License plate fell off today...
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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License plate fell off today...
I had fabricated a license plate bracket out of polished stainless steel over the winter. It looked much better than the stock "billboard" that came with the bike. Anyway, I was riding with my wife today, and she pointed to the back of my bike and motioned for me to pull over. After complying with her demand, I checked out the bracket and found that it had completely broke off on the right side, and was almost ready to snap on the left. Turns out that metal fatigue from the wind and bike vibration had caused it to snap over time.
Fortunately, my local HD dealership was open today. I stopped in and they had 5 of the Tri-Bar LED's in-stock. With tax and my 15% discount it came to around $217.
I had contemplated getting the Tri-Bar from the get-go, but at the time I thought it looked a little too funky for my taste, so I got the Kuryakyn smoked LED tail light. But I gotta tell you, the Kuryakyn is dimmer than Paris Hilton. After I installed the new Tri-Bar and got back on the road, my wife commented on how much brighter it is than the old one.
There's really no point to this saga. Just thought I would share...
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Fortunately, my local HD dealership was open today. I stopped in and they had 5 of the Tri-Bar LED's in-stock. With tax and my 15% discount it came to around $217.
I had contemplated getting the Tri-Bar from the get-go, but at the time I thought it looked a little too funky for my taste, so I got the Kuryakyn smoked LED tail light. But I gotta tell you, the Kuryakyn is dimmer than Paris Hilton. After I installed the new Tri-Bar and got back on the road, my wife commented on how much brighter it is than the old one.
There's really no point to this saga. Just thought I would share...
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May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
RE: License plate fell off today...
Well at least the Mrs. can't complain that you just put the light on for fun. I love mine, but I wasn't happy with the way it lets the bottom cornersof the plate hang out in space. If that nice big fat tire kicks up a decent sized rock it can ben the hell out of the plate.
So I fabbed up a 1/8" thick piece of aluminum plate to put behind the plate as a support and somplce to put two more bolts through the bottom corners of the plate. If you use any of the HD or other plate surrounds it wouldn't be needed. But I had a Vietnam Vets one that's made from plastic my sone gave me for Shristmas and it wouldn't be much of a support, so I made the plate to back them both up and painted it black.
Here's the stock setup;
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3428.jpg
Here's the plate rough cut to size.
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3429.jpg
And this is the finished plate, all trimmed up, sanded andfor paint.
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3432.jpg
If you have any more of that stainless steel laying around it should work at least as well as the aluminum I used.
Have Fun. [sm=biker2.gif]
So I fabbed up a 1/8" thick piece of aluminum plate to put behind the plate as a support and somplce to put two more bolts through the bottom corners of the plate. If you use any of the HD or other plate surrounds it wouldn't be needed. But I had a Vietnam Vets one that's made from plastic my sone gave me for Shristmas and it wouldn't be much of a support, so I made the plate to back them both up and painted it black.
Here's the stock setup;
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3428.jpg
Here's the plate rough cut to size.
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3429.jpg
And this is the finished plate, all trimmed up, sanded andfor paint.
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3432.jpg
If you have any more of that stainless steel laying around it should work at least as well as the aluminum I used.
Have Fun. [sm=biker2.gif]
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 1
From:
RE: License plate fell off today...
ORIGINAL: Citoriplus
Well at least the Mrs. can't complain that you just put the light on for fun. I love mine, but I wasn't happy with the way it lets the bottom cornersof the plate hang out in space. If that nice big fat tire kicks up a decent sized rock it can ben the hell out of the plate.
So I fabbed up a 1/8" thick piece of aluminum plate to put behind the plate as a support and somplce to put two more bolts through the bottom corners of the plate. If you use any of the HD or other plate surrounds it wouldn't be needed. But I had a Vietnam Vets one that's made from plastic my sone gave me for Shristmas and it wouldn't be much of a support, so I made the plate to back them both up and painted it black.
Here's the stock setup;
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3428.jpg
Here's the plate rough cut to size.
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3429.jpg
And this is the finished plate, all trimmed up, sanded andfor paint.
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3432.jpg
If you have any more of that stainless steel laying around it should work at least as well as the aluminum I used.
Have Fun. [sm=biker2.gif]
Well at least the Mrs. can't complain that you just put the light on for fun. I love mine, but I wasn't happy with the way it lets the bottom cornersof the plate hang out in space. If that nice big fat tire kicks up a decent sized rock it can ben the hell out of the plate.
So I fabbed up a 1/8" thick piece of aluminum plate to put behind the plate as a support and somplce to put two more bolts through the bottom corners of the plate. If you use any of the HD or other plate surrounds it wouldn't be needed. But I had a Vietnam Vets one that's made from plastic my sone gave me for Shristmas and it wouldn't be much of a support, so I made the plate to back them both up and painted it black.
Here's the stock setup;
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3428.jpg
Here's the plate rough cut to size.
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3429.jpg
And this is the finished plate, all trimmed up, sanded andfor paint.
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=IMG_3432.jpg
If you have any more of that stainless steel laying around it should work at least as well as the aluminum I used.
Have Fun. [sm=biker2.gif]
The other thing I did was drilled new holes higher up on the license plate bracket, and didn't put on the reflector assembly. This raised the plate an inch or so to expose more of the rear tire. But it looks like you have a luggage rack, so you may need the assembly installed.
I should also mention the look of the Tri-Bar has grown on me over the last several months. At the very instant I discovered today's problem, I already knew the solution!
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
RE: License plate fell off today...
ORIGINAL: TXjammer
I lost my plate and holder once.....forgot to tighten the bolts one night after I took the whole back end of the bike apart!!!! [:@]
I lost my plate and holder once.....forgot to tighten the bolts one night after I took the whole back end of the bike apart!!!! [:@]
DaveJ,
Yes I do have the rack, but in NY you need the reflector for the state safety inspection. Most of the dealers and anyone else kind of looks the other way on it. But if you get stopped by a state trooper and he's looking for something to "get" you on he'll find it. So I would rather NOT give them a reason, I have a thing about paying the state their blood money if I can avoide it. Besides I think having the plate a little lower doesn't harm to "look" and gives a little extra protection to the light from rocks. It definatly would tick me off if I had toreplace that expensive light assembly because ofa stupid thing like a rock.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,156
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From:
RE: License plate fell off today...
[align=left]It is interesting coming to the forums and reading about all the little nuances(or should I say nuisances) that each state has when it comes to motorcycle laws. Minnesota is a liberal state, so pretty much nothing is allowed here. But we actually fare pretty well when it comes to motorcycle and gun laws; go figure.
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Banned
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RE: License plate fell off today...
Odd that you post this, as mine fell off two days ago. I had a side-mount bracket though. I had it up on the side where the passenger footpeg goes on the frame. It broke clean.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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RE: License plate fell off today...
ORIGINAL: michaelbarry
Odd that you post this, as mine fell off two days ago. I had a side-mount bracket though. I had it up on the side where the passenger footpeg goes on the frame. It broke clean.
Odd that you post this, as mine fell off two days ago. I had a side-mount bracket though. I had it up on the side where the passenger footpeg goes on the frame. It broke clean.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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RE: License plate fell off today...
ORIGINAL: DaveJ
Do you mind if I ask which one you had and what you think may have caused it to break? I am looking to get one for my wife's bike this winter, so any input would be appreciated.
ORIGINAL: michaelbarry
Odd that you post this, as mine fell off two days ago. I had a side-mount bracket though. I had it up on the side where the passenger footpeg goes on the frame. It broke clean.
Odd that you post this, as mine fell off two days ago. I had a side-mount bracket though. I had it up on the side where the passenger footpeg goes on the frame. It broke clean.