Ducati Monster Forum

Put Mikuni CV 38s back on the Monster. I also put the stock airbox back on with a K&N filter. Never thought I'd see the day.

I wanted to soften the power, make it more forgiving, reduce the top end and basically slow down the response making it more friendly. It also now has a choke for easy starting in Winter.
Why do such a thing?











My daughter is now half owner of my M900. :)

maybe you're being over protective.  i'm sure she's pretty bummed about it.

She always wanted a Ducati monster. She's a natural on a bike. She'll need a track bike too for sure. A CBR400 or NC30 would fit the bill I reckon.
I test rode the bike today, you could feel it has lost some bite. Good! [laugh] Feels pretty tame.

It's not considered protective to let your kids ride motorbikes, but we don't live in fear.

Good to hear it's staying in the family! :)

Yep. I would regret losing it for sure.
I own half of it now.

Good for you. Can't wait to get my daughter on a motorcycle. But I have a ways to go. She's only 7, lol.

 [thumbsup]
Maybe a mini bike?

Congrats to you and your daughter.  My daughter dipped her toes into the water about ten years ago with an Suzuki LS650 Savage thumper/cruiser, but the inoculation didn't take, and she's not been on two wheels since then.

As a father (and retired MSF instructor) who had all three kids learn to ride, I think initially taking the edge off the power delivery is a smart move!

Congrats Tony- we understand!
Keep those parts !


Our 2 young daughters may stay passengers if mom's wishes are honored. But you never know.

Nice [thumbsup]  When the time is right the FCRs can go back on.

Gotta find a stock seat and lower the ride height a little too.

initially I was thinking WTF is he doing..

But good call I'd say! 

That's what I was thinking as I was doing it. :P
Might put the stock flywheel and steel clutch back in too [puke]

I like it!  It's a double-win: less power while she learns to get a handle on the bike, then after time you can add back the mods with her so she can learn to wrench.  Instant daddy/daughter bonding.   [thumbsup]

Cheers [thumbsup]

Putting together an old style steel clutch kit that will add 2kg to the rotating mass.  :o While not as vivid as a change in flywheel (I may have to do that too), it does make a difference.   It goes against the grain to select every part in steel! Im fitting a steel clutch cover as the early alloy ones are getting hard to find.

Have stock bars to fit for more leverage for lighter steering with substantial bar ends. Also some rough Remus pipes which I will tart up (and put the Termis away safely). The Remus pipes are still loud for the bike to be heard.
Also looking for a seat cowl and stock seat. I will get the cowl and a spare bikini fairing painted to match the red tank for less dark carbon and more color.
Back to stock ride height too as my daughter is 5'3". Also I will have to soften the suspension to a compromise setting as we will share the bike.

I hope these thoughts are helpful to anyone prepping a bike for a newer rider or small person. Any other suggestions are welcome.
Cheers.

Seat cowl to paint red. Thanks Carlos
Bars and pipes thanks Nibor
Clutch parts thanks Rudemouthsky and GK
EVR progressive engagement pressure plate. Thanks Motowheels.
Cyclecat crash knobs. Thanks Rudemouthsy.

Thanks to all you blokes offering stock seats. Really appreciate it. Not sure which one will work best yet.

It's good to buy parts from the community here with all it's goodwill.
Cheers.

When I get the EVR progressive engagement pressure plate I'll test it and give a report in a separate thread. It is claimed to smooth clutch action to be less abrupt with no groaning and a more progressive feel. I guess less chance of stalling or unexpected wheelies! Good for newbie riders. I want to do everything I can to make the bike easier to ride safely.
I'll try it and see how well it lives up the claims by the mfr.

I also have a stock seat you can have T, shipping it may be a deal breaker tho. 2001 so it'll fit, but fit "weird". I also may have a beat up Corbin which will lower ride height significantly. (I went from tip toes to flat foot with that change only) The Corbin is a pre-99 so it should fit perfect.

My 98 M750 that I've decided to finish off (much thanks to you for that) will also have several parts available soon as I'm upgrading/replacing the:

- Sachs shock
- Rearsets
- Exhaust
- Handlebars
- Upper yoke/TT

So you're welcome to any of those items if you don't mind waiting a little while.

Maybe the old Corbin will do the trick.  [bow_down] It has the old catch and shape for the tank cut out? Marty might have a stocker also.
Ill let you know.

They're the best looking seat too, imo.

What type of exhaust? The bars alloy?

A big thanks to everyone who have been so helpful and rummaged around their spare parts. [thumbsup]

I have an early style stock seat somewhere Tony if you haven't found what you're looking for yet.

Thanks Nate. So far only later style seats have turned up, so I may need it if the last couple of leads fall through.
Cheers.

Ride height is back to stock now. Lubed the swivel joints, spacers, threads and pins while I was at it. The rear was previously raised 30mm and front 5mm. I'll test it with the front as is and go from there.

Played with clutch springs and clutch pack height to get the softest clutch pull without slipping and achieved a good result. Trying to get the clutch throw just right. You can see where I'm going with all the subtle mods, from ex weight lifter to cheer leader ergos. Also adjusting lever positions and throttle cables for little hands. It's all the little things setting a bike up to make for sweet operation and control for the individual rider.

We will each have our own seat with cowling. My seat is customized with raised height with a forward hip tilt. It opens the knee joints and supports my old back. I can ride for hours with no numb bum. The local auto upholsterer guy is brilliant, tailor making each seat mod for your personal ergos. The quality of his work is such that he does show bikes and cars. Worth every cent.

re: seats; Just OOC, are the older ones (93-99) "forward compatible" but you can't go the other way? Almost positive the Corbin I bought 2nd hand years ago was from a 98 or 99, and fit my 01 M750 but with a slight gap between the front and the tank. (although I didn't think it looked too bad or out of place.) Never tried fitting one the other way but it seems like that'd be impossible without extensive mods that weren't worth it.

I reckon so.

The cut out at the back of the tank is smaller on the older bikes, so you could use an old one on a newer bike with a poor fit, but a new one won't slide far enough into the brackets at the front of the seat to latch.