Ducati Monster Forum

If someone could tell me which are better would be helpful. I recently purchased a set of 999 forks but came across a set of S4R forks for sale for about the same price. Obviously the S4R would be a much easier swap than the 999 (even though i have all the stuff necessary to do it) and also would the S4R would end up cheaper.

However since i have everything already, are the 999 forks better than the S4R to warrant the extra cost? I don't do track days and mainly do commuting and maybe eventually some "spirited" riding. Main reason i am upgrading forks is because i have an S2R 800 and the stockers, well, aren't good and i weigh a whole lot more than what they were designed for lol. Plus i like the adjustibility.

So if anyone who knows the appreciable differences between the two OR kinda have a pro/con list as to one or the other it would helpful. Remember even if the 999 are "much better" i'd like the opinion of if i really would notice the "much better" based on my riding description above.

Thanks

The 999 forks are better than the S4R forks, but whether that's enough to warrant the extra cost, well, that depends how much the extra cost is.

Whether the S4R may be sprung better for you than the 999 forks depends on how much you weigh.

What year forks are the S4R?
And the 999 forks?

s4r are 2004 and 999 forks are from a 2003. i weigh 230 w/o gear but am losing weight. ideal is around 200lbs

Assuming both sets of forks have the OEM springs in 'em, the 999 forks would be sprung closer to optimum for you right now.
Probably a bit stiff for commuting.

At 200 lbs, the 999 forks will be too stiff, and the S4R forks would still be on the soft side even for commuting.

My advice?

Sell the 999 forks and stuff.
Use the money to get the S4R forks resprung, and get your shock resprung too while you're at it.

thats kinda what i was thinking, wish i saw them before i got all the other stuff.

any other opinions?

If you've already got everything to put the 999 forks on, and you arn't going to loose 30lbs overnight...

I say put them on the bike.  You can do a spring change with them on the bike if you are careful /when you want....and they might be more tolerable than you think.

my .02

Are the SBK forks longer than stock Monster forks? Would this require setting the rear ride height higher? I'm thinking about an SBK fork swap. 999 forks are abundant and much cheaper than adjustable Monster take-offs.

no, because u would install the forks to the same height as stock. this might necessitate clip ons or bar risers. while adjustable monster forks can be more expensive than 999 forks the end cost is much cheaper due to no new or machining of the triple clamp and new fender and clip ons or bar risers

This should have been my other question - how much fork tube protrusion above the top triple are you going to end up with using the SBK forks?

i am unsure. but enough for at a minium bar risers are needed

My bike fits the bars with stock risers just fine, and according to the measurements I've taken and been given...the front end is at .5" lower than stock.

1098 forks = same length as 999 forks btw.

Really? Hmph. What bike model do u have the 999 on?

I have the 1098 forks on a s4rt (2007)

I have about 3 sets of 999 forks laying here, and I measured them vs. the 1098 forks.  Same length.  1098 fits, 999 same length = 999 fits.  [thumbsup]

One thing to consider about your 999 forks is that you will need to add a spacer to your caliper mounts, as the calipers on the 999 are farther apart than on a monster. Specifically, the rotor offset on the 999 15mm, the monster is 10mm. You need to move your calipers in 5mm on each side. Or the rotors out 5mm... Caliper spacer is easier & cheaper...

I'm in process of doing a 999 fork swap... with forks from theo no less...
If you're not in a hurry, you could wait and see how it goes for me, and then determine what to do...[thumbsup]
I'm not anticipating any major problems, but... well, it's certainly not bolt-on.

Your 999 forks have better valving, linear rate springs (vs progressive, which is what you'd find in any monster adjustables), and probably have that fancy titanium nitride coating on the sliders... good stuff [thumbsup]

If you everything already, i would stick with it... You already spent the money, and aren't missing it yet ;D

well the s4r have the nitride coating as well and have linear fom what i understand.

indeed they do, sorry i was thinking just random S2R1k forks.
it's really just a matter of tastes at that point. the 999 forks *should* have better valving, but this i cannot confirm...
S4R forks are pretty nice!

Now are you talking about needing caliper spacers using 999 forks and 999 calipers? or  are the mounting holes for the calipers different on the 999 forks? I'm doing the 999 fork swap (courtesy of Theo  [thumbsup]) and have calipers from a 2004 ST4s (65mm mounting, 2 pin 4 pot calipers) would that setup constitute a need for spacers? if so, where are you getting them?

threadjack? lol

caliper scaping is same, rotor offset is different. 5mm spacers to space out rotors or to space calipers in

sorry  :-[

to clarify what jim said, your calipers will bolt right on, they will just be a little bit too far apart. you need to to move them 5mm in. So you need basically a 5mm washer between your caliper, and the mounting leg on the fork itself. shouldn't be to hard to source, 2cm OD, 1cm ID, 5mm thick.

Hi all.. perhaps you guys have the knowledge and experience to help me out.

I have a lead on a guy who is selling his Ohlins fork, tripple clamp, steering damper and shock off his 1198S. Are these parts able to be fitted on a 2007 S4R? I guess the steering damper will be an issue but what about the others? Can somebody help?

Not worth the trouble unless he's selling it *super* cheap and you can flip 'em for a profit.