FE's! Why are they illegal?

[Wolfman]

Ok, i know there has been lots of discussion on here about FE's (Fender Eliminator's), and the fact that they are illegal in Australia!

Just read Krushnuts post about being defected for his, like i was, and it got me thinking again!

Why are they illegal? Rear Fenders do not do very much....they definitely dont stop stones from flying up, trust me, i have been hit with just as much debri from a bike with a rear fender, as i have from a bike witout!

I think this law stinks!

Who is with me? or not?

 

[Kazza]

I have absolutely no idea why they are illegal. My bike looks 100% better from behind with my D3 Components elimintator compared to the massive piece of black plastic that was on there stock.

My plate is clearly visible, my indicators are not hidden. Don't know why this is.

Went to a few bike dealerships yesterday - so many yummy bikes :drool: :drool: but you walk around to the back of them and theres at least 300mm of ugly, black plastic there. Ruins the slick look of them.

WTF? Why, I don't know. Hate it.

Fender eliminator - twowheelswiki.com

 

[Wolfman]

The other thing that get's me, is that Bike Mag's do subscriber competitions, with modded bikes as prizes, and they invariably are offered up with an FE in place!

Now, i reckon if you spoke to MA about this, officially, i reckon they might tow the party line, but i reckon that privately, these guys would agree that the law is just silly!

It's getting to the point, where there are so many fines, that this issue should be addressed with some common sense, not revenue raising...as it is now!

 

[Kazza]

I think with most mods to your bike, whether legal or not, if you are riding sensibly/safely and are fully geared up, most cops will leave you alone.

If you have a heavily modded bike, you're a squid :squid: and you're riding like a temporary Australian, they're gonna ping ya :spank:

 

[Wolfman]

I think with most mods to your bike, whether legal or not, if you are riding sensibly/safely and are fully geared up, most cops will leave you alone.

If you have a heavily modded bike, you're a squid :squid: and you're riding like a temporary Australian, they're gonna ping ya :smack:

When i was booked, i was not even on the bike, or with it!!! I was having a coffee elsewhere!

So you can throw that theory out the door!

When i took the bike to get inspected, the inspector, who was very polite, and quite amazed that i was even at an inspection, said that he thought it was ridiculous....

He said, that my bike, and lots of others that came through, were immaculate, and a credit to their owners....fastidiuosly maintained, improved safety with better brakes, suspension upgrades, etc, etc...

I do ride reasonably sensibly most of the time , and i generally get left alone, but to get pinged along with 5 other bikes, whilst your bike is parked, is most annoying.

Paying the fine, and going through the inspection crap, is just infuriating! i had to take the bike to the cop shop, to show them that i had rectified the problem, and then once i did that, and they rubber stamped my infringement notice, i then had to book the bike in for a full inspection...total cost $125.

Only to get to inspection, and have the inspector agree with me, that it was a joke!!!!

Surely if the people that work for the law makers think it's stupid, then surely something is "rotten in the state of denmark!"

 

[Kazza]

That is a joke. Must have been a cop who had a quota.

Have they not got anything better to do?

 

[Wolfman]

That is a joke. Must have been a cop who had a quota.

Have they not got anything better to do?

It is a common occurence, have heard of many cases of cops turning up at bike carparks, and just booking one bike after another...so the boys in blue, have definitely got a "bee in their bonnet" about this one....and if it is about quota's, then that is just plain wrong, and makes the law a farce!

As for not having anything better to do, i did comment to the cop that i found photographing the rear of my bike, that i had nearly been cleaned up about 3 times on the way down the esplanade, by rubber necking cruisers, along the beach front....and how was my fender eliminator more important than policing that!

I got a grumpy mumble in response....

 

[jazzpaintball]

In the states (at least Washington anyway) most fender eliminators are illegal not because of the 'fender' not being there but rather that the turn signals have to be a certain distance apart. You can get or make some FE's that are still within regulation with the law, but I know a lot of people just get rid of the whole fender and just put the licence underneath. This leaves no where to put the turn signals and instead of putting them somewhere else, they get a 'all-in-one' brake light that has turn signals built in.

I was pulled over (first and only time in my life) by an officer on a bike due to a witch hunt. He was looking for someone that "was of similar description" that was called in for doing 100+ on I-5. After the whole thing he that the FE that I has was really nice for it was the only one he has seen that actually would meet regulation.

 

[ozzieboy]

Rant time!:cheer:OK....even with the indicators far enough apart, and a reflector in place, you will get booked, for it not coming down far enough. They leave this law in place as an easy 'out' when they want to pull bikes off the road on a 'blitz'.

The law IS a farce! The law is all of a piece. The system IS a joke, and I well and truly think it's time to sort it out.

I'm collecting video of people doing the wrong thing (in a dangerous way) other than speeding, and I'm gonna give it to Today Tonight so they can see the world from a motorbike's perspective. Scroo dealing with the police. Obviously since they are the peole doing it then they must think it's more important to keep the number plate clean (and the FACT is, that is all it does and not well either) than my safety. I beg to differ, and if the law is not there for me, 'cause I ride a bike, then to hell with their laws. I say "their" laws because if the law is not there FOR me I no longer consider them as applying TO me. I have NEVER recieved any help from a cop ever....let me say that again. I have NEVER recieved any help from a cop ever.

Got lots of speeding fines though. Obviously since speed and F.E's are what is killing folk on the road I must be public enemy number 1. A real hardened criminal.

How about folk with mal adjusted lights or driving around on high beam? I am prepared to face the challenge.....they should put me on my bike and tell me to do 40km/h over the speed limit, and put a blind guy in a car and tell him to drive at the speed limit and see who crashes first.

This should tell them whether speeding is more dangerous than dodgey lights, indifference and all out laziness. I know where my money is.

I reckon I could make 10% of drivers crash by standing on the side of the road and doing the jump out of the closet Raaaa! thing at them. People who panic have no business driving a motor vehicle and should be weeded out during testing. Like the chick who panicked and avoided a koala by hitting a bridge on the other side of the road. Or the guy who dodged a pigeon by swerving headon into my lane......I'm sorry but that would have to be some awesome kind of world saving pigeon before that's acceptable.

Some guy doing 70 something on the freeway was upset that I was doing the speed limit and going passed on his left (which should be impossible, 'cause he should be keeping left unless overtaking) So he swerved at me. He is now a little educated, 'cause he saw me tap my camera, point at my speedo, and give him the surf lifesaver overhead rope passing signal. Of course I'll edit out the mirror removal....lol.

No indicators, no head check...blah blah blah blah blah ! the list is endless.

The law is ALL about revenue and has nothing to do with safety.



How about them apples S.A. Govt.?:Flip:

This has been another quality ozzieboy rant.

 

[Wolfman]

Rant time!:cheer:OK....even with the indicators far enough apart, and a reflector in place, you will get booked, for it not coming down far enough. They leave this law in place as an easy 'out' when they want to pull bikes off the road on a 'blitz'.

The law IS a farce! The law is all of a piece. The system IS a joke, and I well and truly think it's time to sort it out.

I'm collecting video of people doing the wrong thing (in a dangerous way) other than speeding, and I'm gonna give it to Today Tonight so they can see the world from a motorbike's perspective. Scroo dealing with the police. Obviously since they are the peole doing it then they must think it's more important to keep the number plate clean (and the FACT is, that is all it does and not well either) than my safety. I beg to differ, and if the law is not there for me, 'cause I ride a bike, then to hell with their laws. I say "their" laws because if the law is not there FOR me I no longer consider them as applying TO me. I have NEVER recieved any help from a cop ever....let me say that again. I have NEVER recieved any help from a cop ever.

Got lots of speeding fines though. Obviously since speed and F.E's are what is killing folk on the road I must be public enemy number 1. A real hardened criminal.

How about folk with mal adjusted lights or driving around on high beam? I am prepared to face the challenge.....they should put me on my bike and tell me to do 40km/h over the speed limit, and put a blind guy in a car and tell him to drive at the speed limit and see who crashes first.

This should tell them whether speeding is more dangerous than dodgey lights, indifference and all out laziness. I know where my money is.

I reckon I could make 10% of drivers crash by standing on the side of the road and doing the jump out of the closet Raaaa! thing at them. People who panic have no business driving a motor vehicle and should be weeded out during testing. Like the chick who panicked and avoided a koala by hitting a bridge on the other side of the road. Or the guy who dodged a pigeon by swerving headon into my lane......I'm sorry but that would have to be some awesome kind of world saving pigeon before that's acceptable.

Some guy doing 70 something on the freeway was upset that I was doing the speed limit and going passed on his left (which should be impossible, 'cause he should be keeping left unless overtaking) So he swerved at me. He is now a little educated, 'cause he saw me tap my camera, point at my speedo, and give him the surf lifesaver overhead rope passing signal. Of course I'll edit out the mirror removal....lol.

No indicators, no head check...blah blah blah blah blah ! the list is endless.

The law is ALL about revenue and has nothing to do with safety.



How about them apples S.A. Govt.?:Flip:

This has been another quality ozzieboy rant.

I was waiting for your input....as i know you share the same angst i do regarding this...

Maybe it's time to send some letters to MA, AMCN, etc,and see what they have to say about it???

 

[ozzieboy]

I was waiting for your input....as i know you share the same angst i do regarding this...

Maybe it's time to send some letters to MA, AMCN, etc,and see what they have to say about it???

I'm suspecting that unless something is put on TV to make them look bad, nothing will happen.

 

[Wolfman]

I'm suspecting that unless something is put on TV to make them look bad, nothing will happen.

You gotta be very careful with TV, those isensationalist investigative journo shows are notorious for turning things around on the people, who presented them with the story in the first place...i think this has even happened to someone from this site at one point....

Remember, us Motorcyclists are the outsiders, we are the ones that crash at high speed, we are the ones who wheelstand, etc, etc....

This is not true for all of us of course, but that is the view of a lot of non motorcycle people out there....

 

[Kazza]

Rant time!:cheer:OK....even with the indicators far enough apart, and a reflector in place, you will get booked, for it not coming down far enough. They leave this law in place as an easy 'out' when they want to pull bikes off the road on a 'blitz'.

The law IS a farce! The law is all of a piece. The system IS a joke, and I well and truly think it's time to sort it out.

I'm collecting video of people doing the wrong thing (in a dangerous way) other than speeding, and I'm gonna give it to Today Tonight so they can see the world from a motorbike's perspective. Scroo dealing with the police. Obviously since they are the peole doing it then they must think it's more important to keep the number plate clean (and the FACT is, that is all it does and not well either) than my safety. I beg to differ, and if the law is not there for me, 'cause I ride a bike, then to hell with their laws. I say "their" laws because if the law is not there FOR me I no longer consider them as applying TO me. I have NEVER recieved any help from a cop ever....let me say that again. I have NEVER recieved any help from a cop ever.

Got lots of speeding fines though. Obviously since speed and F.E's are what is killing folk on the road I must be public enemy number 1. A real hardened criminal.

How about folk with mal adjusted lights or driving around on high beam? I am prepared to face the challenge.....they should put me on my bike and tell me to do 40km/h over the speed limit, and put a blind guy in a car and tell him to drive at the speed limit and see who crashes first.

This should tell them whether speeding is more dangerous than dodgey lights, indifference and all out laziness. I know where my money is.

I reckon I could make 10% of drivers crash by standing on the side of the road and doing the jump out of the closet Raaaa! thing at them. People who panic have no business driving a motor vehicle and should be weeded out during testing. Like the chick who panicked and avoided a koala by hitting a bridge on the other side of the road. Or the guy who dodged a pigeon by swerving headon into my lane......I'm sorry but that would have to be some awesome kind of world saving pigeon before that's acceptable.

Some guy doing 70 something on the freeway was upset that I was doing the speed limit and going passed on his left (which should be impossible, 'cause he should be keeping left unless overtaking) So he swerved at me. He is now a little educated, 'cause he saw me tap my camera, point at my speedo, and give him the surf lifesaver overhead rope passing signal. Of course I'll edit out the mirror removal....lol.

No indicators, no head check...blah blah blah blah blah ! the list is endless.

The law is ALL about revenue and has nothing to do with safety.



How about them apples S.A. Govt.?:Flip:

This has been another quality ozzieboy rant.

Hmmmmm........... "The Rant Thread" maybe?...... LOL

 

[krushnuts]

I'm suspecting that unless something is put on TV to make them look bad, nothing will happen.

Mate, I have been wanting to do this for some time, a little camera (or two) positioned on the bike in such a way as to capture the widest angle possible.

Idk what I'd do with the footage, if not just to have it in case an accident did happen...

I wouldn't trust tabloid tv to tell a straight or fair story, ever.

As for the FE debate, well, I'm not going to 'fix' mine. I know in NSW if you get a defect notice it means you need an inspection and you have to fix it within 3 days, but not sure about Qld. (I'm originally from NSW.) I asked the officer if there was a time limit and if I should just turn around and go home, he said just pay the fine and he wouldn't book me again today, but if he saw me tomorrow, that was a different story.

What really gets under my skin is that it just seems up to the officers discretion whether or not they fine a person for any given offence. The officer I dealt with today gave my bike a good once over (took photos) and failed to pick up that my *registration* had fallen off! But my FE kit, well, don't ever put one of those on...

 

[Humperdinkel]

I was waiting for your input....as i know you share the same angst i do regarding this...

Maybe it's time to send some letters to MA, AMCN, etc,and see what they have to say about it???

Im with you Jamie , i think its time we all stood up to be counted :thumbup: Lets all get our collective heads together get a 1st class letter put together & send it to our fav bike mags... I'll have TwoWheels covered :thumbup:

 

[ozzieboy]

You gotta be very careful with TV, those isensationalist investigative journo shows are notorious for turning things around on the people, who presented them with the story in the first place...i think this has even happened to someone from this site at one point....

Remember, us Motorcyclists are the outsiders, we are the ones that crash at high speed, we are the ones who wheelstand, etc, etc....

This is not true for all of us of course, but that is the view of a lot of non motorcycle people out there....

LOL....NP? If they pi55 me off I'll follow them around with a camera for a while. I used to drive along with the ex and point out the stuff ups from nearly every single driver on the road....lol...another reason I'm single?...lol. They nearly all drive like 5h1t. No indicators wander from lane to lane talking or texting on the wrong side of the road. Besides. The video I'll give them shows my speedo and according to that I'm not doing anything wrong. Shows my indicators and all. Gonna collect sooooo much evil cager evidence that it's gonna be hard to refute. Including the cops...lol. That Melandris fella on TT don't much care for the coppers...lol.

The point is....no one's gonna follow me with a camera...lol...Good luck if they try.:Flip:

 

[Wolfman]

The officer I dealt with today gave my bike a good once over (took photos) and failed to pick up that my *registration* had fallen off! But my FE kit, well, don't ever put one of those on...

Lol! the cop that booked my bike, failed to notice that i had a straight through race system exhaust, with absolutely no baffle's in place...

If i had started it in front of him, i would of been screwed for noise...as the pipes were way too loud with the baffles out...

He also missed the fact, that i was missing a mirror as well..

Too busy fixating on the next bike, and fining the poor owner of that!

 

[Wolfman]

Im with you Jamie , i think its time we all stood up to be counted :thumbup: Lets all get our collective heads together get a 1st class letter put together & send it to our fav bike mags... I'll have TwoWheels covered :thumbup:

Yep, i am up for writing a letter, someone with legal system experience, would be handy!!!! Mr Rumpole....maybe???

 

[ozzieboy]

Yep, i am up for writing a letter, someone with legal system experience, would be handy!!!! Mr Rumpole....maybe???

Fill the envelope with Red Back Spiders.....that'll get their attention...lol.:BLAA:

 

[krushnuts]

Lol! the cop that booked my bike, failed to notice that i had a straight through race system exhaust, with absolutely no baffle's in place...

If i had started it in front of him, i would of been screwed for noise...as the pipes were way too loud with the baffles out...

He also missed the fact, that i was missing a mirror as well..

Too busy fixating on the next bike, and fining the poor owner of that!

Heh, tru about fixating on the next bike, he was standing directly behind mine, like yours, unbaffled TB's... I've never been so ginger with the throttle lol


A letter of some description is a good idea. Someone has to write it though... I'm a software developer, no idea about legal stuff. Perhaps the new SA Attorny General would be interested, does he ride a motorcycle?