Ducati Monster Forum

My motivation for starting this thread (in TOB) was to get word's of wisdom, accept the advice and also to plot the journey of the bike for me to keep (whilst still getting feedback at each step!)

11th January 2008

Got one! I'm now part of the team instead of a spectator.

Bought a 2003 m1000s in black this afternoon, stock everything (except the clever fellow has a 14t front!) with 20k of the odometer.

should be down here in Melbourne in 2 weeks. I've booked in with HART for a refresher course (I love HART...looking forward to doing the intermediate course after a few months).

so now, what should I do to make it mine?

remove: rack, rear pegs and hugger

shopping list:

14t afam sprocket, DID chain, 42t stealth chainring (520 pitch) & carbon front sprocket protector
Rizoma grips and fluid reservoirs (anyone know the correct size for the 1000 ?)

suspension: is the best thing to do (without a full fork replacement to Ohlins) with the adjustable Showa's to get Race Tech gold values and springs for my weight?

thanks and I am aiming to ride with you in October in South Australia!

some great advice:

Bigiain:

Firstly, a big +1 on the HART course - rider training is the best money you can spend to make your bike work better...

You've got the 14t front already, which is a really common recommendation.

Front springs to suit your weight and riding style are probably the next in terms of cornering performance, depending on which forks your bike's got you may or may not be able to get gold valves fitted (the Marzzocis on my '99 M750 can't have them fitted, all I can do it change the springs and tweak the oil weight and volume).

I'm a big fan of fitting braided brake hoses if yours doesn't have them stock, I don't think they stop any harder than the rubber ones but I do think they provide a more consistent feel to allow you to push the limits more confidently...

I'll leave the bling suggestions to others who are way better at that sort of thing than me (paging Syd-Monster, MattyVas, and Melvin-the-bling-king)... (tho +1 on removing the rack, I _know_ they're practical but ghods they're ugly!)

big

Goldfish:

Well done and congrats  wt:

Firstly, where's the pics  :P

In regards to mods, all good advice so far, do what you are being called to, be it bling or performance enhancements.

FWIW, I think your brake lines will already be braided on a '03
Pretty sure you can re-valve as well on a M1000 as well, but don;t take my word for it!

I can't believe no one has mentioned pipes. The first "aesthetic" enhancement should be an auditory one for a ducati.
Let the bike share the ducati music with those around you! You will probably be then looking at clutch bling and the like.

Check out the bikes of the DML thread for more inspiration on bling.

My only suggestion - as you have a blank canvas at the moment - look what others have done, and start with a vision. The best results come from people who start with a vision and then execute!

Enjoy, the journey is usually a good chunk of the fun with modding. And get out and ride the damn thing, OK

Big T

Hey Spider I agree with goldie that pipes (slip on or full system) are one of the outstanding mods.

They look great...
They sound great...

Bit like waking up next to the misses in the morning:  :P

She looks grand in the morning but once she has dressed for work (put her pipes on) she's a babe.....  wt:

The difference with my cook and my Duke is that the Duke is always dressed for work.....

S4grrr

for me, the best thing about any duke is the sound, pipes would be high on my list of priorities, from there go slow, check out what others have cause there's nothing worse than spending cash on a mod and then seeing something you like better!!! trust me i know!! before you go replacing suspension ride the bike some and figure out it's shortcomings, if you can adjust them out then sweet, cos we all ride differently we all "use" the suspension in different ways.

paul.
oh and congrats on the purchase!!  wt:

Mdoerfling

OK my suggestion in ascending order would be:

14T front sprocket - already done
Exhaust (have a look at what's around first!)
bar risers (yes higher not lower - 10mm)
Tail chop
Oberon rego label holder (very neat)
Bar end mirrors - Rizoma
Pazzo levers
v-two cam timing gears
suspension tune to suit you - doesn't have to mean new parts!
power commander
air box mod

Mattyvas

Very wise Spider, do a good couple of months riding before you start deciding on how you'd like you machine to look.
The first thing i bought was the Rego tube holder.
Then waited and rode for some time before tackling the rest.

now got
14t
chopped tail
MIVV Carbon shorties (Low mount)
Rizoma bars, sprocket cover, grips
Carbon side panels
Offset black sticker kit
Cycle Cat rearsets
Micro Oxford indicators
Lots a little billet items and details

Everyone has there own taste and will want to do there "own" thing to there bike.
Melvins bike was one of the first i saw on the DML. I thought it was almost a piece of art as well as a riden Monster.

Enjoy the riding and the mod's whe they start.

cheers
Matty...

Syd-Monster

Wow, everyone's given such good advice.

my mod advice is....
a) Chop that tail
b) remove relfectors
c) change those mirrors
d) core those cans
e) remove front screen
f) sell it to me for $50.  ;D
- Chris

23rd March 2008

one very stock m1000s - here she is...

reflectors removed, 14t installed, cored exhaust...and that's all folks!

the model comes stock with braided brake and clutch cables as well....

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2355938413_15f9a5565e.jpg)

28th March 2008

one week in:

K & N air filter
Carbonworld carbon 'diversion' fender
Ilmberger carbon rear cowl
Carbonworld carbon front sprocket guard
Clear alternatives tail light with LED

only one ride unfortunately  :( ...then a battery issue

but after years of wrenching on bicycles I'm so impressed with how easy everything is to get to - maybe it's just that everything is big and not as fragile as a bike.

9th May 2008

20k service done

Gray cable ties (aka 'the Matty V')
Oberon rego holder
Philips X-treme headlight globe
Rizoma Track 01 rear indicators
Rizoma black oil plug
LSCP rear half chop
BST carbon clutch cover
Yuasa YT 12-bs battery

and yesterday I followed the advice of the wise (Goldie, Big T, S4grrr and Mdorfling) and purchased some Termi high carbon pipes - will be a few months before I have them delivered/ceramic coated & installed.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2477974748_4ae5fbfdf2.jpg)

groupings of mod areas (in no order of preference):

1. exhaust: Termignoni high mount carbon, carbon exhaust bracket, black ceramic coated S pipes and header. DP ECU installed later

2. cockpit: rizoma silver fluid tanks, silver Magura bars, Gen-mar clamps,  Rizoma grips & ber ends, CRG brake and clutch levers

3. forks: racetech springs, gold valves and new weight oil

4. bling: carbon belt covers, hugger, key guard and smoke deflector, mirrors (will need help there!)

5. comfort: rear sets and Sargeant seat

Spider you've listed just about everything I've done to my bike in almost that order. (except forks, which is next for me)
It's a solid list in a good order.
If I was doing it again, I'd do rear sets and seat earlier. Does make a huge difference to the amount of time you can be on the bike.
Are you dead set on Termi's cause there are a lot of brands out there that also make pretty sweet noise.
Keep us updated with pics as I'm sure you will.

Enjoy the kit out, it is great to watch your bike change with each item added.

cheers
Matty...

Ah just went back and read a bit more, you've already bought the Termi's.
Nothing against them, me I just wanted something that not many others have.
Don't think I have even seen another bike with MIVV ever.

Thanks Matty,

I plan on ceramic coating them black and removing the stickers - so they'll be a bit different.

The ones that really sing to me are the Zards, love the ends of the cans and the sound (GT 1000 - same engine though) is great. - but they just don't make 'em for my machine.

Also thanks for all the great ideas - it's the little things like (attempting) to colour match the cable ties and getting rid of the cheap plastic rego holder that show that a little care has been taken on what is, at this stage, a very stock machine.

Cool, it's always the little details that matter.
I did like the Zards also but as you discovered they only make them for a very limited type of Monster.
Sounds interesting having them black ceramic, can't wait to see that.

cheers
Matty...

If I was to go the exhaust route now, I would have definitely gone for Matty's Mivvs as they were relatively inexpensive and sound great! Or, I may have even gone down the Quat D Ex-Box route, I haven't seen many of them in Oz.

Spider, anything would be better than the mickey mouse ear mirrors. If you don't like bar ends like mine, I would be looking at Rizoma's, a bit expensive but great quality! [thumbsup]

Quad D was the very next on my list.
But it was twice the price of mine from memory.

About the same price as my Arrows then.  [roll]

$1200??? can't quite remember.

Matty: is your signature photo before the Sargeant seat install? looks a bit different to stock that's all.

great photo!

I'll answer for him, no, it's not.

Heard you two were joined at the hip !  ;D

actuallty I think one of the Sydney guys said something about 'sharing a brain'.

seat looks good!

did you have a look at his Flickr page. If not, have a look, then you will see his noo seat.  [thumbsup]

yeah before the Sargent.
Must just be the way the light is hitting it.

Swapped the stock airbox lid for the DP open lid.

Changed the clutch springs to stainless steel and put on a Paulimoto spider plate which is meant to even out clutch pull. I have a very late clutch pull...so we'll ride on the weekend and post some observations!

is the open airbox going to lean out my mixture?

In answer to your question - Yes, it will lean out you mix - You may need to get the trim adjusted. Just watch out for excess heat on the headers.....

Otherwise - have a great ride - hope its not wet!

And buy a box of ear plugs [thumbsup]

10th July 2008

Well, finally took some shots (weather has been, and still is, pretty awful)

Termignoni exhaust, DP ECU and airbox installed, large stickers removed and replaced with more subtle branding. many thanks to Dragonworld for the play-by-play instructions, great work  [thumbsup]

side panels re clear-coated - thank you to Brad at Bike Craft in Mentone (03 9585 2100), fantastic work. If anyone has older carbon this really worked in bringing it back to the standard of the new stuff

Header and S pipes ceramic coated (with clamps and bracket), a huge thank you to Andrew at Competition Coatings in Coburg (03 9354 8021). Highly recommended!

Carbon smoke deflector installed on forks, hey, it (and the ignition cover when I get there) makes me smile when I look down...and that's important for a man (both in the shower and on the bike!)

Most importantly an extra 5000km has been added to the tacho since late March

here she is....

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2654049691_269e796991_b.jpg)

looks ultra cool .... like it a lot
hmm, ceramic coating ... must look into it


..... but ........ these awful plastic belt covers hurting my sesitive eyes ... back to work, mate  ;D

Spider, nice looking additions.
What else do you have in the pipe line?
Do agree with Melvin those belt covers are in need of some attention.
Does the ceramic coating stay that color or will it change over time?

ceramic: due to the position of the object that we are discussing, it will eventually wear - 3 to 5 years is what they quote. Scientifically, it keeps the pipes dramatically cooler (I believe this means that technically you would re-tune your machine if you had done so (Dyno etc)...by cooling the pipes apparently you create more 'suction' at the end of the exhaust - so a faster flow of air therefore altering any balance you had created).

the guys are polishing their pipes with more regularity than 5 years. Cost is $200 to $300 at present. condition of pipes doesn't really matter - when they are new they have to be baked to get the oils out anyway!


Pipeline:

I have orders coming from overseas in the next few weeks:

Carbon belt covers, carbon minimal hugger, aluminum Rizoma reservoirs, missing part for my black CRG levers (clutch tab), clear front indicator covers (I like the fronts!) and....a giant Ducati banner for 'The Batcave' (aka garage).

my next thing I'd really like is a red alloy magnetized sump plug - that is REALLY 10mm, not the 'kind-of' 10mm of the stock one...I'd really like to do the next oil change (that would make me proud). It's the little things that make me happy!

Thanks Melvin, coming from the bling-king it means a lot!

I'm actually going to start looking into modifying the belt covers (with wire mesh), they are on their way over!

The mickey mouse ears, belt covers and chrome bars are starting to stand out a bit!

26th July 2008

Belt covers and rear hugger replaced. Carbon replacements from Monsterparts, Jeff has been wonderful as per usual. This bike's visual transformation has so much to do with Jeff - he really works hard to get the perfect products.

CRG brake lever installed - still waiting on the 511c body with the clutch tab before installing the clutch lever...thus begins the cockpit transformation

CA clear front indicator lenses put on - I don't mind the front indicators so much and the fact I don't have matching front and rear doesn't disturb me (I thought it would!).

Rizoma fluid reservoirs installed yesterday (and boy did I overfill them!). So much better looking than stock ones.

should be another month before the next mods occur....

she is getting to the point where I look and say "that's my bike!" and she is getting close to what I pictured it could look like when I bought her.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2702140177_3863403eb9_b.jpg)

hey spider, mirrors and handgrips next

Very nice Spider, some Ohlins Suspension  would be nice  [thumbsup]

Spider,

    Looking nice mate, it feels really good when "your" bike starts to look like "your" bike.
I know what you mean there, I didn't feel really great about my bike until I chopped it.
I could get my eyes off it for days, it was sitting beside a HM 2 days after I did it and people were looking at my little 620.

Keep up the good work, it only gets to be more fun as time goes on.

cheers
Matty...

thanks for the encouragement folks. Working on those mirrors Jukie - although the stock ones are pretty good cause every time I look at them I see a handsome son-of-a pregnant dog looking right back at me!  [thumbsup]

Alf, you reckon we can take off that brass throttle body - drill some holes in it and paint it black...what's this barbecue paint the yanks keep mentioning? Get rid of that shiny part...between that and those radiators (long story there mate!) that should black out the engine a bit more.

Looking forward to doing the other bits and pieces actually - that's the good thing about leaving the engine alone, even a mechanically inept bloke like me can take his time and get (most of) it right.

we all know you are a sexy boy

20th August 2008

Just for Jukie I shelled out a heap of cash and got the Rizoma Radial mirrors. the cars have stopped vibrating!

also installed was a Cox racing radiator guard (thanks JC / Ptooey) to try and black out the engine a little more...it doesn't look anywhere as mean as JC's hyper motard though  :'(

A Cedea carbon exhaust bracket has been installed, brings the brackets forward too - not sure what I think of the look yet.

and finally the Pain in The Arse part - a charcoal grey fuel cap from a 1098. Firstly they are all compatible - I checked 848 and 1098, secondly I'd previously heard about how 2003 was the last year that Ducati spent money on the bolts and things - the amount of brass fittings in my cap vs. the new 1098 was amazing (the bolts on the bikes all changed from being zinc plated too I believe, one of the guys on here had a m800 and a S2R800 a year different and his comments/findings are interesting reading) anyway....you have to disassemble the cap to install your old cylinder - the mechanism that keeps the latch up (when you flick open the cap to unlock it) is a ball bearing and a spring, the ball bearing is the size of caterpillar snot whilst the spring resembles a bee's dick...good frickin luck! First time I've ever cursed big hands! Tweezers were required!

Parts to be installed: PCIII, S2R top clamp, Magura bars, Rizoma grips and bar ends

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2791241893_f864196f79_o.jpg)

Howdy All

Well I came, I saw, I drilled , picked up my parts and ate Spiders food!

Dude you have a serious carbon addiction!!!

Thumbs up for fuel filler cap, looks great.

Throttle plate, can do, couple of holes, bit of a clean and some black engine enamel..yes I do have paint.

Cheers for now, thanks again for getting my bling bits.

Madalf

hubba hubba spider, now iam impressed. you are now a very sexy boy and so is you bike. your and Betty are now very similar so i have 2 boys to play with WOW

(http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_20_2.gif)

few more:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2791816644_5916910eb1.jpg)

and...the carbon exhaust bracket (makes the cans look too long in this shot...but they are more in proportion in the shot above)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2790965201_484935d885.jpg)

my carbon man

 (http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_1_216.gif)

Spider, where did you get the key surround thingy and how well did it fit?

Got one last year from Carbonworld and couldn't get it to fit right, thought I might have got the wrong bit.

yep, it's Cedea/carbonworld....I broke the antenna out of the old one....but other than that...it fits...ah...average...the inner lip (that encircle the cyclinder) need to be about 1.5mm deeper, there is a small gap - but other than that everything fit really well.

I really cannot see how anyone could get an immobiliser antenna out of the plastic surround without destroying the surround.

Nuts supplied by Madalf - you can say a lot of bad stuff about him but he has nice nuts.

Yeah it was the fit which I thought was terrible - had gaps everywhere so went back to the standard surround.

Lucky as it turns out because then I didn't need Madalf's nuts (as nice as they are .... apparently).

As for getting the antenna out without injuring the surround - she just needs small, soft, gentle hands.

Howdy All,
Well I've heard of Golden Member but Stainless steel...that's craaaazy.

I have a few more spare M6 akorn nuts if anyone else needs them for the ignition mod. PM me for details.

Spider how did you go with the exhaust vs number plate clearence issue?

Cheers

Madalf....Nutty Member!!!

Looks fooolly shiiick maaaaayte...  ;D

Seriously though, it's how I'd have done up my 620 if I still had one...

Speaking of which, them sad looking 620-style wheels have gotta go..
I'd be looking at putting on S4RS type rims.. Got a spare $3000-odd for the Marchesinis? :P

Oh and Spider, did you find it as fiddly to put the Radiator guard on as I did?

no mate, obviously I'm a bit better with my hands than you are (feel free to read any St Kilda men's restroom wall for proof) as the guard went on easy!

Wheels are a year 2 modification - want to do suberbike school before hand (speaking of which - your invited of course - November/December)

see you at Cavellero!  [thumbsup]

Front suspension, pcIII individual cyclinder maps and the cockpit is on the cards in the next few months

Superbike school-- been thinking bout doing it too.. Which day you planning?

ptooey your formula is making me go in circles

Monday the 15th of December I believe Dos (Brendan) and I are throwing around at the moment...

Hmm I'm tentatively in on that...

What you planning, hire bike or byo?

BYO - I want to learn how to ride MINE better!

plus she appreciates when I ride her hard!

Geezus Spider, with all the riding you do on and off the track, I'd have thought that you wouldn't need any improvement.  ;)

I'm still of two minds about using my bike on the track. But it would be nice to let er rip.

When you fellas book yourselves in, I'll try to book for the same day. Keep me in the loop.

Hey Spider, I see you're going to put Magura bars on - just curious if you've found a good set of riser/adapters to install it or are you going to change the top triple?  I'm looking at upgrading to the Magura bars as well if I can find one and will have to get an adapter - I've spotted a few MX adapters which would probably do the job - also I think Rizoma does one but it's pricey
Cheers,
Paul

going the new yoke Paul....at first I got the bars and took them round to an engineer to see if he could take out the existing triple and bore it out - wasn't enough material for the engineer to be happy with it - so I've bought a top clamp and will have it over here in a few weeks I guess. 2nd hand I think the bars were $80 and the clamp was $65 us. I'll install Rizoma grips at the time. Best of luck!

Spider, what clamp did you get?

just a second hand S2R top clamp - that way it will fit the 1 1/8 bars - got it from Chris at Motored-Sports (check the 'parts for sale' section).

You don't need that though...because you're going clip-on route OR riser blocks to increase the height of the bars (so the 999 forks fit).

I've found these clipons from Apex Manufacturing and they'll make me a 53mm set and UPS them for $150 US

(http://apexmfg.com/clip%20ons.jpg)

All I have to do now is solve the axle issue and fender.

I saw that the front fender on the SR4 mounts front and back similar to the 999 but not sure if its the same.

for 25 to 20mm axle conversion I do believe there is a sleeve and bearing change that mechanics do (don't ask where they got the sleeve from!)...can't find the thread but all my searching was done with 'sbk' as the search or both this board and the VS group boards.

I've PM'd Qfactor who has made spaces and axle mods for the GSX-R fork swap. Hopefully he has some ideas.

A small journey...but still fun...up the tourist road and onto the top of Mt. Dandenong.

Suspension done at Kroon Tunez in Boronia. Revalve and Eibach springs (.95).

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2890737025_8722059534.jpg)

Nice view spider,you going to othe MOTO GP il be there in sunday may catch up some where for a  [beer] [drink] il pm my mobile.

Rode down to San Remo to absorb some of the MotoGP atmosphere today. Home - Drouin - Bena - Leongatha - Cap Paterson - Wonthaggi - San Remo then home. A nice 360km. I wasn't riding well today so the touring suited my laid back attitude.

This is Bena, I'd just had 6 black cockatoos fly by and laugh.

New EBC HH brake pads....boy do these bite. Thanks to Brad Black for looking after her...

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2906837740_8e76c453e7.jpg)