Ducati Monster Forum

I have an '09 696 and am 5'2".  Can anyone recommend good brake/clutch levers for someone with a tiny grip?  Also, is anyone aware of a good way to lower my seat height about 1"? 

I used CRG adjustable levers. They were great!

As to the seat, try to buy the lower seat from Ducati or, if you're so inclined, shave of some foam. Try not to lower the bike. I made that mistake.

there is a section for females specifically and a lot of them have lowered the bikes in different ways.


http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=25.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=25.0)

i lowered my seat by shaving it and throwing a gel pad in there.

as for levers, do NOT go for shorty levers. i wear size small gloves and shorty levers are the most uncomfortable thing in the world.

buy folding levers instead.

Someone else told me not to lower the bike also so that sharp turns wouldn't be an issue...thanks for the advice.  Oh, and I had no idea there was a women's section either!  Never would have found that section of the forum w/o that link...

take a look at the ebay levers, basically the crg/pazzo knock offs.  about $80 for two, and i've had no issues at all with the ones i got.  the only thing that people have said about that is that the anodizing isnt the same qual as the crg/pazzo ones so will fade faster... but if that worries you, you can just get the silver levers.  there is a huge thread about them in this forum.

as for lowering the seat, try spencers seat mods:

http://greatdaytoride.com/Home_Page.php (http://greatdaytoride.com/Home_Page.php)

he'll lower/customize your stock seat for you for $85 + shipping.  never used him myself, but i havent heard of a single bad review yet.

the other thing i heard was one guy having lifts put into his wife's riding boots to make up the 1" of diff.  another pretty easy/simple way of raising height without touching anyhting on the bike.

take a look at this thread

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=1853.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=1853.0)

doesn't the 696 already have the low seat? I think shaving it down might be the only option...



I wear S gloves, and happen to like the shorty levers a whole lot.

are you on a dry or wet clutch? i could see it okay on a wet clutch ,but for a dry clutch its miserable.

I've run shorty levers on all my bikes for years.  CRGs on the Monster (with dry clutch) and Pazzos on my SV650 and ZX-6R... I don't know what HeMan is referring to as to finding them uncomfortable.  I love them.

As for the seat height, I've been down both roads.  I lowered the bike and had to shave the seat to get one foot down when I started.  Since then, I've raised it back to "stock" height or close but kept my custom seat which I shaved and installed a gel pad.   FYI I raised it back for the increase in ground clearance which in NYC is a good thing with condition of our streets.  I would definitely try the seat  recommendation that thought posted, the price is right!  [thumbsup]

wet. OP is, as well...

Please elaborate. I have big hands and I am thinking about going with short levers. At the very least for the brake. And if I can get a cheaper slipper, then with the clutch as well. My concern with the stock dry clutch, I won't have enough leverage with the short lever

I imagine an aftermarket clutch slave would help with the pull if that were the case

I do have an evoluzine slave, and I have to say that I do not notice much difference. He man stated that the short levers were uncomfortable. I'm just curious to how. I tend to ride index and middle finger covering the levers.

the shorties I had on the 696 before were great.

if you ride in half as much traffic as I do, you can barely get the ring finger on the clutch lever. i dont have large hands at all (size Small in all my gloves) and fatigue kicks in super early on dry clutch bikes with just 2 and half fingers.

with a full lever i can modulate the clutch easier and not get tired because all 4 of my fingers are on it. on the brake though, shorty or long doesnt really matter. i would go with a shorty for the brake though.

 
I didn't notice any difference in changing out the clutch slave either.  BUT.. changing out the clutch springs is THE trick, it was a major difference.  My clutch pull is like warm butta!!  

HeMan, I have small hands as well, and I can get three fingers on the shorty levers if not all four though not needed. 

long clutch short brake here for me... just seems to be the combo that makes sense.  you need the leverage with holding down the clutch and almost all duc's stop fine with just two fingers.

+1 With the S2R's wet clutch I went with the shorty on both, but would have gone with the short/long combo if I had a dry clutch. For newer riders it might be a good idea to go with the shorty brake lever simply so that you don't grab a hand full of brake. Now, with ABS it kinda does not matter.