Cafe "Bling"

If you've ever looked at some pictures of motorcycles in the UK, you've probably seen a tax disc holder. It's usually a 3 to 3 1/2 inch circular metal bracket to hold a three inch paper disc that proves you've paid your road tax and can legally operate your bike on British roads. They kind of serve the same purpose as the registration stickers on US license plates, but are rather similar in appearance to our motorcycle safety inspection stickers and are pretty much hated across the pond like our safety stickers are here. Personally, I don't hate our safety inspection stickers. Alot, if not all, of the "cruiser" riders attach a metal plate to put the safety sticker on. It's supposed to be put onto the front left fork, like on mine (because I like the way it looks), however the metal plate is a legal option so the cruiser guys don't mess up their chrome. As long as it's attached to the left side of the bike so it can be seen from the street. The rule for the tax disc is the same, except that it must be attached to the left side of the bike so it can be seen from the curb, (they really do drive on the left over there you know). Well, I found an old school one on eBay, and I really wanted to use it and put it on my bike, but our safety sticker won't fit inside it and be legible. So I had to find something cool to put in it so I could use it. Alot of cafe style bikes put a 59 club patch or sticker in one, I'm not a member and I don't plan to be one either. So putting a 59 club logo on my bike ain't gonna happen. Another cool item to put in a tax disc holder would be an Ace Cafe logo. However, I've never been there and my chances of riding there are pretty much null. (I did make it to Portsmouth, England once, but that's another story). In my mind, it would be similar to a harley guy with Sturgis stuff who's never been there. Too poser-ish, not gonna do that. Maybe if I ever do get to the Ace Cafe I'll get a pin or patch, but if the bike never gets there, it's not going on it. So I let in languish in my tool box until I found something I really liked.


On my one of my web surfing safaris, I ran into Steve "Carpy" Carpenter's http://www.cb750cafe.com/ a totally cool cafe racer site. He has alot of really awesome stuff, mostly for '70s CB750's, but he's also got some cool shirts and decals. I got a decal from him for my tax disc holder and mounted it on the right (curb side) of my bike. I dig the look. Thanks Carpy.