Ducati Monster Forum

I thought I'd share the things done so far with a mini review of how they changed the bike (FOR ME... your results may vary and this is a VERY personal thing... so this is my bike and if you don't like it I don't care... nya nya nya  )   


So here's the rundown to date:


DP Termignoni kit, ECU etc.    Experience changing modification that completely tranforms the S4RS riding experience.  Must have.


BST wheels.   Experience changing modification that completely transorms the riding experience.  Worth more than one and a half Termi kits?   Sure.   Not for a new rider (neither is the RS itself I suppose).  The thing turns like a 250 but not too many of them have 130 rwhp.  I know it's subjective, but roll ons feel sooooo much stronger.  It wheelies much more readily on the gas.   Watch that first inside curb is right... damn it turns fast.


Speedymoto complete triple with tapered bearings.   Nice modification that makes me happy, but not mind blowing.   I've got myself convinced that when I'm really on it over rippled stuff that perhaps the frequency of the bike's vibrations and shimmy has lessened and changed, but I will admit that may be in my head.  It sure was stable at the track.


Cyclecat clipons below the triple.   For me made the bike soooooo much more comfortable, and not just in the twisties.  My arms fall naturally to their height and I've got them adjusted for rake, tilt, and height to where the bike is absolutely mine.   This is one of the best things I've done.


Speedymoto Clutch cover (Alien), pressure plate, and springs and caps.   OK... got me... purely cosmetic and aural.  I love it and I'm tempted to buy some Alien covers to stock up on for future bikes because I like it so much.  Actually, the cover may come into play as stronger... see waterpump housing.


CRG shorty "roll-a-click" levers.   Bike changing if not experience changing.   I like the two finger lever for the brakes.  I tend to still use two and a half to three fingers for the clutch (they kind of fit three fingers).   More adjustment (and so much easier) than stock so when you're riding for a while and want to change it's easy on the fly.   Along with this comes rotating the controls waaaay down from their stock position so that my wrists are at the correct angle.  Stock is too high and anyone with hand/wrist pain should rotate the controls down before buying expensive alternative fixes.


Carbon short tail by DP.  Purely cosmetic and a nice alternative to no tail chop.   Carbon chain guards.  Got rid of the big ugly plastic ones.
Paulimoto front sprocket cover.  Got rid of ugly grey plastic stock one.


Speedymoto waterpump housing.  Part cosmetic (I'm adding more black where I can to the motor) and part strength.  I have decided against frame sliders  (lets not start an argument over this one please) so the clutch cover and this waterpump housing may help just a little bit in a lowside at the track (fingers crossed).


DML crankshaft cover.   Every bike should have one (until there's a DMF cover   ;D). 

Mirrors... currently rizoma 851.  Used to be sport classic accessory bar ends which I loved, but they won't fit on my CC clipons.  I like the rizomas OK, but their filed of view is not that great.  They look stunning and I'm keeping them.  For the street one is adjusted for sitting up and one for a bit of a crouch.   Mirrors are so subjective that they need no further comment.


Ohlins side-mount steering damper.   With the BSTs I would put this as must have.   One the ride home from getting the BSTs, which was 80 percent highway anyway, the number of times the front wheel was just barely skimming the pavement was more than in my last five rides combined.   It's a nice piece of kit and absolutely makes a difference.  For an s2r I might waffle on priorities, but for a Termi kitted RS, and now one with carbon wheels, this is a must have.     The more I've been riding with it, including track time, the more I think it was a good idea.


Dark smoke ZG screen.  Purely cosmetic.   If I hadn't gotten such a great package deal from Motowheels I would have painted the inside of the stock windscreen.  But I love the look and think it makes huge differene to the front of the bike's aesthetics.


EZpass transmitter stuck to inside left of fairing.  Why would anyone wait in a line to stop and get cash out of a sleeve pocket?  Absolute mandatory mod.


The ride height rod has half an inch extra on it (tip toe for me at stops but absolutely worth it while moving).   I personally am three clicks harder on compression in front, one click harder rebound in front, two clicks harder compression in rear, and one click harder rebound in rear from stock.  Static sag set on both ends (little bit harder on preload both ends but very little). 


Sato Racing rearsets.   I waited exactly twelve months for Cyclecat after ordering.    The Satos are gorgeous.   Two things stand out that make them a ride changing modification.   The pegs are aggressively knurled and have a raised little ridged rim that really helps your boot stick to them.   The shifting is so much more positive too.   Very positive in feel.   


Things like the rearsets, clipons, crgs, BSTs, Termi kit,  each incrimentally take little bits of slop out of the controls.   I've posted frequently about why it's not the power of the bike that makes it not for beginners but the immediacy of the controls.  It's less forgiving to bad rider input but much more fun with correct rider input.   Crisp fueling, immediate brakes, fast turning.


I'm sure I forgot something so there will likely be an edit to this.

edit: forgot this:  removed emmisions canister and brackets and relocated horn diectly to motor.   


Cheapest but hardest mod:  getting the rider down from 215 to 170.   Made the suspension work sooooo much better.  Riding experience changing modification that is a must have.  170 now but it's an ongoing process.

In 2008 the only thing being modified is the rider.  More track days.  More lifting and jogging.

Ride safe and hard and fun,

Chris

Oh...some pics:

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/VIR055.jpg?t=1202227028)

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/rsrearsets004.jpg?t=1202227092)

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/rsrearsets003.jpg?t=1202227095)

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/rsrearsets002.jpg?t=1202227098)

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/rsrearsets007.jpg?t=1202227103)

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/rsrearsets006.jpg?t=1202227104)

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/rsrearsets005.jpg?t=1202227109)

 :o :o

Beautiful Rs Chris, I truly really miss mine now.. If I end up buying a third one it´s your fault  ;D

very tastefully done mods all around. those sato rearsets look sweet! how "adjustable" are they? and what brand/model is that rear chain-guard, does it work better or worse compared to the stock one?

I can't let him take ALL the blame so I am stepping up to help out!!  mo:t:

(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff38/hypurone/Monster%20S4RS/556c1d86.jpg)
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff38/hypurone/Monster%20S4RS/93eaf92c.jpg)

Sweet looking bike..!!

Oh you guys are killing me!  My Tricolore is too stock now. What to do, what to do . . . Seems like the full Termis with the DP ECU are by far the best setup, especially for how the ECU transforms the bike's overall running manners.  And the look is fantastic, especially without the tail chop.  The cans seem a bit longish on one that's had its tail chopped, and I don't plan on hacking up the Tricolore to any great degree.  Any suggestions on how else to trick it out without taking away from the uniqueness of the Tricolore scheme?  Awesome RSs, guys!

Very very nice, I like all the black details

For my bike, cans/PCIII didn't make much of difference in power or tractability.  However, they are such a dramatic improvement in looks and sound that they rank high on the enjoyment scale.  If they also improve the RS's power-delivery, I'd say it's almost a no-brainer.

Ugghhh  those BST's..... :o

Why am I feeling poor right now?? That would soooo be my next big mod if I could afford 'em.... :'(

-Really Beautiful S4RS BTW!!   wt:

**edit** How do you like the Sato's Statler?? I've been searching for a pair of rearsets for my old lady (S4) preferably either Sato or Cyclecat, but no luck.....I feel like aftermarket bits are tough to come by for the ol' 916 Monster.... :-\

Looks great Chris!

If I may make one suggestion. Paint/powdercoat the exhaust hanger. It's a cheap mod and it wont make it stand out as much.  wt:

Well done  wt:

good idea.   

do your rearsets while you're at it.  :D

very very tasty and damn clean too!!!

could you please post a couple more shots of the triple tree/handle bars/levers setup from a couple of different angles?
i love the look of the clip ons below the TT. how more leaned in does it feel over stock? does it still have an upright feel or more sport bike?

hey Statler, bump for my last post?

i'm thinking of going for the entire speeymoto top/bottom triple clamp. any chance you can post some pics of the clamps and your controls? i read your review but now it's been a couple of months do you think they made a difference?

please read my last post with a couple of questions...

thanks

Chris,

Impressive bike!  [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

Can't believe you guys spend all the time and money on you bikes. I'm glad I've left mine stock.

God what I wouldn't give for those BST wheels though. Almost 4 large that's what I wouldn't give, because I don't have 4 large.

LA

looking good buddy  [thumbsup]

sorry...don't allways get to each part of the forum timely....pest with a PM if you ever have a question about something I post...I don't subscribe to threads as I'd be swamped...  but to the quesitons:

The clipons have been on for over a year....certainly made track riding better.   I'm one of the strange folk who finds the stock bars just too tall and far away.  higher and closer would be ok, or lower.  I went lower.   I find them much more comfortable than stock because I can just drop my elbows down to my knees instead of stretching out.   If you ride elbows locked they'll kill your wrists, but if you ride arms bent (better anyway) they are fine.   I'm going to drop them the extra inch or so to where the forks flair out as they are still a little to high.

I'll look for some pictures and if I don't have any I'll take some this week.

The bike definately does not feel upright standard anymore.   With the ass end up a bit (I'm on tip toes now), the lower bars, and the higher and slightly back rearsets, some people just don't fit.   'monsterlover' rode it at DIMBY (find the dimby thread in no moto content) and couldn't wat to get off...he just didn't fit the bike (he's easily three and a half feet taller than I am).

If you find a 1098 comfortable (I do) then it's like that but without the nice tank shape to hook a leg into.

Chris

3 large ought to do it but your pain is known to me. ;D

hydra- reviews on the SM tc setup are varied.  I'm in the camp that it made my front end stiffer (a good thing) but with the Ohlins front end on my S4RS I don't think it made a $1k difference.  If you're after the cosmetic impact (and who isn't? (other than LA- [thumbsup])) you could save a bundle and just have your stock tc powdercoated, or buy a used stock tc; powder coat that; and swap it out for your original.  I will say that the bearings in the SM tc set made for a slightly nicer turn from the bars but those can be had seperately for a lot less coin than a full tc set.

hey chris, thanks for replying...i really appreciate your impressions on that set up. i'm feeling like i want to be more forward overall. i do most of my riding in the twisties and lucky for me i don't have to do too much hwy riding to get to any. and having taken her on the track, and feeling very capable, i feel she'll be my track bike for awhile until i can get a dedicated bike.

unfortunately, no one can really tell how new bars or clip on's are going to feel until one has done a 100 miles or so. but it's nice to hear from some one who really ride's their bike... [moto]

russ

thanks for your input crex! i'm thinking the SM TC will do justice to my showa's. i can't afford a set of new forks, so a re-valve, a little higher quality and stiffer top/bottom TC would be sufficient for how far i want to take the S4. who know's i'm still figuring it out...

but i do want to put clip ons pretty soon as i want to be slightly more forward. i'm thinking speedymoto triple (maybe just the top for now) and LSL clip ons.

thanks for the write up. the full termi-ecu-dyno was the second thing i did (after basic suspension set-up). wouldn't ride my Rs without a steering damper either and like the top mount as i can turn it in or out a few clicks depending upon city vs windy freeway.

next itch has been wheels. major $$$ and wanted to be sure i was not being silly. i trust your assessment and love the 5 spoke vs the newer wagon wheel 7 spoke. i'm pulling out my credit card as soon as i find a pair.

I agree.. i like the 5 spoke much better. they are basically the same as my S4R wheels but in CF.. this may be next year's big money mod.