Ducati Monster Forum

I'm not terribly fond of the Multi but they don't make the ST anymore. Has anybody sport tour-ified their monster? The thread with the race 620s got me thinking about trying to mount some old ST bodywork to the monster. If I were to try this I'd like to get more protection than the puny little fairing on the monster so I'm looking at mounting a full fairing. I guess if I were to concede a bit I'd want at least a big half fairing like the SV650S have.

What other concerns might you have about turning a monster into a tourer? Handlebar swap, seat, what else? Are the maintenance intervals too short to make it worth it? I don't really know how far I'd be trying to go. I'm still in "just a thought" mode.

I tour with my Monster as is... Works great. Put 18k on this year alone.

(http://applewood.smugmug.com/photos/345985990_9h7r5-M-1.jpg)

the only "bad" thing about the monster is the fuel capacity.  Of course after 2-3 hours of riding, you would want a break/fill up gas.

Tank range is a major issue. It's not so much the restriction to 200km (120mile) hops; more the absence of any error margin if you stretch things even that far. Can't afford to get lost, find fuel station closed in town that looked big on the map, etc.

Other main issue is luggage, depending on what model and how much you want to carry. The high-pipe versions don't work well with soft bags, tho you can get a frame from Givi that holds the right bag off the pipes - or fit an Ex-Box exhaust.

A third for some would be absence of a centrestand on recent models or any chance of fitting one. Makes chain maintenance, dealing with flat tyres, much more of a pain. SS swingarm rules out easy roadside improvisation also.

Stock headlamp isn't all that flash if you plan on night miles.

Seat base isn't supported all that well for a pillion, even if you modify the padding.

All that aside, I'll be gradually adding bits of sport-touring function to my S4Rs. Seat sent to a custom builder today, as first step.

Whether I end up with a bike that justifies the trouble and expense remains to be seen. I've got hopes.

But I'd never have begun the project if I'd wanted to add a fairing. .

My bike with center stand, hard bags (Ducati), and city bars.  I'm looking for an extended windscreen now...

(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/Teutonics/e56fbd6c.jpg)

as the post above shows they did make for a few years hard bad mounting that bolted right up to the monster but they are really hard to come by, i think i found them being sold overseas in europe but they cost a bundle, areound 800$ or so so they are not for me, thouugh i wouldn't mind finidng them they woul dmake it really convenient.

i hve a center stand on my 620 bolted right up by the dealer a year ago, they still make it.  i have the soft monster city bags for use around town, basically it makes the monster into a perfect daily commuter/overnight bike, the bags are small so they aren't really good for anything more than a change of clothing and toothbrush literally, but if you only need a change or two of clothing for a day or so away then youa re fine,.

I found this on Ebay a couple weeks ago. DP trunk, brand new, with mounting hardware, $80.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2850951787_49eb0dee42.jpg)
Should hold about 3 days gear.

WTF?

WTF,WTF?

Function over fashion. Looks akward to me with it floating out there by itself but looks useful. I also like how it's farther back so it doesn't interfere with swinging the leg over the bike. When I run long term trips I strap a hiking backpack to the tail of the bike and have to STEP over the bike to get on. Either that on stand on the peg before swinging my leg over. The latter option isn't my favorite since I know for a fact that my kick stand has been yielded once already.  :-\

On that note, I think someone one ToB had a Ventura setup on their bike and I liked the way that one looked.

Yeah, I agree that it would look better if I had the DP saddlebags too.
Forunately, the trunk pops off in about 10 seconds, leaving this:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/2851788566_ce22d76a9b.jpg)
And the platform is held on by four hex screws, and comes off in about 2 minutes, leaving nothing but the 2 side rails.
Hit the campsite, unbolt it, hit the twisties!

wow that's really... uh.... big hanging out there like that. do you have problems with the bike wanting to wheelie when you load it up?

With 20+ pounds of groceries, I can't tell it's there.
Yeah, it looks big, and ungainly, and when I go for a fun ride, I pop it off before I go.
When I have to make a beer run, I pop it on and go.
The bike gets 50-55 MPG, my work van gets 12, and my diesel truck gets 16.
Think of it this way: by using the bike, I'm using less gas, which means there's more out there for you. [laugh]

I really think this looks awesome. where did you get the ST bags and how did you mount them?

That was what i was getting at. If you are going to tour, you want to be "adventurous" but the limited fuel (unless you find a way to carry a couple gallons with you) negatively affect that aspect of touring.   I know some part of california (driving from nv to cali) there does not seem to be a gas station for several miles.  Would hate to have a monster half full out there.

did you guys ever see that article about the guy that ran a gumball rally with a SBK. he had hard bags with fuel cells. be interesting to get a single bag with a 5 gallon fuel cell. get the monster up to a 8.8 gallon capacity at 40mpg given you a range of about 350 miles.

That looks like you might actually still be able to have a passenger too. Have you tried it? Is there leg space for them to reach the pegs?

With the gap between the bike and the storage, you can tell people it's not yours - it just likes you and follows you around ;)

Thanks!  Hard bags came from the dealer when the bike was purchased (Ducati parts specific to Monster).  They include a mounting rack that allows quick attach/detach of the bags, and the rack stays on the bike.

I haven't tried it, but it appears to me that it shouldn't be an issue (I believe it was designed with 2 up in mind).  The bags are offset off the sides of the bike (maybe 2"?) to give width for the pillion rider, and are far enough back to allow the rear pegs to be used (can be seen in the pic).

I rode the bike to work today with the hard bags, so if you want any pics of anything specific, let me know and I'll go out and snap some shots.

I just bought the same top box and likely going to attach it tonight.....good to hear it works well and detaches quickly.

I've put 60k miles touring on my 01 900 without any issues and always used soft bags and strapped stuff across the seat. Now that my girlfriend likes touring with me I picked up the top box so we would have room for her and extra space for her extra stuff.

When people ask the "can I tour on this bike" question, I like to point out the story of Leopoldo Tartarini (head of ItalJet) and Giorgio Monetti who, in 1957-58 rode Ducati 175 cc singles around the world.

It's not about the bike, it's about what you NEED and what you're willing to accept.

In my early MC travels, I took everything but the kitchen sink. Now, not so much.  A couple of pairs of socks, underwear, and some poly travel pants, shirts, and shorts (that double as swim trunks for the hot tub after a long day in the saddle) and a pair of flip-flops and I'm good for 3-10 days.  I like poly, cause it's easy to wash out overnight in a hotel sink, if they don't have a laundry room, and a small bottle of Bronner's SalSuds goes a long way.

I have yet to do a tour (other than a 16 hour day trip) on the Monster, just haven't had time.  But I will soon.  When I do, the Mandarian Duck soft bags and a tank bag will be plenty to hold the clothes and all the electronic essentials. 

As for tank range, I regularly get 150 miles on a tank, 165 in a pinch, and that happens to be more than the range of my bladder, so it works out just fine.

Here are a few more pictures (crappy cell phone) for those that posted/PM'd questions.  After looking at it again, it is definitely set up for 2-up riding.

(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/Teutonics/monster/f5552d8c.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/Teutonics/monster/5c728bc2.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/Teutonics/monster/32dd83bb.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/Teutonics/monster/f92ab84b.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/Teutonics/monster/f33a17e2.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/Teutonics/monster/d9a8bd87.jpg)

Hope that helps!

Well...  the look just takes some getting used to.....  .... .. ....... . . . ...  . . . . . .   . .    . .        .         .  .              .

The rear trunk might not look so bad with a rider and gear on the back saddle or with two riders.  As is though it definitely looks like an afterthought. 

where are you guys finding these top boxes and hardware from? besides ebay?

I agree.
I also think it would look more of a piece if I had the saddlebags to go with it, and I'll get 'em sooner or later. I just couldn't pass it up for the $$$.

I don't think they make the DP bags anymore, so ebay might be the only place to find 'em. That or a dealer with NOS parts.

i think the trunk by itself looks horrible, but if you put it on the red bike with the hard side bags, it wouldnt look bad. comparing the red and black bike, they look as though they are supposed to be together.  looks like it would be very comfortable for 2 up as well.

here i found the post about the fuel cells

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=1533.msg29531#msg29531