As a keen Motorcyclist, and avid watcher of "American Choppers" on the Discovery Channel, I am curious to know how Orange County Choppers manage to get away with test riding their finished Bikes on the public Highway without displaying Vehicle Registration Plates!

Over here, a Dealer, Garage, etc, has to display a special Registration Plate on the unlicensed vehicle before it can be tested/used on the Public Highway.

In the event of an accident, offence, etc, the Authorities need to be able to identify the vehicle by its Registration Plate!

There you go...another question for you... ...!

Paul...Meep-Meep... ...!

Well, here in NY you need front and rear liscense plates on cars and rear liscense plates on motocylces. I watch the show as well and I know that many of their bikes are street legal. For those which aren't, they may have dealer plates or they may take them out on backroads. I know I saw them get pulled over once when they were in New Orleans for taking out a several bikes that had no turn signals or liscense plates.

B-Valvs wrote on Sep 20^th, 2010 at 6:54pm:


Hello Brando...

Interesting about the New Orleans "pull-over". I wonder what came of it...prosecution pending?

One of the advantages of "displaying" Licence Plates, is that the "Man in the Street" can make a note of the (legal?) registration plate details of the Vehicle attempting to escape from the scene of the accident.
Vital for insurance purposes, etc...

Not displaying correct/approved Licence/Registration plates on a vehicle over here can result in a prosecution!

Paul... ...!

...All you ever wanted to know about UK Licence/Registration Plates... ...>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_the_United_Kingdom

Its somewhat confusing with every states different laws.  Here in Indiana all you need is the rear plate, most dealerships issue temporary window plates till you get to the BMV.  But if buying off a private owner you can usually get by without one at all just so you have the signed registration from the previous owner, but it never hurts to just slap on a random plate from your other vehicle or at least something, less likely to get pulled over and questioned.  Usually have 30 days to register in your own name.  No matter what once that title is signed over you must have insurance on that vehicle before you take off down the road even though its not technically even in your name yet, otherwise if you get pulled over your going to be in big trouble.

What is really a pain is buying out of state vehicles, bought my current truck off a dealer in Michigan, they had to send someone to the BMV to get a "Transit" plate and had to pay Michigan sales tax of 6%.  But once back in Indiana I only had 10 days to register in my name and also had to pay the difference in sales tax which was 1%.  That I didn't understand, if you buy it in Michigan for 6% tax why should you have to pay the difference in sales tax since the transaction was handled completely up there.  Not really fair.  Anything they can do to make a buck I guess. 

I always thought that Paul Sr. had a license plate tattooed on the back of his head...

Carlo

Steve M wrote on Sep 20^th, 2010 at 7:45pm:



Back to my reply..  If you apply for a film permit you could drive a 747 down route 66. No plates required.. and since OCC bikes don't exsist until OCC builds them there is no plate switching or permits until they apply for title.  Vehicle insurance as we know it cannot be obtained without title. They could only be insured through the liability of some thing like a filming company. With a film permit.   

They likely want the public to see the work of art without all the ugly trash like plates and obtrusive signal lights.

Fozzer wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2010 at 6:59pm:


Thank goodness for the Revolutionary War!  Because of it, we get to ride loud bikes...

Steve M wrote on Sep 25^th, 2010 at 4:15pm:


It is possible to ride a motorcycle on the highway without front and rear lights, providing it is not ridden during the hours of darkness. Or direction indicators, meaning that hand signals can be used instead (I use a combination of both for added information/safety).
If any of the above accessories are fitted to the machine then they must be in full working order to pass the Test.
But every Bike must carry a rear mounted Licence Plate of regulation type, size, and colour.

Straight-through, After-Market Competition Silencers (Mufflers), are generally illegal because of noise (not for road use), but mostly ignored by the Test Centres, and Police now, providing the noise is not excessive (more important things to do...catching villains!).
I reckon my slightly  noisy (illegal) Competition Silencer keeps me safe...
...folks are intimately aware of my presence!...Your Honour!... ... ...!

Paul... ...!