Quick license plate mod
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 346
Likes: 4
From: Ponchatoula, LA
Quick license plate mod
So I like the side mount license plate on my '13 street bob, but what I don't like is how far it sticks out. Every now and then when I'm working in the garage I forget how far it sticks out and run into it. Well the plate was kinda bent up a little so yesterday I took it off to straighten it out and came up with an idea. I noticed that the plate holder is actually 2 pieces, so I just unbolted them and mounted the plate vertically. I like the look much better like this versus it mounted horizontally. I'm sure I'm not the first person to do this, but I looked around and didn't notice any threads on it so I decided to post up my findings just in case anyone else wanted to give it a shot.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 175
From: Los Lunas, NM
I did the same thing awhile back. After a couple of highway speed trips, the license plate caught enough air to bend and crack. Almost lost it on my last trip. I have since went back to the horizontal mounting. Just food for thought...
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 346
Likes: 4
From: Ponchatoula, LA
I thought about that but I wouldn't think the 5inches it hangs down would have any affect on it. I'll look into rigging up some sort of T bracket for support.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 88
From: San Quirino, Italy
I did the same thing. I took an old license plate and mounted vertically. I added a couple holes so I could use four bolts. I then used all four bolt holes to mount the new plate...Hope this makes sense. It is much more solid...
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,949
Likes: 150
From: South of Mordor
You could get a 1/16" flat stock plate (steel or aluminum), shape it to the license plate and four point mount it to the bracket and mount the license plate to it.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 346
Likes: 4
From: Ponchatoula, LA
Yeah might be eaiser to do it that way. I ride about 25 miles on interstate goin between 75-80mph and so far it's holding up and doesn't really seem to move, but some extra support wouldn't hurt.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 88
From: San Quirino, Italy
That's what I was trying to say. I used an old license plate instead of new stock...