Updates -- some new clothes!

Fairings mounted (still work to do), and gixxer pegs installed (after servicing).

For quite awhile I stuck with using an oxyacetelyne welder, as that is what I learned with, and I got pretty good at welding thin to medium-sized tubes and structures together.  Anything thick or something thick welded to thinner stuff, I left for someone with a tig-welder.  It made fabricating a bit tough, however, as you really need 3 hands to hold something in place, hold the torch, and dip the rod into the puddle.  Some creative clamping and use of magnets helped, but it was a pita.  Once an assembly was tacked, however, the finish welding usually went fairly well.
I later bought a cheap mig welder, but didn't bother with any gas.  I was forced to used flux core wire which led to tons of spatter.  It was fine to burn together metal that didn't need to look nice, but I never really trusted it from a structural point of view.
This past summer I got rid of the oxy bottles, and recently bought an argon/co2 tank to go with my little mig.  The idea is to use it to tack things in place properly, and then get the assembly properly tig welded together.

The main part I need to fabricate is the rear subframe.  I had some 4130 steel tubing left over from other projects, so after reading the specs on the dimensions of the ducati tail, I set about putting something together.  The cross-brace on the frame is 1.25", the square upper rails are 7/8", and the lower (assymetric) tubes are 1".  I've also added a rear cross brace towards the back, and the plate is to mount the new tank mount tab.  I want the seat to butt up against the tank, so the tank mount has to be "hidden".  Still some fabbing to do, obviously.

Another view.  When I cut off the old subframe, there was an elongated "hole" in the side of the frame, just below where the new subframe mounts are welded.  I cut some steel to fit and welded it in place.

Another view.  The lower frame tubes are purposely assymetric, to allow for the reseviour on the shock.  The upper rails are square, of course.  Again, only tacked in place, but it's sturdy enough to hold my weight as I gingerly sat on it to try it on for size.

As well I installed new connector blocks on shortened wiring at the front of the bike.  The LHS and RHS switchgear wiring were both about a mile too long so I got rid of some excess.  Here's hoping the bike still works when I plug everything in!