No one will notice your expired plate. If they do, just tell them the sticker is a start date, not a finish date.
You do need some form of ownership document in your name to get insurance. If you didn't think of this while buying the bike, think about it now. It probably doesn' t matter if the dates are wrong (hardly anyone ever notices), but it sure matters if the name is not yours.
When, sooner or later, someone does notice the date on your documents you'll wish you had dealt with this part, too.
Most people use some variant of Photoshop at some point in this process, but the details, practicality (and morality) are up to you.
Re-registering the bike legally in the USA in your name works differently in each of the 50 US states. Again, this is something you need to think about before buying, not afterwards. Details of how it will work--or even whether it will work--depend on the state in which it's registered; it might be possible, or not. Look up the rules using Google, and try to enlist the former owner in some way. He/she owes you at least that much.
Good luck.
Mark
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