Ducati Monster Forum

I'm becoming more and more interested in doing a front end swap with some 998 late style TiN forks. I have an S2R800 and I'm at the end of my rope with that crap front end. I'd rather not shim the bottom triple, so will any of the SBK bottoms be a direct bolt-on? If not where can I get some shims? Also, I'd be losing the stock brakes as well. What would I need in that regard? Rotors for 998 work? Can I use my stock lines?

And I've read somewhere that 999 rears would work with my bike, if I were to relocate the rectifier and oil breather. Am I correct in assuming this? Just sick of this crap suspension. Love the bike otherwise.

Check with Ca-cycleworks for shims. None of the SBK forks bolt in w/o shims and boring the top.

Rotors from a 998 will work. As will Monster 750, 900, 1000, 800, S2R 1000, S4R (not all S4Rs fyi), pre 2005 620, 748, 996, 916, super sports and on and on.

For the brakes... you'll need the new calipers (duh) and a set of 6 bolt 320mm, 10mm offset rotor. That's the config for the bulk for the Ducati line for a long while.

Re the lines, people have used the stock line when converting to the 4-piston calipers seen on most Ducs - so it is possible. The position of the inlets is different, so it's a bit fiddly, but can be done.

999 rear? The shock?

So you're telling me a 998 bottom triple will not work in this application, correct? And shimming the bottom is the only way. OK.

999 rear - I was referring to the 999 rear shock absorber, yes. You see I want a complete new suspension. Sick of this crap. Thanks.

the superbike forks are 53/53mm upper/lower
the monster triples are 50/54mm upper/lower
the SS forks are 50/54mm
the SC forks are 50/54mm

either of the latter two would be a direct bolt on, as well as things like s4R etc. WHICH I happend to have the internals and lower fork leg with TiN of an s4r for sale.

you would  use your upper tube, and lower axle/brake holder.

i also have a 848 rear showa shock.

pm me and I'll give you a price

So if I were to bore the top triple, and buy a 998 bottom triple, it wouldn't work? Is the stem different?

Thanks Raux, I didn't know that the 848 rear shock would fit. Only read that the 999 would.

pretty sure the offset is different on the 998 from the monster. and the stem length might be different.
if you're set on going to SBK then i would suggest either sticking with your stock and boring/shimming or getting new triples altogether already set up for the fork diameters and monster offset

as far as the shock.. not certain it would, i don't have an old monster around to check. you would have to do a bit of research on that.

I had a 1098 showa installed onto an S2R1000. it wont work without signficantly jacking up the rear.

if you are in need of a spring...like a 1091-39 ohlins spring. let me know i ahve one brand new looking to get rid of it.

No joy - the SBK lower triple don't go without a lot of custom work, so much so you'll be sorry you went down that path. Best to shim or as said, get some bling billet SBK conversion ones.... Or those S4R forks with don't need any shims or boring work. But, what caliper mounts are those forks using?

he would use the internals from the S4R with the lower TiN tube. then take his stock brake mount and upper tube. should be a direct swap. but i may be able to find different mounts for him as well. depends on if he wants to change brakes.

i just went through this whole process, GSXR swap much easier. I am even using tricker R6 style mono block radial calipers instead of the bigger tokico radial calipers that come stock on the GSXRs. You can even keep your stock rotors if you go with the tokico's if you get the right year GSXR forks as they also had 300mm rotors too.

PM me and i'll send you my number and you can fire away all your questions. BTW i only decided to do the GSXR swap because the ducati swap was getting too $$$. However note that unless you're a big (fat) dude like me (5'11" 230lbs w/o gear stocky football build) you may have to respring the GSXR forks.

EDIT if you are dead set on a ducati superbike swap i have a pair of forks and front fender for you if interested.

I put a 999 shock in to my 695.  It was a bit o a saga - involved removing the crankcase breather reservoir and vertical cylinder coil, but was well worth it.  The stock 999 spring is awful - I went for a 1091-31 Ohlins spring.  The back end is wonderful now.

As for the front, I've got a pair of 998 forks ready to go in with new springs (4474-90).  I still need to bore my top triple, shim the lower, and find some clipons.

I have a stock top triple from an 05 s2r bored to 53mm  i am not using.  I installed it but then decided i wanted a Speedy Moto piece.  first $25 takes it.

OK so I picked up a pre-bored S2R top triple courtesy rockaduc, and I'm thinking I'm going to just order some 3003 AL shim stock in .020"(~0.5mm) thickness for the bottom triple. Would this be an appropriate material? I'm searching evilBay right now for a decent 998 fork, hopefully I can find the TiN version. What am I going to have to do to it once I get it? I have a 375 lb bike and I'm 170 with gear. The SBK forks are not likely to be sprung for those numbers, correct? So I'm guessing some springs and oil/seals at the very least. Since I'm going to have to spend some money on this, I'll save a little by not upgrading the brakes right now. Rough estimate is about $1k for everything so if I can stand the brakes for a while longer that would be best. Don't want to go nuts with this just yet. I think I read somewhere that the 998 Showas shared the same caliper offset as the shitty Marzocchi stockers. Suppose I'll find out.
 

I'm doing the same.  I have shiny TiN 998 Showas, re-sprung (Ohlins 4744-90) and re-oiled (10 wt), ready to go on the bike.  I still have to organise clipons.

I did a test-fit the other night.  On my 695, everything on the bottom end of the forks just bolts up.  The fender bolts straight on, the stock 2-pot calipers bolt straight on, and everything lines up nicely with the stock rotors, with no need for spacers.

My to-do list is:

• Drill axle to allow access to the damping adjusters.
• Get shim stock for the lower triple - I'm going for stainless, but I don't think the material is terribly important, as long as it isn't going to corrode.
• Bore top triple.
• Buy clipons.  I'm thinking Woodcraft, with just a little rise, but mounted above the triple.
• Buy spacers to space the masters.  My masters have coffin reservoirs, which will hit the clipon bracketry otherwise.
• Buy adjustable levers to compensate for the extra reach caused by the spacers.

I weigh about 80kg (175 lb), and have chosen 0.9kg/mm springs.  The stock 1.0kg/mm springs will be too heavy, by all accounts.