| Author | Message | ||
     Stainlessmag |
Hey everyone, for those that have cut off the pasta strainer what did you use. I want to do it before the nice weather comes back, but dont want to start it with something that isnt going to work as well as something else. Also did you leave it on the bike while hacking or remove it and do it on the bench. Thanks for the input | ||
| Gentleman_jon  |
You definitely want to remove it first. Here is a suggestion for how it might look after you cut off the pasta strainer.  Before you start, you might want to consider how you will mount the license plate, and illuminate it. I used a chrome Pachougho license plate bracket, and Litning Boltz lights which serve as mounting bolts and lights. You also want to consider if and how you will mount your directionals: I drilled new holes in this piece. Take a look at Odie's too. He thinks his is nicer than mine! ( and I might have to agree:-). I am sure there are other very nice ones on other bikes too, you might find them in the knowledge vault section | ||
| Bigeasy |
I left mine on the bike when I cut it down. I first used a hacksaw to cut it back about half way. I then took the pc I cut off and used a air cutting wheel to trim off the lic plate holder keeping the light for it as well. Going back to the bike I cut it back as far as I could leaving room for some grinding work. I then took the grinder to the tail pc on the bike to even up both sides and grind away whats left of the old supports for the cheese grater. Then I drilled 2 new holes for my turn signals. After that I took the pc with lic plate holder and drilled 1 small hole under the seat right behind the tail light. Now take the lic plate holder and have a friend hold it where you want it under the tail light and run your drill through the same hole behind the tail light into the lic plate holder. Run a bolt though them to secure the lic plate holder in place. Then I stand back and make sure the lic is centered and in the right place. Now pop a 2nd hole though to really hold it in place. Looking at mine you can't even tell that I have cut and grinded it unless you look at it from underneath. Plenty of people have seen it at bike night and think I bought a different pc for the back end. Also the way I did it you get to keep your lic plate light. Oh and by the way when I hooked all my wiring back up nothing worked but the brake light. The front dash was out, turn signals and running lights. It turned out I fryed the accessory fuse 7.5 which you have a spare for in the fuse box. Switched it out and everything works great now. When you disconect your wires I would number them with some tape and a marker to make things easy. Take your time on the cutting and grinding. Or you can just buy this pc from American Sport Bike. I think it is in the range of 300$ with 60$ off that if you send them your old tail pc. Well hope this helped! Take your time to center everything up and grinding. Should come out fine. art | ||
| Odie  |
Stainless, if the above 2 posts don't help you (and they should!) let me know and I'll post some close-ups of mine. Basically the same as above. A few shapes are different here and there but that is personal preference. I made a new bracket for the plate and illuminated it with the taillight (same as a Firebolt). Jon, thanks for the compliment!! Your's is sweet also (I'm a sucker for yellow!) Later, Odie | ||
| Pa_xb9sx  |
Odie - I'd be interested in seeing your pics and the process that you used. I have seen other people's posts, but one more couldn't hurt. Thanks. | ||
| Whistle |
Ya know...I think the bike looks better with the cheese grater hacked off, but I was doing the egg crate thing a couple days ago in my garage and a thought occured to me... I drew an imaginary tangent line from the rear tire, up to the passengers back and yep...you guessed it, if you cut off the cheese grater you run the risk of smacking your passenger in the back with mud, water, rocks, etc. I know a lot of ya'll probably don't carry passengers (or maybe you don't care about them?!?!) but I carry a passenger every now and then and I don't think it would be too fun to get crap slung at my back if I was a passenger. But then again it looks coooooool without the cheese grater! Ahh well, life is all about balance... Gentleman Jon-that thing is REALLY charp-lookin Man!  I'll probably end up doing this mod too at some point...just wanted to let ya'll know I had noticed that in case you hadn't noticed it during one of your own egg crate sessions... Ride safe! Nick | ||
| Xbjelly9s  |
I did mine about 2 weeks ago. I also used the original plate light and moved it to the swing arm.  | ||
| Stealthxb  |
LOL...I would love to see a pic of you sitting on an egg crate!!! U may want to call in a favor from your Milkman though! I rarely carry passengers..but am kind enough to test how much they could potentially get hit with if seated behind me by riding solo everyday. It is not that bad. Now try following me on another bike in the rain and that is another story. Can you say rooster tail? Anyway, here are a few 5hitty pics of mine.   | ||
| Odie |
What passengers?!?!??!?!?! No rear pegs = no rear passengers!!! Getting ready to go out to dinner in a few minutes. I'll post a few pics later. By the way, Stealth's is EXACTLY the way I do mine. Odie P.S. except my plate is mounted under the taillight and illuminated by it also ala' Firebolt...Odie (Message edited by odie on February 01, 2005) | ||
| Stealthxb |
Compliments are in order!!!  | ||
| Rageonthedl |
To mount the plate i made a bracket that uses the holes where the stock turn signal wires run threw. and to light the plate i cut a spot in the bottom of the fender for the light. can you see my turnsignals?   | ||
| 2k3lightning  |
this is my tail wanted the shaved look ended up using the LED board with turn signals with a clear lense. thanks to american sport bike for the led and found a fix for the brake lights if you use a backoff module too  not bad for a rookie  (Message edited by 2k3lightning on February 01, 2005) (Message edited by blake on February 02, 2005) | ||
| Odie |
Here's a pic of Gent Jon's tail that I saved....  | ||
| Odie |
Here's a pic of mine. It's a different color now but still the same tail. New blinkers should be here this week......need anything else just ask! Odie  | ||
| Biofilter  |
Here is mine. I used a dremel tool todo the whole thing. Just keep this in mind Measure twice and cut once. And you can always take more off but you can never add any on.   (Message edited by blake on February 02, 2005) | ||
| Biofilter |
I made a LED (tail,brake,turn signal) light myself to save about 300 bucks so my blinkers are now in my rear lens | ||
| Rageonthedl |
Odie that is what mine looks like and i used the cam holes to mount my plate, I did not drill for turn signals, i got some small led marker lights out of Parts Unlimited that are held on by 2side tape. the look good!! only bitch..they blink fast | ||
| Stealthxb |
I vote this "Best Thread in 2005"! More pics than text... Now that's what I am talking about. I know there are some more of you bob tail XBers out there with pics...now is the time to represent. BadS1... Where ya @? Too cold to use a computer up there? haha | ||
| Stainlessmag |
Thanks for all the input and pics guys. It should all help out alot | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Odie- Thanks for posting my old pic. I had lost it:-) Actually, my current set up is a bit different, and the photo shows why: The plate is too vertical. The tire eventually hit it and tore it, and the $70 Kuriakyn license plate frame clear off the bike! PS. I still like yours better. Got to touch up the paint on mine, I keep scuffing the paint with my boot. While it is off the bike....... | ||
| Whistle |
Egg crate milk crate blah blah blah... I had just finished a 12 hour shift on a couple hours sleep when I posted that yesterday...Forgive my lousy wordsmithing... | ||
| Tbs_stunta |
>>I know a lot of ya'll probably don't carry passengers (or maybe you don't care about them?!?!) but I carry a passenger every now and then and I don't think it would be too fun to get crap slung at my back if I was a passenger. I don't know which would be worse, being sprayed with water or being subjected to the Lightning's rear seat. I have my Triumph bobbed back that much and in the dry it really isn't an issue, although I'm not riding on gravel, but your back does get wet in heavy rain. (Message edited by tbs_stunta on February 02, 2005) | ||
| Tbs_stunta |
Xbjelly9s, that looks like a photochop job. How did you bolt the plate to the swingarm? (Message edited by tbs_stunta on February 02, 2005) | ||
| Keith  |
Hey guys, Dark Horse Moto has a new product that will be available shortly: a light, inexpensive license plate bracket for those who want to cut off the cheese grater on their XB "S" models. The bracket mounts using the holes where the wires passed through the tail for the rear turn signals and will be complete with mounting hardware. It will also make use of the rear brake light/license plate illumination that you may not even realize exists. I plan to have the plates powder coated and pictures posted in the next week or so. Keith Dark Horse Moto | ||
| Xbjelly9s |
Tbs_stunta, I used the holes from the removed ugly plastic belt guard and made a bracket then bolted on. Extended the wire under the seat for the plate light and ran it out by the rear shock then down the inside of the swingarm. |
