Ducati Monster Forum

Would this be possible on a 695 without too much expense?

Define too much expense....

If memory serves me right... Yes it's possible.  Some folks did it to 620s and they are about identical to your bike for this job.  The details escape me on how much effort and cost was involved though.  The info *might* still be around on the DML... but that's if it wasn't burned down by VS

Let me play devils advocate here... Let's say it costs a grand for the whole job + a tire, you could probably get a pair of lighter wheels (same sizes) for not that much more.  The bigger rim is going to weigh more.  More weight will translate into a feeling of less power in you butt-dyno, because you're asking the engine to work harder to spin upp that greater mass.  So 0-60 times will go up - boo. 

The larger tire profile and added mass will also make the bike more reluctant to turn in.  Slower handling.. boo

Lighter wheels will do the opposite.  0-60 ties would go down (and probably 60-0 too) turning would be easier/faster 

So if you're looking at this to be a perfomance mod... it won't be.  If it's just a look think - by all means carry on!

yep, you can.
180 tires were designed to fit on a 5.5 inch wheel your Monster came with a 4.5 inch wheel. it will affect the handling a bit. and while people have ridden untold miles with a 180 on a 4.5 it is not optimal.

Thanks for both answers.  I was pretty sure you could fit the larger tire on the smaller wheel, just trying to figure out the wear/handling difference.

Too much expense means significantly less than just going to a SSS with a new wheel.

oops - I assumed as part of my answer you wanted the 5.5 wheel along with the 180 - were you just askig if you could mount a 180 on the existing 4.5 wheel?

Well, thinking about different options.  But the easiest would definitely be putting it on the existing wheel.

Ok, DucSea says bad idea.  ;)

Would completely throw off the geometry.

Gonna slow down turn in for sure.

jack the rear up 1 inch to comp. ;D

I say do that anyways, but its the profile of the tire (tyre) that changes, and so you are no longer hitting it at the proper rubber 'angle' when leaned over. You're ok with a little extra rubber, hence the call for the 170s, etc.

Its simply fatter in the middle. Its like a drinking a bunch of beer - after a few you feel like He-Man. After a case, you don't run so fast. Obviously, you won't win any fights if you are skinny, and likewise you won't win any races running a 120 rear tire.

Hey, I'm skinny and win plenty of fights!   >:(

I just want the wider look at the rear tire.  I'm happy with the handling...

Sure you do, Balboa.


I mean if looks are what you are going for, have at it, go nuts, etc. If you are happy with the handling, it ain't gonna handle quite like it did. That whole falling into turns thing? Not so much as before.

The best spent money is not on 'looking fast', but in learning to go fast. Wise money would be spent on a pilot power replacement for what you have and tracktime...

I agree with you, not willing to sacrifice performance and handling for looks.  I flirt with the edges of my tires and like it that way.  I *do* like the idea of lighter wheels though... all in due time I suppose.

But I do come from cruisers, and stuffing a bigger tire on them half the time improves stability... so I wasn't sure about loss in handling on the Monster.

Thanks for the info, guys.  [drink]

I don't recommend running a 180 on a 4.5, however a 5.5 inch rear with 180 rubber mounted, should not adversely affect handling much. The weight difference between the 4.5 and 5.5 wheels and the tires is essentially negligable. The bike will turn in a bit slower on the wider rear, but that may not be a bad thing depending on how you ride, and how you like your bike to feel.

Changing to a 5.5 in rear is pretty easy. just make sure you get the cush drive and spacers with the larger rear.

For the record, I ran a 160 on a 4.5 on my m750 for two years and then switched to a 5.5 in rear and 180. I haven't looked back.

Of course I did it in preperation for a 944 motor swap which should be going in in a week or so.

So for the sake of clarity, and I guess redundancy. All you need for a swap to a 5.5" rear is.
Wheel, cush drive, and the spacers?

Just on the handling thing ...

In my small experience the effect of widening the rear tyre is not just a matter of slower turn-in, tho that is obviously very relevant.

There's also the greater reaction from the steering to bumps and seams in the road surface, and some loss of steering precision even on a smooth surface, and a greater need to get your weight inside the bike for neutral steering in turns.

The wider the tyre, the further from the bike's centreline the edge of the tyre is.

That means bumps or seams hit off-centre can exert more twisting leverage on the bike.

And it means the tyre contact patch migrates further away from the bike's centreline as you lean - so you have to get further inboard to keep her balanced.

The difference in feel can be quite pronounced even going from a 180 to a 170, IMO. The bigger tyres offer better grip under power, but it ain't cost free.

And you'll see none of that benefit unless you have a big ol' motor. 170 is plenty of rubber.

I'd like to say yes absolutely, but you know things vary from bike to bike sometimes with ducatis. What I can say is I got a 900SS 5.5 inch rear with the cush drive and spacers. Took those parts and some of my origional parts, and it works on my '97 750.

You should not need any custom parts to make it fit.

Justin