Ducati Monster Forum

Hello all.  FNG question here (post-search I assure you)

I just bought my first Ducati.  A 2003 Monster 620.

I am of the mind that what one person can make I can also make.  So instead of buying a fender eliminator kit....I chose to "Home Depot" one.  Now it seems like my plate keeps getting "sucked" backward and/or scrubbing on the rear tire.  I have tried stiffer metals and bending the plate more upward and it still seems to end up rubbing the rear tire somehow.

So now my questions are.....

Am I the only one who has experienced this?

and what are some other options for mounting your license plate?  I have seen some guys around town who have their plate mounted further back under the seat, off to the side, etc.

Pics would be great too.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe your rear suspension is too soft...

the farther the tire travels the more likely it will come into contact with stuff above it....

just sayin'

That was my first thought so I had the suspension tightened up but still the same problem.  I am 6' and 210lbs....hardly an Italian teenager...but I would think that there's an easy fix here.  If I pay $100+ dollars on a kit and the same issues occur I may have an aneurysm.  LOL. 

At 6' and 210 you can wind the adjuster on that spring to china and you'll make the same amount of headway as pissing in the ocean.

You need to upgrade your rear spring. Spend the money there and your home made plate kit will likely work fine.  ;)

Maybe Speeddog will chime in, but I'm thinking an Ohlins 12kgm spring.

While you're at it search for front springs too.

The 620 is a great bike, but they didn't have the 'merican body type in mind when they spec'd the suspenders.

check this guy out. Maybe he could help?

http://www.ducatimonstertailchop.com/ (http://www.ducatimonstertailchop.com/)

Hi, and welcome.

I will just point out that if you follow the link below, you will find a thread which lists the tools needed to replace your rear spring (instructional video included).

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=32414.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=32414.0)

Re. the license plate: did a do-it-myself mod on the tail as well - great fun! Be careful, though - modding an become addictive.

Maybe the angle and position you have the mount in addition to the soft suspension. I have my plate angled (45*) so I could have an elephant sit on it and it won't interfere with the plate.

[laugh]

Get a new spring for $100

FHE...

215 lbs
05 S2R 800

NEW SPRINGS!!!

Front and rear.

that is at a minimum.  You may want to look for deals on replacing suspension all together.

So what you're saying is....get new springs?  :)

I will be upgrading the suspension soon as per the advice I've received here.  Thanks guys!

In the meantime I will be fabricating a license plate holder that will move it closer to the rear shock.  Pics up soon!

Here is my first attempt at fabricating a solution on my Duc to.  I used may of the parts left over from my tail chop.  I kinda like the result.

LMK what you think.

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/IMAGE_100.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/IMAGE_101.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/IMAGE_102.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/IMAGE_114.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/IMAGE_115.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/IMAGE_116.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/IMAGE_105.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/IMAGE_119.jpg)

looks decent.  Since it's attached between 2 moving parts, how is your license plate clearance between the swing arm?

I also have an '03 620.   [thumbsup]  I did my own tailchop and made the eliminator kit myself as well.  I bent the plate on the rear tire on 2 seperate occasions.  Two other times I came home with the plate hanging by a few wires.  Def. get new springs, keep your bolts tight and make sure the cops see your "concealed" plate.  The above pics looks cool but the day you're going up an incline with a cop following you, he's going to pull you over cuz the rear tire is blocking the view of the plate.  [roll]  That happened here in Arizona and in Florida.  I received a pretty stiff fine for it too in Jupiter.

   


 

Looks good.  How about some more pictures of your bike?  Kind of hard to piece the whole thing together from all those little fragments!

Here are some more pics.  There are alot of guys around with the license plate mounted like mine but I've never asked any of them if the FL police have harassed them about it.  There are no rubbing issues or clearance issues.  I think it looks ok for now.  As soon as I get a stronger spring put in there I may move it back under the brake light.

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/CIMG0117.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/CIMG0118.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/CIMG0116.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/CIMG0114.jpg)

(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo315/NYTypeS/CIMG0115.jpg)

I did the same thing as you, Go Team, but I did a half assed job and never actually finished it so if you take off the seat it looks like shit, but otherwise it looks great :)

I'm about 225 and so far I've had no tire/swingarm clearance issues by myself (even after some pretty quick paced rides) but there's a little scrub on the bottom of the plate where the tire actually contacted it when I had a passenger on board.  Since the plate was pointed in the same direction as the tire rotation though, it did nothing but rub for a millisecond.  No worries there.  I've been pulled over before with the plate there and all the HP did was mention that it was expired :)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/Jervisaurus/Bikes/DSC01511.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/Jervisaurus/Bikes/DSC01510.jpg)

I just finished putting on a TPO chop/plate bracket on my monster.  I had the plate tucked up under the rear like so many do, but I've been warned a few times in FL you can get a hefty ticket for it ($1100!).

To light the plate I used a billet license plate surround that had built in LEDs.  Seems to look ok, althought I wish the TPO part fit a bit more flush without the provision for the stock plate light.  It's not too bad though, but I'll end up making a better one soon.

Has anyone seen any plates mounted off to the side?  Like on the swingarm or any other place?

i really want a swing arm plate mount for my bike (when i get it...)
http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/search/?textsearch=license+plate (http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/search/?textsearch=license+plate)

I've seen a few side mount plates on SSSA bikes... much prefer to clutter under the tail

From Monstertailchop.com

"It's not a real Monster until you've disfigured it somehow"

 [clap] [laugh]

How many people have stood with some ridiculous power tool over their bike, thought about for a second, then said make the beast with two backs it and let the sparks fly :)

My dad just looked at me and shook his head as I stood over it revving the sawzall like some kind of mad scientist. I was a little nervous, but it couldn't have looked any worse than the half assed tail chop someone else had previously tried to give it. Made my own license plate bracket too with fodder from Lowe's. Will post pics tomorrow. Came out pretty well if I do say so myself.

I think a side mount would kinda mess up the rear view, imho.   Under and to the rear of the tail, keeps it all neatly tucked in and hides the view under the seat.  The side mount plates remind of choppers.   Besides, if it was too low (below the axle line), it might drag.   

Here's what the pregnant dog looked like when I got her. Helluva tailchop.  [puke]

(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Gibsonchild/pPheR.jpg)


Here's what I did. Piece of sheetmetal from Lowe's and a can of textured BBQ paint. Cut it with an angle grinder, finished it with a hand file. Used the same BBQ paint on my sprocket cover (which I also vented) and belt covers. Touched up the frame w/ a random gold touchup paint bottle from Autozone that doesn't really match. The last pic kinda shows how the license plate bracket is held on by the light.

(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Gibsonchild/P1010348.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Gibsonchild/P1010342.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Gibsonchild/tail.jpg)

Oh yea... make the beast with two backs fenders.