Ducati Monster Forum

I guess it's time to start one thread for all my current and upcoming mods.

2009 Ducati Monster 696

Current mods:
Ducati Performance LED signals
Ducati Performance low seat
Leo Vince carbon EvoII oval slip-ons
CRG Hindsight LS mirrors
Speedymoto sliders
CW tail chop
Bridgestone BT-016's
Ryanracer Ti tank bolts
ProGrip 699 grips
Suburban Machinery M3 handlebar
ASV levers
M1100S Ohlins rear shock


Future goals:
"Darken" the 696
Upgrade fork internals


Some mods have changed already so the pictures aren't current. I'll post up updated photos as the build up progresses and the new parts get slapped on.  [moto]

(http://i44.tinypic.com/65bdqc.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/ifodu9.jpg)
(http://i41.tinypic.com/24430h1.jpg)

Just curious... why did you dump the Pazzo's in favor of the ASV levers?

Very curious to see how those new handlebars look/feel... get some pics ASAP

I did not have any problems with the Pazzo levers. I wanted to switch to black so this was my opportunity to do so. It's more cosmetic than anything. My Pazzos were Ti colored. I'm going for a dark theme now.

The SM bar should be arriving Friday. Unfortunately I won't be able to tackle the install until Monday. I'm tied up this weekend with work.

Not that there's anything wrong with that  ;)

Looking forward to seeing your new handlebars!

Can you pronounce Öhlins?  [evil]  [bow_down]
I got an UNBELIEVABLE deal from Rever Corsa. The shock was taken off their Christian Audigier project M1100S and sold right here in the classifieds.
$400. I'm still in shock. lol no pun intended.  :o  Yeah, this thing is brand spanking new and doesn't even have a scratch on it. Can't wait to get it installed and tuned.

(http://i40.tinypic.com/2z9d3k3.jpg)

 Wow, what a deal! Good for you. Before you put it in can you compare it to the stock shock for length?

Yup.  My Swedish is a little rusty.... but... Jag är ganska säker på att Öhlins skulle låter som..... "ehrlinss" - men fråge stopintime, han är Norska och liv nästa dörr...lol...   ;D

And on the rest of your ...um... shocking news:  WOW :o  What a deal!!!  Great find! 

This just in!  [clap]  I know.. You guys want installed pictures. :-\ I work all this weekend and won't be able to touch my bike until Monday at the earliest.

The bar is beautifully put together.

Suburban Machinery M3.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/eqqgc1.jpg)
(http://i44.tinypic.com/aub2as.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2dqn893.jpg)

 Dam, what a steal, congrats!

I never ride a duc w/ Ohlins suspensions.  What would be the difference?

Just curious.

Not a huge difference if the stock Showa rear is setup properly for your riding style and weight.
Probably the biggest difference would be internal components.
Again, if both are setup correctly, I doubt someone (street rider) would feel a huge difference between the two. Bling factor? Definitely.
But just comparing the two as-is, I'm sure the Ohlins has a better overall feel.

Are the bars closer to a clip-on as far as position?  The angle looks like it would be much more comfortable for me without the more forward riding position.

Yes but it's further up since it uses the factory handlebar mount. I hope it's a good compromise.

Just need a belly pan to cover up the exhaust pipe sticking out in the front

I'll never understand this  I-have-a-naked-bike-that-I-wanna-cover-up  thing....

[laugh]

+1!

I am guilty of having mine a little too naked right now...

The SM bar has been installed! From my initial ride around the neighborhood the riding position feels just slightly forward and maybe a tad lower. It's nothing drastic. A long ride will be the true test on comfort.
My CRG bar end adapters arrive tomorrow so here is the install sans mirrors.

Enjoy.

(http://i43.tinypic.com/etdyc6.jpg)
(http://i44.tinypic.com/2j29lrp.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2ueo8j4.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/ribw3t.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/rwos9s.jpg)

 

They look good.  How's the clearance with the vents in the tank skins?

All the way left
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2vl5ct5.jpg)

All the way right
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2ex34le.jpg)


 [thumbsup]

ok, where did you get them?

that is my next purchase...

looks awsome!

also where did you get those brake clutch clamps? w/o the mirror mounts?

oh, and the bars look good the color they are. i thought powder coating them black would be cool, but i will be leaving them that color...

I got the bar here.. It's the M3 model.
http://www.suburban-machinery.com/duchypmoto.html (http://www.suburban-machinery.com/duchypmoto.html)

I bought the clamps from a member here but they can be ordered at
http://shop.bevelheaven.com/detail.aspx?ID=284 (http://shop.bevelheaven.com/detail.aspx?ID=284)

 [moto]

thanks!

the bars are the 7/8" correct? getting them ordered as we speak!

Correct, 7/8".

oh can you take a pic from the side getting the whole bike?

Give me a sec.. I put the bike in the backyard already. I'll do my best with the amount of space I have.

Here's what I have until tomorrow. I plan on taking better detailed pictures.

(http://i44.tinypic.com/11sib85.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/b81npw.jpg)

Nice.  I've already changed bars once but that looks like it might be the better way to go.  I like the grip angle.

how did you install all the controls on the bars. did you just slide them on in the position you wanted and just tighten everything?

The brake and clutch lever won't have a reference point like the stock bar so you'll have to play around with it to make sure it functions without hitting anything. The other stuff has reference holes. You'll see them.

Just a note: I DID NOT have to loosen any of the banjo bolts. Everything fit just fine.

thanks for the help and the pics and for being the guinea pig!

i ordered them yesterday and i the tracking number says it arrives here on friday!

bars look killer, nice job [thumbsup]

No prob mrplease..  [beer]

Thanks again guys. I'm patiently waiting on UPS to deliver my CRG bar end adapters today. tick tock tick tock..

The sun was just killer this afternoon. Here's the best I could do without melting in the heat.
I'm still not sure on the placement of the mirrors. On the stock handlebar I had the CRG mirrors right side up. I have them turned down now. Not sure which I like better. Visibility is about the same.

(http://i41.tinypic.com/pwsqg.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2dt18r8.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2m2hrtg.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2upeoic.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/35k4axz.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/167v9d4.jpg)

Bars look fabulous 1313  [thumbsup]   Nice mod.... and looks like you have ample full-lock steering clearance too.  Bike really lookin good.

BTW.... my Speedymoto top-triple and clip-ons arrived.... ;D.. and I spent the last 2 evenings fitting it all up... [laugh]... I'm pretty happy with the result.... but havent had chance to actually go ride yet....  pics will follow.. but been burning the midnight oil to complete the install.... so got too late for pics...

I can't wait for your write up. I'm curious on how the riding position is. If they ever come back in stock I might get them. Post pics!!  [popcorn]

yeah your not allowed to say you have clip-ons and a top triple installed without posting pics!

can we please get a mod to band this guy!!!!   ;D ;D ;D

mirrors def look good turned down like that. those bars are growing on me too! Nice ride brother  [beer]

 [laugh] I know..... sorry for the tease.....  I took some crappy flash-pics late last night (or was it early this morning..?..) but they're not fit for public consumption....  Soooooo.... as soon as the sun shines... and I once remind my wife who the bloke who lives out there in the garage is....... 

Another update:

I'm STILL WAITING on my Puig screen to clear US Customs. It's been M.I.A. for about a month now. I'll wait one more week before making phone calls. I heard it sometimes takes 4-5 weeks...

So anyway I ordered a Barracuda screen as a replacement until the Puig one arrived after seeing DoWorkSon's bike. I'm still 50/50.... It's definitely not for the faint of heart.
I did some high speed runs around my area and found it pretty functional compared to the Ducati Performance screen. The 'cuda screen is HUGE in comparison. I'll roll around with it for a bit to see how I really feel about it.

(http://i44.tinypic.com/aorkth.jpg)

hey man, my bars came in the mail today! man these are some really nice high quality bars! i was gonna install them this weekend, but i think i'm taking them to get powder coated black instead. i think i'll go with a satin black instead of a flat or gloss. what do you think about that on my bike? i mean my bike will still be apart until the pipes get finished anyway.

I thought about PC'ing my bar black as well but I'm still not sure. Some accent is nice.
Since your bike is all black, I guess you should keep it going. Eventually I'm going to darken my bike but keep a few things silver (not shiny).

um...how can I put this....  y'know 1313.... your cool clubman bars look real good - I like 'em a lot.  Yet with that 'cuda screen...I cant see 'em anymore.

I'm not 100% decided yet.

i actually think i'm keeping the bars the stock color instead of powder coating them. the color is growing on me. they match the tips of my termis exactly. i am just going to powder coat the top triple black.

Holy cow, my ASV levers finally came in today. They were back ordered for almost 2 months.
I got all black levers..short brake, long clutch. Perfect for me.

Now that I've had experience with both Pazzo and ASV, it's ASV all the way. They just feel better and smoother on the hands. "Refined" if you will.

With that said, the Pazzo Racing levers are still nice IMO.

(http://i25.tinypic.com/116hrtf.jpg)
(http://i29.tinypic.com/x0qp6v.jpg)

Looking good there 1313  [thumbsup] 

I like the look of my Pazzos, but ASVs are not only cool they also have that foldy-outiness that could prove useful in a minor tip-over (where my Pazzos will simply snap at the built-in weak point.... and if that ever happens it'll be ASVs for me too).  Do they come in natural silver billet?

 [beer]

Yep, the come in "raw" billet. http://www.asvinventions.com/levers_order/C5_Sport/ (http://www.asvinventions.com/levers_order/C5_Sport/)

actually my pazzo shorties had a slight scratch on the mount--above where the fold is on the ASV-- but nothing else. but it did dig into the dirt, so not sure if it had been on the road the whole way how it would have faired.

Ride anything w/Olhins and you will find yourself suddenly fully understanding the concept of absorbing shock. You will realize exactly what all the other shocks that you rode on whatever bikes or cars you have ridden were trying to accomplish. And you will have no doubt that the Ohlin is doing exactly that to perfection. The feel is so pure, it is so soft and yet so hard when push come to shove, it is so gentle and yet so tough, is like the finest clockwork but yet it can take so much beating. You will love it and protect it like your 16year old virgin daughter.

patiently waiting on a detailed ride report on the bars.
its hard to tell from the pics, does it feel like a longer reach to the bars?

Not at all.. The bar is SLIGHTLY dropped compared to the stock bar. The grip angle is also different but nothing drastic. It is still comfortable. I wouldn't consider it a night and day difference. This is a good "in-between" bar. Fits in the middle of stock and a full clip-on set.

Thanks for the comparison
next questions would be about vibration and have you tried angling them down a bit, i know that each person would find their own comfort position, i was wondering the clearance at both stops if they were drooped down a bit. I'm about five seconds from ordering these.

I FINALLY took my bike in for her first service. I was a bit overdue but oh well. What can you do??

The following services were performed today:

1. 600 mile service
2. wiring harness recall
3. install Ohlins rear shock
4. Inspect/fix rear brake squeal

Night and day difference on the handling characteristic of the bike. The rear end feels more planted and I have less of a pogo stick feel on the freeway. LOVE IT.

(http://i25.tinypic.com/qx4fit.jpg)

Does anyone know of a good suspension upgrade for the front forks on the 696?  I would love to dump some $ on this upgrade and then pick up some M1 bars. 

We don't have any "official" options to date.

1. Use M1100S fork
2. Send fork to Race Tech or Lindemann for a rebuild
3. 848 fork retrofit (I don't know much about it. Seems like it requires more work to make it fit.)

As you can see, there's not an official made for the 696 front suspension upgrade.  :'(

did they take care of the rear brake squeal?? supposedly my parts have been on order for like 2 weeks now... [roll]

I think the "new" parts consist of new pads, that's all. At least that's what my dealer mentioned. Mine tried a different approach first. I think they degreased the disc and pads for a clean mating surface. I haven't had squealing since. If it comes back they said bring it in again.

if it is just new pads, i heard breaking them in correctly is what keeps it from happening.. mine squeel, but i dont use them much anyways unless i have a pillion and need the stopping power.

the M1 bars are sick! is there more "space" on the bike, im looking for something a bit more forward.

that Ohlins is on my list too. $$$$$, i mean, hmmmmm

My squeal is coming back slowly. I might just change out the pads myself and re-bed them. It's getting old and I don't have time to take it back to the dealer.

About the M3.. Length wise it's almost the same as the stock bar. It's just a tad bit forward. I wouldn't call it a night and day difference if that's what you're looking for.
It's good to be the trend setter.  [moto] I was pretty much the first to slap one on a 696.

forward is good, i think thats what im looking for, not so much down.

search on here for proper break in of pads, there is a system, takes 15 or 30 minutes. they wont end up squeeling.

It's official. Rear brake squeal is back.  [bang]

Anyway I'm taking my bike to a local shop tomorrow to get my rear Ohlins shock set up. Hopefully handling will improve 10-fold.   [moto] [thumbsup]

besides the rear brake whats up?

anything new mods coming?

Nothing new to date other than the black reflective tape I threw on. Everything else has been gear wise (new jacket, helmet).

Every once in a while I think about getting a new exhaust setup for the bike. I'm running Leo Vince right now. Just going for a different look..

My suspension is set up! Time to ride.

Hey, are you using the CRG bar end adapters?  I just got an M3 bar and realized that my Rhinomoto bar ends don't fit so I need to replace them.

Yep. I'm running the CRG adapters on the M3.