Ducati Monster Forum

I sent my insurance provider the following email. In it, I asked if I could mount a fictional accessory ('turbo plate') to the front of my bike. I admitted that there was NO data on whether mounting on the mudguard would affect handling. But I DID point out that mounting it on the forks would be dangerous.

I expected them to say 'no way'..... but they just got back to me, gave me 'approval'. I believe this indicates that the insurance companies are on board with the state government re front mounted license plates.


(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm47/roy-nexus-6/turbo_mod_insurance_v2.jpg)

Hello,

I have a policy with Western QBE on my motorcycle - a Ducati monster S4.

I am considering adding an 'attachment' on the bike, & would like to confirm that this will not affect my policy.

The device in question is a small metal plate which attaches to the front of the motorcycle. It has some small holes bored through it. As air rushes through the plate, the holes make a 'whistling' sound, which sounds like a turbo charger. The turbo plates dimensions are about 19cm by 9cm.

On the figure, there are TWO mounting points highlighted.

Blue line: there is a 15cm gap between the light & front fender. However, attaching the plate here could possibly be dangerous - if the shocks depress greater than 5cm, the fender would hit the plate.

Red line: this location would not affect suspension at all.

Disclosure:
1. I've checked the Ducati website - I don't think any wind tunnel tests have been conducted with such a device, so I'm not sure if it would affect handling.
2. the front fender is carbon fibre. I have not been able to find what the breaking strain of carbon fibre might be: in fact, I'm not sure what force the flow of wind over this attachment might be.

Regards,

Is this a make the beast with two backsen Gee - Up ??





                                    Mmick

Got that right  [bang]

I wouldn't think it's a gee up.
But it's concerning that this front plate issue is still hanging around.
Have the powers that be even considered ADR laws.
I mean everything else needs to pass ADR and all the other red tape.
Has anyone heard of any studies about viability or even if the manufactures are thinking that might need to be a retro fit.
What about 2009 models.....
Can't see where you'd fit a front plate on that 696, 1098, 848, HM, S4Rs, S2r etc....
Let alone all the other bikes on the market.

I think its a confirmation that the knowledge of motorcycles as far as the insurance industry is concerned id very limited!!! [roll]

As far as Guvmints and the ADR's go, Victoria and the Plods have already dicked the ADR on speedos where all a vehicle manufacturer has to do is produce their vehicle with a speedo accuracy of + - 10%!! Whereas the  [bacon] will only give a detection leeway of 3 kph at 60kph, 3 %. [roll]

Now THAT is shafted !!  :o

yeah go figure on that one hey!
Guess that's why if you have a decent argument the courts will sometimes listen.

Aaaaah but then you are screwed again though arnt you?? ???
 To get heard in court you really should have representation, which will cost you bucks!! And then you have to take time off from work!!  [roll]

And if any Officer of the Court is being honest they will tell you that if you want any sort of justice, you will have to go the next court up the chain (Magistrates to County) which will REALLY cost you money. :(


Gotta love "The System". [puke]

I'm going out ot the garage to start work. I'm gonna corner the market in turbo plates.  [laugh]

Not a gee up per se. Given how notoriously 'cautious' insurance companies are, I thought it would be good to have some documentation demonstrating that there ARE potential safety concerns with fitting a license plate on a bike's front fender.

But my company isn't playing ball. I wonder if other companies would give you the same reply.

Fuel prices keep increasing; more people are opting to commute to work on a bike.... and so I think toll way operators are going to keep pushing for this.


Ah, there IS actually a product which 'whistles' to let kangaroos know you're coming. It is quite literally, a whistle :D

Put me down for 1.  [thumbsup] [moto] [laugh]

'course they're not "playing ball" - they're currently working with the RTA and Harold Scruby's f*cking "pedestrian council" on a press release explaining how motorcyclists are _asking permission_ to fit front plates...

paranoid-big

Well all I am going to say is "BRING BACK THOSE WOPPING GREAT PROTEST MARCHES OF THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES!" [popcorn]


Don't you all think that no one seems to stand up and say their bit these days?


My 2 cents Rob

Ps, my emails not sending me reply notifications BIG????

If it's tolls we're talking about and paying them electronically.
Then I'm sure some engineer could come up with a toll tag that works and maybe a fairer price for the use of our two wheels.
But then that's a whole other story isn't it!

The problem is that the toll cameras photography vehicles from the front... so you could not pay, & the photo wouldn't help them in any way. Speed cameras etc photograph from the rear.

So, basically, we are expected to destroy the dynamics of our bikes, possibly make them less stable and, get this, PAY for the plates themselves.  >:(

OK, my mathamagical skills are somewhat limited, however, I'm pretty sure you forgot to carry the one, as it's 5%. but anyway, that is still out of whack in a huge way. I'm surprised no one has taken this to court...



I agree. We should be burning cars, smashing glass and reminding the Govt that they actually work for us, and we pay for their junkets to Malaysia when the rest of us freeze in the winter winds.

Perhaps then they will remember that it is a good idea to listen to the people who put you on the gravy train...

z...

I would have to say a protest would have to be in the pipeline. And everyone who has a bike needs to get off there arses to show these pr*cks that we won't take it. Wasn't there one in Melbourne recently?

+ the state and Australian Motorcycle council's need to get a bit more vocal. As far as I'm concerned, they are weaker than camel's piss!

I will be getting a custom front plate  ;D

(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff99/caterpillar-dozer/frontplates.jpg)

I haven't told you how much yet.

Intersting document. Excuse quality.
(http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll111/madalf71/Motorcycle_Frontal_id_reply_0001.png)

Yeah, real interesting. Looks like a not so polite "pi$$ off" letter to me. I'm with Super and the protest brigade. Best protest I can think of is wholesale disobedience. If we all refuse to fit front plates and clog the legal system, we can send a strong message.

At least you have received a reply. I wrote to all of the transport ministers in NSW and the feral garment and not one of the lousy wastes of space has replied. Too busy sunning themselves overseas I suppose.

Yes, it's an eye popper, comes via a friend in WA.
Civial dissobedience isn't going to help. once it's in, it's in. And besides we want a good public image.
A protest run similar to the recent sydney truckies would be a much better option, and have it on a weekend so the numbers are high.

A weekend protest ride would be best for sure.
A go slow over the Bridge through the city heading Nth would slow a decent amount of traffic.
It could start Sth head up the Princes Hwy into the City down George and onto the Bridge.

A run down Eastlink would also be a goer.
For Victorian riders it would also be a good time to highlight the $40 levy and how it's spent, ie wheres the money going? Can we see the budget please?

I've seen nil action about issues, some dribs and drabs on the net, AMC is doing a bit but everyone else seems disorgansied. The other problem is information, unless you getb AMCN or TwoWheels regularly nobody knows.

Above all it needs to be civil, as in previous post. There's too many wanna bes out there.

Cheers

Bit late to the party, but the assumption that the ADR is +/- 10% is wrong.

The relevant document states:
5.3
The speed indicated shall not be less than the true speed of the vehicle. At the test speeds specified in paragraph 5.2.5. above, there shall be the following relationship between the speed displayed (V1 ) and the true speed (V2).
0 ≤ (V1 - V2) ≤ 0.1 V2 + 4 km/h
Source: http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/files/ADR%201803.pdf

Note the first sentence of that: "The speed indicated shall not be less than the true speed of the vehicle". So it can't under-read and pass the ADRs! Furthermore, it can be out by 10% of the true speed + 4 km/h, so at 110 (indicated) you could potentially be doing only 96-97 km/h and still pass the ADRs.

So, the Victorian police are capable of doing what they're doing and it isn't able to be challenged under that part of the ADRs. You can, however, challenge it based on the increments of the speedos, which are specified to be 1, 2, 5 or 10 km/h; if your vehicles increments are 5 km/h and you were pinged for < 5 km/h over the limit you might have a very small basis for a challenge.

There was a protest ride in Melbourne on Saturday 5th. About 1500 bikes met up and rode the length of the new (and for 1 month - free) Eastlink Tollway at 90km/h. Unfortunatley I was unable to make it, and I've yet to speak to someone who was there. However talking to the "Motorcycling Illiterate" around me, it seems the messages did not get across too well. The common thread from their comments was "we have no sympathy for motorcyclists, why shouldn't they pay tolls....."

I think that there were too many issues wanting to be told, front number plates, the $56 Rego levy, Wire rope barriers, and some complaining about paying tolls on the new Eastlink tollway. (personally I don't have a problem paying 1/2 of a car toll).

BTW, the Victorian MRA was not involved with this protest. But I think it shows that if we want to get a message across to the government, and hopefully public support, we need to be focused and smart about the way we do it.

- is that more than 2c worth ?

Just a thought: wouldn't the most effective way to stage a 'go slow' be during peak hour?  I know peak hour already goes slow enough, but slowing drivers down on their way to work would cost a hell of a lot more to the community than slowing them down on their way to sporting event... Just look at the train union this week- Government does not like protests getting in the way of business.

I know you guys would think I would be siiting on the other side of the fence here, but you tell me when the 'go-slow' is and i'll be there.  [moto]

Yup with my pipes missing and extra loud plates in the clutch... - Chris

How can you say that...being a honourable member of the  [leo]

I think doing it your way would only make the "ordinary" people of Sydney hate us more.

To stage a protest out of peak hours would mean that our message would mean more. I.E We want to be heard, but not at the expense of the, Kevin Rudd's famous phrase, "The Working Families" of Sydney who have to battle peak hour traffic every day. To make the traffic even worse because of thousands? of hairy arsed hooligans making a protest plus the bikers who drive a car to work would not turn up, so a weekend is the way to go, IMHO. ;)

I think maybe i'm just an arsehole  ;D

...your points are pretty damn good. I'll go with yours.

Ok, how about this then - go slow ride... but the riders then break up into a few groups: one group delivers toys to the Melbourne Children's Hospital; one group delivers canned goods to the Salvation Army etc. You get the idea.  [thumbsup]