Ducati Monster Forum

I thoroughly got the mod bug this winter and am looking into the JE 944 kit from cacycleworks.  The pistons themselves are $329 but I realize I would have to get the cylinders bored.  I dont have a power commander so would I also need to get the ecu remapped for the pistons?

Im from the columbus,oh area and not aware of any shops around who do boring and plating so Im figuring around $200 and if I get a power commander that would be another $300.  So essentially thats $850 for a 944 kit if im not mistaken.  Is this worth it for the power gains or should I just save the money and put it into a track bike?   Thanks for the input!!

Boring and plating is more like $400-$500 depending on where you get it done BTW...

A 944 hi-compression kit is definitely a big boost in power over a 900 but with the total now coming closer to $1000 (you didn't mention new gaskets/seals), and some good used 600cc Japanese track bikes going for around $2000 it makes you prioritize a little maybe...

First things first, are you going to ride a track bike or just keep it in the garage only to pull it out once in a blue moon? and are you able to afford a track bike (cause track days arent cheap from what I hear)?

The kit is worth it. I had an older 944 as my FIRST bike over all. Ive ridden another 900, and my current DS1000. the 944 nut loads of fun.

Yea I usually track the bike at least two or three times a season.  I ride in the advanced group and the bike is capable but I get left for dead on the straights. 

Im adjusting the valves right now and I was searching cacylcleworks for new cam belts and i saw the 944 kit and it got me thinking how nice it would be to have more power for those straights.


But alas, I think $1000 would be better spent on a track bike and Ill leave the m900 as is.  Ahhh but I still cant help but dream of more ducati power....

What about just stock bore hi comp pistons and a track bike? If you are single with no responsibilities then do it young man! Life's short, you deserve it. [evil]

But if you do, don't forget the heavy duty cylinder studs.

You'll still get left for dead on the straights with the 944.

Time for a SBK of some flavor.

1. There are no trophies awarded at trackdays.
2. If you want to improve your riding skill, buy a more capable bike, or put a lot of money into making your Monster handle better. If you don't set it up properly, you won't improve your skill, and you won't drop laptimes.
3. As stated before, you will still be slow on the straights, but $1,000 poorer.

Ask yourself what you want to get out of your trackday riding. If you want to improve your skill level and drop your laptimes, this is accomplisehed by learning to corner and brake better, not by hp. The Monster can be set up better but it takes a lot of work. You are much better off buying a race prepped bike (used racebike). It will be set up to handle cornering and braking and your skill level will instantly improve at least some. After that, it's up to you but at least your bike will be capable. With your Monster, if you don't do a lot of work to it, you will level off and never be able to really learn your riding craft.  [thumbsup] Trust me...I have a lot of experience in this area. ;)

+1. That was good advice. [thumbsup]

An ex race bike will take you to a new level in skill development. There is nothing like an obsolete race bike (a few years old or so) for track days. Some people pick up bargains at damaged bike auctions also. They add race bodywork and do track time. A friend of mine bought a K2 GSXR 1000 ex Australian superbike for $4000-00. It blows away brand new liter bikes on the straight at Phillip Island. Actually he and most people are quicker around the track on a decent 600.

Go ahead and spice up your Monster if you like, but if you want to extend your skill, get a 600, do some courses and hit the track days.

In regards to spicing up the M900: higher compression pistons, open air box, mapped ECU and maybe dialled cams. Check with the builder if your engine studs are strong enough for this or if you need to upgrade. With those modifications, you will really notice the difference. It will wheelie easily and be more than enough for the street.

Life's short, we're not here for a long time, might as well have a good time!

Cheers
Tony [drink]

i am a fan of you sprucing up the ol' 900. Because i like to spruce up my 900!

But in search of the all might hp would be a bad reason to embark on that quest. Maybe to give it a little more spunk for fun's sake, sure. But otherwise, drop a newer motor in it or get a track bike.

As far as engine sprucing goes for the M900, you've got options:

The cylinders and pistons: 900 with high comp pistons, 924 kit with high comp pistons (don't do this.), 944 kit with high comp pistons (lots of these out there), or 966 [964] kit with high comp pistons (Markus has this, as an example), apparently there was a 984 kit, required new cylinders and some more serious modification as well

The Cams: ST2 cams, VeeTwo cams (3 options, -210, -211, 212) (one of those grinds is the DP)

Dual Plug Heads ($$$)

Power Commander for FI bikes, Silent Hektik or DP (pederzini - hard to find) ignition modules or Ignitech TCIP4 programmable.

Open Airbox, Spagetti Headers, Good flowing pipes.

Other things you'd likely be interested in doing while you are tinkering: Bigger intake valves (possibly the exhaust also), heavy duty cylinder studs (CA-Cycleworks or Nichols), a little port und polish of the intake tracks (MBP), MBP Collets, Lightweight Flywheel, Lightened/Balanced and Knife Edged/Polished Crank (perhaps you might use Fox). Upgrade oil cooler to the NCR to make sure things don't get too hot perhaps.

There's lots of stuff you could do. And you'd have a good time doing it, but it would be expensive.

I've done some of these things on my M900 (carb'd). There's more to do, and I've acquired some of the parts... Just pacing myself since it is spendy and I want to make sure its all done correctly.

I've got the Sil Spaghetti Headers and NCR/Sil Ti pipes, the open airbox, DynaCoils & Ignitech, Lightweight Flywheel, Degreed the factory cams / adjustable cam pulleys, and probably a little more here and there I can't recollect today, but I've also got a nice "future parts" bin, with a set of collets, replacement valves, vee two cams (a set of 210's and a set of 212's) with some other stuff, getting ready for high comp pistons. I like the bike enough I'm not going to be selling it (esp with the investment in it now) and I'll do a little bit at a time.

just thinking. a higher top speed comes from more HP not more Torque. so in essence you need find a way to get more air and fuel in the system.

maybe better flowing heads, bored intake manifolds, larger airbox with ram air somehow, cams, and a fueling computer/carbs (you didn't mention the bike year). you could add HC pistons as well.

work on getting more power in the upper revs for your straights and lighten the engine (flywheel, etc) to spin it there faster.

that with the upgraded suspension.

suppose you could decrease a few teeth on the rear to add some RPMs to the top end too.

i like the coil kit ca-cycleworks sells too...
not going to give you more speed down the straights, but the bike runs better (and got better fuel mileage)

Nitpicking here, but boring a head for dual plugs isn't crazy expensive, i think MBP was doing it for $150 /head.

You have to get a dual coil for it, that's all.

However, if you have the head on the bench, then by all means do some porting and flowing, don't just do the dual plug.

Bang for the Buck?!?   NITROUS!!!    (I'm kidding here so put down the flamethrowers...)

Seriously? 

Drop in hi-comp pistons are a good bang for the buck if you're already 'in there'.

Porting is good but be sure you're doing it right or a home-port job may flow LESS air then it did before you spent an afternoon whittling away.

If you want a more fun street bike, then put a few bux in the M900 but I wouldn't go nuckin' futz over it.  It's best to save the $$$ for a more capable track bike IMO.

I'm intrigued by the 944 kit myself...  I really have absolutely no need whatsoever to go any faster than my M900 already does, or to scoot away from stop signs any quicker (my back tire already hates me), but something about bumping displacement out to 944 is just sexy. 

Must be that whole "sleeper" thing.

I really liked the 944 kit as it offers a lot more midrange and generally makes the bike a lot more trackable.

Still, best bang for the buck in my book is lighter wheels. Despite the expense it makes everything better. Better handling, better braking, better acceleration.

Plus wheels retain their resale value better than engine mods, since they are far easier to part out separately than pistons and a bore job  ;D

+1...  and better brakes.

see if you can rent a 600 of some sort at a track day.  that might make up your mind for you.

i don't think the monster is the right bike, probably more chassis than engine wise too compared to a late 600 (or gsxr750).

I'm also considering this for my 900Sie.

I think I'll do it in stages like Ato. At the moment all I have is slip-ons.
Next will be open air-box, PC3 and lightened flywheel.

Then a bit later will come the bigger HC pistons.

After that cams...


Has anyone had any experience with the Mahle 95mm piston kit?
It's almost twice the price of the 944 kit, but while I'm there, I might as well go all the way  ;)

95 gets you to the "966" (964cc but 966 sounds better)

Stock: 904
924 (idiots kit or perhaps damaged cylinder and owner wanted to fix it but not make his money go very far)
944 (common)
964 (less common, more heat)
984 (requires case modification. the 'balls to the wall' mod)

methinks if you went to the 964, you'd want to investigate cooling options. Perhaps a higher capacity cooler (motowheels lists them, none in stock, but perhaps its a special order - can't be too many people regularly ordering these); alternatively an NCR oil cooler like DesmoWorks carries; or do what the old school guys had done, which is to use two of the horizontal cam inspection covers with oil cooler mounts and rig up two oil coolers to get the job done.

Example of one of my favorite motors, an older 900 build with ? ? ? displacement, MBP heads and lots of other cool stuff:

(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_4iYlZ1m8UEM/StXZim99mmI/AAAAAAAAEUE/UkqHOcm_Ndk/s800/motornov06002.jpg)

There was a 1024cc kit....