What the heck is this thing?

[MXBrian]

Somebody please me why every front number plate in the world has one of those plastic "straps" molded into it that goes over the top of the crossbar then loops back to the number plate. What is the purpose? My number plate ('05 YZ125) bolts on -- it's not like this strap holds the plate on or contains anything that I can see, like cables or whatever.

Somebody please enlighten me!!

Thanks,
Brian

 

[oldguy]

without that piece it would be a $2.00 piece of plastic. Because of it and that fancy ratchet system built into the strap it becomes a $32.50 piece of plastic.

really as far as I can tell it serves no purpose and disappears from our bikes almost as soon as they first come home

 

[dirt bike dave]

I believe it is there to keep the brake hose and clutch cable from getting snagged on the handle bar clamps. In the worst case scenario, if you got your brake hose trapped it might keep the suspension from returning to full travel and you could crash.

 

[Okiewan]

Close, it's there to keep cables from getting hung on/behind the number plate itself.

 

[MXBrian]

Okiewan, do you maybe mean it's there to keep the brake hose from hanging behind the plate, because I think that on most bikes both cables (throttle & clutch) already run behind the plate. I guess that makes sense...when the suspension compresses the brake hose could flip over the side and back of the plate, then when the suspension rebounded it would yank that hose.

Ok, I can sleep tonigt...thanks!

Brian

 

[Okiewan]

Trust me, when the forks are compressed, those cables "rise-up" and can get hung on the corner of the number plate. Your brake cable rides in front of the plate and could also hang-up.

On my ZYF with a broken number plate strap, the clutch cable caught on the clutch side and just about bent the plate in half.

 

[Jeff Gilbert]

I thought it was to connect Okie's ashtray to :yikes:

 

[Okiewan]

Where in the hell did that come from, lol.

 

[oldguy]

never thought of those purposes- they make sense. Luckily never had the cables jump. May have to get a new plate before the season

 

[KiwiBird]

Back when you had drum brakes if the front brake cable got caught up in something on the handlebars when the suspension was compressed, when the bike rebounded the cable would go tight and the front brake would come on and stay on - you'd stand a good chance of crashing so they put that there whatchamacallit to stop that happening and even though now with hydraulic disks that won't happen, it could cause the forks to not go all the way back down and you could crash.

Then someone would sue.

 

[a454elk]

It's there to help hold the rear linkage, I'm sure of it.

 

[D Lafleur]

It's there to help hold the rear linkage, I'm sure of it.

Just if you are from CA, then again just if you happen to be known as the bearer of the "Stillwater Starfish" :nener:

 

[a454elk]

That would be the Texan known as Thumpfish.

 

[Okiewan]

down the toliet it goes...

 

[rickyd]

Close, it's there to keep cables from getting hung on/behind the number plate itself.

I would of never though of that..

 

[Ol'89r]

down the toliet it goes...

This one lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

 

[a454elk]

He was soooo far ahead, he stopped, cooked a steak and ATE IT!!

 

[BadgerMan]

Back in the seventies when the forks started getting longer everyone was putting tape on their handlebars (from the lower bar up to the cross bar) to keep from snagging the brake cable and locking up the front wheel. Eventually, the front plates started coming with the straps molded into them. Late seventies RM's were the first bikes I saw with the more modern looking plates. Most MX'ers just had an oval dinner plate on the front.

Here

 

[mtk]

I'm glad I saw this thread as I was going to cut those things off of the plate on my Maico. That would have been a BIG mistake. ;)

 

[CaptainObvious]

On my ZYF with a broken number plate strap, the clutch cable caught on the clutch side and just about bent the plate in half.

Sure, this is how I learn about my bikes damage history~ :nener:

 

[DanAKAL]

I'm beginning to think OldGuy was right all along.

without that piece it would be a $2.00 piece of plastic. Because of it and that fancy ratchet system built into the strap it becomes a $32.50 piece of plastic.

 

[D Lafleur]

He was soooo far ahead, he stopped, cooked a steak and ATE IT!!

Den he took a nap ya! :yikes:

 

[JPIVEY]

Close, it's there to keep cables from getting hung on/behind the number plate itself.

I've always routed my cables behind the plate and never gave it any thought, am I asking for trouble

 

[Ol'89r]

I've always routed my cables behind the plate and never gave it any thought, am I asking for trouble

Jim.

You can run most of the cables behind the number plate but, I would recommend running the brake line in front of the plate. If you put it behind the plate, there is a possiblility it can hang up on top of the fork tube.