Numberplate Question

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

If you were to take a normal standard numberplate and stick a reflector onto it, but in between the lettering and the bottom of the numberplate, not obscuring any of the registration lettering, would that be legal?

Letter of law? No, it's not legal.

Are you likely to have trouble with it? Also, no - probably.

The legislation is clear, the plate must be minimum 9"x7" and unobscured: So, a reflector can't be on the plate if it's 9"x7", but if were 9"x7+however wide you reflector is", then the law is less clear, of course you would have 9"x7" of plate showing, but the law requires the plate isn't obscured.

Originally Posted by MattCollins

BTW, I'd be more inclined to cut, drill, grind and lighten the original part than to mess around with aluminium.

Good point, cutting the original plastics would be easier and lighter than fabricating a new part. I like to be able to put things back to standard, but I guess I'll never sell this bike, it is worth more running than sold.

Have you done something similar with yours?

I don't like the way the original one looks, and it collects mud something terrible, makes the bike even heavier when riding and harder to clean.

The snow shovel, and the back of the bike without the snow shovel. I guess I could just cut away all the visible bits of the snow shovel, and put it back on.

My XT is bog stock. I have done this sort of thing to other bikes.

I don't think that you'll be losing anything if you have a go at trimming the rear fender. Just be sure to leave some material on the sides to stiffen the back.

A tip with mud is to coat the inside of the fenders periodically with silicone spray or oil. If you were riding in axle deep mud on full knobs I'd suggest the same for the tyres (yes, treads!) and anything else you don't want mud sticking to. You might be surprised at how effective it is.

My new tail tidy? Or would the plastics be too weak, flap about, and break first time I dropped the bike in the mud?

Have you cut it already?

My suggestion was aimed at preserving enough material for the billboard on the back and something to hang a reflector on.

Originally Posted by MattCollins

I don't think that you'll be losing anything if you have a go at trimming the rear fender. Just be sure to leave some material on the sides to stiffen the back.

I'll hold the fender up against the bike and see what it would look like with the sides still on. You would see that it had been cut, whereas with the above the 'tail tidy' would be invisible. I might stick with the aluminium sheet if leaving the sides on the plastics would look silly.

We keep crossing our posts. No, I haven't cut it already. Not too worried about the tail tidy going all the way down to the reflector. I can easily cut a small square of plastic to allow me to attach the reflector to the bottom of the reg plate. Tail tidy holds reg plate, reg plate holds reflector.

Some mini indicators will be in order once done too I think.

Ralph, I was looking at the photo of the bike which is unclear. I thought you might have done a before and after shot.


I have no idea the proportions of a British plate on that fender. With the fender on the bench, put the number plate back on and drill a couple of holes under the plate for the stock reflector which is exactly the type I was referring to earlier. See what you've got then.
You'd probably want to cut straight across about 5mm below the reflector then shape the bottom edge similar to the original.
For the sides you could profile it from about 10mm at the bottom to about 40mm at the top.

BTW, with the invisible tail tidy, if you have a gap between the light and plate you'll be putting excessive amounts of muck on the light. I doubt it'd cop much of a beating.

EDIT: Another crossed post...

Also, if the idea above doesn't work for you then it is easier to cut more off, but it is a bit of a problem putting it back on again.