Guided motocycle tours of the west country
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 The Law

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Helmets
Helmets now have a new standard, the old British standard although valid has been superseded by the European standard (ECE22), most helmets in shops and dealers are road legal, if you have any questions ask the sales person.
Remember when buying a helmet, a new £50 one (ECE 2205,06), is tested to the same standard as the £400 one (ECE 2205,06), you pay extra for the brand name and paint job.

Visor
Some new helmets come with internal dark visors, these are legal and comply with latest legislation, new ECE helmets, like Lazer Revolutions and other brand names such as BMW, ROOF etc; are all legal.
To keep up to date check it out with BMF.

Fliptop
Flip top helmets can be used with the fliptop up while driving, there is no legislation or byelaw or any regulation which outlaws or restricts the use of the fliptop while in motion, it complies with the latest ECE safety standards, the helmet was designed to be used this way. It would be wise to point out however, you would have to be foolhardy to travel at high speed with the fliptop up, due to the drag and discomfort exerted on your neck.
The DSA frown upon riders who drive with the flip front up, and so do some individual police officers, they see it as possibly unsafe if you get a bug in the eye, but then what about riding with your visor up, or an open faced helmet with no visor or retracting visor, retracted? you can't receive a fine, endorsement or points on your licence it is not an offence.

Speed Limits,  Speed Traps,  & The Police,

The speed limit is 30mph (48km/h) in residential (built-up) town areas and 40mph (64km/h) in less populated parts. On other roads, including single carriageways, the limit is 50mph (80km/h) or 60mph (96km/h). For dual carriageways and motorways the limit is 70mph (112km/h) although traffic usually moves faster at about 80mph (128km/h).

There is a fairly heavy traffic police presence in England using cars, radar guns, unmarked bikes and widespread speed cameras. 
As long as you stay alert, you are (illegally) capable of increasing these speeds on the open roads. If you do get caught, however, you will receive a fine and points on your license.  If you are clocked at over 100mph (160km/h) a definite driving ban will be imposed.

Drink-Driving in the UK

The Drink Drive limit for alcohol is 0.8mg / ml in your blood - very approximately 2 pints of normal beer
- - don't risk it.
Ten of the 15 EEC member states have a 0.5mg ceiling, and Sweden's is 0.2mg. Only the UK, Ireland, Italy and Luxembourg maintain a limit of 0.8mg.
We do not advise consuming ANY alcohol during a day out riding with Devon Rider.

 

Number Plates In the UK

  • Motorcycles only need to display a number plate at the rear.

  • The characters on the number plate can be slightly smaller than for other vehicles.  The required sizes are set out below.

Height   64mm (2½")

Height

 

64mm (2½")

Width

 

44mm (1 3/4")

Stroke

 

10mm (3/8")

Space between characters

 

10mm (3/8")

Space between groups

 

30mm (1")

Top, side & bottom margin

 

11mm (3/8)

The law states that:

  • You must not alter, rearrange or misrepresent the letters or numbers

  • Characters must not be moved from one group to the other (e.g. A242 ABC must not be displayed as A242A BC).

Offences may result in any or all of the following:

  • A fine of up to £1,000

  • The mark may be WITHDRAWN

  • The vehicle may FAIL the MoT test

Full details of the requirements are included in regulations 17-22 inclusive and Schedule 2 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing Regulations 1971 (as amended), obtainable from HMSO.

 

VEHICLES REGISTERED BEFORE 1st JANUARY 1973

There are different arrangements in law for Vehicles registered before 1 January 1973:

  • The number plates may be the traditional "black and white" style plates, i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate.

  • Lettering must be of a set size.  It must conform to one of the two groups set out below.

Characters Group 1 Group 2
Height  89mm (3½")  79mm (3 1/8")
Width (except the number 1) 64mm (2½") 57mm (2¼")
Stroke 16mm (5/8") 14mm (9/16")
Side margin 13mm (1") 11mm (7/16")
Top & bottom margin 13mm (½") 11mm (7/16")
Space between characters 13mm (½") 11mm (7/16")
Space between groups 38mm (1 ½") 33mm (1 5/16")

 

 
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