Ducati Monster Forum

I just got my Barracuda belly pan for my Monster 696 today, so I had to take a couple shots of it and post them up here for anyone who is interested in seeing what it looks like. I had to order it from Italy: http://www.barracudamoto.it/DettaglioProdotto.aspx?IDP=1114&CAT=62

It comes in unpainted black plastic and includes the brackets to install it. It's a little tricky getting all the brackets angled properly, and they mislabeled two of the brackets so I had to swap them. I'm pretty happy with it. I wanted to install it and test it out to make sure the exhaust pipes don't melt it before I go spending more money to paint it (will be painting it pearl white to match the other fairings).

Anyway, enough chit-chat... here's the pics:

(http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/brian/monster/6.jpg)

(http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/brian/monster/7.jpg)

(http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/brian/monster/8.jpg)

(http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/brian/monster/9.jpg)

(http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/brian/monster/10.jpg)

Looks good! I'm assuming you're in the USA. How long did shipping take from Italy?

About a week. Had to clear customs and I missed their call so it took two extra days.

Shipping cost is almost as much as the pan itself though.

My $.02. Leave it black. It's going to take a beating, the black plastic will still be black when it's chipped up.

If you're going to wait to paint it, the black may grow on you.

Just a thought.

Would it take any more of a beating than every other fully-faired bike on the road? It's bound to get a chip or two, but I don't think it would be so bad that I wouldn't want to paint it.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO this was my mod :(

anyway. i'm ordering my barracuda as soon as the IRS pays up. and i will get it painted Pearl white. i figure as long as i get it clear coated AND keep a good thick coat of wax it should be ok.

don't normally like any extra farings...

but that looks good. makes the bike look beefier

I was about to order one of dem der tengs a couple of weeks ago, but you say the shipping was almost as much as the fairing?  :o

ok made a call.

Barracuda is distributed in North America through two shops

Italian MotoStyle in Ontario 905-921-6888
Everything but the Bike in Bridgeport 610-757-1059  http://www.everything-but-the-bike.com/

don't have email or www but i'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find em.

I just checked my order, and the pan was $204 USD (including tax), and shipping was $96.

The store in Bridgeport sells it for $209, not including tax or shipping, so make sure you compare the final price. You may be able to save $50 or so if you use a more "local" distributor.

To the OP, I would suggest that after you paint it, you use the clear film on the leading edges and forward facing panel to protect against rock chips. Trust me, it WILL look like shit eventually, from all the blasting it is gonna get. My oil cooler screen is already getting pretty ratty after 8k+ on it.... and it is aluminum!!

Very nice.   [thumbsup]  +1 on leaving it black. I think it flows/blends and makes the cowl under the airbox flow nicely.  Not sure that makes sense.

Alright... I'll consider leaving it black. Here is what I was planning on doing (top: stock; middle: modded w/ black pan; bottom: modded with white pan). As you can see in the bottom two pics I am going to powder coat a lot of the silver parts black. I still think the white looks cooler, but I'll give it a shot for YOU GUYS  ;D

(http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/brian/monster/5.jpg)

Now I see it.  Looks good.  I just wouldn't do it until after you've powdercoated those shiny bits.  Nice.   [thumbsup]

AWESOME!!!!!!!  Been staring at that belly pan for AGES NOW....   glad someone got one and is "testing it" for me.  Want to see how it holds up to the heat, but it IS BY FAR the very best in belly pans out there....covers the header pipe that bugs me SOOOOO much.  My alternative ideas for header pipe is ceramic coating or wrap.  

Keep us posted on it and, as far as painting white, I am torn about it.  Woulda thought same as you, since I have seen this "scheme" on SO's white Speed Triple belly pan, which is white....BUT, seeing it on and black, dunnoh, DOES blend and......  tuff one for sure.  It WILL get beat up, but moreso on bottom like SO's is ONLY noticable when off and sitting on end in garage LOL  

Keep pix and info/updates posted THANKS and CONGRATS!

I kind of like the black myself..If you do decide to paint it white I have the best solution for protection.  I can't believe that no one knows about this stuff called "Helicopter Tape"  It is used on every racecar I have driven. If you can imagine an indycar wing runs about $9k.  At 200mph little tiny rocks become bullets. So in order to protect the paint and the carbon surface, you apply clear helicopter tape and it saves everything.  The stuff lasts over a year, and its typically what is used as a "clear bra" for cars.  Just do a google search for helicopter tape and you will find hundreds of results. Then apply and no more destroyed paint!

 

SCHWEEEEEEET!!!!!! [thumbsup] Stay BLACK!!! It blends SO MUCH BETTER!!

I see a lot of people on here wrap their headers, but I wouldn't recommend it. I've seen this done with cars and trucks, and the wrap retains moisture even if it isn't exposed to rain. This rots the pipes over time. In a couple years they could start rusting through. I would recommend ceramic coating them if you want to make them blend in with the bike. I'm considering it myself.

I don't like stealing other people's ideas and I want to be original, but I ran across this and think I'm going to have to steal Celli's headlight:

http://www.marcelbastiaans.com/gallery/ducatiforum/bikeofthemoment.jpg (http://www.marcelbastiaans.com/gallery/ducatiforum/bikeofthemoment.jpg)

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, lol. It will be a little different than his though, because I'll have to make my own fiberglass brackets and mini-fairings.

(I like Photoshopping. It's cheaper than doing the actual mods  ;D)

(http://www.thetechlounge.com/random/brian/monster/11.jpg)

If I do this, I'd have to get rid of the stock mirrors... they just wouldn't fit with the rest of the bike.

I'll have to look into this. How easy is it to remove and replace if it needs to be done every year?

That looks nice!

The belly pan looks really good  [thumbsup]

It needs something to look less plastic'y, but white is not it - I think.

How about stickers / stripes / partially painted / dark grey?

i think the white looks the best...

Well the pan passed the official melting test. I was going 5-10 mph in traffic for about 5-10 minutes today and not a single sign of goopy or shiny plastic. I guess that small gap between the exhaust and the pan is enough.

I'm getting all kinds of responses on the color... I may have to start a poll or something!

Thanks for the feedback from everyone. Hopefully this has helped some of you make some decisions as well. The 696 and 1100 are very new, so it will be interesting to see what kinds of accessories we will be looking at in the near future. Currently though, I think the Barracuda is the best looking belly pan for these bikes. Despite being plastic, it doesn't melt and it is very sturdy too. I thought there would at least be some wiggle room or flex once installed, but there is none at all.  [thumbsup]

I would keep it dark....that thing is gonna get  [bacon] dirty!  Talk to the guys that have white wheels......cleaning after every ride gets to be a pain.

Do a photoshop with a grey belly pan. Just an idea.

Well, I got back from school today and there was a lot of gunk on the pan from road debris and oil. Soooo.... yeah. I'm leaving it as-is. It matches the rest of the black on the bike. It's not exactly what I want, but I'm going to make it work because I'm not cleaning my bike every day. Once a week, sure. But I can see it looking pretty bad after a couple of unlucky days in a row.

It is not that hard to remove. We do it about once a season on race cars and it takes about 20 minutes to re-tape a nose and wing.