You are hereForums / General Discussion / NoBMoB Chat / Car numberplates for bike racks
Car numberplates for bike racks
On the way up north on Sunday a few people got pulled over by the cops as they usually do as they went past me as I was not in a hurry for a change the few I saw that got pulled up ,I put two & two together & worked out that they were getting pulled up for having the bikes on the racks without the rta supplied plate , Looks like the new laws are in full swing already .
- Login to post comments
- Bookmark & share
Tags
here we come!-from the amount of cars I've seen that do not have bike rack number plates the cops are going to make a packet.
I believe you lose points for this as well as a fine?
Yeah my mate got pulled over at ourimbah before Xmas. Got fine and 3 points, not sure how much I think it was around $300 though.
I bought one of the Thule Lightboards does the job just fine after a friend copped the same fine. Cost was $99. + $45 for RTA plate. Lot cheaper than $300 and loss of points
http://www.thule.com.au/news_detail.php?news_id=14
I got fined around $300 and lost 3 points for not displaying my number plate on the bike rack. I brought a bike rack plate and a set of extra lights that bolted to the bike rack from ebay. The whole thing vibrated of on a trip to Victroria, it is some where in the ottway's now. I now own ute and try not to use the bike rack unless I really have to.
Also, home made number plates are not allowed. They must be the ones from the RTA or use the plate from your car.
Yep, my rack stays on the car, so I use my cars plate.
and you dont have this problem
Yep revenue raising at it highest unfortunatly. Bloody police.
What new laws?
These laws have been in place for many years. I've had a bike rack plate for at least 3 years - and should have had one for a number of years before that.
I also recommend getting a Thule lightboard. Having nearly rear ended a vehicle at night on country road with 3 or 4 bikes on the back - ie essentially unlit from the rear - I think the lightboard is a must.
These laws have been around for ages. It's not hard paying $45 for an RTA plate, considering the amount most of us already spend on our bikes and gear.
if you don't have a towbar would you have the plug to connect the indicators/brakes on the lightboard? I've never thought about it and have only seen on cars with towbars.
my missus got done for this 3 years ago, was a huge fine,more than neg driving and causing an accident! so it's nothing new.
The cops have also been known to hang around MTB comps - i remember the Angry Dr last year, many a car was pulled over. Take for instance a car - trying to do what they think is right ie make up a clear easy to see number plate and attach it to the last bike for all to see. The cops had a field day! Most were done for 1: Not displaying an approved number plate, and 2: Using FALSE numberplates! Double whammy!! The police must have had a comp to see who could dish out the most points.... : )
$130 tow-bar fitted. (Includes installation of the wiring harness and plug)
$170 4 bike Q-spear
$45 NSW bicycle number plate
$95 for a Thule light board (does not appear to have a number plate illumination light). You could make one of these just like a box trailer or off a small boat trailer, but I think the stuffing around could be more than $95.
Advantages:
- No need to remove front wheel
- No need to lift bikes up onto roof
- No need to expose bike to 120km direct wind (including sticky bugs)
- No risk of driving into carport garage and damaging bikes, car, and structure.
- Fits 4 bikes
- You can still load up your roof racks
Disadvantages:
- You can't access the boot in many models of cars with a toe ball mounted carrier. You can get a hinge one if you have factory mounted RHS looking one (box shaped thing).
- Reduces rear vision.
- Somebody could run into your bikes
- You can't pull a trailer
I'd take toe-ball mounted over roof-mounted any day. If I'm transporting just my bike, I just pull the front wheel off and chuck it in the back, unless the Q-Spear is on it from some recent trip.
I've got a Thule rack which attaches to the rear spare tyre mount on the back door of the Prado. Gives access to the back of the car which is great and the bike sits up nice and high. With #1 bike on, it doesn't really obstruct the number plate as the back wheel of the bike is elevated due to the top tube angle. Putting a second bike on does make it iffy.
Has anyone seen any attachments for this to assist mounting the RTA plate?
To get the number plate on a Qspear (this really deserves a photo) I've:
- Mounted the number plate to a bit of heavy flat outdoor timber. This also helps it hang nice and sturdy at speed.
- Put 2 eyelets in the top edge of the timber board that line up with 2 carabiners cable-tied to the Q-spear.
Eyelets http://www.terralec.co.uk/product_images/info/pr...
Carabiners http://www.aspshop.net/upload/upimg4/Carabiner-H...
Got done this morning, $344 and 3 points.
Felt like I took one up the back passage, 344 for doing jack shit.
I could probably back one out like Borat on the footpath and be fined less.
The officer asked me in all seriousness after he had just booked me and given me the bill if I had any questions and was there anything he could do for me... Like what tha F!
I pondered for a second and thought then said "Well yes there sure is... I was driving home from work the day before I got pushed out of my lane on 3 separate occasions by "Sunday" drivers who quite clearly do not possess sufficient skills to hold a drivers licence and that they really needed tickets far more than I do. And given the number of them out there that in that category that your time could be far better spent than with me. I am now running late for work and that will be all..... "
You see when you leave somebody in their car for 15 minutes whilst you scribble six illegible lines on a scrap of paper the mind has time to get a touch resentful at the size of the fine in relation to the piss poorness of the actual offence....
Oh and if you buy roof racks you will all at some point knock your bike off the roof.
I see it all the time....
I need a beer!
3 points, $344 fine.
I got pinged last year - officer also informed that he was doing me a favour by not fining me for also have falsified number plates i.e. I'd made up my own Bike plate.
where u get that price from ? I paid over 400 for mine , I can access the boot with my rack too , I know they are ony examples , thats why we went out & bought a van now too & I got pulled up last year for having the flat bar that sits across the towbar on because the TOWBALL was obscuring the plate a bit ,all I got was a slap on the wrist with a stern warning lol
yay another way for the RTA to make even more money on there already ridiculous and there apparently lucid reasoning behind it all.
I mean really, with all the road taxes we pay yearly the roads are still shit, so now they have another way to sting all the guys and gals getting out there to get some excersize and fresh air, its a flipping joke if you ask me.
i don't see any reason one couldn't make up the cardboard version (provided it is legible and correct)
according to the policeman that left me off with a warning there are no demerit points and its $437 (of your hard earned lining the pockets of the fat cats imo)
honestly don't see the point.. i mean i see people driving with no number plates, no insurance etc, yet we the honest motorist get screwed over... way to go RTA, how about you take a leaf out of RACV or RACQ's book and learn how to maintain standard roadway infrastructure at a reasonable price to the road users.
I dunno, I know plenty of people that have not had a problem, I am not that absent minded though, so when the bike is on the roof I never forgot about it. Normally I am checking its still attached as the noise it makes when its on the roof is slightly disconcerting. It has however been there everytime!
Hi Frankles, I truly am sorry you were done for not having a number plate but I have to say that reading your comments had me just about falling off the seat because I was laughing so much. I should mention that I just happened to be watching Borat on DVD last night and I could just picture him BACKING ONE OUT. I say again I am truly sorry you were pinged. I was very fortunate 3 years ago to be let off with a warning and just recently I bit the bullet and bought a Thule G2 Euroway bike carrier because I was shit scared of loosing the last 2 point I have because they couldn't see my lights clearly. This my friends might be the next stage the constabulary take it too, so watch out fellow riders.
And to you Frankles, thanks for cracking me up.
That hurts almost as much as my shoulder does Brad!
Wayno you are welcome mate, there has got to be laughs no matter how shitty the goings on but be careful of falling off the couch or you'll end up like Phil....
Broke up all over the place.
And Phil brother no it doesn't hurt that much because I will be out riding tomorrow, now that hurts...
I feel for you bud, injuries suck the choad
This evening brought about a net gain of $4.00 though ...
1 large slick take away cuppa or there abouts!
Vodafone had been giving me the shits for about 6 months now and a "renegotiation" shall we say of my spend with them took place after a 50minute on hold session....
$348.00 saved over 12mths - $344 fine = $4.00 (rad!)
Plus a new phone to be negotiated in the morning...
So pretty much.... I WIN!
Completly offtopic now, but if you could tell me how you have managed to neg with them that would be great, the network has been nothing short of poor for the last 6 months and have had it with them tbh.
My contract is due in May but I can renew in Feb but ideally wanting to get out of my contract and switch to Telstra for the better coverage really.
Thanks for the heads up about this issue. I've been skating on thin ice with a homemade plate.
Regarding pricing:
1. I paid $36 yesterday for an RTA bike plate. Should be ready within 21 days
2. Rhino Rack make a numberplate holder for $69, available at, amongst other places, Roof Rack City at Pymble: http://www.roofrackcity.com.au/AccSubCategory_Bi...
are looking pretty good right about now...
Yeah same here mate, same here!
Also another added benefit of roof mounted, is that you can sleep in the back of your car for races no problems and dont have have the problem of not being able to open the boot!
@Logan, with the right tow bar one you can open the boot. Mine tilts and it actually balanced so there is no weight involved when tilting.
....you guys will go decide to get maccas drive through....and something will go terribly wrong....
So, some people are lazy to take their bikes off the rack to enter the boot? Place your beers on the front seat. Two bikes take about 25secs to take off!! Come'on.
Rear of the car:
*enter car parks
*less effort to load and unload
*easier for shorter people
*more aero dynamic
*you can see the bikes (rather than forgetting, ive had a friend drive into the garage and tear the handle bars off a roof mounted rack)
*use the rack as a bike stand (Oil the chain, pump tyres, make adjustments, etc)
*chain the bikes to the mounting support if your want to leave the car unattended (done it many times)
Many thanks to the person who posted topic, i kept forgetting to order my plate, over the past three years!woops....get it in 20 days
Dear Logan.... (in response to your question)
7 years of negotiating with an Indian female leaves one with better than average negotiating skills believe me
I have yet to see any on my bike after it has come off the roof, anyway who cares its gonna get dirty anyway lol.
Most of the bugs seem to get absorbed into my cars bonnet scoop and intercooler anyway, thats more of a magnet than my bike!
Nope I don't get them either. I only got hit by bugs once and that was driving through a moth plague on a drive across the Hay Plain to Adelaide a few xmas's ago. The car came off far worse than the bike.
What are people willing to pay for a towbar mounted rack that has full padlock security for the bikes and from rack to car, lights and tilting for access to the boot?
I think mine was either $300 or $400 (can't remember exactly) and the knob locks so you can't undo it. I actually now carry a chain lock I used when I had a motorbike but are yet to use it as I rarely leave it unattended.
My Thule RideOn 9502 rack was around $200 but it was on special from T7 a while ago. I think RRP was over $300.
http://www.thule.com/en/AU/Products/BikeCarriers...
which is a mac rak I got off ebay cheap a few years ago & I can tow with the rack on as well
Neighbour bought a tilt one for $90 + delivery on ebay, the light board is $95 if you pick it up. A chain lock is under $40. Say $250
I haven't heard of anyone being pinged for this but.....
I have just finished welding up a 2 + 2 bike carrier that fits into my towbar mount, however just doing some digging it looks like my bike carrier and most others are skating close to the law. Under the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007 there is a maximum overhang permitted:
The rear overhang of a vehicle not mentioned in subclause (1) or (3) must not exceed the lesser of:
(a) 60% of the distance between the centre of the front axle and the rear overhang line, and
(b) 3.7 metres.
To show how silly this is, on my Prado the distance from the centre of the font axle to the rear bumper is exactly 3.7m so any towbar (and the spare wheel on the rear door) fitted could be deemed illegal.
Please correct me if I have read the law incorrectly as if this is true almost any carrier is going to be illegal, especially on smaller cars with shorter wheelbases where you are constrained by the 60% rule not the maximum 3.7 metres.
Aren't they saying the overhang can't exceed 3.7m? I'd read that as being from the rear axle to the back of the rack
Click the link in BT's post.
http://nobmob.com/node/19023#comment-58251
I dug this out of another RTA document which sheds some light on it:
“rear overhang line” means:
(a) if there is a single axle at the rear of the vehicle the centerline of the axle, or
(b) if there is an axle group at the rear of the vehicle the center of the axle
group, determined without regard to the presence of any steerable axle or
retractable axle in the group unless all axles in the group are steerable or
retractable.
The other document referred to by Brian it confirms the 60% rule but doesn't mention the 3.7 maximum, presumably as this isn't often relevant for most cars?
from roof rack city Pymble stating all the new laws & it is at work somewhere , I think u can find all the info on the rta site too
From the way I understand it, the over hang must not exceed 60% of the distance between the center of the front axle to the center of the rear axle (on a single rear axle vehical). So if your car measures say 3.5m then your over hang can't be more than 2.1m measured from the center of the rear axle to the rearward edge of the rack, however if your wheel base is longer and the 60% figure exceeds 3.7m, the most you can overhang is 3.7m. I dare say this is to reduce the amount of swing a vehical gets when it turns a corner.
Pretty nice rack on special at T7 if you're still looking
They have a couple actually...
A 4WD one:
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/T7CAAN04W/ti...
Or the more standard one:
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/T7CATNN48/ti...
I meant this one with optional light board - http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/T7CATN03A/ti...
Just to make sure I got this right. I just got my bike rack and ordered the bike rack plate.
For the time being can I use the car number plate and use it on the bike rack until the proper plate arrives ?