I understand the security thing, and it pays to use caution in today's world. But you and your bike could be minding your on business sitting at a stop light when some low life stops behind you and likes your classic bike and thinks it would look better in his garage than yours so he writes down the tag# and gets info on you that way. You can't ride around with your plate covered so weather a thief gets a tag# that way or from a picture off a forum, really whats the difference. If a crook wants your bike bad enough there going to get it no matter what you do. See my point.