Modern Vespa

Hi all,

Will hopefully be picking up a Vespa LX50 2T later this week, and was wondering where people positioned the L plate on the front - doesn't seem like there's much room to stick it without covering things up? Also, do you use the self adhesive ones or the magnetic?

I have tried searching for photos, but have spent ages, and haven't managed to find any good ones!

Thanks for your help.

Welcome Pickett.

The magnetic ones won't fit on the front, it's all plastic. I cut mine down and stuck it to the side. You can see it in my pic. They peel off OK.

Enjoy your ride.

Cheers for the reply.

I thought about cutting it down but am a bit weary - I've read a few stories of people saying it's illegal as it has to conform to certain size requirements, could result in 3 points and a £60 fine.

Hi,

I would not cut it down....I did and was not stopped till 6mnths of riding, the copper was ok but told me to get it sorted!

Not worth the risk.

Just trimmed 10mm all round on the new one so it fitted better to the front of my S... did not look that much smaller and was never stopped again!

They are now in the bin! get your test sorted and drivers treat you better withoul the L's.

Thanks.

I don't think I will trim it down - like you say, it's not worth the risk.

Anyone else have any advice on how an L plate can fit on the front of an LX then? (Without covering the air intake / Vespa badge etc?) Looks a bit tight for space.

I'm here in California, and I'm really curious what the L plate is for. Is it part of the UK vehicle registration system?

I had mine on the front mudguard of my scooter.
If you cut several slits in it that go almost all the way to the centre you'll be able to stick it down on a curved surface without it creasing - the wedge shapes will overlap each other.

Try it with a sheet of A4 and you'll see what I mean.

L indicates "Learner" and means you have not passed your motorcycle test.

Point taken on the cutting down

I'll have to get my arse in gear and get the test done, then it's not a problem

I thought about doing it this way, but I don't think that will be possible on my LX as it has the chrome strip on top of the mudguard - unless that is easy to remove??

Yes it is, but you'll have two holes, which the L plate would cover. There's two screws going up from underneath the mudguard in to the crest. Easy to undo but easier still with the wheel off.

This I know 'cos I drilled mine to fit one - the LXV didn't come with one last year. So I'm not about to go down that route. I'll probably risk it as is for now.

Wow, so you post an "L" on your scooter to designate you're a "Learner." People would go crazy here if we had to do that. I've never understood why driving tests throughout the U.S. don't have stricter driving tests/schools like our friends across the pond. In many U.S. states, the written tests have little connection to actual motorcycle driving conditions or skills, and in some instances, the tests are literally incomprehensible. I went to school in France for two years and was amazed at how difficult driving tests and requirements are in Europe. We could definitely use stricter testing over here. Just my opinion.

Indeed. As a youngster I rode my bicycle all over, no restrictions. I passed my car test in 1970. So 40 years of road experience on four wheels, during which time traffic density here has increased beyond recognition.

To get out on my scoot at all I had to take a basic test, have the Learner plates front and back, can't take a pillion, can't go on motorways, and be restricted to 125. The basic test is good for 2 years. When I'm fed up with it all I'll do the full test which is 3 parts and lots of £££££'s.

All probably fair enough, given my novice rating on a PTW, and the volume of traffic now.

If it won't fit on the bodywork you're supposed to attach it to the forks like this....

If you passed your test that long ago you may be able to ride up to 33bhp whilst displaying L plates. My licence here in N.Ireland covers me to 33bhp

or fit the L plate to the front mudguard ??

I'm good Bill, thanks. The kids bought me the scoot and it's fine for me. Anything more and I'd stuff meself. It might be another of those differences, like no CBT in NI.

I don't put an l-plate on the front at all.

Honestly, I know it's "driving otherwise according to your license" blah blah blah. But I simply carry a stick on l plate in the pet carrier incase i have a crash e.t.c. and be done with it.

11 months of riding without a front l plate and i've never been stopped for it. touchwood*
And I've been stopped two separate times whilst riding around at 2 am coming back home from my previous job just for a spot check thingy and they never mentioned it and i "carried on my merry way".

You have more chance of getting pulled over if you have a cut down one than none at all. At the end of the day if the police are following you they will see your rear l plate and that will match up with their records of you having a provisional so they won't stop you. If they drive past you they will see you have no l plate and won't bother to stop you either because they are going in the opposite direction and they're oblivious to it.

Sorted.

You were lucky. It's three points on your licence and a fine. Several people I know have been stopped and fined, so to recommend not using one at all is not really that sensible.

Also, it means you may have invalidated your insurance by not displaying,

I guess it's up to the individual what they consider an acceptable risk (as with the numerous Toreador Pants debates we have on here). My front L plate is slightly shaved to fit on the legshield (I'll get a photo up when I get the chance) but as the scooter is white any policeman would have to be a real arse to pull me up on it even if they noticed.

And of course I am so charming and engaging that they would soon decide against it when I spoke to them.

Indeed. For an obvious gentleman rider, they'd probably call ahead and have all lights switched green in order not to impede your progress

Everybody is bent, Camp Freddie.

Thanks, would appreciate seeing a pic if you get chance to upload one .

I'm interested... were they stopped in a situation where they didn't display one at all or just a couple of cut down ones? I did say in my post that you stand much more chance getting pulled if you have a cut down one on the front than not displaying, because it's more noticeable. One thing I must say is to never take your rear l plate off or cut it down. The police follow behind you to do ANPR checks which as it suggests are automatic. It will immediately show them you need L-plates due to your license or insurance... they see you're not displaying = pulled, fine and 3 points.

On my previous scooter meet up in Coventry a guy told me that his girlfriend doesn't display L-plates whatsoever and has done so for a whole 2 years riding on a CBT, she put some on to resit the CBT and then took them straight off afterwards... It's honestly the luck of the draw! - Location and time of day of riding can play a big factor...
- More traffic cops with ANPR's travel at night in cities compared to the day.
- More police motorcyclists at night who can spot it straight away.
- In places with dense traffic like London where officers can spend more time looking at your l plates e.t.c e.t.c.

...But admittedly, YES IT'S SILLY not to show them but then again I bet many people here have illegal copies of software on their computer. Get caught with them and it's thousands of pounds of fines not 60quid and 3 points but we still take the risk, again, pot luck. And I fancy my chances.

As I said if your crash or break down e.t.c. pull out the stick on l plate in the pet carrier and slap it on... None the wiser.

For NOT displaying. ANPR does not cross match vehicles with licences. I don't know what gave you that idea. All it does it check whether the vehicle is insured ie on the Motor Insurer's Database ( www.askmid.com ) and whether it is taxed.

thats great as long as you havent gone into the side of some berk thats pulled out into the road in front of you and bounced across the bonnet breaking you legs or worse

Yes, and given the police will attend the accident if you hurt yourself, its a 20 watt idea to imagine you will get away with it.

20 watts is a gross overstatement. Ah well.

Like it.

Pickett, get the self adhesive one and stick it either on the front mudguard as was suggested earlier or on the front...it will fit sort of.

The important thing is that either way it will look shit and encourage you to pass the full test. That is good thing: you'll be a better rider for the training and you'll look sharper too.

Hi all, thanks for the advice...

Completed my CBT today and will be picking the bike up on Sat - can't wait! I saw it in the shop having its pre-delivery inspection and it looks great!

They've fitted the L plates on the front and I'm quite happy with how it looks!

But yes, will hopefully start working towards my full test soon so I can ditch the plates!

Just a couple comments from a silly American.

Thinking you will have the ability to get into your underseat and slap on your chopped down and rumpled L plate while your screaming with a broken ankle is not the best idea I have heard in a while.

I must agree that if you must have an L plate, it will act as a white square of motivation to take your full license test and get the ugly thing off your bike.

NO shit mate.

If i'm screaming or in pain because i have an open fracture or am in a condition where I cant stand up I really couldn't give two shits about getting 3 points and a 60 quid fine or whether my insurance won't cover it. Test in two weekends time so not bothered either way. I just gave you what I do and didn't really ask anyone else to do it so meh.

Calm down calm down (in the style of The Scousers)

Good luck with the test Lloyd. Let us know how it goes.

Given the many, albeit rather limited, options posted above I'd be interested in hearing how they ended up mounting it?

It's actually mounted differently to how suggested...as you're looking at the bike from the front, it's on the top right, but due to the contour of it, they have sort of cut it into 2 and put it across...hard to explain but I think it looks good, will post a pic tomorrow once I pick it up.

Okay

Have fun riding it home, nothing like driving a new bike away from the dealership

Thank you matey and I will do