Ducati Monster Forum

The Ducati family grows.
Wife kinda surprised me today while shopping for parts.
We see a nice silver 1998 ST2 at the Ducati shop for a good price.
She says "Want it?" really? uh yeah.

So get plate and insurance this week, the shop will clean her up, and Monday she comes home.

Now, just have to make room for the Monster, ST and BMW in a one-car garage  [bang]

Congrats!   [thumbsup]

Something tells me it won't stay this way for long.   ;)

well, a TPO bolt to replace the suicide stand bolt has been ordered. so... no, but other than maybe a triboseat cover for the wife... it's staying stock. ok well maybe a powerplug port, battery tender and gps mount... but stock. and i swear this is a dry clutch so maybe an  open clutch cover... but stock i swear.  [bang]

Too bad the Beemer will have to live outside eh?  ;D

Congrats.

Are you sure the open clutch clack won't drive you and your wife nuts on the longer trips?? Lol...

it only clacks at stops  ;)

Congrats  [thumbsup]

Any pics yet?

yes and no, crappy cell phone pics, will wait til i get it home and get the two together. like father and son they will be... Luke, I AM your father  [bow_down]

The Monster for hoonin' with the boys, and the gentleman's grand touring steed for taking out the good lady wife.

+1

I'm extremely jealous as I've wanted one for years, but been too cheap to pull the trigger when decent ones have come up for sale.

looking forward to seeing pictures.

Very nice. I searched for one before buying my current limo, 94 R1100RS.
Look forward to your reviews, hope it works out.

cell phone pics

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546574_367169003339834_100001402122676_78174611_889472684_n.jpg)

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/292140_367169056673162_100001402122676_78174613_625331160_n.jpg)

Very nice!  [thumbsup]
Come w/ bags or getting bags for it?

brought the bags home separate. then when home realized no key [bang]

Love the silver.  [thumbsup]


Modding 2 motos gets pricey. Ask me how I know.  ;D

I know for a fact from experience, those Nonfango bags can in fact be opened with a flathead screwdriver and some force....I experienced that when half my key snapped off in the damn lock for the bags from my Gran Canyon....

replacement locks can be gotten though through Ducati...I think it comes as a pair with the latches for about $130....

You'll wanna upgrade the seat and the headlights if that hasn't been done yet.
The old model ST had terrible lighting and seats until they fixed it in 2005.

yes..the Paul Gellar DucatiDesigns headlight unit is top notch for that machine!

Needed a second bike to ride huh?  

What with the other one always been broken due to you pulling it apart.... too often  ;D ;)

Nice one mate  [thumbsup].

jerk  >:(

EDIT:  ;D JK

Happy Bike Day to you!  It looks to be in good condition!

funny thing, it's her birthday tomorrow.

And it is in great condition. One owner, 21k kms, imported directly from Italy. Guess the guy went to Italy to pick it up. Owners Manual is in Italian!

Nice!  Not much is more fun than a new/new to you bike!

Get the Ducati Performance seat.   [thumbsup] [thumbsup]


As for the light, just drive around with your brights on.  No one will notice. 

Congrats.  [thumbsup]

Shouldn't be a problem.  ;)

You could have saved a few bucks by just cutting the protrusion off the OEM bolt.

Don't be surprised if the bike has a stumble around the 3800-4000 rpm range. This is normal for the ST2 bikes as it is an FI programming issue. Also, the bike wakes up a LOT with eprom, slip-ons, and an open air box...even more so with a 14-tooth front sprocket.

I agree that the light leaves a lot to be desired, but the seat isn't bad for some people. I've logged over 52k miles with the stock OEM seat and have even done a SaddleSore 1000 with it.


BTW -- The graphics on your ST2 are the '97 version that was only available with the very first few bikes shipped to the USA. If your bike was imported, was it actually a '97 registered in '98 or a legitimate '98 model? The manufacture date is on the sticker on the frame under the seat. If it is August 1997 or later, it is a '98 bike. I have two '98 USA ST2 bikes that are both from October of '97.

I think build date is late 97
Italian domestic model I think. Original import papers show Jan 98 brought into germany by the first owner (a German)

I cross checked the VIN, I think it's a 97 actually. hmmm. maybe first registered in 98

IT's HOME!! :D

Put about 120 miles on it today.

at 100 mph this thing is sooo smooth.

Did some 2-up in the hills with the wife for a bit to get a feel for the back roads.
So much more work to turn than the Monster, but so butter smooth on the raw power delivery.

And everything fit in the garage (AFTER I cleaned it)
And yes, I know, silver silver silver...  [thumbsup]
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/540078_369816393075095_100001402122676_78183737_1186013750_n.jpg)

(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/538829_369816523075082_100001402122676_78183739_1900038096_n.jpg)

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/561245_369816593075075_100001402122676_78183740_1146647997_n.jpg)

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/165903_369816663075068_100001402122676_78183741_489894016_n.jpg)

oh. anyone know how to adjust the kickstand down a bit. i'm  having issues with the shifter and the kickstand, i want to push the shifter down more but won't be able to get my foot under the shifter due to the wierd bar on the kickstand.

and the brake and shifter are so far inboard. so wierd. i have to point my toes in so much to shift or brake.
and the brake is super flat, is there a way to adjust it down?

There was a recall on the shift lever for early '98 ST2 bikes this very reason. I forget which shifter it was, but the factory simply swapped the shifter with one form another model. I don't remember if the ST2 originally had a Monster shifter or if it was what they wound up putting on the bike. I have a spare set of rearsets, and they came with the same shift lever that is on my 748.

Some people can't stand the "dog-leg" kickstand. Many people replace them with a straighter '99+ sidestand. I am not sure if it will fix your issue, though. I have thought about chaning mine on a few occasions, but can't seem to talk my self into spending the money.

In addition to the DD headlight (which I've had on my wish list for years), one other mod I can heartily recommend is a little digital voltage meter to mount on the dash.

Here's the one I use:

http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=70101345 (http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=70101345)

And here's where it's mounted:

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9Ju3soTPvWk/T7G_p5hhEPI/AAAAAAAAAxM/w2JAC_YfCM4/s720/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg)

It's a splendid bike, and you're going to love it (edit: but you're going to develop an unhealthy obsession with what the electrical system is up to  ;D ).

And in case you need a more informed opinion than mine, here's a video posted by the NW Area Service Manager for Ducati North America, Quentin Wilson, who loves his:

Why I love my Ducati ST2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NmWggnKfyg&list=FLNggAFRbJluryaBB7Yap4nQ&index=12&feature=plpp_video#)

hmm. maybe i'll check into the recall. and the 99 has a different shape for the stand? cool thanks.

thanks for the tip on the volt meter. is this really a concern? i notice today the previous owner had a heated suit plug mounted under the seat. .

the voltage regulators on those were deemed by most to not be in the most convenient location for to be able to be cooled or disapate heat well enough...some would cut the airbox and move it to be mounted on top in the direct flow of intake air....the 3 yellow wire connector to the stator is also dodgey at best and should be regularly checked and repacked with some dielectric grease...

My regulator is mounted in the nose intake?

If it's still in the stock location, it's under the chin fairing, a little to the right of center. Tucked out of the wind, it's got little or no access to air cooling, and the stock unit in the 1998 is basically a lump of epoxy with no cooling fins or other external way of dissipating heat - and it regulates current by turning the excess power into heat, so all of those things become an issue. It's a poor design, and one that was rectified somewhat (no pun intended) by a switch from two single phase to three phase power in the 1999 and later ST2. Unfortunately, that leaves us with 1998 ST2s as the electrical orphans in the Duc line.

Common fixes (most of which have played out on my bike with me or the previous owners) include periodically just replacing the damn thing with another Ducati unit (which I don't believe are still available for this bike) when it burns up; adding cooling holes to the fairing and slathering on lots of heat sink putty to the bottom before mounting it; and relocating the R/R to a plate below the bottom triple clamp (Desmo Times sells this one http://desmotimes.com/product99.htm (http://desmotimes.com/product99.htm); I fabricated my own out of a piece of aluminum plate, which wasn't as pretty but works fine). My ST2 is currently on its second stator and fourth regulator (two stock Ducati, one Shindengen/Honda unit and now one from Rick's Motorsport http://www.ricksmotorsportelectrics.com/proddetail.php?prod=10-001&pmc=OThEdWM5NDRTVDI= (http://www.ricksmotorsportelectrics.com/proddetail.php?prod=10-001&pmc=OThEdWM5NDRTVDI=)) and I don't particularly like how smoothly it "regulates" the current. I'm probing the various connections to make sure none of those are the culprit for my voltage wandering almost constantly between 13.6 and 14.2 when I'm at around 4K RPM before I get serious about swapping in yet another regulator, this time a MOSFET unit.

See what I said about obsessive?

Oh, and one thing I've heard (from Quentin, the fellow in the video above) but never really tried - the R/R is working its hardest when the bike needs the least amount of electrical power, so it actually takes the load off to run accessories like heated clothing, chargers, etc. That's kind of the opposite of the advice given by the guy at Desmo Times, so take it with a grain of salt.

Speaking of which, you'll definitely want to add this to your shopping list: the Desmo Times "Desmodue/Desmotre Maintenance and Modification Guide" - http://desmotimes.com/maintenance1.htm (http://desmotimes.com/maintenance1.htm). It's the closest you'll come to a user-friendly shop manual for this bike and has lots of good insight on 2-valve & 3-valve Ducatis in general.

I'm on my third regulator and second staor in 54k miles. I believe this new replacement stator is bad, because I'm having some issues with it and can't figure it out. I have not had the time or motivation to change it out, again. A new Ducatgi OEM '97-'98 stator is $89, so it's not too bad of a deal except for the labor to change it (even doing it myself it's a PITA).

I have added a voltmeter on the left dash panel. It's just one of those 2-1/4" units that you can buy at any auto parts store for about $20. BTW, my OEM regulator lasted 11k miles, the OEM replacement in the same location lasted 4k miles, and the relocated aftermarket regulator has lasted almost another 30k miles. I have my regulator sitting on a plate over the modified airbox so it will always see air flowing over it.

Here is an article I wrote on the regulator relo I did starting on page 23 - http://usdesmo.com/leanings/Leanings_2006_4_Winter.pdf (http://usdesmo.com/leanings/Leanings_2006_4_Winter.pdf)

I also did a battery conversion to the smaller, gel-cell unit of the newer bikes. Here's the conversion here starting on page 7 - http://usdesmo.com/leanings/Leanings_2007_3_Fall.pdf (http://usdesmo.com/leanings/Leanings_2007_3_Fall.pdf)

Oh yeah - yes, the '99 and newer sidestands are straight and not that odd-ball 90-degree kink of a "dog-leg" (the hind leg of a dog shape).

This is why I love mine...

(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/Kramer_Krazy/Terry_178.jpg)

I've also relocated the battery - replacing the original first with an Odyssey gel cell (which required some minor modifications to the battery box and a new, wider hold-down:

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5024/5625726092_7065541938_b.jpg)

and then when that died (thanks to one of the fried regulators), an itty-bitty Shorai that fits perfectly under the seat:

(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6199/6060196066_c8bb41c955_b.jpg)

So went to the garage to do the first st mod.   tpo kickstand bolt to get rid of suicide style.

 getting tools out and wife leans on bike then walks away.   yep kickstand swings up but luckily stands it on the way leaning on the mirror.  no damage just a nic on the paint.  
Bolt changed. Future disaster averted

Took a ride on the Monster today.

While the ST is nice. I think i've I forgot how refined I made the Monster.

The clutch (being wet) is smoother on engagement and (being APTC) smoother on decel. The throttle with the Eleactron cam is tight and quick. Add the lightweight flywheel and it's just a rocket through the revs. And it really engine brakes well. The ST if you roll off the throttle it just keeps rolling and you HAVE to stab the brakes to slow down.

Which for brakes, the monster is a BEAST. The ST stockers scare me sometimes, i even overshot a into town ess curve they have to slow traffice down (luckily the exit is straight). Not sure if it's the older rubber lines or the brake calipers. The Monster with the radial brakes and braided lines just GRAB the Braking rotors. The ST hold on for dear life it seems.

Ergos, Even the monster stock seat is more comfortable. And now using the lower stock on the monster, the reach is damn near the same as the ST. I just sit more upright on the ST.
The shifter is better positioned on the monster as well as rear brake, not sure if that's the S&P rearsets or the poor ST setup.

And I've smoothed out the bike so much with DP ECU and PC V that the bike can use any throttle position without sputtering. The ST, sputters at 0-10% throttle around town.

The ST does have the room and storage and wind protection. Yesterday was full on raining and I didnt have to stop to put on rain paints. just a middle dampness in on the jeans. The Monster I would have been soaked.
The two up riding is damn near impossible on the Monster as well with the clipons and rearsets compared to the ST.

The ST has that smoother cruising motor. 6k rpm in 6th gear is just soooooo smooth on the autobahn.
AND of course the wife loves riding the ST together.

Definitely two very different bikes.

well, the battery light is flickering at times on the ST. I'm prediagnosing it as the regulator.
I've read MOSFET ones are the best, where do you get one?

Well it was the regulator. Since I bought it used in Germany, the dealer had to replace it under warranty (1year for used vehicles in Germany  [thumbsup])

Just picked up a Pilot Road 2CT rear

Does anyone see a problem running a Road 2ct rear with a Power front?

Absolutely no problem.

I have a friend that used the Power with the original Road on an ST...worked great.

cool. thanks
my power rear is almost to threads but the front is good.
I picked up a new Road 2CT for $80 from a guy who couldn't use it

oh. for that matter
does a 180/55 fit on the stock ST2 rim. it has 170 on it now

Nice price.

That should have the same 5" rim my Monster has.

The earlier bikes were all delivered with 170 tires. A 180 fits fine and I don't think the very slightly wider tire will hamper your turn in.

great. actually i was hoping the 180 would work. I plan to tour more with the ST (yes, I used the Monster for the WDW tour) so I though the wider Sport Touring tire would be nice for 2up loaded touring.

I don't know anyone that opts for the 170 tire on a 5" rim at replacement time.

The 180 works fine on my bike with the suspension/ride height tweaks I've done.

what's the tq on the axle nuts for the f/r of the st2?

83 Nm.

well. it wasn't the regulator, or just the regulator.

bike died again. left me stranded on the side of the highway for 2 hours waiting for flatbed truck

just put the new tire on, polished the bike, etc. etc.

 [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang]

now have to deal with the dealer again to get another warranty (1yr used sale warranty in germany) this time he's picking up the damn bike at my house.

The original 1987-99 (maybe 2000) ST2 bikes came with a 170 form the factory and then later went with a 180. The ST4 came with a 180. Both bikes have the smae rear rim. You can also run a 190 on it without any issues. I prefer a 180 because I keep an inventory of them in stock on my tire rack....


Ah yes. Probably a stator. The original regulator is in a piss-poor location that doesn't get any air and the OEM regulator doesn't have any fins to help dissipate heat. It was relocated in 1999. If yours is still in the original location under the seat, you need to relocate it. My second, factory warranty regulator was put in the OEM location and lasted less than 4000 miles when it took a dump. Also, there was a recall on the stator spacer on the '97 and early '98. The newer design has a groove to help sling oil on the stator to keep it cool. The old design didn't aid much in cooling the stator and they tended to overheat and fail. With 54k miles on my bike, I am on my third regulator and my second stator, except I think I got a bum stator replacment and will have to replace it again.  :(  On the bright side, a new OEM regulator (specific to ONLY the '97 and '98 ST2 and no other bike) is only $90 new. Originally, I was quoted $800 back around 2002 or 2003. Yes, that is eight-hundred dollars!

Wish you luck with it.