Ducati Monster Forum

My former M900 died today, a '95 model. The owner felt an issue with the bike, pulled over and as he dismounted it caught fire! He was luckily unhurt. I have just finished stripping the bike down. I suspect an electrical cause as no fuel hoses were dislodged, but it is difficult to tell. Mainly the airbox, carbs, electricals, seat, instruments, switch blocks and tank paint damaged, but the motor, wheels, suspension, carbon guards, etc are ok.
It's being parted out rather than repaired, so it's the end of an era. I had the bike for 9 years and the unfortunate second Australian owner for only 6 months. I put many hours into making the bike just right doing so many little things. I spent a lot of money on that bike on enhancements as I was lovesick to the extreme.
Although the bike was no longer mine I feel great sadness at it's passing. My wife selected it for me after looking at a number of Ducatis. I was looking for an ST2/4 or Multistrada, but she strangely did not find them comfortable. We sat on a Monster and she said, "That's the one!". I was very surprised at her finding it more comfortable, but I was very happy about her choice. It was the same model Monster as one I originally purchased back in '95/96.
Ciao Gina.

 :'(  RIP Gina

I was just thinking about buying it back. :P

RIP Australian Gina . . 

Not to be confused with my M620

Dang...   :(

That's a real shame, sorry to hear.

That's very strange....

I had a 95 M900. I sold it and shipped it to a guy in California. He felt something strange about the bike pulled, over and it burst into flames too. :-X it ended up being the voltage regulator. It sat right underneath the airbox and the airboxing being plastic and it isn't long before it melts the fuel line to the carbs.

To bike heaven! RIP Gina!

Did an autopsy on the Monster overnight. I think this bike died the same way as the only fuel line missing was a section right in front of the regulator. The line is attached and clamped correctly at each end, but it's as if a section of the line under the airbox next to the regulator was hit by lightning. Just vaporized. There is a flash hole in the lower front airbox there too.The issue occurred in a matter of seconds. The only thing the rider notices is the throttle sticking as the throttle cables run through the same area. Does that ring true?

died of a broken heart..   :(
If you had kept Gina she would still be happy!   :)

sorry to hear, bad luck for the new owner.

dont know about the throttle. but looks like  both bikes died the same way. kinda spooky how  shotty those  regulators are  and how they can cause  fires!

My regulator smoked extremely bad on my 95 m900. Looked like a tire fire when I came to a stop sign. Luckily I pulled the big battery fuse and killed the bike before any real damage.  [thumbsdown]

Damn single phase regulators.

Excuse me whilst I go check what regulator I have! [popcorn] :o

You dont want the boxy one. I have fitted three phase with a wire cut on single phase bikes. The early boxy single phase are great at pumping out a bit of extra juice for Lithium batteries. Pity they can blow up. :P

 :'(

I saw her burning! 😢😢 Very sad.

Part of her will live on with me as I purchased the Termis for my Monster.

Thankfully, the owner will at least get his money back from a part out. It's quite some consolation to him. The bike is already stripped for sale and there's a few of us helping him out over beers!
Being able to share anecdotal evidence with forum members is such a great resource. Thanks guys.

It happend to me a few years ago .....  I was looking for the metal pin that locks the gas tank to the frame.... turn out it was stuck on the wires just beside the voltage regulator..... there was some chaffing on the wires and well..... it burst into flames while I was riding


Sorry for your lost Koko

I'm totally gutted mate I saw the photo of her burning and could have cried....  

RIP a very sad loss.  

I'm amazed after seeing the photo how we minimized the damage. It was well alight with a full  tank of fuel. Shame that she won't be reborn, that was a generous offer to help. It would have been fun restoring her as we discussed. If I had kept her that's what I had planned, a major restoration for the bike.
Again thanks for your generous offer of help, we could have done it. [thumbsup]

yeah I saw the pics as well... did well to save what was left.

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/GK1970/1F845476-20AC-4C7F-91B2-6CEB86208731_zpsrucc01hg.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/GK1970/media/1F845476-20AC-4C7F-91B2-6CEB86208731_zpsrucc01hg.jpg.html)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/GK1970/E1B62FBA-9011-4CFB-AC78-BCEB55FE743F_zpskteg8n1s.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/GK1970/media/E1B62FBA-9011-4CFB-AC78-BCEB55FE743F_zpskteg8n1s.jpg.html)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/GK1970/078A89C4-BCDE-4325-A032-70A30C94054E_zpsupkdhwvh.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/GK1970/media/078A89C4-BCDE-4325-A032-70A30C94054E_zpsupkdhwvh.jpg.html)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/GK1970/56725EED-934F-4009-B717-36D3B4C054C0_zpsehcjkd1v.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/GK1970/media/56725EED-934F-4009-B717-36D3B4C054C0_zpsehcjkd1v.jpg.html)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/GK1970/A3971794-579B-4C79-B9F9-197DF6890932_zps5xhjbs6q.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/GK1970/media/A3971794-579B-4C79-B9F9-197DF6890932_zps5xhjbs6q.jpg.html)
And the silver lining: for myself at least...
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/GK1970/9D308079-0E44-4D23-8BC1-1F65E1DB0E4B_zpskgp0mm4x.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/GK1970/media/9D308079-0E44-4D23-8BC1-1F65E1DB0E4B_zpskgp0mm4x.jpg.html)

 :'(

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/GK1970/E6155CFB-49C5-4C4B-8A92-7F7DFDB93E1D_zpslcrrnf13.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/GK1970/media/E6155CFB-49C5-4C4B-8A92-7F7DFDB93E1D_zpslcrrnf13.jpg.html)
A pic from the Bro's camera shows how bad it got!

water? really? . . .

Three garden hoses and three extinguishers at least. Gotta buy a bigger one :P

The pic was taken by the owner. Garden hoses actually protected other parts of the bike and kept the tank area cool. There were probably more than three extinguishers used as neighbour's ran in and out their homes to use them. I'll remind the owner to visit those homes and buy some extinguishers and beers. I think the whole street will be buying larger extinguishers than just the small kitchen variety.

I was saying due to the river of flames . . .

That's such a sad picture.  :'(

Reminds me of someone in Oz that lost a fuel line on his S4, sputtered and stopped.
He dismounted, then bike bike went up, and that started a giant bush fire.

Maybe a decade ago?
Matty?

Yeah. He left the fuel tap on. The tree caught fire too.



Not sure. Luckily only one tree caught fire this time.

There was a 3-4" hole in the lower, front airbox that sits between the regulator and where the fuel line runs into the carb. That part of the fuel line was the only part missing directly in line with the regulator. Even the Visu in line fuel filter was intact. Like a hole saw went through.

yeah pretty sure that was here in WA at one of the Ducati club runs.. promted a few people to get rid of their plastic fuel line fittings...

Well a silver lining to all this is that other customers, forum members and friends are buying up all the parts for their desmodues. Bloke will get his money back and other people will get parts they need. The brave and foolhardy work done to contain the fire saved most of the bike. ;D

Great!  As much as I hate to see Ducatis parted out in this case it is a good thing since others will survive.

 [thumbsup]
Thanks for your advice too mate.

cannibal!  :P

Pot calling the kettle black! 😉