Thanks for posting the RTA guidelines Mato, I just read through and realised that:

1. Handlebars are acceptable
2. Front & Rear Mudguards - Fail
3. Chainguard - Fail

I always knew the mud gaurds would be an issue and have a plan to fix that if it ever becomes an issue, but the chaingaurd is definitely a new one!!

Cheers

Waz

Thanks for posting the criteria Mato,
I'm in Vic, but it's still an interesting read. One thing springs to mind.. I wonder how many cops know this offhand, or know where to find it, should they pull you over?

They probably have access to the file, from a display in the car, but for them to read it roadside and brush up on it, you'd have to be doing something pretty disruptive for them to bother....you'd hope.

I reckon bike cops, may be weekend enthusiasts, so may be more up on it.

In Vic, on a Tollway Eastlink, south of MEL we have 3 bikes that operate 'undercover'. All BMW's. Navy blue, and gunmetal grey. Dark coloured bikes, but the riders wear super high vis body vests, but you can't tell from a distance. Till it's too late, then they hit the lights and the bike lights up like a christmas tree!

The cops speed through traffic, looking like - under that helmet they're wetting their pants with excitement - probably massive grins on their faces. wrapping on the power, having a blast. They have the ability to slow a massive group of traffic just with their presence. It surely must go to their heads!

I wonder how often they put on their reading glasses, roadside, and completely throw the book at someone for mods.

I reckon they'd get you for pipes if you were riding like a cut cat dipped in acid through the traffic, but otherwise, leave you be, and get back to looking cool

I was just out for a ride in the northern beaches of Sydney. Passed two cops in cars at the lights. One didn't even look at me. One gave me a thumb up. And the one that gave me the thumb up was on my right, so they easily saw my shorties.

They're not all bad.

I thought this was interesting, regarding front mudguard requirements:

"If suitable protection is afforded by the frame or other construction of the motor cycle, the front mudguard need
only cover the area that is unprotected."

In other words, you only require a front mudguard sufficient to protect any unprotected areas...which implies that if you can eliminate "unprotected areas" completely, then you would at the same time eliminate any need for a front mudguard. It wouldn't stop a dickhead cop from trying to defect you, but it wouldn't hold up if challenged.

So the real question is not "Can I get rid of my front mudguard or not?" but rather "What parts/areas must I protect by other means in order to be able to do it?"