GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

I took my license plate and mounted it next to the chain gaurd vertical like you see a lot of the sports bike riders do.  I then drilled a little hole in my back left turn signal stalk and mounted a little led light and pointed it to my license plate so it glows blue.  Is that legal?  BTW i have a 95 GSE.  I also have blue neon lights shining on my back white rim making it a light blue and i have some shining on the ground in front of the tire.  It looks cool as hell.  Ill get some pics asap.

I'm fairly certain none of that is legal, and I'm pretty darn certain none of it is a good idea.

At least I have a less chance of getting hit at night.

Quote from: Pinoy21337At least I have a less chance of getting hit at night.

How did you arrive at THAT ridiculous conclusion? :lol: You could set yourself on FIRE and STILL get hit! Having idiot lights to attract attention to yourself only makes it easier for a COP to spot you, nothing else. After sundown, a LOT of the cagers on the road will have been drinking or drugging, and they're MORE likely to hit you, since they'll be fixating on your idiot lights!

Now that we know how much you've done to "improve" your motorcycle, I'd really like to know if you can actually RIDE it. IOW, what have you done to improve YOURSELF? What have you done to improve your SKILLS? Tell us THAT, and you MIGHT actually IMPRESS someone; cheap trinkets and shiny baubles hung on your rolling fashion statement only impress you and the know-nothings, not real motorcyclists.

Try not to be TOO surprised when your fancy lights start attracting cops writing you hefty tickets for your "performance" mods.

The truth is, I get the impression that your motorcycle will actually be doing a lot of time in the local Fairy Queen parking lot, instead of being ridden, which is probably just as well.

Let us know when you want to start becoming a motorcyclist; I think we've all had our fill of "parking lot poseurs".

Damn there Hugh but.................
+1 :thumb:

Quote from: Pinoy21337I took my license plate and mounted it next to the chain gaurd vertical like you see a lot of the sports bike riders do.  I then drilled a little hole in my back left turn signal stalk and mounted a little led light and pointed it to my license plate so it glows blue.  Is that legal?  BTW i have a 95 GSE.  I also have blue neon lights shining on my back white rim making it a light blue and i have some shining on the ground in front of the tire.  It looks cool as hell.  Ill get some pics asap.

What state are you in?

Watch out for Blue lights, it is called Impersonating a Police Officer where I am. (Criminal charge not traffic.)

Also Ohio requires white light on plate, don't know about elsewhere.

Quote from: Hugh Jardon

Quote from: Pinoy21337At least I have a less chance of getting hit at night.

How did you arrive at THAT ridiculous conclusion? :lol: You could set yourself on FIRE and STILL get hit! Having idiot lights to attract attention to yourself only makes it easier for a COP to spot you, nothing else. After sundown, a LOT of the cagers on the road will have been drinking or drugging, and they're MORE likely to hit you, since they'll be fixating on your idiot lights!

Now that we know how much you've done to "improve" your motorcycle, I'd really like to know if you can actually RIDE it. IOW, what have you done to improve YOURSELF? What have you done to improve your SKILLS? Tell us THAT, and you MIGHT actually IMPRESS someone; cheap trinkets and shiny baubles hung on your rolling fashion statement only impress you and the know-nothings, not real motorcyclists.

Try not to be TOO surprised when your fancy lights start attracting cops writing you hefty tickets for your "performance" mods.

The truth is, I get the impression that your motorcycle will actually be doing a lot of time in the local Fairy Queen parking lot, instead of being ridden, which is probably just as well.

Let us know when you want to start becoming a motorcyclist; I think we've all had our fill of "parking lot poseurs".

Actually I ride my motorcycle everyday.  I use it as my main transportation.

OK...

From the way you described your plate, it sounds like it's down next to the wheel?  That's how chopper folk do it, not sportbikers; chopper folk do it because there isn't room below the fender to mount the plate.  Sportbikers don't like to stick things out that would scrape.

Blue lights are illegal in most if not all states as mentioned, and for the reasons mentioned.  Blue lights are reserved for police.

Check your state code.  Most if not all specify amber turn indicators, a red taillight, a red brakelight, and a white light on your license plate.  They also stipulate plate positioning.  Legality questions can be answered there.

Good-sense questions - you don't want to deviate too much from the standard, because that's what people are expecting.  They'll place the body of the vehicle by where your plate is.  They'll look for a white light to tell them were the plate is.  They'll look for turn indicators on either side of your brake light.  Yadda.  Neon will distract from these.

It's rare enough for a cager to care about where a bike is located.  Don't punish the ones that do.

RG,
+1 :thumb:

...and I thought i was the resident jackass here.  but anyway it sounds pretty ghey. but lets see the pics.

I have seen lots of sport bikes w/ the plate mounted like that. I wouldnt do it, but I think it looks a little bit cool  :thumb:

I also like the idea of extra lights, I have LED brake lights and additional red  leds in under the seat in the rear, and amber leds in front.. lights up the wheels as well .. also fairly legal.. I have had cops say..(  thats cool :P  ), Both safer and cool :thumb:  I do agree that blue is best left for off the road.. like while parked. I have left the leds on 8+ Hrs w/ the bike off and the bike starts right up  :mrgreen:  :P
No fires yet  :roll:

Post some pics! I wanna see em :)

I dunno.. im rambing again, must be the jet lag  :mrgreen:

Quote from: Hugh Jardon
Let us know when you want to start becoming a motorcyclist; I think we've all had our fill of "parking lot poseurs".

they call me the parking lot pimp, i roll up in a 88 dodge aries k car and pull my gsf out of the back seat.

Quote from: davipu...and I thought i was the resident jackass here....

Pick one reply from the following choices:

1.  Thanks; I'll pay you later...

2.  In case you hadn't noticed, there's a NEW sheriff in town, turdburglar... oh, wait, I thought you said "miserable rotten cranky obnoxious old fossil bastid smartass"; never mind...

The TRUTH is, I began to write a detailed explanation of the various laws I've encountered in the seven (or is it eight? maybe nine? OK, it's at LEAST seven) states where I've held a motorcycle license, with a sidebar about human factors engineering standards (sorta like what RG wrote, but more technical), including explanations of why our speedos are to the left of our tachs, brake controls are on the right side, shift controls are on the left, and so on. The PROBLEM is, just then, my "all boobs, no brains" girlfriend said something to me that was both appallingly stupid and overwhelmingly ignorant, which pissed me off and made me lose my train of thought, so I switched gears and decided to come out swinging at the bell (old habits die hard). I'll admit that I was highly annoyed by the claim that "At least I have a less chance of getting hit at night.", which is absurd. Compounding that was the fact that he used BLUE lights, which AFAIK, is illegal everywhere; the rest is a blur.

Anyway, I've had three beers since then, and I'm not NEARLY as angry as I was earlier. Pretty soon, I'll have to stop typing for a while, because correcting all these typos is almost as annoying as listening to my girlfriend, who's yapping like a rabid chihuahua right now.

Pinoy:

OK, so maybe I could have handled that first reply better, or at the least, differently. I STILL don't understand how you could possibly think that installing disco lights on your GS would make you any safer at night. Two other posters have requested pics of your handiwork, and I hope you'll provide some for us, sooner or later. Now that I've had time to relax and think a while, it seems obvious that at the least, you take good care of your GS and enjoy riding it, so maybe we have more in common than I originally realized.

For now, ride safely, ride well, and next time I reply to something you've written, I promise to leave the shaZam!-mist at home. See you in the forums.

The only guys on sportbikes that I've seen with swingarm mounted plates tend to be in one of two camps - the bling-bling chromers who chrome or polish every metal piece on their bike, extend their swingarms by 8 inches, etc., or the "run first and ask questions later" guys that spend a lot of time at illegal speeds in straight lines - these guys usually have the plates mounted to a servo that will close the plate up so it lays flat next to the chain guard (so the cops they're running from can't get their tag #s).

I have yet to see neons on any bike that didn't scream low-rent.

Personally Hugh I found your comments to be quite funny.  I laughed my arse off!! :)  :)  :thumb:

Quote from: ajgs500Personally Hugh I found your comments to be quite funny.  I laughed my arse off!! :)  :)  :thumb:

Well, I appreciate that, but I don't want to be unfair to Pinoy; if he loves motorcycles HALF as much as I do, then I want to leave room between us for common ground...

OK, so our perspectives are different; I always wanted to improve MYSELF, or the FUNCTION of the bike, rather than concern myself with the appearance (form ALWAYS follows function, at least in MY book), but if Pinoy maintains his GS well, wears proper gear, and doesn't run around making an obnoxious ass of himself, then he's welcome to have a beer at my table anytime...

In fact,... BARKEEP! Beers for everyone! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Form follows function......... especially true when you are talking about safety and legality.  If he wants to be seen better then he needs to get a Goldwing or something :mrgreen: .  The best option is to properly equip yourself with the proper riding techniques so that in times of emergency you will know what descion to make.  The wrong one could mean your life.  Cagers don't care about you :guns:  :guns:

Quote from: JazzzzzThe only guys on sportbikes that I've seen with swingarm mounted plates tend to be in one of two camps - the bling-bling chromers who chrome or polish every metal piece on their bike, extend their swingarms by 8 inches, etc., or the "run first and ask questions later" guys that spend a lot of time at illegal speeds in straight lines - these guys usually have the plates mounted to a servo that will close the plate up so it lays flat next to the chain guard (so the cops they're running from can't get their tag #s).

I have yet to see neons on any bike that didn't scream low-rent.

+1.

neon lights are bling poser material but to each his own. If Pinoy21337 likes them, let it be. BUT-Pinoy21337, dont for a second think your license plate mounting is legal, its not. Your plate light isnt legal (color). Worry more about learning good riding skills than lighting up your bike for bikenite, at least for now.

You can have red, yellow, or amber in the rear...  and white, yellow, or amber in the front...  Blue is a no-no...  Even if it's small...  And most places don't allow black-lights either.

As for the plate...   :dunno:   I'd just make sure if faces back and has a light on it...   But... I don't need another reason to be pulled over. :thumb:

So does the plate have to be mounted to the bike or can you just mount it to your a$$ :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:

I'm pretty sure it has to be on the bike...  Like with cars...  You'll get a ticket for having the plate in your window.

But...  Like I said...  I don't need another reason to be pulled over.  Cops can give you a ticket for anything, they just have to try hard enough.

A little off subject but I was riding to work the other day and I saw a crusty hoopty wagon with no plate but a sign in the window that said plate stole and had the date. :o

In CA, I see new cars without temp plates...  In WA, you'll get nabbed in about 5 seconds without a temp plate...

What's the motivation for getting a plate if you don't need a temp plate?

I think next year instead of going to the BMV I'll just put a piece of paper in the back window that says Plate Stolen.  That should save me about 150 bucks!!! :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

You'd better write, "Plat Stold."  'cause when you get pulled over, you can claim stupidity.   :thumb:

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Quote from: pantablo

Quote from: JazzzzzThe only guys on sportbikes that I've seen with swingarm mounted plates tend to be in one of two camps - the bling-bling chromers who chrome or polish every metal piece on their bike, extend their swingarms by 8 inches, etc., or the "run first and ask questions later" guys that spend a lot of time at illegal speeds in straight lines - these guys usually have the plates mounted to a servo that will close the plate up so it lays flat next to the chain guard (so the cops they're running from can't get their tag #s).

I have yet to see neons on any bike that didn't scream low-rent.

+1.

neon lights are bling poser material but to each his own. If Pinoy21337 likes them, let it be. BUT-Pinoy21337, dont for a second think your license plate mounting is legal, its not. Your plate light isnt legal (color). Worry more about learning good riding skills than lighting up your bike for bikenite, at least for now.

Hey man I think my bike skills are top notch.  I have over 12k miles of riding exp.  When I first got my bike in the winter i drove it everyday in the snow/hail/sunshine whatever.  So far no accidents but a lot of close calls.  I like to learn from these close calls.

Well in defense of Pinoy, I've wondered about those neon lights and in my own newbie head, I thought they were a great idea. Before this thread I really thought it would be a good idea, but I wondered why I never see anybody with them except ricers. But I guess I can see how it might not help after all. You learn something new everyday.

Even the MSF pamphlet that came with my bike has a picture of a guy on a bike with all sorts of ornaments and lights on him.  :dunno: I think that's probably where I got that notion for neon lights from. Hell, I notice ricers right away with them on.

Quote from: Pinoy21337Hey man I think my bike skills are top notch.  I have over 12k miles of riding exp.

sorry, I assumed you to be a new rider since you're new here and you have a gs500...my bad.

12k is good mileage. I only had 9k on the gs before I sold it and bought the 600rr...now another 9k later...

Hugh, no need to be a jerk man. Pinoy likes to dress his bike up. I agree with the fact that some of his decisions are illegal, and purely nonsense. Also that being a defensive driver is very good, but you don't have to be a dushbag about it. The guy likes something different, let it go bud. It's not a bad thing to be accepting.

 -Anti  8)

One night I was driving down Pines Blvd pretty late and these two sport bikes came up gehind my cage, then split off around me and tore on down the road.  One had blue neon under lights and the other had green neon underlights.

I wouldn't personally do that as it's too bling for me, but damn!  It looked like TRON!

Quote from: junoOne night I was driving down Pines Blvd pretty late and these two sport bikes came up gehind my cage, then split off around me and tore on down the road.  One had blue neon under lights and the other had green neon underlights.

I wouldn't personally do that as it's too bling for me, but damn!  It looked like TRON!

LOL!! What a great game, oh yeah and the movie too.

Do you think that helped you see them better?

It actually did add visibility, but it looked like two low flying UFOs coming up in my rearview mirror... :o

From the side or in front of me it definitely added to visibility, as they totally illuminated the ground under them.

I think it looks better on bikes than cars.  It sorta makes the bike glow, whereas on a car it just shines underneath the body.

TRON!!!  That rules!  Now I want to put blue neon.   :lol:

I friggen LOVED Tron!

Well, I had my 'puter at home bling-blinged out with neon blue lights at one point..perhaps I *should* consider adding neon purple blings to my '92... Would be easier than painting it purple...  :thumb:

Purple neon bling-bling....hmmm..  :lol:

pandy  :cheers:

You could prolly take the neon from your machine and put it on your bike...   :lol:

I sold my Frankenstein gaming, windowed case (too big), and moved his guts to..uh.. Francois, a micro tower. Then I moved his guts to a mid-tower with a bigger power supply, and he became the manly Frank!  :lol:

pandy   :mrgreen:
what was this thread about again??

Quote from: RVertigoYou could prolly take the neon from your machine and put it on your bike...   :lol:

Quote from: pandywhat was this thread about again??

Tron!

Oh...hey..then I think I managed to--for once--stay on topic!!  :lol:
:P
pandy  :mrgreen:

Quote from: RVertigo

Quote from: pandywhat was this thread about again??

Tron!

:lol:

Only if it was really about Tron.

Hmm, maybe an on/off switch for neon lights and only use it on highways late at night. Assuming you are being good and driving legally and are not worried about getting pulled over. :) That way it really won't be posing if only the few drunk or blind drivers see you.  :dunno:

Of course I don't think this is a huge difference, just discussing it.

Quote from: pandyI sold my Frankenstein gaming, windowed case (too big), and moved his guts to..uh.. Francois, a micro tower. Then I moved his guts to a mid-tower with a bigger power supply, and he became the manly Frank!  :lol:

I <3 my Antec windowed case.  Although it is a tad large and the sound activated cold cathode light I put in it lasted about 10 minutes when I realized a super bright light blinking at every little sound coming from my PC was a bad idea.

:lol:  Yeah, I found that the blinking light annoyed me, too, so I just set it to be on. I didn't mind the blue glow as long as it didn't blink. I miss Frankenstein.  :(

pandy  :mrgreen:

Quote from: falloutI <3 my Antec windowed case.  Although it is a tad large and the sound activated code cathode light I put in it lasted about 10 minutes when I realized a super bright light blinking at every little sound coming from my PC was a bad idea.

I figured I'd chime in with my latest struggles on this topic. I tucked my license plate up  under the rear fender with a light on it. I've swapped the rear shock from a Katana and a fenderectomy, which helped give it a great line of sight. So I figured it was OK. I got hassled like CRAZY by local cops. Surprisingly, the cop that gave me the hardest time was a motorcycle cop! One guy even told me that he had no idea I even had a plate on there with a passanger on board. So I moved it back near the original location. Tucked it under the tail light, but angled the bottom towards the front of the bike slightly. With an LED in front of it, there is no way you could not see it. Of course, yesterday the SAME motorcycle cop decided to pull me over again and bust my balls. He said he needed to see it flat facing rearward. Nit-picky is not even the word for it.

I second the comments on not wanting to do anything to give the bacon a reason to pull me over. Unfortunately, there are a lot of riders out there who are doing something just outside the legal limits (no motorcycle license, non-DOT helmets, no inspection / registration, pipes that piss off the entire neighborhood, etc.). In my experience, cops love to find an excuse to pull bikers over just so they can make sure everything else is on the up n' up.

As for blue lights, I've been pulled over before for having HID-style blue fog lights. If a cop has an itchy trigger finger and wants to pull you over, he will find a reason. The more that you can do to increase your odds of getting a warning instead of a ticket, the better off you'll be.

Holy back from the dead threads batman :cheers:

I give em something to screw with me about just so they'll overlook the smaller shaZam! that could really add up. They can hassle you all they want and if they really start nitpicking shaZam! can get expensive a potential operating a vehicle in a manner not safe and reasonable pull over became a fix it ticket for my plate the cop go tso pissed about it being stuffed up under my undertail and no light that he did'nt hassle me for hanging off the bike which is the reason he turned around to begin with.

I thought this looked familiar. I still think it was a bunch of nonsence. (joke)

  -Anti  8)