Zero Dollar ($0) 749/999 License Plate Relocation - Ducati.ms

glee719 · Aug 23rd, 2007, 9:35 pm

Somehow I came across another full license plate assembly so I decided to screw around with it. Surprisingly it finished quickly and doesn't look bad, so I decided to post this up. Some variations could be had so use your imagination. This entire mod took me about 1 hour only. See referenced 10 photos for each of the steps.

1) Remove the metal bracket from the exhaust and remove the two black boxes that attaches to the plastic license plate frame. You will end up having the lower box with the lamp hanging by the wire.

2) Taking apart the lower box where the lamp is, you will see what's inside.

3) Removing the 2 long screws from the back of the top box, you will see it's just some large connectors taking up space.

4) The two boxes are similar in size, and best of all, the bottom removable piece are identical in size. It's just one transparent and one opaque.

5) I took the plastic license plate frame off the metal bracket and removed the 3 sizes where there are reflectors attached. See the cut lines marked red. I sanded it down a bit, doesn't need to be pretty.

6) I happened to have some LED lights around so I decided to try something. I drilled 3 holes the width of the LED lights and mounted them facing down. Obviously if you want to have other lighting solution that fits within the box you can use the clear piece. This is where you can get creative.

7) A picture showing the 3 LEDs.

8) Use the last remaining side on the plastic license plate frame as a template and mark 2 holes to drill. I simply reused 2 bolts from one of the disassembly steps above. Make sure you don't block the two screw holes above!

9) You will need to flatten out the front part a bit to accommodate the screw head. Again, this will be inside the box so it doesn't have to be pretty. The plastic is pretty soft so I just used a sharp utility knife and cut it.

10) I cut the huge connectors you saw above in photo # 3, then I put the opaque tab with the 3 LEDs and attached the LEDs to the wires. On my bike brown was ground and black was +. Since LEDs are polarity sensitive so I had to check with a multimeter.

That's it screw everything back together and now your license plate is much closer to the bike and smaller! By the way my spare LED lights were too weak in illuminating the license plate, but it doesn't bother me at this time. Next I may go with integrated signals into the brake light.

glee719 · Aug 23rd, 2007, 9:58 pm

Some photos showing the finished product.

Hey how do I insert pictures like others are doing within the text?

Andre · Aug 24th, 2007, 1:41 am

i did this mod a long time ago, but i put the plate higher, just drill your holes in the vertical bars you can see in your last picture. you will need to heat up the plastic to tweak it to give the plate less of an angle.

MrDude_1 · Jan 11th, 2008, 8:56 am

if you want to take it one step further and totally be free..

once you have the two 'black boxes' apart.. take the tabs that hold the bulb out
one will insert into the new box.. the other needs a hole drilled thru the 'tab slot' and it will then stick the bolt thru like it did in the orignal box.

then put the plate holder over the one bolt, and you can eyeball where to drill the next hole.. its right NEXT to the other tab (not on it)

with that done, you can connect the wires like stock, and bamn, you're done... you kept the stock light, still used the stock bolts, etc. zero cost, and you dont need the 'extra parts' like the LEDs mentioned.

im suprised noone added this to this 'hall of wisdom' thread. but i thought id mention it while its fresh in my mind (i did it lastnight)

**Chuckracer** · Jan 11th, 2008, 11:16 am

I'm glad you followed through on this. I was looking at the same parts, visualizing the same actions three years ago when installing the after market plate bracket to my 749, and thinking how easily the existing parts could be modded to work just fine. Being basically lazy, I didn't bother, but I'm glad to see you did!

MrDude_1 · Jan 11th, 2008, 2:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckracer

I'm glad you followed through on this. I was looking at the same parts, visualizing the same actions three years ago when installing the after market plate bracket to my 749, and thinking how easily the existing parts could be modded to work just fine. Being basically lazy, I didn't bother, but I'm glad to see you did!

i have no clue what motivated me lastnight.. i started out just seeing if that piece slips out this way... and then i just kept going.. other then the two bolt-holes the pieces just fell together.. i didnt even cut the reflectors off yet.. it looks like it came from the factory that way. lol.