Just got a new rear tire today, took it off myself and let the dealer do the mount and balance / carry in. Will be putting it back on the bike tomorrow. I was wondering if anyone had slotted or made their muffler bracket into a 2 piece bracket, so you do not have to unbolt the mufflers from the bracket anymore? This would eliminate me having to undo those 6 small bolts between the muffler and the frame that are such a PIA for me to get to.

I'm thinking 2 scenarios about this; just slot it but I am not sure that it can be slotted enough for the full movement of the mufflers, or just cut it straight across where the top of both bolts are thus making it a 2 piece bracket. I would then weld a tab on, drill and tap it or something so the second piece will still bolt back to the bracket.

Any thoughts or ideas??

 

I decided to go with making it into a 2 piece bracket, welded a small 1/4" tab onto the bottom piece, then drill and tapped the top piece for a 1/2" bolt

 

If anyone is considering doing this I would add that there is a key to it. When you attach your mufflers to the bracket for the first time just barely leave the bolts loose. Once you get it slipped into position and everything lined up, you should be able to tighten the bolts down once and for all. All future removal of my mufflers will only involve the 2 bottom bolts, the new 1/2" bolt and the foot-peg bolt.
I know, my metal fab is not the greatest, but considering where this mod is no one will ever see it.