

clunk wrote:
andrew wrote:But i'm sure lots of people will disagree
I agree with you.

I agree with andrew, but think Clunk is totally rong.

svr-ash · Post by **svr-ash** » Oct 11th, '05, 15:17

I got a 8x6, looks like a normal plate but without the crap around the edge.

Andrew is right though!

jim · Post by **jim** » Oct 11th, '05, 15:18

mines a small plate but only coz it was on there when i got the bike i wouldnt pay for one tbh it did pass one coppers eye but that not to say it will pass another coppers eye

i agreea with blue and think andrew and clunk are wrong

1blue · Post by **1blue** » Oct 11th, '05, 16:30

jim wrote:i agreea with blue and think andrew and clunk are wrong

Sorry jim but I think your mistaken there.

Blimey · Post by **Blimey** » Oct 11th, '05, 20:08

I think most bikes now come with the standard size of 9x7. I changed mine to 8x6 as like ash says get rid of most the yellow surround also don't look out of place or illegal.

DynaMight · Post by **DynaMight** » Oct 11th, '05, 23:48

Standard for me, acts as a good air brake.

miler · Post by **miler** » Oct 12th, '05, 07:31

I agree with Andrew,

and didn,t put my small plate on

ZXR400Lee · Post by **ZXR400Lee** » Oct 12th, '05, 12:17

I pass coppers all of the time on the bypass (Its funny when the copper does 55mph on the bypass and a cue of cars behind him all doing the same speed!! what are they afraid of, just cruise past at 70-80mph!) Been pulled up a few times, the noise of my bike attracts attention, had a blown exhaust and very noisy, never said anything.. Thats all sorted now.. infact, the only illegal thing on my bike is the small plate.

gurnE · Post by **gurnE** » Oct 12th, '05, 21:33

I was once congratulated by a copper for having the smallest plate he'd ever seen (6"x2")

I've grown up since ;)

(7"x3" now)

Jewell · Post by **Jewell** » Oct 13th, '05, 07:34

gurnE wrote:I was once congratulated by a copper for having the smallest plate he'd ever seen (6"x2")

I've grown up since ;)

(7"x3" now)

dunno what mine is.....

i do see alot of bikes on my fav roads with no plates on..........as having no plate on is only £30 fine and no points........seems like a good idea for saving points

As everyone on here with a small number plate is technically riding with no number plate at all......to the same effect.
Like having a helmet on but not strapped up

You bunch of bloody criminals

1blue · Post by **1blue** » Oct 13th, '05, 09:22

Is this bloke being pulled cos his number plate is too small?