Flip-Tip Number plate
Above: What you get.
The Flip-Tip Number plate is something that could
come straight off the James Bond Film Set. Designed for those
track days you flip your number plate so it can not be seen by
some nosy insurance rep looking to invalidate your insurance.
It is illegal to flip the plate on the public highway. The device
is designed for use on a circuit and as such should only be flipped
on race circuits.
It feels well made and looks good, the hinge in
the middle can be seen, but one officer I showed said that does
not matter as long as the plate can be read from a distance as
the law requires, He then said where can he get one....
Above: Flip-Tip Switch with Fitted LED
The plate comes with all you need, the main unit
pre-wired with the power cable and the very small waterproof switch,
registration letters and numbers and reflective backing plates.
Putting on the reflective backing plates was easy,
the numbers and letters however were a pig to line up, I screwed
up on the first letter so I decided to get some advice from a
mate who does shop signs. Get a cup of water, a very small amount
of washing up liquid and mix it it. Wet the reflective backing
plates with tissue (front face) and then put the letters on, the
water/washing up liquid mix will allow to to slip the letters
and numbers over the surface so you can line them up much easier.
When they are lined up remove the excess water, carefully rubbing
over the letters will remove some of the water from under them
and leave for 24 hours for the water under the letters and numbers
to dry.
Then the fitting bit, as I don't own a bike any
more I was not able to do the fitting bit, but its going to be
very easy to do. Double sided waterproof tape or screws are the
options. Either way the instructions included and cover this part
well.
The power lead is long enough for a bike and you
just connect the Brown wire to Live (+12v) and the Blue wire to
Negative (-0V), do this to the switched live side of the ignition
circuit.
The control switch is fitted with a thick waterproof
sticky pad and a status LED, and it is thick enough to absorb
a small amount of curve so it's ideal for fitting on existing
switch gear on your handle bars. Avoid any electrical coils and
HF Circuits when you run the switch wire, as the interference
can trigger the Flip-Tip and cause the plate to close or open
and you don't want any unwanted bizarre effects do you.
In use its easy. Press the button and the plate
folds in half obscuring the registration numbers, the LED comes
on to let you know its in flip mode, it takes less than a second
to do this. Press it again and your plate goes back to normal.
Open
Half Open
Closed
It also has a cleaver feature of self testing every
minute. This works is by resetting the position of the plate,
i.e.. If its in flip mode, it will reactivate the motor to make
sure the plate is still in flip mode every minute to make sure
the wind has not partly lifted the flap, the same will be done
if its in normal mode, saves any embarrassing questions as you
ride home and a police officer sees your plate half closed.
There is no unit for cars at the moment.
Can I recommend it,
Yes, for the novelty factor alone its great.
It works, looks great and is built with bikes in mind,
James Bond eat your heart out.
The company that made the Flip-Tip has ceased trading.
Review done February 2002
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