Ducati Monster Forum

I have a M1100s and am looking for a more aggressive riding position. I had a 1198s and don't want to go that aggressive with it but somewhere in between. I'm thinking that clipons, like Speedymoto Tall Boys, or the Suburban Machinery bars might fit the bill. Has anyone ever compared the two?

Any other thoughts? Thanks!

No FHE with Suburban Machinery bars (I do like the look of those though), but I have run Speedymoto Tallboys and subsequently swapped those out for Swatt clipons with 3 1/2" rise. Swatts are no longer in production, but Woodcraft makes something which does the identical job as my Swatts.... and the Woodcrafts also look nicer too IMO.

Although I found Speedymoto Tallboys more appealing to the eye that the Swatts I ultimately ended up with, I wasnt happy with the lack of sweep-back offered by the Tallboys.

Here's my experiences if you're interested....
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=21407.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=21407.0)
....for the purposes of comparing you can pencil in Woodcraft in place of Swatts...

One thing to consider is the cost of replacing the stock top triple if you decide to go with clipons (you could continue to use the stock triple, but with no bars mounted atop, it'd look a little naff IMO).

the SM bars aren't that much lower, from my experience, altho they're rotated down more which made my wrists happy

before:
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/34130_1506855476566_1777957_n.jpg)

after:
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/34130_1506855516567_5491452_n.jpg)

Clip ons typically have a 7 degrees down angle.
Suburban doesn't.

Stock sweep is 18 degrees.
Suburban is 24, typical clip ons at ~30.

Clip ons will feel about the same as your 1198, but higher, depending on your choise of risers.

I feel as though I'm pushing thru corners with much better precision with clipons than with regular handlebars....  don't really understand how that is actually possible ... other than placing my weight/input more forward, a little lower.... but that is certainly how it feels.

I obsessed over just the same option when I swapped my forks for 998 ones. I ended up going with zero-rise woodcraft clip-ons above the triple. It's a really comfy position. Aggressive without being nuts. Heaps of angle and very narrow.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1TJ6s7id9iw/UZInerldN6I/AAAAAAAACkc/NwncnKlULs8/w1644-h1092-no/DSC_3499.JPG)

If you're patient, you can even cut the bar mounts off your existing triple so it doesn't look sucky.

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EdQzZAVD8JY/T0c4mFIFqVI/AAAAAAAABCg/LMLfrmjUOrw/s1223/DSC_2852.JPG)

I have a 696 and run woodcraft zero rise under the triple with the 1" wider bars they have

In this pic you can see my setup, a typical Monster and a 1198.
(http://sphotos-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/530861_473811676008899_1578206640_n.jpg)

Nice job  [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

suzyj,
did you bore out the top triple or replace it with a 998 one? I understand you cut the supports for the steering bar, but, the 998 are wider or am I still a bit sleepy?

btw, I have that same configuration, Woodcraft 0 rise on top of the top triple . . .

It's the stock 695 triple, bored out. The 998 triple is quite different.

Thanks !!!

Very similar to my setup. Very streetable. I'm 5'9" and I can comfortably sit up with both hands on the bars.

Thanks for all of the feedback, guys (and gal)! My goal is to get more weight over the front weight and a little better high-speed stability. Again, I don't want to turn this into a Superbike, so I'm looking for that middle ground.

Privateer, thanks for the before-and-after pictures of your SM bars! Do you happen to have a picture from the top of the bike showing the bar position in the clamp? I'm curious to see how you have it oriented.

With the M1100s the clipons would need to be mounted below the triple. It would seem like a zero-rise setup would be too low, and much lower than the SM bars. Am I right?

Yes

 Wen I mounted the SM bars on my 1100S I needed to rotate then down a bit to work right for me and that put their hole for the left side switch cluster in the wrong place. I had to cut off the peg and add a bit of black tape to secure the cluster.
 I liked the position quite a bit, it was close to my BMW R1100S. 

From searching around the forum it seems like most people that have gone to clipons have done a 3" rise. Any idea how this compares to SM bars? Compared to stock (I actually have a Rizoma bar, so the taper is different)?

If you get clip ons with replaceable risers (Woodcraft) you can buy other heights to adjust later on OR buy 3" and slide them down on the fork tubes IF you want to lower them.

Comparing to Rizoma will depend on which Rizoma model you have, but the usual Rizoma bars have about the same sweep angle as Suburban - quite a bit higher than stock though (~2")

On the new monsters the tanks dictate the rises
zero come below the tank to the frame
3“ hit the stock air intake indents
anywhere inbetween limits yout turn radius

 I did have to adjust the fork stops on my 09 1100.

I have the SM bars ..love um , just rotate down to find your "sweet spot" but as said above you must delete the locate pegs in your switch gear ..no biggie

now that being said I have not used clips on my Monster just on the Gixxer , but like you said you want a middle ground not a Superbike 
I say go with SM if you don't like you can always sell on here

I just realized that I completely forgot something...my DP steering damper that attaches to the handlebar mount. I'll need to lose that if I go with clipons. Hmm...I'm thinking that I may start with the SM bars and see where that gets me.

I like these Apex clipons.  Just rotabe the bars and it will give you different angle, plus there is raise options of 3 or 4"

http://www.apexmfg.com/products (http://www.apexmfg.com/products)

I run Woodcraft 2.5" rise on my 796 - I would recommend them.  The forward riding position made handling and turn-in more precise without adding too much weight on the wrists...a good compromise IMO.  With new adapters you can go from zero rise to 3" rise without changing the entire setup.

These pics may help you:

Stock bars vs Woodcraft 2.5" (a 5" drop in grip location + more natural angle)
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/jmlenz/IMG_20121005_134330.jpg) (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/jmlenz/media/IMG_20121005_134330.jpg.html)

Stock flipped bars vs Woodcraft 2.5" (a 2.5" drop in grip location)
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/jmlenz/IMG_20121005_134535.jpg) (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/jmlenz/media/IMG_20121005_134535.jpg.html)

Fully installed:
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/jmlenz/DSC03630_zpscd788653.jpg) (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/jmlenz/media/DSC03630_zpscd788653.jpg.html)
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/jmlenz/DSC03640_zpsee0b18be.jpg) (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/jmlenz/media/DSC03640_zpsee0b18be.jpg.html)

Fantastic photos, Stormtrooper! That really illustrates the height difference.

+1.  Whilst I'm running 3.5" Swatts (and previoiusly 2.5") my experience echos 'trooper's.

Yup, a perfect visualisation, good work Stormtrooper  [thumbsup] [clap]

Get the Suburban bars because they're made in CLEVELAND, baby.

Thanks for your help, everyone! I selected the Suburban Machinery bars. So far I like them but I have a few issues to sort out. The first one is that the stock mirrors are now completely worthless. Is my only option a bar end mirror? I generally don't care for the looks of them.

you could try aftermarket stalk mounted mirrors; there's all sorts of height/angle to them, you may find one that'll work with the lower bar position.  or is the problem due to rotation of the controls?

:edit:  I ran 1st gen SM bars on my 620... re-drilled the holes for the controls to better suit how I wanted the bars angled.  FWIW, I loved them; perfect for my height/reach vs. the stock bar

What I've liked the most about bar end mirrors is the convex mirror let's me pretty much see behind me which is good on the road to make sure my ass isn't being ridden.

I'm not sure that stalk mirrors will be tall/high enough with the lower bars. That's the problem that I'm having with the stock mirrors.

then maybe it's time to jump on the bar-end train :)  they're not all ugly... I felt the same way, but they actually work quite well to see behind you, and some look downright nice on the monster.

(http://i.imgur.com/Nc7nMGa.jpg)