Ducati Monster Forum

So.. I have the bug.. I've turned into a guy that thinks about modding my bike 24/7.. lolol

I really want to do a tail chop, but I don't trust myself to do it alone and I'm not sure what new parts are required (and where do I get them)

Has anyone done a tail chop on a 620 monster? Is their anyone willing to walk me through the procedure and help me do it? Case of beer and a high five included! (My gf will even make lunch/dinner!)

Any help appreciated, I'd like to keep the same taillight and turn signals for the time-being, so it's just a matter of getting it all re-arranged and cut.

Thanks guys!

Post up a photo of what you've got right now... but it's pretty safe to say that a hacksaw and some watermelon-sized cajones are all you're gonna need for the job.  I grew a pair for my tail chop.  They fell off.  Spidey's using what's left of them. 

Tape (to cover the area you're cutting.  It'll stop the paint from chipping where you cut).
Ruler  (to measure how far back you want to cut).
Pen  (to mark on the tape where you want to cut)
Sawzall or hacksaw or dremel  (to cut)
4 L-brackets from any hardware store.  Two hold the tail light.  Two hold the indicators.  Or you can get a sheet of aluminum and cut it with a dremel to form a bracket.
If necessary, two strips of aluminum with holes drilled in 'em (any hardware store).  This is to hold on your license plate.
You might need some nuts and/or bolts.

I don't really have any free time until later in the month but we can do a chop clinic then if you can wait.  Until then, all my free time is booked with fondling what's left of 'belle's balls.  

^  That's how to do it for $5-$10.

Here's how to do it for $120.  Buy one of these -->

http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myproducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=1204%7CMonster&productID=6842&showDetail=1&categoryID=1313 (http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myproducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=1204%7CMonster&productID=6842&showDetail=1&categoryID=1313)|Monster%20Plate%20Relocator&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=&collection=168%7CEuropean%20Motorcycle%20Parts

BTW, if you buy a Buell tail light, you don't have to worry about the license plate light.  The Buell tail light is an exact fit with the Ducati version, but the underside is clear.  That saves the need for a separate license plate light.  Of course, you'll have to explain that to any cop that pulls you over, but it's legal.

A chop clinic would be awesome!

I'd love to do it alone, but my balls aren't that big yet, I can wait until the end of the month....

God I sound lame.

Thanks! And let me know of any details!

You don't sound lame to me :)
The mod bug has found it's way into another DMF'er.
All is well [thumbsup]

Tail chop clinic? I might stop by for one of those...but make sure you Loc-Tite all those bolts. Ask me sometime over a beer how I know (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=9927.0) :)

I'd done the L-bracket deal on my old 750, 4 years ago, when we had a chop clinic.  I liked the ghetto-fab look but wanted something different this time around. Here are a few random pics from my recent chop (with help from 2 guys that knew what they were doing) on the current ride with the TPO Parts kit:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=34271.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=34271.0)

It has been a long time but, I am in for another tail chop clinic..!! 

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2240/2482817609_a322413320_m.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2482058926_7015f6d89d_m.jpg)

We could even do it at my place..!! Well I need to ask firts..!  :-[ but I am sure it should be fine..!! (talk about sounding lame..!  )

If Juan is around you have officially scored! He is the man, the tail chop guru and roadside McGuyver!!

Quick question,

The original owner of my bike put a fender elimination kit on (without a tail chop) but this totally removed the ability for the brake light to light the license plate... Will I ever be pulled over for no light on the plate? Anyone know of a quick fix (even battery powered) that I can use until I get the tail chop done at the end of the month.

Thanks!

I just got a really big sawsall too, cuts through 1 1/2 pipes like buttah.

Hi guys, long time no see. I would totally LOVE to chop my Monster!! Please count me in on any chop clinics. :)

Did you find a GP shifter?

I did! Picked up a Motoworks shifter from Desmoto. I am amazed at how much better it works than the previous shifter, which failed because the toe peg sheared off from normal wear.

The new shifter has a fine adjustment for lever height, and now the bike shifts effortlessly.  [moto]

Update: looks like I will not be actually chopping the tail. Went looking for tail kits, and found the ducati performance carbon fiber short tail...no sawzall required. Just ordered it!  ;D

http://www.advancedmotorsports.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=96949002B (http://www.advancedmotorsports.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=96949002B)

I am in for a chop clinic, could also do it in my garage, got tools, bench etc and room for 4 or 5 bikes, in Pacifica and Ace Hardware bottom of road just in case.

that's my old kit....i could have given you a smokin' deal on it.  PM me if you're game to return that sucker and get one used for 1/2 the price.

PM sent!

this thread reminds me of an old t-shirt idea:

(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u291/enzo76/dml-shirt.jpg)

I loved that tee-shirt idea. It had all the right elements:

motorsports + Absurdity + Sexism + = internet gold mine!

Although it does need to lose the reference to TOB...

Enzo and I need to make some of those shirts. 

One quirk here...in the past, I've been a big advocate of tail chops and of integrated LED boards, which put the turn signals in the same place as the tail & brake lights. They look awesome...but after replacing the second Clear Alternatives LED integrator in 3 months, I'm a bit down on LEDs in general, ans on Clear Alternatives in particular. So stay away from 'em, but by all means do the tail chop!

+ eleventy billion on the clear alternatives brake/running//turn signal light solution.

no connection (pun not intended) with this group, other than the founder is a norcal doc club member.  have seen this product in the development stages, and a production unit installed and working ... super high quality.
http://www.vizi-tec.com/products/ducati_supanova.html (http://www.vizi-tec.com/products/ducati_supanova.html)


 

A nice product, but a bit spendy. Worth it if you're going to keep it for a few years.

yup ... but really can't compare the vizi-tec and clear alternatives products ... you get a LOT more "stuff" with the vizi-tec product, and as you point out, it's engineered to last for years.

aw crap. i just bought this a few weeks ago. so far so good (fingers crossed).

http://tinyurl.com/yeqrwdz (http://tinyurl.com/yeqrwdz)

Let us know how well it works. The LED board on the ClearAlternatives seems to be cheaply put together, and is at a similar price point. But this one may be better.

I've never quite understood why everyone replaces their tail light with integrated signals.  You can't see the signals anyway on those things anyway, they're still illegal and everyone seems to struggle with getting them to work right, so why bother?  Just get rid of your turn signals completely.  

[leo] [leo] [leo]  - at $25 a pop, those fixit tickets add up.

Besides, I like the butt end of my monster just as it is, the way Galluzzi intended.  Beer tray, tail light plus turn signals.

And the stock turn signals that I kicked off 7-8 times before chopping the tail? Naw...I'll chop the tail and be done with it.

Wait, Joe, what happened to your turn signals?!?  They got knocked off?  Was that w/ or w/o beer tray?

With. I kept kicking them off whenever I swung a leg over.

Funny thing though...that never happened with my 620. I think it's probably because the S4R sits higher.

the turn indicators are considerably more noticible than the after market POS blinkers I had with the last tail chop from the previous owner:

94-07 Ducati Monster Sequential LED Tail Lights with Clear Lens (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5i_dDU8O2w&feature=player_embedded#normal)

Ive seen these kits in person just before i left. Super bright, you can guide in planes through fog bright. But there is also different settings for brightness.

Been a while! We thought you were in jail or something.

All good now that i'm out of Cambo.

Fixed it for ya man.  ;D

Well, my DP Carbon Fiber "short tail" is now installed*. Not exactly a chop, because no sawing of the subframe was required.

I liked it because it used the stock turn indicators but still made a noticable difference in the look of the tail.

I also FINALLY broke down and put a vented clutch cover. Man, I got to say it looks fantastic.

Also got a DP touring gel seat, but I can't get it to latch with the short tail kit. Before I installed the short tail, I tested the gel seat, and it fit although it was difficult. Now, I can't get it in at all. :(

*-Sorry Sid, it was too late to cancel the order.

I can't quite picture where the problem is, but try some washers under the male-part of latch that is attached to the seat. 

Let me know if you want to bring it by and get a second set of eyes on it. I had a similar problem with the sargent but managed to fix it.

Anyone have an update on the clinic? I'd love a little help with this!

I think the idea kind of died. But I bet you could revive it if you did some convincing in-person at Zeitgeist on Thursday (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=36145.0).

That really translates to "buy us drinks until you convince on e of us, at which point we'll let you come over (with more beer), which we'll drink then take a power saw to your bike while you watch in horror".  :D

 

Dude, you're spoiling all our fun.

Drinks at zeitgeist it is lol

I'll persuade someone to help.

Powertools and Alcohol. What could possibly go wrong?  [evil]

Just add video camera and YouTube and stir.

You forgot "Hold my beer" and "Y'all watch this!"

Today I installed a new Buell Blast tail lens.  Cost of this lens is 10 dollars US from my local HD/Buell dealer.  Cheapest thing ever bought from a dealer I think.

What happened to the original lens? I wonder if they had an aftermarket lens for the buell blast, since they fit our monsters