Ducati Monster Forum

I have a 1999 M900 that I bought new and was going to make into my track bike (still might) and was pondering a total tear down and then a total re-build.  Powdercoat...paint...new bicycle bell...you know the works.  One of the things that I have always wanted to have on a Monster is spoke wheels instead of mags.  Will Sport Classic wheels fit or some other option?  Any info would be appreciated.




that is all
nothing follows

not without a lot of hassle.  i think you have the solid 20mm front axle and 17mm rear.  afaik the sport classics come with hollow 25mm front and rear - plus i was told they are a TON heavier than stock.  looks sweet but a huge downgrade in that it adds a lot of weight.  alpina wheels may have something that works for you - check with jeff at monsterparts.com

Alpina Wheels are nice, though spendy I think...

(http://jcpakbikes.com/alpinaBBB/image/alpina_bbb_fr15.jpg)

http://jcpakbikes.com/alpinaBBB/index.html (http://jcpakbikes.com/alpinaBBB/index.html)


With Excel rims you can build any custom setup you want...

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JNgH2kk8pu4/Sd-hovd1NmI/AAAAAAAADAw/N5pnIvVlW_Y/s400/Sideburn+TRX+street+tracker.JPG)

its a good amount of money and a lot of bother to downgrade the performance of your bike.

DAMN!!!!!!!

These are nice:

http://jcpakbikes.com/nakedcarbonmatrix/index.html (http://jcpakbikes.com/nakedcarbonmatrix/index.html)

+1

Alpina's weigh less than the SC wheels and WILL work with your calipers/brakes...  SC wheels won't.

They cost more up front, but BOLT RIGHT ON and will work instead of trying to cobble something together.

As far as weight goes, yes they weigh more...  But not much compared to your stock '99 wheels do.

I know the Monster is a performance machine and I am not looking to seriously impair that, but the goal for this bike is more cosmetic.  I will also try to reduce weight wherever I can but again it is not the major goal of this build.

you are really shooting yourself in the foot for cosmetics if you have a track bike and put spoke wheels on it.  spend the money on gas and tires and track time.  when you pass people they cant tell what your wheels look like.  also if they are tubed thats even dumber for a track bike.  the tires wont heat as well/quickly [bacon]

decide if you want a track bike or a nice bike to ride around on. the two do not work together. If you build a pretty bike then you wont ride it as hard with the fear of binning it (and on the track, insurance wont pay)

if it was 1:1 trade your stock mags for spokes I would say do what you like, but for the money of some alpinas+sealing them so you dont need tubes you could very likely score some used forged alum or magnesium wheels and have money leftover.


you can console yourself with the knowledge that back in the 50s/60s any "ton up boy" would have punched his mother to ditch his stock spokes for some lightweight mags. strip it down, make it BETTER. thats the cafe racer way.

The plan was never to have a track bike with spokes. If i do put spokes on this bike i will purchase another for the track. As this is my first Ducati, i was kinda thinking about making it street legal again. If i did i figured why not do it up nice.

Alpina's are tubeless FWIW...

good to know!

Didn't somebody start a chart which showed the measured weights of lots of aftermarket and stock Ducati wheels?  It could be useful for his decision.

edit: I think it was J V who put together the list of wheels weights. 

i think jeff stocks alpinas at monsterparts - or can get them.  but, yeah - they were over $2K.  i was also planning on swapping out my stock m900 wheels and i honestly don't remember the difference in weight but it was substantial iirc

Anymore information about these new for 2011 carbon fiber/aluminum rim Alpinas?  I assume they weigh less and cost more than the regular Alpinas.  I couldn't find any more info.

(http://jcpakbikes.com/nakedcarbonmatrix/image/dscf4496.jpg)

Here's my data:
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=47036.msg853914#msg853914 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=47036.msg853914#msg853914)

I don't have a weight of a spoked rear, so it's not tremendously helpful to this discussion.

they dont make the carbon ones anymore.

regular monster wheels are backordered for a while. supply issues with Excel

sport classics and 696 wheels are avail
http://www.alpinaraggi.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=48&lang=en (http://www.alpinaraggi.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=48&lang=en)

i just took a set off my bike....but im not ready to part with them  ;)

Another option is to contact Woody's Wheel Works and see what they have to say.  I think you would have to send them your old wheels so they can match the hub dimensions. 

http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/ (http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/)

Bob

Woodys does very high quality work, but be aware they have a particular fondness for hugely thick spokes (which adds a lot of weight for no discernible benefit imho).  I would think that with a bit of fiddling around with spacers and bearing sizes that you could get almost any spoked sumo wheelset to work.  Most tend to be tube-type which is a drag, but if you are really motivated you can seal them up or fit a Tubliss kit. Sumo spoke wheels are pretty light.  I haven't weighed a pair, but I bet most are lighter than stock cast ducati wheels.