license.plate

[dd]

hi.
i was trying to install my license plate on an '07 r1200r using all four bolt holes.
i am having a very difficult time doing this.
if you have tried this, i imagine you ran into the same lack of space issue.
does anyone have a good solution?
-daniel.

[Tak]

I cut an aluminum sheet (1/16" thick) slightly larger than the license plate and drilled 4 holes in it to match the mounting holes on the bike. Then I drilled another 4 holes to match the license plate. Painted it black. Mounted aluminum plate to bike then mounted license plate to the aluminum plate.

[dd]

tak,
hi.
thanks for your reply.
i don't understand how your solution fixes the problem i encountered.
i found that there was not enough space on the inside of the license plate frame to fit a wrench to tighten the nut for the 'top' bolts.
how did you get around this?
-daniel.

[motoracer8]

I belive I used 5X20 screws, could have been 5X25. They are the same black torx macine screws BMW uses in other places. Nuts for the top two screws are alittle difficult to get to, I used a pair of needle nosed pliers to hold the nuts in place while turning the screws.

Ken G.

[xprof]

I'm both ham-handed and impulsive, so I used my Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel to cut away the plastic that was in my way. Then I cut off the red reflectors, which I never liked and which you won't see on European bikes. I have had no regrets about it, but this may be a bit radical for you...

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Ah ah ! Its Funny dd !

I had the same issue 2 weeks ago with my dealer mechanic helper... I was watching him working super fast, not selecting the right screw lenght, forgeting the loctite and as usual at the end asking me quickly without any form of shame "Is that right for you that way ?" waiting for my answer to seal the deal while hiding with his hand the two upper area screws holes that he decided to simply leave empty !

A bit pissed off I told him what disturbed me in the result of his work process.

And him too bit upset he had to re-do the whole job with medium loctite, proper length screw and spend 10 minutes more with the right tool to block the bolt behind the mounting while screwing carefully on the other side...

Et Voila !

[NeilS]

I've replaced the machine screws with stainless steel sheet metal screws. They very nicely cut threads into the plastic license plate bracket, so I don't have to worry about the nuts at all.

[mogu83]

Basically same as above. I ran a tap through the hole (5mm I think) and bought four SS socket head bolts with washers and ran them in till they were snug. Two years and 20+K and everything is still tight. Looks neat and it's easy.



Add a $6 license plate surround and it cleans up the plate area a little.

[Phillo]

This is strange, my number plate tailpiece only has three holes and I mounted the plate using stainless steel machine screws & nylock nuts as per the pics.

[deilenberger]

One word: "nutdriver" (metric of course..) Harbor Freight has a cheap set that is fine for stuff like this (nutdrivers normally aren't used for high-torque applications..)

[Tak]

Daniel,

I used an open end wrench held at an angle such that only the tips made contact with the flats on the nut. I used self locking nuts so I did not need to apply much torque, just get them snug.

Tak