Slightly off topic.. But as black n white/silver number plates suit Bonnevilles of all types do any of the folk here with black plates get any hassle from plod?
I ran a black and silver smaller plate on my '77 Z1000 for years and never got a problem but I'd be wary of trying my luck on a newer bike, esp with a new format plate. IIRC it's '73 and before it's actually legal?
I believe you can put a black/ silver plate on any vehicle registered as Historic in the UK (over 40 years old), so anything registered earlier than 1979 should qualify, provided the DVLA has recorded the V5 vehicles status as Historic. The DVLA's own rules on this are a bit weird. My Honda CB550F was first registered in March 1979 but the bike/car has to be 40 years old at the beginning of the calender year, so my 550 didn't qualify until 2020, even then for some reason they wouldn't recognise it as Historic until after the new tax year started on 6 April 2020 when it was well over 41 years old.
The rules are weird. The 40 year rule is for free tax and no MoT. 1975 is a fixed cut-off point for black plates. Makes no sense but it's the rule. But no doubt plod will explain...
This appears to say 1 Jan 1977 is the cut off Phil. now I am confused https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-motorcycles/0-identification-of-the-vehicle
Check out Carole Nash. The rolling 40 year rule for no tax/MoT started in 2015, and on the same date the 1975 cut off date for black plates came in. But - for no obvious reason - the number plate rule was fixed at 1975. Many websites have not realised the difference. Still, if you are lucky, plod will be just as confused....
That link I posted is the governments own website Phil, so if they've got it wrong what chance has anyone else got?
I think we've inadvertently opened a can of worms here. I do recall 1973 was the cut off date up until a few years ago as DD alluded to. Just after the dinosaurs disappeared, I recall my brand new 1975 Yamaha RD200 having a standard Yellow plate with Black numbers, but I also remember 1973 and earlier bikes having the Black/Silver ones, cars too for that matter. It would appear whatever the true situation re Black/Silver plates actually is as clear as mud. Didn't bike front number plates disappear in circa '73/74? I know my little Yammy didn't have to have one?
If you ever need to read the actual legislation: The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (latest available) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/contents/made
What I find interesting is that he is quoted as saying high powered bikes in his comments. Whilst there are some bikers who do use smaller plates, I see loads of cars with illegal plates same old, same old lets kick bikers...
Yes agreed. I'm bemused by the fact we can have satelites that can apparently see a fag packet from space, but yet they can't have roadside or in-car cameras capable of seeing a number plate smaller than 9" x 7"
A few years back the Police had a speed camera van at a bike event, the public had the opportunity to sit behind the camera in the van, I took the opportunity to have a go, well what a revelation, what I can say is you could read small writing at a very long distance, what I came away with is the knowledge even if I was a half mile away any transgression and I was caught simple as, small number plate or not, front and rear camera vans capture it all. So the small number plate issue does not hold true, there are obviously other issues in play here, I have asked numerous Police Officers over the years the reason behind the small number plate issue, I have been told all manner of different reasons, none made sense really. The thread is about number plates so I will not divert to other issues around how bikers are discriminated against. Ride safe all
