Ducati Monster Forum

Are there any modifications that people have done to their Monsters, specifically to an S4R to make it a little more manageable to ride? After my drop, some people made the suggestion to do certain things to make it a little more manageable to ride in the city. Here's my list so far:

- Tapered handle bars
- Throttle tamer
- Aftermarket clutch slave cylinder
- 14-tooth drive sprocket
- Aftermarket rearsets

Does anyone else have anything else to suggest?

You  need to be a little more specific (when asking question like this).

For example, what makes you think you need to change the handle bar ? Do you feel the handle bar grips are too far ?
(Especially at full lock position ?) How tall are you ?
And you listed 14 t sprocket and throttle tamer ... what makes you think these two will make S4R more rider friendly ?
(Do you feel throttle response is too sharp at low speed turn, like when doing u-turn?)

My suggestion (as fellow owner of S4R )

Handle Bar & rear set : can make pretty big difference (especially if you are short, like me). But you have to find the ones that works for you. (the brand xxx rear set and brand YYY bar that worked for your friend may or may not work for you.)

14 t sprocket : No. I wouldn't do that.

Clutch slave cylinder : Yes (if you do a lot of city run. )

Throttle tamer : save money and invest on either remapping ECU or get a better rear shock. (If you want to cure low speed bucking bronco.)

I'm sorry, this title... pratical, Ducati, and 4v... don't go together  ;D

Yes to the tamer, 14T and clutch slave [thumbsup]

Other bars if you really need it. Further information?
Rear sets, maybe not 'practical' as their strongest plus feature.

What year and version of S4R?

I'm 5'8" and the bars feel too far (my crotch is literally on the tank). The pegs are a bit high, but not as noticeable as the bars.

2006 S4R

Ha I know. I guess I'm trying to make it more manageable.

The pegs aren't really a big issue so that's why they're at the bottom of my list.  The brief amount of time that I was on the bike, the most noticeable things were: heavy clutch, far reach on the bars, and twitchy throttle.

A customer brought in some bars sourced from a Brutale, said they had a bit more sweep and a bit higher.
Can't remember how much.

IIRC, they were slightly smaller diameter at the clamp area, had to shim them slightly to get a good fit.

I was looking at the Rizoma tapered bars. Are there any other alternatives?

Yes.(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o420/ZX750E2/Monster/IMG_9212.jpg)
That's Triumph speed triple's handle bar right next to stock S4R bar.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o420/ZX750E2/Monster/IMG_9213.jpg)
It is made by Magura (same as stock S4R bar), so the quality of the bar is the same at least.
Direct swap (other than drilling the holes for controls), don't have to change cables, brake & clutch lines.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o420/ZX750E2/Monster/IMG_9214.jpg)

See the difference in sweep back angle of the grips ? That's what makes noticeable difference for short(er) riders.
So, changing the handle bar will probably solve "too far to reach" bar problems. And it MAY solve throttle issue.
( You can do a lot better throttle control if the throttle grip is closer and has comfortable angle, as oppose to trying to reach the throttle grip that's too far and has uncomfortable grip angle.) So, I'd suggest try handle bar swap before 14 t sprocket and throttle tamer (as you may not need them ).

All right. I read your postings here.
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=51636.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=51636.0)
I *think* I sort of understand (what you feel like) your problem here.

I'd say, change the handle bar first. And check your riding position, the way you hold & turn the throttle grip.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o420/ZX750E2/Monster/img007.jpg)
 
Do you play tennis ? Golf ? Shooting hand guns? Use knives for cooking ? If you do, you'd get the idea of what I'm trying to explain.
You need to grip starting with little finger, then ring finger. Then, middle & index finger, thumb should be relaxed, only lightly holding the grip. And the throttle grip should be diagonal to your hand, not 90 degree. Hold and turn the throttle like when you turn door knob.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o420/ZX750E2/Monster/img008.jpg)
 
If you are holding the throttle grip with something like  a hand clinched in the fist, you can not control the throttle delicately.
And if your arms are stretched out, there's no way you can control the throttle while turning. (especially left turn, as your already stretched arm will be stretched further more.)

Your elbows need to be relaxed, your right wrist needs to be able to move freely and precisely. You may have to lean forward more than you are doing now. If you still feel like arms are stretched out, or lean forward position is too uncomfortable, then you need a different bar.

Fantastic illustrations  [bow_down]

They should be stickied somewhere!

The last photo represents EXACTLY how I'm feeling when I'm riding it. The only way I can comfortably reach the bars is if I physically seat my crotch on the bottom of the tank. I do believe I need to lean forward more as well, but my arms still feel a bit outstretched unless I am in a very aggressive lean position (ie. stomach flat on tank) and my crotch is seated directly against the tank.

I just purchased the Rizoma tapered bars from monsterparts. I'll see if I need the throttle tamer afterwards.

Please post results on the bar.  I have the exact same bike and was considering new bars

Yeah no problem.

(http://s1.postimage.org/2efbmp5c4/bar.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2efbmp5c4/)

So I got the bars. As you can see, they're are tapered back much further than the OEM bars. The only problem is, it doesn't have the locator pins & holes like the stock bar. How does one go about locating these pins and holes for the controls?

Two options, drill holes or knock the pins off the inside of the plastic.

I knocked the pins off as I wasn't comfortable drilling the holes at the time.  Since then I have shown less compunction about mutilating handlebars (different bike).  The controls might spin a little if you don't get them snug.

How did you locate and secure the controls to the bars? Just eyeballed it?

I installed the grips, then attached the controls.

The controls are a two-piece design so you can take them entirely off the bars without removing the grips.  Not all grips are the same length, so I just went with "as close to the grip as I could get without interference with anything."  Basically, to cut a long story longer, I eyeballed it.  :)

I get enough traction between the control housing and the handlebar that they don't move.  If it really bothers you, you can put grip tape or something around the bars where the controls attach.

If you choose to drill, you can color the pins with something that transfers easily (wet paint, soft pencil, or something) and place the controls where you want.  If your paint didn't dry and you didn't rotate the controls around the bars, you should end up with a dot that tells you where to drill.

I think I'm going to go with the grip tape method. I have two choices: skateboard grip tape and bicycle grip tape. Which one do you recommend?

And also to the next set of modifications:

- I'm thinking about getting a couple of carbon fiber covers. Right now I have one for the water pump and it's got two holes (http://www.slingshotracing.net/catalog/ducati-carbon-fiber-5-bolt-water-pump-cover-p-206.html (http://www.slingshotracing.net/catalog/ducati-carbon-fiber-5-bolt-water-pump-cover-p-206.html)). I thought this would mount with existing bolts on the cover, however it they don't. I'm thinking about just getting longer bolts, however I am wondering if anyone else on the forum who has done this.

- Then there are the sliders. I'm hoping to get fork, frame, bar ends, and swing arm sliders. Just wondering if anyone has recommendations.