number plate light...or lack of

[Nick Hughes]

The pros on the safety courses don't advocate laying a bike down. Their belief is you have more chance of stopping the bike when the rubber is in contact with the road than when things like handelbars, footpegs, pipes, crash bars etc are. I disagree. Last September I had a guy pull out of a side street in front of me while on my Valkyrie. I couldn't swerve round him to the front, he was still looking in the opposite direction and still cutting me off. Behind him wasn't an option because there was a traffic island in the way and a low brick wall. I tried to brake in time but could see it wasn't going to happen - the Valk has probably the best stopping distance on any cruiser but it weighs 950 pounds and I weigh nearly 300 - so my choice was clear. T-bone this guy and go over the hood/roof or lay the bike down. I would much rather control where, when and how I hit the ground than take my chances on the ground to air interface on the unknown other side of his cage. This is an easier choice to if dressed correctly and I was (jeans, boots, leathers even though it was summer) and I've also practised Aikido, Judo, etc for 30 years and am a former Paratrooper so I know how to fall and roll etc. Another advantage to this "layeth the biketh down" is I'm now going towards the offending object feet first as opposed to head first. Further point to consider is, if you ever watch motorcycle racing and see a guy slide out on a corner he invariably gets up and walks away. Watch them high side and they usually break something. Can it be done (as per Gino's question)? Absolutely. But, like anything if it's a conscience thought, it's going to be too slow. It has to be a reflex and practiced. I ride into every intersection thinking "Now, if this dipshit pulls out where can I swerve?" If I don't have a way out I start riding that brake a little. If, that's not going to stop me in time, laying down is almost always my 3rd choice.

[Andy Watts]

Sorry if this have been recently covered but my web access is very limited and it makes searching the archives quite difficult.. I've recently removed the number plate (license plate) from my A1 and bolted it directly under the tail light.. It looks a lot better but of course i don't have any means of illuminating the plate other than any red light that may get reflected from it. Did someone say that they'd removed a small portion of the red lense and replaced it with a small piece of clear perspex ? . I'm considering this but am a little concerned about that white light being visible from behind and attracting unwanted attention from the cops. Sorry for the long-winded message -- Andy - Southampton,England 1987 KLR650