I have a friend that can make the metal bracket/license plate holder. Anyone have the dementions/pic that might help?
Ek, I've gotta start reading posts more carefully... my original reply was regarding brackets to hold the lights/indicators.
Don't know the dimensions - just measured mine out with cardboard, then used that as a template. [thumbsup]
I didn't see many that were posted here yet, but I know there have been many such posts in the past on TOB. I believe user MITT had a good template, but can't find the URL to his site. Maybe you can PM him. Sites like http://www.ducatisuite.com/tailchop.html also have examples. I've done several and am about to post details in the next few days. I think I may have the original PDF of one template I used if you want it, PM me your email.
JUst make sure when you chop it, you're 90 deg off the tubing so it's square. The guy that had my bike before me did it and used the taillight bracket as a reference and the tubing was cut at an angle, very unsightly.
I have heard of people having success using pipe cutters.
You clamp it on, and just rotate it around the pipe a bunch of times. It cut's nice and evenly, and square to the direction of the tubing.
they look like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Tubing-Cutter-Brake-Fuel-Line-Cut-Copper-Tube-Pipe_W0QQitemZ250248853309QQihZ015QQcategoryZ63916QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and are available at home depot, lowes, autozone, etc...
Yup! Pipe cutters are the way to go. Nice clean 90deg cut all the time. You can get the smaller/shorter set at your local hardware store. They are small enough to fit in between the 2 posts while you rotate/cut then off.
I've used a pipe cutter to chop all of my past and present Monsters.
pipecutter, great idea. sounds a lot better than HACKSAW!! should have the bike back within a week... cant wait....
Mine was chopped right up to the taillight bracket like how the square is in this picture
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s236/grubbywarrior/hooliganisms/DSCF0134.jpg)
and this was after I cleaned it up so it's square with the frame
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s236/grubbywarrior/hooliganisms/DSCF0133.jpg)
agreed MITTS template as perfect ..thought i had saved it to my puttr but no ..........sorry
so my advice would be go TOB and do a search ...its worth it
as for the chop just use an angle grinder so easy to do ...just cut after the seat key
I couldn't find the original PDF from MITT either, and his old URL is no more, but I did find a printed copy of his template. I can scan it in and save back to PDF at work, but maybe he'll see this and beat me to it. I assume it would be ok to post, but am not sure why the original link is dead.
I have it on my iPod. If anyone needs it, just PM me. I hope Mitt doesn't mind. It has not been modified from his original in any way.
a quick note about pipe cutters...
I bought two to do my tail chop last week. One from Ace Hardware, and a second from Home Depot.
The one from Ace Hardware cut through the second bar in about 10 minutes. I say second, because the Home Depot cutter took over 40 minutes, and did so little it almost had me bagging the whole process and beg a neighbor for a sawzall... Switched cutters and finished in about 3 minutes :-\.
Ace hardware - about $15 - small, gray metal cutter with black wheel. [thumbsup]
You can buy it online - I did!!
http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=2938.msg40608#msg40608