cbr74's no cost VN900 license plate mod

[cbr74]

Now that I'm fully obsessed with tricking out my bike... I've started looking at all the things that could be just a bit better than stock. Kawasaki did a beautiful job on the rear fender styling of the VN900, then butchered it with all the gobbldegook that is the plate and turn signals.
Originally I envisioned fabricating a custom bracket to relocate the plate a bit higher but once I took it apart I realized Kawasaki had done most of the work for me already.

Before:

After:


Leftovers:


Kawasaki was nice enough to put two holes with the correct spacing right into the bracket for the reflector. All I had to do was make them a bit bigger. Out came the Coleman 18V cordless drill and a #9 speed bit and 2 minutes later I had a new license plate mounting spot.
I couldn't use the old bolts to remount the license plate bracket due to the washers on them so I went to my trusty nuts and bolts bin and found two without washers.

Tools used:
4mm allen wrench
8mm and 10mm sockets and wrenches
cordless drill
#9 speedbit

Materials:
2 washerless 6mm bolts
microfiber cloth

Procedure:
Remove chrome cover from tail assembly (4mm allen)
Remove license plate (8mm)
Remove license plate bracket(10mm)
Remove lower mounting bolt from inside fender (10mm)and two side mounting bolts (8mm)
tilt assembly up and remove reflector nut from backside (8mm)
re-install side mounting bolts loosely to hold assembly for drilling
drill two holes:

remove side mounting bolts again
tilt assembly forward and invert and mount the license plate bracket using washerless bolts

re-install side and bottom mounting bolts
re-install plate
re-install chrome cover
wipe finger prints off chrome cover
stand back and admire your handiwork

[trikebubble]

Well their you go then. You've done a bang up job with that. Looks way better than stovk.
Pretty much every bike i've ever owned has had the license plate relocated.

[cbr74]

The difference is subtle, the plate only moved two inches but that's two inches more fender showing and one less bicycle reflector. And of course the biggest benefit was it was free.
Here's a shot from a bit farther back:


The overall effect will be even more improved when I get my hands on a pair of front signals to put in place of the back ones. It will be a much less obtrusive assembly yet remain all Kawasaki.

[CheriAnn]

WOW! That's nice and FREE!!!!!!!!
Boy, I have been watching for your threads lately
You are coming up with some awesome ideas for the 900, thanks!!!!

[pat0021]

Very nice. Just might have to do that myself!

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by cbr74

The difference is subtle, the plate only moved two inches but that's two inches more fender showing and one less bicycle reflector. And of course the biggest benefit was it was free.
Here's a shot from a bit farther back:


The overall effect will be even more improved when I get my hands on a pair of front signals to put in place of the back ones. It will be a much less obtrusive assembly yet remain all Kawasaki.

Say, what do the signals look like on your bike anyways? Rebekah (SLSChic)just took her stock front signals off her Mean Streak. They may work for you.

If they are the same, you should give her or Gene (anamosity) a PM.

[cbr74]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Say, what do the signals look like on your bike anyways? Rebekah (SLSChic)just took her stock front signals off her Mean Streak. They may work for you.

If they are the same, you should give her or Gene (anamosity) a PM.

The front ones look just like the rear but shorter. The front signals on a Meanie use adifferent style mount but the rear ones are very similar.

[Teamlopez1]

Originally Posted by cbr74

The difference is subtle, the plate only moved two inches but that's two inches more fender showing and one less bicycle reflector. And of course the biggest benefit was it was free.
Here's a shot from a bit farther back:


The overall effect will be even more improved when I get my hands on a pair of front signals to put in place of the back ones. It will be a much less obtrusive assembly yet remain all Kawasaki.

Nice job. Yeah i hate reflectors too. I have all of them off both the 900 and the nomad. I think it makes the bikes look much better without them.

[2WheelFun]

Reflecting on your work...nice job!

[Redbeard]

Originally Posted by 2WheelFun

Reflecting on your work...nice job!

Hahaha I get it that was a play on words wasn't it. thats darn good. woot woot.

[cbr74]

Originally Posted by CheriAnn

WOW! That's nice and FREE!!!!!!!!
Boy, I have been watching for your threads lately
You are coming up with some awesome ideas for the 900, thanks!!!!

That is high praise indeed. Stay tuned, the coming weeks will have more mods, more chrome, and oh yeah.. more chrome.

[Tattoomarc]

looks good I think i will have to try that

[streak07]

This works on Mean Streaks as well.

[colbycurtis]

I love that mod unfortunately us here in Texas also have a inspection plate that hangs just below the tag so you can't even see the bottom of the rear fender. So if I do this mod it will maybe just allow the tip of the rear fender to show unless anyone has any cool ideas for what I can do with that dang inspection sticker plate that hangs just below the licence plate?

[Easyrider32]

Since we are on topic on License plates. I ordered a Kuryakyn 4 x 7 chrome licene plate frame. I didn't realize that Canada has no standard size for Motorcycle license plates and it varies in different Provinces. I found out that the British Columbia plate is 5 x 8. Any suggestions on how I can somehow trim each size of the licence plate? Hack saw? Grinder. What is the easiest way?

[texrider]

Neat mod! Unfortunately, we're required to have some red reflector area facing rear. Usually it is made as part of the tail light lens, but not on the 900.

[stevebtx12]

Very cool idea, cbr, but being in TX, I have the same inspection plate problem as mentioned here already .

[colbycurtis]

Originally Posted by texrider

Neat mod! Unfortunately, we're required to have some red reflector area facing rear. Usually it is made as part of the tail light lens, but not on the 900.

The two screws holding my plate on have reflectice tips about the size of a nickel I wonder if that would suffice for the law.

P.S. Added thought...I bought this cool reflective tape it is satin gloss black but when light hits it it is retroreflective bright white. You can put it on any part of your bike that is black and it's barely visable (it comes in 6 inch thin strips) but good luck trying to explain to a cop you have reflectice items on the back if you get pulled over I have it on my helmet and you never even notice it's there during the day. I put it on the black ring at the bottom

[DirtyWater]

Good job. Looks great. Now I got another thing to do.

[ervins]

Good job!