Ducati Monster Forum

So the monster's down in the back with yet another road hazard toasted tire.  I'm wondering If there's any value in long tire life in Hawaii.  I was running the Pirelli Angel back there hoping for some lifespan but I have to say it had the grip of a cheng shin.  Not a big fan.

Since seemingly all of my tires go down by road hazard I'm thinking why not just put on the stickiest tire available?  It will last exactly as long anyway.

Since I haven't been planning a tire swap I haven't been paying attention to the latest hot pick in tires.  Any advice?

Dunlop Sportmax Q2s seem to be very popular owing to both handling and price...Sta just bought a set, hope he chimes in...

Thanx. [thumbsup]

As did I and Ben and my upstairs neighbor. As in buying the Q2's.  I think we all like them pretty good so far from what I understand. Road hazard is road hazard and is only the luck of the draw. I will not ride close to the edges of roads as much as possible though. From years of bad experiences on motorcycles and bicycles that is where the bad crap lies in wait for the unassuming. And, unless you are using the tire all the way to the edges, there's no point in buying the stickiest tire around. That'd be those high falutin' Pirelli's or DOT race tires.  Why pay extra unless you are going to use them?  I push Michelin Pilot Roads (Road 2's) on that BMW fairly hard and don't have any problems with them. I doubt I'll ever push the Q2's, on the 848, to their limit. Just sayin...........

While I'm no where close to riding my tires/bike to edge of its capability, the Q2's are advertised for road and track use.  They have been very well reviewed against the much more expensive (and grippy/well reviewed) Pirelli Supercorsa SPs and the Calif Superbike School alternates between mounting the Q2's and GPA 211's on student bikes.  Great tire for the money...especially when on sale.  

Now, I wish the magazines would do another tire shootout to include the Bridgestone S20!  [beer]

Okay thanks to all!  That sounds pretty unanimous.  That's what I was hoping for.

As far as avoiding the hazards goes the monster has been relegated to the urban short-haul and commuting role so it frequents the streets & sides between Pearl City and Kalihi.  I think these high volume traffic areas have more junk on the roads.  For the long haul and open highway rides I find the SBK far more comfortable and I have yet to pick anything up in the tires.

The Matrix is in for a safety check and some follow-up on the ECU swap (TPS?).  Running a bit lean for sure.

I bought a set of the Q2's to go on the Monster tomorrow when the Matrix is done.

Thanks all for the input.

T

Why the ecu swap on the Matrix?

Uh, ... Termis!

Part of the transformation to monoposto.  What can I say, long discontinued but a brand new set fell from the sky.  Aluminum cans just like the stock.  Just perfect for me since I don't like CF.

Also I have regained controll of the previously seized rear suspension and the handling is coming along nicely.  I may even be able to keep up with you some day soon.

Cool... [thumbsup]

That 998, running uncorked, on a set of Q2s is going to be a bit fun.

The 998 is wearing a set of Pilot Pures.  The Q2s will be on the S4RS.

The 998 is increasingly fun to ride.  Initially I had issues with the rear suspension.  It had never been adjusted and had to be stripped to be freed up.  I made a big adjustment on the spring rate from 410 to 575 using the Penske chart.  Very happy with that so far.  While I was looking around for springs I got a cold call from a tuner in California who had an RCS Ti spring at 575.  Sold it to me for near the same price as steel, who could resist that?

As far as the uncorking is concerned that's not going real well at the moment.  It's been at SSD for 5 days trying to get a safety check and TPS reset.  The new mechanic says he can't work with the DP ECU.  The slip-ons and ECU came to me all sealed in Ducati  packaging so I know it's all legit.  Also dropped off a second DP ECU this morning.  We shall see....

Aside from the uncorking the morph to monoposto has been a bigger plus than I hoped for.  It's like there's nothing behind me I'm dragging around.  I know the swap drops 8 lbs. but it feels like more.

And oh yea, my GF just bought a house at the bottom of snake, now there's a girl that knows how to get a booty call...

Can't work with the ECU? That's a pretty plug and play affair, what part of it is stopping him?

That version ECU software may be before Eddie's time.  [laugh]  He should call Will.  But, seriously, it should be pretty much plug & play like Ben says.

I couldn't agree more on the plug & play.  And I did the plugging so all he has to do is play.

I have a couple rides in on the new ECU, say about 200 miles.  It's not bad overall but it wont start after it sits overnight.  I have to crank it over a few times and then let it sit for like two minutes before trying again.  Then it will light the fires strait away and we're off.  

Simple TPS reset I think as the A/F ratio is just a smidge off.  I've read the manual option for the reset and decided to take a pass in favor of SSD.  For some reason the state won't let me do my own safety check so it was headed for SSD anyway.  Eddie said he couldn't "talk"to it.  I asked him if he tried Italian.

As far as before eddies time is concerned I've taught him to put the kickstand up before trying to start it so he's learning.

That bike should start with the kickstand down if it's in neutral. if not then there is another problem. Kickstand switch or neutral switch.

No.  Stock configuration is kickstand up or no-go.  Confirmed directly from the owners manual.  There are aftermarket switches for either/or with the neutral switch but I haven't opted to install one.  It lives on my condor stand so morning warmup is not an issue.  Also I live on a long gradual hill so I roll down with my clutches rattling in neutral just to be sure [the hood knows].

Planning to pick it up from SSD on my lunch tomorrow.  A little disheartened because Eddie told me he couldn't handle the last 998 he worked on.  Hopefully they'll call DNA for some pointers.

If they can't do the TPS in a week I guess I'll have to try the manual route.  I figure 3-4 hours as I read the procedure, and then 1-2 hours to do it over.

That's not very encouraging for those of us who depend on SSD for major service... :(

I think you're in good shape Gene.  Keep in mind the Matrix is a 2004 but the 998 line technically went discontued in 2002.  The first 999's were sold in 2003 and production of the 998's was shut down.  With all that in mind the machine is pretty dated as Mac pointed out.  The S4RS is a 2007 but it's light years ahead of the 998 in the electronics.

Just a guess but if you have a 2009 or newer you're probably golden.

You're only supposed to ride them for two seasons anyway and then sell them off in favor of the newer machines.  Anything less and the guys down at Starbucks will think you're a scrub.

 [laugh] [laugh]

In that case I may have to go look at the new Tuono V4R down at Cycle City... ;)

Will be needing a new rear tire in the not too distant future, so I did a Google search and found this...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J889M4/?tag=hyprod- (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J889M4/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=19393030296&hvpos=1o4&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15534150171181610918&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B005J889M4)

Mounted and balanced SSD wants $272 for this...so this is a substantial savings even after paying for your own m&b... [thumbsup]

Pilot power 2ct was the stock tire on my monster.  It was a damn fine tire until that bolt took it out.

MM is very close to my work.  Anybody with FHE?  I'm thinking of switching some of my service work over to them.

I know them very well. Most of the time everything is just fine. Depends on what you have them do. Of course I do almost all my work myself so I can't really say about everything. They are not Ducati specialists so if there is anything tuning specific then I don't know that they would be as good as SSD.

Thanks,  I'm thinking tires, safety checks, etc..  I believe in doing much of my own wrenching but there's plenty routine items I prefer to pay someone to do in favor of my time.  Also includes items where larger shop tools come into play.

Convenience to my workplace would be huge.

Thanks again,
Thermite

BTW is was good with C-14 until someone dropped my wave with C-15.  WTF?

I use those guys for tires and safety checks all the time. Got to take Tori's 620 in this weekend for a safety.

Eddie crashed on his way to work this morning.  Knee damage but no idea how bad.

Picked up the barely running 998 and brought it home.  It goes 55 on the H1 now.  It NEVER did that before. :'(

Stopped by SSD today to pick up necessities for my next oil change, no sump screen/filter instock so that's on order...it pays to plan ahead when dealing with the SSD parts dept... ;D

Per Shawn, Eddie had his mishap in the SSD lot...he was doing a 180 deg turn on a monster with a newly installed rear tire, tire slipped out, he put his foot down to save the bike and his knee gave way...he's on pain killers awaiting an MRI.

On a side note, SSD is looking to have another tech trained in the inticacies of the desmo world... [thumbsup]

Is it limited to 55?... ???

Well, if you don't mind the lurching, misfires, stumbling and keeping the RPMs over 7000 to generate enough horsepower to keep it running at all, yes. 

On the brighter side all of the above are better than having to push it at the stoplights to get it going.

For whatever reason Eddie was not able to handle the DP ECU at all.  As a twist of fate I actually had a spare NIB ECU.  I didn't talk with him today but I guess he couldnt work with that one either so he had the machine set up with the stock ECU with the Termis still in place.  That is clearly not a viable situation.

Not sure where this leaves me.  Next step is to reinstall one of the DP ECUs and see where that leaves me.  A manual TPS setting and a TB sync will probably follow.

Strange, and a real bummer that he couldn't set it up for you...have you thought about trying to contact
Will for advice/help...

Even with the stock ECU it should still run much better than that.  Putting slip on cans on alone will not lean it so much where it will run like you describe.  I put wide open Termi's on my bike and rode it around like that for a couple of weeks before taking it into Will to have the Race ECU installed. You could only tell the slightest difference afterwards.

Didn't need to hear that but thanks for the info..  Both cylinders were firing but one of them was stumbling badly.  Both fire at idle.

Right now I don't know where it stands.  I took it in 9 days ago for a safety check and TPS reset and I don't know what's happened to it since.  It ran fine before but wouldn't light the fires right away if it sat overnight.

It's all good though.  It's back in the best little Ducati shop in Aiea and it will live to see another day!

I've been through what you are describing before. More than once. My first guess is that you have a bad ignition coil. Tori's 620 had rotted fuel lines inside the tank but no one to this day can explain why that affected only one cylinder except that maybe the first cylinder in line was using what little fuel was available and was starving the remaining cylinder. Since you already went through fuel lines in the tank then I would bet on the coil.

When you did the fuel lines you did get the special type fuel hose that lives submerged in gasoline didn't you?

When I did the fuel lines it was only to reconnect the hose to the filter.  The hoses were fine.

Like I said right now I don't know what the issue is.  It ran absolutely fine when I dropped it SSD.  It needed a safety check and I just wanted a TPS reset after the ECU swap while it was there.

It would be unfortunate timing to develop a coil problem while it was in for service.  All of the effort was directed to A/F ratio so I have to think it is related to that.

At the moment I have thrown the blanket over it because I need to get a rear tire on the monster to clear my transportation woes.  Once I have a set of wheels I'll take a look at the 998.  I may add a VDST to my arsenal in the meantime.

I'll try the red pill please........ The Mateix is alive and well.

The DP ECU that was on it when I dropped it off was still on it.  No ECU swaps had been done.  The battery had not been disconnected, the battery had not been removed.  The rubber boot around the battery had not been removed.  The battery tray had not been removed.  The side cowl had not been removed.  All of these have to happen to swap an ECU.  I have to call TOTAL BULLSHIT on SSD.

The NIB DP ECU was still NIB.  Never installed on any machine, until today. [evil]

It could probably still use a TPS reset and maybe some trim but it's running pretty damn fine.  I'm going to get a diagnostic tool from CA Cycleworks in the near future to boost my shop capability.

Glad you were able to get it sorted.

Thanks, you're more than kind as always.  It may have cost me a DP ECU but fortunately I had one to spare.  I've ordered a Mathesus unit so I can work the diagnostics myself.

Down side is now I feel compelled to do valves.  I have some time to prep for that, and with any luck I may find a mentor to hold my hand through the first set. ;)

Glad to hear that the Matrix is well...hope you didn't fork over any $$$ to SSD, and that you gave them a piece of your mind...

No $$.$$ and not having enough marbles left to share I kept them to myself for future use.

 [clap] [laugh]

If anyone is interested, Sport Rider Magazine (Dec 2012) published their "2012 Street Tire Test" article.  Here is my abridged version...

While, admittedly, there is no perfect test and typically subjective... the comparison utilized a CBR600 and GSX-R1000 on a 130 mile street loop which included urban city, highway and canyon curvy roads in the mountain ranges in Southern California.  They didn't include Michelin since the Pilot Power and Power 2CT are being replaced and the new tires haven't been released.

1.  Dunlop Q2 (92.3)
2.  Bridgestone S20 (86.3)
3.  Avon 3D Ultra Sport (83.5)
4.  Continental ContiSport Attack 2 (79.0)
5.  Pirelli Diablo Rosso II (74.5)
6.  Metzler SportTec M5 Interact (62.0)
7.  Shinko 010 Apex (59.6)

Wow. The Pirelli scored that low. It'll be interesting to read why when I get my issue.

Yeah, me too...I thought the Corsa II was supposed to be hot sh*t...

The three people I know running them up here LOVE them, and they came off of Q2s.  Just as all tests, these things are too subjective to put any merit into.  A certain tire will work for one person's bike, with their riding style, on that particular road, with that specific suspension set up, under those localized weather conditions.  Alter any one of those variables, and everything else goes out the window.