Ducati Monster Forum

Hey guys. I'm looking at buying this duc that I've been interested in for a while. It's a 1994 M900. It has 24000 miles but is super clean. He did a s4r single sided swingarm conversion on it and put newer style wheels on it too. It has high compression pistons and twin mikunis with pod filters. It has a newer style seat and real cowl, tail chopped, carbon fiber belt covers, twin halo lights, smoked led tail light, custom dual exhaust and red paint with white middle stripe. Is $3000 too much for this bike? Let me know what you think. Thanks!!

IMO it all depends on the quality of the swingarm conversion. If it was done well, and the bike is in good order then the 3K isn't outlandish.

You can buy a much newer bike with about equal hp but less torque for close to the same money...like an S2R/M 800.

I really like the way a 900 pulls over the smaller motors.

Sounds to me like the bike has already bitten you and you're going to buy it anyway.  ;D

As ducpainter pointed out the awing arm conversion is the biggie.  Is it a Febur kit for the Monster (pretty much bolt on) or a swing arm from a super bike which requires a bit of machine work and ingenuity?  Either way, I would find someone good to check over the conversion.

Thanks guys. And ya. I am already atached to to this bike... And just from seeing pictures. Ya I was a little worried about the conversion. He told me the swingarm bolted up but the shock bracket on top he had to add from another bike. He added two extra gussets as well. I won't know til I see it in person I guess. How is the 900 motor though? Good power? Easy to work on? Carbs reliable and easy to tune/adjust if needed?

The 900 motor is a solid performer. It's even better with high comp pistons. That said they were only about 72 ish horsepower in stock configuration. The high comps improve that considerably and is probably the biggest gain to be had. The thing about the 900, and most long stroke Ducs is the torque. Over 4K...you open the throttle and go...until 8K and it's out of breath.

The stock carbs are OK. They can be jetted with commercial kits available, or replaced with Keihins. That's a 1K mod.

The modification he did to the top linkage is something you should look at closely. If he changed the geometry you might have trouble with rear suspension tuning or shock availability.

Thanks for all that info. I need all I can get. I had a 07 zx6r and sold it three years ago and miss riding so bad. The raw nakedness of the monster is what made me want to get another bike. I will have to make a list of stuff to check when I go look at it though. And thanks, I never thought about the geometry aspect and the effect it might have. I will defineatley look into that.

As one who has modified my bikes, I'd pass on that one. Every modification makes the bike less reliable unless executed properly. You have no idea who/how/where any of that stuff was done. Add to that the type of modifications done and it's likely the owner or previous owners ran that bike hard. Takes DP's advice and find a similar valued newer bike with little to no modifications. Then do your own.

^I like this^

Jeezum Crow, I never agree with hbliam's opinions but I have now, twice in a couple of days!
(the other being Phil B.'s political sidestep) .  ;)

I should learn not to get my mind set on toys before even looking at them in person.  :-\ But thanks, that is probably the smartest choice. Do you think it's even worth looking at to see if it really is a lemon or cherry, then try to get him down to like $2700? Or just pass all together?

The problem is more the quality and engineering, less the price.  If the work is not good $300 won't cover the problems.

Asked and answered.  :)

Thanks guys. Now back to the search for the right project

Check the classifieds here

<-------

How do I attach photos so you guys can see the bike. I have a couple close ups of the rear end to maybe give you guys a better idea of how clean this bike is and why it's so difficult to forget about...  ;D

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=109.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=109.0)

You have to host them at photobucket, flikr, or the like and link to them.

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=109.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=109.0)

Here goes nothing. Im not sure if i did it right...
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8283102142/)
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8282043007/)
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8282041911/)

Nothing is right.  Try again.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8283102142/# (http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8283102142/#)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8282043007/# (http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8282043007/#)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8282041911/# (http://www.flickr.com/photos/91195202@N03/8282041911/#)

I got the links up to view the pics. I couldnt figure out the other way...  :-\  Let me know if you can view them and what you think of the conversion and the bike from what you can see. Thanks!

Well, that looks way nicer than I expected.

Some help

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8283102142_261d9538e9_c.jpg)

Looks nice!  [thumbsup]

One item of concern that is apparent to me is the exhaust.
You may not find it an issue now, but changing out the exhaust may prove somewhat of a challenge. Short of the QuatD there isn't much out there for your custom SSS monster that is an easy bolton.
Any other exhaust configuration may need some "tinkering."

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8282041911_2074d402c9.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8282043007_dcd4a0da1b.jpg)

Pedro has more XP with the flickrs... but I add two more

Nah, I just can't see that well anymore. 
Sheer necessity.   :P


BTW, OP, I would be interested to see what the pivot site looks like on the frame. The part of the frame the shock bolts onto. 

Wow thanks for putting them up. And ya, I figured I could make my own exhaust. I do a lot of fab work and was mainly concerned about the noise and compression loss I would have with the straight pipes. Yes I am wanting to see the fab work in person and the shock mount as well. I'm going to try to find time to drive and look at it this week.

Really want to see pics!!!

Yours is still more trick.    ;)

Whoa
I like it....paint looks good , great wheels and with that SSS ....if it runs & rides good...
I would probably go for it!!!!

Put a shorty Akrapovic can on there and go..... [clap]

Well... I bought it. I couldnt turn it down. Its a solid bike. But i did notice some things when i got it home and in my garage.  Cons: Leaks oil just a little when running, notice some oil that has been sitting on the motor as well, Rear sprocket is a little loose( everything else is tight but the sprocket wiggles back and forth), rear wheel was a hair loose and had some play between it and the axle(I tightened axle nut and it went away), Needs some electrical work to get all the custom blinkers and intigrated tail light to work perfect, and shes really cold blooded, hard starter when cold. Other than that stuff, which i think is not too big of a deal??, its a great first ducati in my opinion.

Congrats!

Enjoy your moto in good health.

 [beer]

It's a trait of the SSS that the sprocket has a little play on the cush drives... but double check they aren't backing out.
Pull the wheel off and make sure the pins are in the right holes.
As long as you are happy  [thumbsup]

Thanks! And ok, I will pull it off this weekend. I was curious how the whole rear assembly works anyways. Any precautions when doing so?

Don't drop it?

The only thing that messes some people up is not putting the pins back in the right holes.  It's pretty obvious which holes the pins should be in, but they'll fit in the oblong ones and make bad things happen.

The sprocket carrier doesn't have to come off, a visual behind the sprocket will let you know if there is anything amiss back there.  When you change the sprocket, the cush drives stay attached to the carrier... more so if you get a quick-change.

Get a single-sided rear stand.

If it were me, I'd check all the fasteners and replace all the fluids.

Yep. I'm making my own SSS stand. Then that's my plan, go through and tighten and clean everything. I will check the belts and fluids too. He told me I will need new belts soon. What's a popular good brand and weight of oil you guys use?  Thanks

Ah geez, now you've done it.



I use Motul 300V, expensive but, like Loreal, I'm worth it.

Mobil 1 Racing 4T. Good oil, readily available at most auto parts stores. Full synthetic.

Ok cool. Stupid question maybe...  Same oil throughout motor? Or is it split up? And how much should it take? I've never worked on a duc engine but I'm excited to learn about it.

You should start a thread in tech about these questions...

or do some reading over there.

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=4.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=4.0)

All the same oil. Between 3 and 4 quarts - depending on model. There's a sight glass on the right side of the bike. Oil should be between two lines molded into the case, with the bike upright and level.

Rear sprocket may not be an actual issue. They are mounted in a cush drive - just lightly pressed in (at least on the DSS monsters) with ounces of force. A firm wiggle while grabbing the sprocket will move it independently of the wheel. Of course there's a limit on how much it should move. Wiggle fine, sloppy banging around bad.