2.5" & 3.5" clip-on risers, Speedymoto or Swatts?

[ungeheuer]

Wake up and take some pictures!! It's almost 5am in Australia. 

And its winter.  So, when I leave home to head off to the Salt Mines its still dark.... and when they release me from my day's toil.... its dark again when I get home.....  But tomorrow I'll be out riding for the whole day and I'll take my camera along, honest 

As promised >> http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25025.0

[ungeheuer]

Alright. So I thought I'd give you a run down on how the install went.....  If you're looking for straight swap-out mod then this isnt quite it... a little cursing and piss-farting around was required to get things exactly as I wanted.

Firstly, Speedymoto told me that their top-triple fits M696.  And true enough it does fit.  I wont go into swapping out the stock top-triple and fitting the Speedymoto item, its pretty uncomplicated - off with the old, on with the new.  Mounting the headlight assembly up to the Speedymoto top-triple is not quite straightforward however.  More about that later. So, after you get rid of your stock top-triple first thing is to drop on the Tall Boys...
                                                                                         
 

When the new bars are in place obviously the new top triple goes.....you guessed it... on top.  Then its time to play around with the bar height until you get something you're happy with, for me that was around 37mm (I know you own a calculator so go figure your itty-bitty inch things if you need to) below the stock bar height. The Speedymoto bars have more available "fall" to them - depending on how you orientate them - so my final grip height is lowered by more than 37mm - although I neglected to measure exactly how much more).
                                                                 
 

Available sweepback angle with the Tall Boys is their greatest limitation, and I was initially disappointed that I couldn't achieve anything much more radical than stock without compromising steering lock more than I was willing.  However, when I took em out for a 300km test ride I found that the modest sweepback worked fine. Without having fitted 'em myself, I reckon much more radical sweepback angle is probably achievable using Swatts.

 

Speedymoto told me that spacers would not be needed for the reservoirs to clear the bars..... and whilst this is just true.... I found that I couldnt get exactly the adjustment I wanted without em.... Here's my lock-to-lock and cyclecat spacers (thanks Speedmade ).

   

Alright...so now the headlight assembly has gotta be fitted.... Speedymoto were pretty helpful & sent me pics of their 696 test rig... their pics show the headlight mounted to to upper face of the top-triple using the stock brackets.  Firstly IMO this looks kinda silly and secondly if you raise the headlight to the top of the top-triple it isnt going to be able to be bolted back up to the stock lower-triple mounting points as I think it'll be too high.  

 

So who wants a higher headlight? Not me. I went the under side of the top triple to mount up my headlight and fitted a 5mm spacer between the top triple and the stock headlight mounting brackets, overall result is that the headlight is now 5mm lower than stock.  Which I like .  There's a little conflict with the profile of the Speedymoto top-triple and the stock headlight assembly which means that when the headlight is mounted it sits around 5mm further forward than stock.  I wasnt completely thrilled with this but theres no getting round it. I balanced the headlight assembly top to bottom by fitting yet more 5mm spacers between it and its lower rubber mounts so that the whole assembly retained the original profile (just all moved ahead 5mm - if that makes sense).

 

The finished article



I've since modified the instrument binnacle mounting brackets so that it now sits lower and tighter into the top triple - eliminates that "perched on top" look.

[Takster]

great write-up 

[ungeheuer]

great write-up 

Thanks Takster....  but just when I thought I was done...lol... I aint done.    I ordered me a set of 3.5" Swatts from Jeff at Monsterparts.  I'm pretty happy with the Speedymotos.... I love the look... but I just cant shrug off wanting to get a more radical sweep-back on the bars.... sooooo....  I'm gonna to try some Swatts on for size.  I'm waiting to hear back from Jeff regarding a small issue with 'em but once we get thru that, and I get 'em fitted up... I'll update the pics so y'all can see the difference between Speedymoto and Swatt. 

[mattyvas]

I'll be very interested in the differences you find between them.
I was all over this mod when I got my S4Rs but have backed off for a bit.
I was choosing between the same two products but being such a massive change couldn't decide.
Will keep my eye on how you go with it.

[sfarchie]

Thanks for pointing me to this thread, ungeheuer! Can't wait to see how the Swatts will mount since they're upfront instead of to the sides like your Tallboys. Hope you won't run into issues with the headlight (torch?) brackets. I did send an email to Swatt last night asking if they are aware of any issues. I'll keep you posted on their response.

Oh, did you need to drill to get your controls on? Clip ons are all new and foreign to me.

[sfarchie]

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news. I checked with hamsandwich as he mounted the swatt clip ons to his M696. http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=18644.0 As you recall, he changed his headlight. I asked if he was able to mount the swatt clip ons with the OEM light and he said no. 

I sent Anthony Creek, Desmoworks, an email asking if there are other options that will give me the sweep back, but not require a total new headlight set up. I'll keep you posted.

Maybe you can figure a way to work around this little hiccup.

[ungeheuer]

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news. I checked with hamsandwich as he mounted the swatt clip ons to his M696. http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=18644.0 As you recall, he changed his headlight. I asked if he was able to mount the swatt clip ons with the OEM light and he said no. 
Maybe you can figure a way to work around this little hiccup.

Yup, I'm aware of Hamsandwich's work.  I'll be keeping the stock headlight on mine, so either the Swatts will fit or they wont     If it "cant be done" then I'll try harder (I'm tenacious and/or stupid....lol).

[stopintime]

Take a look here and let's discuss....

The M1100 top triple seems larger (in front) than on the S*R. Will the Swatt clear the triple at all?
I'm afraid of this issue - maybe you'll need to mount above the triple - if so, you'll need a lower/no rise Swatt. Both MonsterParts and Swatt will replace the ones you ordered. Or you might be able to grind off some of the riser part, which is quite beefy.

Will there be room for the fork clamp behind the headlight plastic cover?
Again, I'm afraid not. Some plastic must go - if that doesn't damage the headlight functionality.

Will there be interference brake parts/fairing?
Judging distances is never easy just from looking at photos. Ditch the bikini?

[ungeheuer]

Your valuable input is always welcome stopintime  Sooo...  here's where I'm approaching the issue from:

My M1100 will have speedymoto top-triple fitted which will make impossible the option of installing any clip-ons above the triple coz it lives higher up the stanchion tubes than the stock triple.  I'm hopeful however that there will be sufficient room to mount the Swatts ahead of it.  With the speedymoto top-triple fitted the headlight sits forward - that is ahead of - its stock position by around 5mm, I'm hoping this will provide enough additional clearance to allow fork clamps to be fitted.  Ditch the bikini?  For sure, that goes regardless!  And doubtless there will be some piss-farting around getting the reservoirs, controls etc... to not wanna fight with everything else.  So there's no certainty that its gonna be successful, but I'll give it a go and then - one way or the other - we'll all be a little wiser      .

[stopintime]

I'm optimistic - it's more likely to work than not

[ungeheuer]

What is it with me and 3.5" risers??  You'd think the hard part would be figuring out how it all goes together, yet I've discovered that merely obtaining such items is a feat all of its own .  Having waited more than 2 months for my Speedymoto bars.... I now find myself on hold - after a supplier hiccup - for Swatts.  If its material shortages that you good citizens of the USA suffer, then I'm happy to wander out to the back yard and dig up some bauxite for the smelter.... *sigh*

[stopintime]

If you are going to mount in a low position again - SpeedyMoto have the 2.5" in stock

http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myproducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=38%7CAluminum%20Billet&productID=6705&showDetail=1&categoryID=45|Ducati%20Monster%20Billet&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=&collection=168%7CEuropean%20Motorcycle%20Parts

[ungeheuer]

If you are going to mount in a low position again - Motowheels [edit] have the 2.5" in stock

So... y'know I got to thinking about this.....  and you're right... why have 3.5" riser clip-ons and then fit 'em way down the fork leg?  Link followed, 2.5" Swatts ordered, received.... and fitted  

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news. I checked with hamsandwich as he mounted the swatt clip ons to his M696. As you recall, he changed his headlight. I asked if he was able to mount the swatt clip ons with the OEM light and he said no.  

Ask me if its possible to mount Swatts with the OEM headlight    Was almost 1am when I finished so no I dont have photographic evidence.  Yet.  

[ungeheuer]

As expected, its possible to achieve a more radical sweep back with the 10 to 2 mounted Swatts than the 1/4 to 9 mounted Tallboys.  And dont forget that I had to back out the steering lock stops 2mm each side to prevent the tallboys from contacting the tank, whereas the Swatts are fitted with the steering stops left in stock position (although I have not yet had chance to be absolutely sure about tank clearance coz my tank skins are still at the paint shop).  The 2.5" Swatts mounted directly beneath the top triple give a lower grip height that the Tallboys (which I mounted 37mm below the top triple) and have a little greater reach. 

Speedymoto's Tallboys are a beautifully crafted piece of workmanship, machined as they are from a single piece of billet whereas the bolt-together Swatts have all the svelte style of a '78 Zil limousine.  For me (for once) practical wins over style. The big advantage of Swatts vs Speedymoto Tallboys IMO is the extra sweepback angle at no cost to available steering lock.