license plate bracket

jmc · 03-20-2010, 12:25 PM

Is there some sort of replacement license plate bracket available somewhere...my license plate bracket looks like it was meant for a car plate rather than a motorcycle plate. I am not apposed to making one but if I could buy one that would be better.
anyone know why the plate bracket is sooo big?

Jim

**cnc** · 03-20-2010, 01:16 PM

Yes that black plastic part of the bracket is ridiculous for the size of our plates. Remove the plastic backer part and trim it to the size of your plate, then re install. You can then add a chrome license plate trim ring to finish it off if you like.

phred · 03-20-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnc

Yes that black plastic part of the bracket is ridiculous for the size of our plates. Remove the plastic backer part and trim it to the size of your plate, then re install. You can then add a chrome license plate trim ring to finish it off if you like.

Thats exactly what I did. I got a little carried away and some of my cuts weren't the straightest, but once the plate and a chrome frame are in place, you cant'see the bracket anyway.

leadbelly · 03-20-2010, 08:58 PM

I did the same thing CNC mentioned, and with the small size of our Alberta plates I had just enough room to run a strip of LED lights above the plate. I have these mounted behind the plastic backer with a hole driled out to let each LED through. I then gave it a light shot of flat black paint so you can't really notice it until I hit the brakes. The LED's jump out at you.
Be creative.

jmc · 03-20-2010, 10:53 PM

Thats where I was going to go but I did not want to get kicked out of the club for doing something wrong

anyone know why the bracket is so big?

**cnc** · 03-21-2010, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmc

Thats where I was going to go but I did not want to get kicked out of the club for doing something wrong

anyone know why the bracket is so big?

Not sure why so big. England and some other countries in Europe have larger plates I believe. It seems to me the bracket would be better suited for those plates and Kawa just never bothered to design a separate bracket for North America.

macmac · 03-21-2010, 02:19 PM

HUH? My 06 has a black plastic mc sized backing plate... it sort of contains the plate. I lost that chrome up right altogether, and used varrious existing bolts to lay down that with the plate. No piccy though, Maybe if Flavor see's this he can get up a piccy, since I assisted him with my way.

**cnc** · 03-21-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmac

HUH? My 06 has a black plastic mc sized backing plate... it sort of contains the plate. I lost that chrome up right altogether, and used varrious existing bolts to lay down that with the plate. No piccy though, Maybe if Flavor see's this he can get up a piccy, since I assisted him with my way.

Well Mac maybe it is only Canadian bikes or newer than 06. I did assume it was all Nomads. The black plastic backing plate was about 2 inches wider that the plate and a good inch higher. I don't have a before picture of it, cause it was down right ugly.

macmac · 03-21-2010, 08:31 PM

That could be, I have seen Euro Bikes with great big plates and so great big holders.

If you guys have the chromed stand/ mount, and want it, then be advised that on USA modles there is no gasket between paint and that mount, and there should be!

Remove this mount, and clean under it, then make a rubber gasket from some old inner tube or some stort bought rubber gasket material, before you crack the paint and water gets under that paint!

It is hard to say what yoy can or should do with a USA mc sized plate and a big Euro style holder, with out seeing one.

If someone has on and can get me a pic of the front and more important the back I am sure I can come up with a simple cure.

The black holder for the USA has a puffed out area in the center. I think I flipped the whole thing over and just drilled 2 holes in it matching the fender, and used the longer bolts from the chrome mount to lay my plate down. With the gasket I made the black frame stands off the paint about 1/8th inch.

Maybe next weekend I will get the bike out and put the battery back in, install the seats and tinker, but right now snow is melting, the drive way is a hellish mud and ruts mess, and I just got done makin sugar. Then I could get pics i could use better, than a bike stuffed in a snug trailer.

jmc · 03-22-2010, 08:56 AM

Hows that?
Jim

cactusjack · 03-22-2010, 09:22 AM

When I was looking at license plate frames a couple of years back, most manufacturers offer them in two sizes. I guess some states must have larger plates than others.

My stock plastic backing plate was very close to the size of my license plate.

trosco · 03-22-2010, 09:57 AM

Here's what a US bracket looks like on a 2007. It matches our plate size well

phenrichs · 03-22-2010, 01:59 PM

It could be worse. Remember the photos of old Euro bikes where the plate was so big it had to be mounted on top of the front fender?

Yellow Jacket · 03-22-2010, 02:57 PM

It appears that maybe the Canadian bikes come with a much larger backing plate than the U.S. models. Does anyone else in Canada have that large plate on their bike?

**cnc** · 03-22-2010, 04:05 PM

Mine looked like yours did JMC before I trimmed it and added the chrome frame. Not the best picture, but you get the idea.

03-20-2010, 12:25 PM	#1
jmc Jr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cobourg, Ontario Posts: 29	license plate bracket Is there some sort of replacement license plate bracket available somewhere...my license plate bracket looks like it was meant for a car plate rather than a motorcycle plate. I am not apposed to making one but if I could buy one that would be better. anyone know why the plate bracket is sooo big? Jim Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-20-2010, 01:16 PM	#2
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	license plate bracket Yes that black plastic part of the bracket is ridiculous for the size of our plates. Remove the plastic backer part and trim it to the size of your plate, then re install. You can then add a chrome license plate trim ring to finish it off if you like. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
	0

03-20-2010, 08:58 PM	#4
leadbelly Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada Posts: 340	license plate bracket I did the same thing CNC mentioned, and with the small size of our Alberta plates I had just enough room to run a strip of LED lights above the plate. I have these mounted behind the plastic backer with a hole driled out to let each LED through. I then gave it a light shot of flat black paint so you can't really notice it until I hit the brakes. The LED's jump out at you. Be creative. __________________ '08 Blue/Silver
	0

03-20-2010, 10:53 PM	#5
jmc Jr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cobourg, Ontario Posts: 29	license plate bracket Thats where I was going to go but I did not want to get kicked out of the club for doing something wrong anyone know why the bracket is so big? Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-21-2010, 02:19 PM	#7
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	license plate bracket HUH? My 06 has a black plastic mc sized backing plate... it sort of contains the plate. I lost that chrome up right altogether, and used varrious existing bolts to lay down that with the plate. No piccy though, Maybe if Flavor see's this he can get up a piccy, since I assisted him with my way. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

03-21-2010, 08:31 PM	#9
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	license plate bracket That could be, I have seen Euro Bikes with great big plates and so great big holders. If you guys have the chromed stand/ mount, and want it, then be advised that on USA modles there is no gasket between paint and that mount, and there should be! Remove this mount, and clean under it, then make a rubber gasket from some old inner tube or some stort bought rubber gasket material, before you crack the paint and water gets under that paint! It is hard to say what yoy can or should do with a USA mc sized plate and a big Euro style holder, with out seeing one. If someone has on and can get me a pic of the front and more important the back I am sure I can come up with a simple cure. The black holder for the USA has a puffed out area in the center. I think I flipped the whole thing over and just drilled 2 holes in it matching the fender, and used the longer bolts from the chrome mount to lay my plate down. With the gasket I made the black frame stands off the paint about 1/8th inch. Maybe next weekend I will get the bike out and put the battery back in, install the seats and tinker, but right now snow is melting, the drive way is a hellish mud and ruts mess, and I just got done makin sugar. Then I could get pics i could use better, than a bike stuffed in a snug trailer. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

03-22-2010, 08:56 AM	#10
jmc Jr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cobourg, Ontario Posts: 29	license plate bracket Hows that? Jim
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03-22-2010, 09:22 AM	#11
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	license plate bracket When I was looking at license plate frames a couple of years back, most manufacturers offer them in two sizes. I guess some states must have larger plates than others. My stock plastic backing plate was very close to the size of my license plate. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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03-22-2010, 09:57 AM	#12
trosco Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,464	license plate bracket Here's what a US bracket looks like on a 2007. It matches our plate size well __________________ trosco: just call me Ross 2007 Black & Titanium Nomad (Nomad made 65K but got replaced 2014) 2010 Titanium Goldwing 2014 KLR 650 New Edition
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03-22-2010, 01:59 PM	#13
phenrichs Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 2,498	license plate bracket It could be worse. Remember the photos of old Euro bikes where the plate was so big it had to be mounted on top of the front fender?
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03-22-2010, 02:57 PM	#14
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	license plate bracket It appears that maybe the Canadian bikes come with a much larger backing plate than the U.S. models. Does anyone else in Canada have that large plate on their bike? __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
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03-22-2010, 04:05 PM	#15
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	license plate bracket Mine looked like yours did JMC before I trimmed it and added the chrome frame. Not the best picture, but you get the idea. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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