Calif. Dealer Plates????????

[cegerer]

Just returned from a visit to So. Cal. Seems like 1 out of every 25 vehciles on the road had no license plates!!!! - just an advertisement for the dealer where the plate is supposed to go???? Here, we've got dealer plates, transport plates, manufacturer plates and paper temporary 'plates' to stick in the window. So is it permissible in Cal. to just make up a plate in Paint Shop saying "Fred's Toyota Sales", bolt it on and drive down the road?????? WTF? -- Curt

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

They have dealer plates in CA, you dont see them as often, but they usually come in a frame that allows you to wedge them in between the trunk lid. However in the case of new cars, there is usually a sticker from the DMV on the front windshield indicating that the car is registered.

[cegerer]

Hmmmm, so a police officier would need to somehow see a sticker on the front windshield of a moving vehicle just to know if it were registered?!

The other thing that amazed me was that rule about motorcycles riding the lane dividing lines. HOLY CRAP! These guys must play Russian Roulette for a hobby. I'm a very alert driver but encountered several instances where a motorcycle unexpectedly went flying by at high speed on the lane line only several inches from my vehicle (and I was doing the speed limit!). One slight swerve by me or a lane change and these guys would've been road pancakes ...... are they allowed to do this when traffic is moving at the posted speeds or is this intended only when the traffic slows due to backups?

[surflvr911sc]

I believe the law is 35 mph or under, and they can only do 5 mph over the flow of traffic. I'm not 100% on the numbers though, it's been about ten years since I did it.

Often it's 5 mph and 55 mph over the flow, but what you saw is normal. They sure sneek up on you, don't they?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

As I always understood it, lane splitting is to keep air cooled motorcycles cool. Kinda doubt that nowadays.

[RickM]

The fun you could have with those electrically extendable side-view mirrors.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by Jared at Pelican Parts
As I always understood it, lane splitting is to keep air cooled motorcycles cool. Kinda doubt that nowadays.

We could make the same argument. A Porsche 911 only lane - Think about it.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I was actually going to say that as well.

[singpilot]

Yep, the rule in California is that lane splitting is allowed ONLY under the following conditions;

-The FASTEST car traffic has to be going SLOWER than 35 MPH.
-The motorcycle can ONLY split the 1st and 2nd lane.
-The motorcycle CANNOT exceed the speed of the fastest car by 5 MPH.

Funny. That means the fastest cycle is only going 40 MPH MAX.

I rode for 19 years, stopped 10 years ago. The way people ride now is an embarassment to bikers everywhere. Most of the bikes I see go down in Calif. are usually asking for it. The other half are not EXPECTING that opposite direction car to turn left in front of them.

My Dad used to call it "Nature weeding out the stupid."

[FastAggie]

Sounds like a great way to find candidates for the Darwin Awards.

You crazy west-coasters...sheesh.

Cheers,
FastAggie

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I stopped riding because I got sick of people in SUV's who could not see me. I've nearly been clipped a few times. I've also reduced a few cell phone wielding soccer moms to tears while "discussing" the rules of the road in respect to motocycle riders.

[JavaBrewer]

I love bikes, used to ride in my college days. Now with wife and kids I can't justify the inherent risk involved with that pleasure

That said, I can't stand the loud bikes, the big throaty Harley bikes with the wanna be dork losers riding them. Nothing like sitting in traffic on the 15 and having one of these "rebels" go past my open window blipping the throttle. Loud = safety, my ass. Just wait till I get my full size commuter truck - oops gotta merge right, WHAM.

If you want to lane split (I would) then keep the noise to a freaking minimum and ride with some common sense. Yes I'm 40 for Pete's sake - what's that got to do with anything.