Bar Plates

BMX race bar plates: the compact number carrier

Unlike the large front plate, a bar plate mounts on the handlebars only: it is smaller, lighter and does not reach down towards the wheel. It is the option taken by a good share of Pro riders and by most Cruiser builds, where a long frame and a 24" wheel leave less room at the front. Choose on size, material and compatibility with your handlebars.

Why fit a bar plate

• Less wind catch down the straight and over the first jump
• No chance of contact with the tyre, even on full lock
• Lower weight and a quicker fit, with only two cable ties
• A clear line of sight down to the front wheel and the ground
• Required or recommended by some rulebooks in Cruiser and Pro classes

Sizes and usable area

A bar plate is far shallower than a full plate: it amounts to a horizontal band, generally wider than it is tall, big enough for a two or three-digit number and nothing more. Some models come in two sizes, a short version for narrow bars and a wide one for handlebars in the 720 to 737 mm range, 737 mm being the maximum width allowed by the UCI (rule 6.1.075). Measure the straight section of your crossbar between the two bends: that is the only area where the plate can sit flat.

Materials and durability

Like front plates, bar plates are moulded in a flexible polypropylene-type plastic chosen to bend rather than break. The wall is thin, the front face flat so adhesives sit properly, and the lower edge is often folded or ribbed to stiffen the part without adding material. Colours are moulded through, so a chip after contact on the gate does not show white.

Compatibility with handlebars and pads

Fitting is by nylon cable ties through pre-drilled holes, on the crossbar only. A few points to check before you fit:

• The plate mounts on the crossbar, so a 22.2 or 31.8 mm bar clamp diameter makes no difference
• On a high-rise handlebar the plate rises with the crossbar — check it does not sit in your line of sight
• A crossbar pad goes on before the plate, with the ties clamping over the top
• Allow slightly longer ties if you keep a thick pad in place

Our crossbar pads work comfortably with this type of plate, and a spare set of cable ties belongs in the BMX tools kit you take trackside.

Numbers and lettering on a small area

Bar plates ship blank. Given the space available, digits are shorter than on a front plate: build the number from our plate numbers and keep personalisation to an initial or a short name in plate letters. Legibility at sign-on stays the priority.

Use: Cruiser, Pro, training

On a 24" Cruiser the bar plate is the logical pick: it suits the long frame and stays put when pedalling seated. Pro riders favour it for the aerodynamic gain and the weight. For a Junior or Expert rider running two bikes, keeping a bar plate on the training bike avoids handling the big plate at every session.

The BMX RACING advice

Tell us your handlebar width, its rise and the wheel size of the bike, and we will say which bar plate sits flat on your crossbar and what digit height will fit it. Being multi-brand, we compare models rather than pushing one. Dispatched within 24 to 72 hours, you can spread the cost over 2 or 3 payments available.