Hi everybody,
First off, I am new to the site. I have had a look around and have found a lot of good information. I cant however find out why I am having trouble finding a laydown rear tail light and laydown licence plate bracket for a Canadian 2012 48. Every light I look at says fits everything except the xl1200. The stock tail light looks the same as it does on other sportsters. What is the difference?

 

The reason is that the USA 48's do not have the huge ugly tail light and plate bracket that transport Canada requires.
You can order any taillight or licence plate mount for a super low as the USA models have the same one that we have on all models here in Canada.
What I did was take my plate mount off and remove the back part of the bracket, then you can bend the mount on whats left and presto...you have a lay down bracket for free. I also removed the ugly taillight, chopped the fender and used a LED strip light for my brake light, you can see it in the pictures in my gallery.
PS: welcome to the forum.

 

I would love the chop the rear fender, and add the led strip. It looks great. But I completely lack the skills, and the nerve to start cutting up my bike. I also live in the middle of nowhere, where there is really nobody that could do the work for me. I was just trying to find a quick bolt on laydown tail light. They seem to be easy to find for other bikes, except for the 48. I will keep looking..

 

take a look at my album and pics. I have virtually no skills other than picking up skills around the house using power tools. I borrowed a dremel from a buddy. Taped up my back fender drew a line as carefully as I could re tracing it re measuring it making sure it was straight and level, re drew it a few times (on the tape). Took the fender off the bike when I was satisfied with the line, used a dremel and very slowly went along the line, made the cut. polished up the ends. purchased a knight rider led strip fashioned my own bracket and double stick taped it to the bottom of the newly cut fender. came out great.