Metal number plates

[PAULJAC47]

HI All,what style of number plate would have been fitted to a 1975 bike i guess you cant fit the black metal type? would it have been the yellow metal ones with raised lettering or by then were they plastic?does any one know were i can get some authentic ones made up? Cheers Paul j...

[mick znone]

hi Paul, it was the yellow metal with raised black letters type. think the plastic ones came in late 70's. ive just bought one from framptons, very good plate, £25 inc postage. very nice job done.

[PAULJAC47]

Thanks mick,checked out their website they look just the ticket Cheers Paulj.

[MaineKZ]

Hi Paul

If you want something a little different, contact Tipper Vintage Plates.

They'll do a small pressed aluminium yellow black version which used to be specified for road legal trial bikes. Characters and plate are smaller than standard but still legal tender.
Looks great on a Zed - shows off that lovely rear fender.

[DogsbolloxofZ1B]

Perspex plates arrived on the scene mid '76 and really became common place on Z900's & Z1000's especially from daytona m/c's. 1975 z1B was pressed ally plate with Black lettering on yellow background.

[mick znone]

booldy hell, did they dogs? you got me. i was sure it was later, the mists of time may have warped my memory. no

[bedlow1]

Yep agree perspex rear plates were intoduced from the N reg bikes however it was a cross over period and some dealers were still fitting pressed plates on the P reg bikes, heres a pic of my second Z1B that the dealer had even still fitted a front pressed plate too.

Note this is also when the first plastic nut & bolt fixings arrived on the scene for use with these "new" wipe clean plates doing away with the metal nuts and bolts the alloy plates used. I seem to remember that some dealers even rivetted the alloy plates on.

[rickman CRR]

On this subject:

When were front number plates no longer needed on UK registered bikes? I seem to recall road test pics from bike magazines of a Z1 (73) with a front number plate mounted over the clocks. A Rickman Z1 had a curved sticker number plate on the front of the fairing!

There's another thing, if you are restoring a GB registered Z1 (72,73,74?) should you fit a front number plate in the interests of authenticity? Just a thought for 9.26 am................

[tlc]

I notice that your obviously late model Z1B has a Z900 seat ?

Am I correct there as pic may be playing tricks !

[bedlow1]

tail lift your eyesight is perfect
yep its got a Z900 seat fitted, its seems crazy now but back then you wanted to modernize your bike to make it look up to date and this is what I did. Top marks to you sir!