Ducati Monster M900 restoration project
Discussion
I have been putting a few miles on the bike, and bedding it in… it really is a nice bike to ride!
one of the things I have found difficult is the gear change. the distance between the footrest and the lever is a little too short for me. I checked on line but I couldn’t see any longer alternatives, so I decided to make one. I cut the profile out of some 10mm plate with a jigsaw, and TIG welded the parts together… then I filled it to shape, it took a while but it was strangely satisfying! finally I drilled the holes, and found an Olite bush the right size for the pivot. much better now!
one of the things I have found difficult is the gear change. the distance between the footrest and the lever is a little too short for me. I checked on line but I couldn’t see any longer alternatives, so I decided to make one. I cut the profile out of some 10mm plate with a jigsaw, and TIG welded the parts together… then I filled it to shape, it took a while but it was strangely satisfying! finally I drilled the holes, and found an Olite bush the right size for the pivot. much better now!
StreetDragster said:
Nice work
Matt
Thanks!Matt
the bike is going well! although i did run out of petrol the other day... looks like the reserve light does not work! Worst part was my wife was on the back... :eek2 :eek2
ops: ops: I made a couple if risers yesterday as I wanted the handlebars a bit higher...I could probably bought them for a few pounds but where is the fun in that! made on my old milling machine which dates from the early 30's... no CNC here although i have now gone digital!
Well... My new project arrives on Tuesday... bought unseen apart from a few poor photos, and its a none runner. taken a bit of a risk on this one... but my wife pushed me into it... I think she just wants me in the garage!
Watch this space!
KTMsm said:
So you'll be needing some space... how much for the Ducati ?
I sold the 996 engine bike last month! I want to ride the other two over summer....My new project has arrived! It’s a 1999 M900. It has 9,000 miles on it. It was delivered by a courier from the North who I will definitely use again, he was brilliant! https://srcoupland.com/ I wanted a new project... and fancied a different make, and this is the 7th Ducati I have done... but at the price I couldn't resist it!
I bought the bike sight unseen, save for a few pictures. It’s a none runner at the moment so who knows, but I bought it on that basis. I will attempt to start it over the next few days. When it arrived it was exactly as described, and I was very happy, especially after I sprayed the whole bike with gunk a couple of times and let it soak in for a few hours. Then a good jet wash and it has come up pretty well! It spins over OK, and I have checked the compression and that is all good.
Not sure what I will do with this one yet… it’s almost too good as it is for a full restoration, so I will get it running and then make a decision from there. It also has an interesting registration number that will appeal I guess to someone with say a new Ducati V4 as that is still an L 90 degree configuration!
Once I decide what I am doing, I will probably start a new thread…
Well there were a few electrical faults... one was a very poor earth, and someone had transposed the wires on the coils! I often see this... in trying to find the fault, you introduce another fault, and then go around in circles!
Also, the HT leads were not very firm in the plug caps, relying on the rubber boot to hold it in. there was evidence of arcing...
It runs and sounds OK! the clutch is noisy, and the stack height is low, so I have ordered some plates, and some cam belts as although these look brand new its stood for a long time.
I have cleaned the carbs, but they were already VERY clean like someone had already been in there. One of the mixture screws was solid, and badly mashed up, but I managed to get it out ok and will order a couple.
New battery on order as well!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCEjPF5Ufdk
Also, the HT leads were not very firm in the plug caps, relying on the rubber boot to hold it in. there was evidence of arcing...
It runs and sounds OK! the clutch is noisy, and the stack height is low, so I have ordered some plates, and some cam belts as although these look brand new its stood for a long time.
I have cleaned the carbs, but they were already VERY clean like someone had already been in there. One of the mixture screws was solid, and badly mashed up, but I managed to get it out ok and will order a couple.
New battery on order as well!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCEjPF5Ufdk
Well the blue Monster didn't last long... it was too good to restore, and I didn't fancy chopping it about. So I have sold it on!
I thought long and hard on what I wanted... and decided I wanted to build a scrambles type bike, and a good basis for that was another multistrada. So here she is. 2003... 16k miles, and runs sweet as anything! I will be selling parts off that I know I wont use over the forthcoming weeks, and then pop it to the back of the garage until I start it in earnest in the Autumn.
I don't feel bad about chopping a Multi about, they are all going to die eventually with failed fuel tanks as we move from E5 to E10. I notice this tank is already an inch longer than it started life!
Watch this space!
I thought long and hard on what I wanted... and decided I wanted to build a scrambles type bike, and a good basis for that was another multistrada. So here she is. 2003... 16k miles, and runs sweet as anything! I will be selling parts off that I know I wont use over the forthcoming weeks, and then pop it to the back of the garage until I start it in earnest in the Autumn.
I don't feel bad about chopping a Multi about, they are all going to die eventually with failed fuel tanks as we move from E5 to E10. I notice this tank is already an inch longer than it started life!
Watch this space!
Rubins4 said:
I really enjoy this thread so I'm very pleased that you have found a new project.
Could I ask; what do you mean by 'stack height', and what effect does E10 have on fuel tanks (...and is this something we should be aware of with bikes that aren't Ducati?)
TVM.
The plastic that Ducati used for a lot of their tanks in that era is not safe with ethanol, and deform and swell the tanks over time. Could I ask; what do you mean by 'stack height', and what effect does E10 have on fuel tanks (...and is this something we should be aware of with bikes that aren't Ducati?)
TVM.
Multistrada tanks can swell up so much they are impossible to remove from the bike!
In America, Ducati were forced to replace tanks under warranty, but in Europe owners were told 'tough luck'
It affects some other manufacturers too (Ktm I think?)
AceOfHearts said:
The plastic that Ducati used for a lot of their tanks in that era is not safe with ethanol, and deform and swell the tanks over time.
Multistrada tanks can swell up so much they are impossible to remove from the bike!
In America, Ducati were forced to replace tanks under warranty, but in Europe owners were told 'tough luck'
It affects some other manufacturers too (Ktm I think?)
Guzzi too Multistrada tanks can swell up so much they are impossible to remove from the bike!
In America, Ducati were forced to replace tanks under warranty, but in Europe owners were told 'tough luck'
It affects some other manufacturers too (Ktm I think?)
Rushjob said:
AceOfHearts said:
The plastic that Ducati used for a lot of their tanks in that era is not safe with ethanol, and deform and swell the tanks over time.
Multistrada tanks can swell up so much they are impossible to remove from the bike!
In America, Ducati were forced to replace tanks under warranty, but in Europe owners were told 'tough luck'
It affects some other manufacturers too (Ktm I think?)
Guzzi too Multistrada tanks can swell up so much they are impossible to remove from the bike!
In America, Ducati were forced to replace tanks under warranty, but in Europe owners were told 'tough luck'
It affects some other manufacturers too (Ktm I think?)
Its going to kill some bikes and there is no real answer... people will say you can line them but that is a temporary bodge... If you are told otherwise someone is trying to sell you a product or service! The fact is the liners still suffer problems with Ethanol. my mate had his tank lined by a "professional" a couple of years ago. We checked it a few months ago and there was big chunks of liner in the bottom of the tank where it had cracked and crazed and fell off the underside. the remainder in the bottom was soft!
This one is not bad actually... the way to tell on a Multistrada is to look where the seat supports fit in the cut outs on the sides. if they are hard against the front, its going to be very difficult to remove the tank without bending it... which cracks it and it then leaks. its a real bummer....
Normally against seeing bikes chopped up too much but as you say, the Multistradas are basically living on borrowed time. Still not entirely sure that going to E10 has been properly thought through but that’s a topic for another day.
Looking forward to seeing this build, really enjoyed all the others.
Looking forward to seeing this build, really enjoyed all the others.
Well its stripped of all the parts that that I will be selling on... and I have cut the rear of the frame off so there is no going back now!
As an aside, I used some cutting discs a mate gave me... its the first time I have had a disc shatter on me... so glad I had a full grinding mask on me! They went straight in the bin!
As an aside, I used some cutting discs a mate gave me... its the first time I have had a disc shatter on me... so glad I had a full grinding mask on me! They went straight in the bin!
SteelerSE said:
Those old multistradas are what I call "Ugly, capable". A bit like the R1100RS, the old Versys 1000 or the old Caponoord's. Very good bikes but beauty was very much in the eye of the beholder.
Good luck with the whatever you decide to do with it.
I had an early one years ago and it was a nice thing to ride, although constant electrical issues and the ridiculous fuel gauge (ran out of fuel whilst it still said 1/2 a tank left) meant I got rid a few months after purchasing. It turned me off that era of Ducatis tbh, I now stick to the 90's bikes with steel fuel tanks and analogue gaugesGood luck with the whatever you decide to do with it.
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