4 Best Spots to Mount a License Plate on a Dirt Bike
When I first got my dirt bike, I wondered where I should put the dirt bike license plate. It didn’t seem like there was any great place to put it.
So where is the best place to put a license plate on a dirt bike? The proper place to put a license plate on a dirt bike is behind the plastic rear fender using a bracket so that the license plate is perpendicular to the bike. In some jurisdictions, this may be required by law. However, there are far more common places to put a dirt bike license plate which are more aesthetically pleasing.
So keep reading to learn the best places to put a dirt bike license plate.
Behind the Numbers Mount (My Personal Preference)
My personal favorite place to put a license plate is between the front plastic piece where you would put your numbers and the handlebars. This is a nice spot because it keeps the license plate hidden and doesn’t ruin the look of your bike.
The problem with placing your license plate here is that it is obscured by the plastic piece where you place your numbers. This is probably illegal in many areas. The license plate should be visible for law enforcement officers to see. However, this is usually what I do and I figure if I get pulled over I can just simply show the plate and be nice to the officer and hope they won’t stick me for a technicality.
The other problem with this method, is that it may not fit on some dirt bikes. For example, on my Yamaha TTR 230, this spot has many rigid cables for the brake coming through this area and thus the license plate simply won’t fit. However, I also have a Yamaha TTR50 for my son, and a Honda CRF110 for my other son, and on both of these bikes the license plate fits nicely in this spot.
Flush-on-the-Fender Mount
Another place that some people put their license plate is drilled into the rear fender and placing the license plate flush with the fender. This makes the license plate much more visible for law enforcement officers but because it would be facing up toward the sky it’s still may not meet all requirements depending on where you live and what the laws are where you live. However, it’s probably a better choice than using a bracket, because the bracket can easily break off.
If you are going to do this, and easy way to attach it would be to place the license plate on the rear plastic Fender, then use a quarter-inch drill bit to drill through the for mounting holes on the license plate through the fender. Then just use zip ties to attach the license plate through the hole to the fender. If that looks junky, you could use a rivet or a small bolt, washer, and nut.
Rear Fender Bracket Mount
As mentioned previously, the “proper” place to put the license plate is hanging down behind the rear fender using a bracket. You can find an inexpensive and high-quality bracket like this one on Amazon.
The problem with placing a license plate on a bracket behind the fender is that it hangs down by the tire. If you’re riding rough, this is very likely to break off eventually. The best brackets hold the license plate at an angle instead of straight down, which works pretty well to balance durability with following the law.
If you’ll be riding your dirt bike on actual roads, then I think this is probably your best bet. If you will be riding your dirt bike only off-road, then I say skip this and hide the license plate a bit more to look nicer.
Related Question
Are dirt bikes required to have a license plate? In many United States jurisdictions, a DMV license plate is only required for riding on public roadways. A smaller off-road vehicle license plate is needed for riding on dirt roads in Forest Service areas. Often, no license plate is required for riding off-road on state lands, but an outdoor registration sticker is always required.
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