What to do with a Ducati Monster?
Discussion
I have bought a non runner Ducati Monster as a winter project, I try to do one every year...
Before i put it to the back of the garage i had a look why it didnt run... seems the pipe to the vacuum fuel tap had a hole in it, so no fuel getting through! It runs a treat now!
Its at the back of the garage now until October when i will start on it... but what to do with it?
Initial thoughts was a straight restoration to mint standard... then I though scrambler... then i though somthing radical...
What ever it is it must be easy to ride, so no cafe racers or low bars!
Any suggestions guys?
Before i put it to the back of the garage i had a look why it didnt run... seems the pipe to the vacuum fuel tap had a hole in it, so no fuel getting through! It runs a treat now!
Its at the back of the garage now until October when i will start on it... but what to do with it?
Initial thoughts was a straight restoration to mint standard... then I though scrambler... then i though somthing radical...
What ever it is it must be easy to ride, so no cafe racers or low bars!
Any suggestions guys?
I have a few months to think about it...
Chopper... its on my list to do, but the base bike is expensive, and for me it would have to be a Harley... but when I do one... it will be just like the one above!
The monster may be a keeper... Last Sunday my best mate bought a 1995 Monster and I have been servicing it for him all week. I love the simplicity of it... minimal electronics... carburettors, steel tank, easy to work on... and great to ride. Also, its easy to handle, something I have to consider as I advance in years unfortunately.
here are a few pictures of the service... its a pretty good bike, 3500 miles from new, still on original tyres which I have changed! did the fork oil seals as well as these were weeping a bit.
Engine cases were scabby so I gave them a quick blast and paint...
I like the single vacuum gauge method of balancing carbs... I have found that the sets of gauges you buy are rarely read all the same if you connect them all to the same source. i have seen some spectacularly out! by using one gauge and a "T" piece you can squeeze one pipe at a time with pliers and get the balance spot on. makes a difference to tick-over. this one was rock steady.
And here she is, all finished and ready for him to ride today...
Chopper... its on my list to do, but the base bike is expensive, and for me it would have to be a Harley... but when I do one... it will be just like the one above!
The monster may be a keeper... Last Sunday my best mate bought a 1995 Monster and I have been servicing it for him all week. I love the simplicity of it... minimal electronics... carburettors, steel tank, easy to work on... and great to ride. Also, its easy to handle, something I have to consider as I advance in years unfortunately.
here are a few pictures of the service... its a pretty good bike, 3500 miles from new, still on original tyres which I have changed! did the fork oil seals as well as these were weeping a bit.
Engine cases were scabby so I gave them a quick blast and paint...
I like the single vacuum gauge method of balancing carbs... I have found that the sets of gauges you buy are rarely read all the same if you connect them all to the same source. i have seen some spectacularly out! by using one gauge and a "T" piece you can squeeze one pipe at a time with pliers and get the balance spot on. makes a difference to tick-over. this one was rock steady.
And here she is, all finished and ready for him to ride today...
It's a 600 so not the quickest and won't be as desirable as say a early 900, however loud cans / K&N / stage 2 dynojet and a big hole in top of the airbox will perk it up and a bit of work on the bouncy bits will improve the handling. Tail chop and then enjoy the lovely handling and response..!
Alternatively and for 'special', early 900 engines will fit - go for the V2 heads (bigger valves) if you can find one. There is a bore kit for 600, and they did do a m750 with wet clutch and oil cooler so might be an alternative if you wanted a bit more poke but can't find a 900. A 916/748 single sided swing arm can be squeezed in but it's heavier than the stock steel one, 'x-box' exhausts are different and later Ducati SS tanks can be made to fit.
Alternatively go down the Ducati Monster 'road racing' style.
There's not a lot to an early Monster but there's just enough for it to be a sweet handling a motorbike, so I'd just do enough to make it stop, go and corner a bit better and spend my time worrying IL4s round the twisty bits
Alternatively and for 'special', early 900 engines will fit - go for the V2 heads (bigger valves) if you can find one. There is a bore kit for 600, and they did do a m750 with wet clutch and oil cooler so might be an alternative if you wanted a bit more poke but can't find a 900. A 916/748 single sided swing arm can be squeezed in but it's heavier than the stock steel one, 'x-box' exhausts are different and later Ducati SS tanks can be made to fit.
Alternatively go down the Ducati Monster 'road racing' style.
There's not a lot to an early Monster but there's just enough for it to be a sweet handling a motorbike, so I'd just do enough to make it stop, go and corner a bit better and spend my time worrying IL4s round the twisty bits
buzzer said:
What to do with a Ducati Monster?
I would say it depends on what you are going to do with it, as in are you keeping it or selling it once done?If selling I would restore/rebuild as original as possible because that will make it more desirable to someone wanting a Monster, especially because the original Monster is now quite old and most have been modified in some way making non-molested bikes more collectable.
I did a Monster project some years ago and whilst I kept original looks I went all out in 'improving' it to my own tastes, however I don't intend to sell it and know that I could never recoup anything like what it cost, because even though most that see it like it, I doubt it would fetch any more or even as much as an original non 'improved' bike would?
buzzer said:
I like the single vacuum gauge method of balancing carbs... I have found that the sets of gauges you buy are rarely read all the same if you connect them all to the same source. i have seen some spectacularly out! by using one gauge and a "T" piece you can squeeze one pipe at a time with pliers and get the balance spot on. makes a difference to tick-over. this one was rock steady.
Top tip right there, thanks!bimsb6 said:
Have you ridden it yet? I rode one years back and stopped to check it was running on 2 , they are gutless compared to a pantah .
Yes i have ridden it... it was never going to be quick, but its nice to ride and brakes and handles nicely... For my project this is why i am tending towards a scrambler style bike...
I've got an old M600 languishing in the back of the garage that I've been trying to think what to do with. I'm angling towards a scrambler style - spokes, dual-purpose tyres, stubby exhaust. Don't want to do too much to it as there no point in spending a fortune on a bike that's not worth much.
CAPP0 said:
buzzer said:
I like the single vacuum gauge method of balancing carbs... I have found that the sets of gauges you buy are rarely read all the same if you connect them all to the same source. i have seen some spectacularly out! by using one gauge and a "T" piece you can squeeze one pipe at a time with pliers and get the balance spot on. makes a difference to tick-over. this one was rock steady.
Top tip right there, thanks!I've just bought a two gauge balancer and will be checking their calibration before using it.
If they are awry, I'll be sticking a T piece in and just using just one instrument.
Thanks.
Pat H said:
CAPP0 said:
buzzer said:
I like the single vacuum gauge method of balancing carbs... I have found that the sets of gauges you buy are rarely read all the same if you connect them all to the same source. i have seen some spectacularly out! by using one gauge and a "T" piece you can squeeze one pipe at a time with pliers and get the balance spot on. makes a difference to tick-over. this one was rock steady.
Top tip right there, thanks!I've just bought a two gauge balancer and will be checking their calibration before using it.
If they are awry, I'll be sticking a T piece in and just using just one instrument.
Thanks.
dibblecorse said:
mywifeshusband said:
Flat tracker would be nice and on-trend?
Do people still say 'on trend' ? and when out shopping do you 'pull the trigger' on the avocados ??The "on-trend" comment was meant to summarise many words to indicate a machine of that style would be easy to sell on at the end of the project. I'm assuming there that Buzzer would keep his custom Multistrada.
But on the other hand what do I know? I'm just an old man now.
One day my neglected Monster is going to spend a winter being turned into something along the lines of the JvB-MOTO Scrambler - absolutely love the look of this: http://jvb-moto.com/rocknroll/?page_id=37
buzzer said:
Done 50 miles on my mates... and while its not the quickest bike... I really like it. I am itching to do mine now... but I have promised SWMBO I wont start it till October. what ever I do I am going minimalist, and as light as I can...
Dumping the OEM cans is number one task, they really are heavy feckers.When I had my M750, the weight difference between the carbon fibre high level SilMotor system I fitted on mine compared to the OEM cans was staggering, and when you consider the Monster only weighed about 175kg's with the OEM cans, the difference when ridden was very noticeable. Made the bike narrower as well, with the SIl's tucked up high and close to the rear cowl.
The high level Sil's sounded lovely as well
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