What the heck is this thing?

M

MXBrian

Damn Yankees

Member

Feb 12, 2005

14

0

• Mar 24, 2005

• #1

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

Always Broken

Dec 26, 1999

9,411

0

• Mar 24, 2005

• #2

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

 

D

dirt bike dave

Sponsoring Member

May 3, 2000

5,348

3

• Mar 24, 2005

• #3

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

Admin

Dec 31, 1969

29,550

2,238

Texas

• Mar 24, 2005

• #4

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

 

M

MXBrian

Damn Yankees

Member

Feb 12, 2005

14

0

• Mar 24, 2005

• Thread starter
• #5

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

Admin

Dec 31, 1969

29,550

2,238

Texas

• Mar 24, 2005

• #6

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

N. Texas SP

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Oct 20, 2000

2,963

2

• Mar 24, 2005

• #7

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

 

Okiewan

Admin

Dec 31, 1969

29,550

2,238

Texas

• Mar 24, 2005

• #8

Where in the hell did that come from, lol.

 

oldguy

Always Broken

Dec 26, 1999

9,411

0

• Mar 24, 2005

• #9

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

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Jan 30, 2000

2,385

0

• Mar 24, 2005

• #10

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

Mexicutioner

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Jun 5, 2001

7,529

18

• Mar 25, 2005

• #11

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

 

D

D Lafleur

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Dec 11, 2001

610

0

• Mar 25, 2005

• #12

a454elk said:

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

Click to expand...

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

 

a454elk

Mexicutioner

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Jun 5, 2001

7,529

18

• Mar 25, 2005

• #13

That would be the Texan known as Thumpfish.

 

Okiewan

Admin

Dec 31, 1969

29,550

2,238

Texas

• Mar 25, 2005

• #14

down the toliet it goes...

 

rickyd

Hot Sauce

Oct 28, 2001

3,447

0

• Mar 25, 2005

• #15

Okiewan said:

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

Click to expand...

I would of never though of that..

 

Ol'89r

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Jan 27, 2000

6,958

45

• Mar 25, 2005

• #16

Okiewan said:

down the toliet it goes...

Click to expand...

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

 

a454elk

Mexicutioner

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Jun 5, 2001

7,529

18

• Mar 25, 2005

• #17

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

 

BadgerMan

Mi. Trail Riders

Jan 1, 2001

2,479

10

• Mar 25, 2005

• #18

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

 

Last edited: Mar 25, 2005

M

mtk

Member

Jun 9, 2004

1,409

0

• Mar 26, 2005

• #19

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

Formally known as RV6Junkie

Damn Yankees

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Jan 8, 2000

3,331

1

• Mar 28, 2005

• #20

Okiewan said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

 

D

DanAKAL

Member

May 3, 2003

116

0

• Mar 28, 2005

• #21

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

oldguy said:

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.

Click to expand...

 

D

D Lafleur

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Dec 11, 2001

610

0

• Mar 28, 2005

• #22

a454elk said:

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

Click to expand...

Den he took a nap ya! :yikes:

 

JPIVEY

Sponsoring Member<br>Club Moderator

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Mar 9, 2001

3,177

0

• Mar 28, 2005

• #23

Okiewan said:

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

Click to expand...

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

 

Ol'89r

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Jan 27, 2000

6,958

45

• Apr 2, 2005

• #24

JPIVEY said:

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

Click to expand...

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.