Ducati Monster Forum

I am planning on doing a fork upgrade to fully adjustable. I have the option of getting superbike forks or going with a straight swap over using ST2 forks.
I was wondering which is the best fork.
I understand what's involved in using a superbike fork ie boring out the tripple clamp which I'm happy to do if I'm going to get a better fork for the effort.
Can anyone give me a heads-up on this?

the superbike forks are better internally, as they have the rebound bypass valve at the cartridge, not at the top of the leg.  every non 748/749/916/996/998/999 showa adjustable fork that i've had apart, including st4s, s4r, etc, are the not so good style.  they can still work pretty well tho when revalved.

aprilia rs250 have the good ones too, but i haven't measured them up.  not sure if you got them over there, but we had a lot of them here.

9*6 forks are a good upgrade, if you want to take it one step further, you can have them redone with Ohlins internals for a pretty reasonable price. 20mm option will give you forks comparable to R&T, and the 25mm option will give you supersport racing forks.

When you say 20 or 25mm your refering to axle size aren't you? I think my monster 00 M900 ie has a 20mm axle

I was referring to the fork internals, nothing about the outside or the fit. Get the 20mm

Thanks, I've got a set of 999 forks on the way so I should look into getting 20mm Ohlins internals.

Check to see if the 999 fork will fit your application. I believe they are different from 9*6 forks but I've never worked with them. Maybe someone else could chime in?

From what I can tell the uppers are 53mm and the lower is 54mm so I should only need to bore out the tripple clamp. The fixing for the fender is where the problem will lie. The 999 has a fender that is fixed front and rear while the monster and 9*6 has the plastic clips that fit in the front.

(http://i11.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/06/ag/4056_1.JPG)

I'm hoping to be able to mount the plastic clip below the brake bracket. Otherwise I'll have to look at getting a new 999 or 749 fender which will look a bit ordinary on the monster.

I'm not sure of the length as well but I assume I'll have to ditch the bars and go with clipons. I can't locate anyone who is selling bar risers for Monsters pre 2002. Any ideas?

Dannog, I checked previous threads and the SBK forks are around 25 - 30mm higher than the Monster/ST forks - and looking at my bike I realised that I'd have to go the clip-on route at the same time.

999 forks should have a 25mm fork axle BTW.

You bore the top crown and shim the bottom crown. An engineer specialising in metal fabrication will be able to do that easy.

You can actually put the clip ons above the top crown apparently too. (haven't seen pictures).

as far as Ohlins internals, sure! why not! I don't know your weight but you'd have to be over 100kg (and wearing full leathers) before the stock springs in the SBK forks would suit - most find that the monster is undersprung (for example a 900s in 2000 has  a spring rate of .686, a 90kg man would need 0.87 and your SBK's come with 1.00)

in other words - you're up for a respring anyway!

i think you might find the 999 caliper offset is different.  i'm not sure if it's in the caliper or fork mounts, but i think they're different.  ask someone who knows, and sorry if i'm just needlessly speculating.

no Brad, I've heard that....your speculation is correct...I thought it was fork mount has a higher offset than ST/Monster/99*.

I never got an actual measurement though  :(

it must be true....I read it on the internet.

The calipers are 65mm so these should be OK.

I'm worried about the axle though. I didn't realise that the axle size is larger on the 999. Any ideas how I can deal with this?

I'm 95kg dressed so in gear I migh be OK. I'm still waiting on a price for the cartriges.

Brad, could Dannog go in and buy the bearings (or get ID/OD for them) for his 20mm axle and then have a machinist do a shim/sleeve for the inside of the fork clamps.

yeah Dannog - brake calipers weren't going to be a problem - 65mm spacing, sometimes washers are needed to centre the caliper to the disc rotor and I've read some guys got a machinist to make little spacers.

how big is the 999 axle?  isn't the 900ie front axle 25mm?

I've just measured the axle on my Monster and it is 25mm so unless the 999 is larger I'll be OK

It looks like the rotor pitch is 15mm in lieu of the 10mm for all of the other SBK forks and Monsters. I'm hoping that all this means is that I need a 5 mm spacer. Note sure where to get this though

For the spacer which you will need for the calipers, have a machinist make them once you've confirmed exactly what you need to get the caliper to sit centered over the rotor.

The 999 axle is also 25mm's so that will work fine with your wheel.
I coulda sworn the 999 legs were 53/53 top/bottom but I could be wrong.

What are you doing for handlebars/clip ons?

I've got a few extra sets of clip ons if you're intersted. I also the SBK swap on my monster, but I used 748 legs.

Also you'll need a 749/999 or S4RS front fender if you want bolt on. Or you could probably make something else work yourself.

Now you've got to show some pictures once it's done...  ;)

I was going to get these from
(http://apexmfg.com/clip%20ons.jpg)
from APEX Manufacturing. They will make provide a 53mm set for $25 extra. My other choice was to add ariser to my bars but I think that they'll be just too high then. With clipons I am a bit concerned about the master cylinders clashing with with the top of the fork as I wanted to put the clipon on top of the tripple clamp.

What are your spare clipon... how much?

I think I'll have to find a SR4 fender as you say. There are plenty of 749 /999 ones around but they'll just look too strange. I was going to start of with trying to make a bracket for my OEM one though.

Shifttech said in their post on ebay that the fork was 53/54 but it doesn't matter much as I'll just shim the bottom if I have too.

Just a heads up.

The fender I'm talking about is for an S4RS as the S4RS is the only Monster that has the fender mount like that.

Like this
http://www.motorcycleconnect.com/Ducati/2007/Monster/Monster_S4R_S_Testastretta/Monster_S4R_S_Testastretta_1.jpg

see how it mounts the same as the 749/999 style?

I've got 3 sets of clip ons. All but the Heli's were mounted/used by me above my top triple.  I'm currently using the Speedy moto's with 999 masters.

FBF's (just the clip ons as I broke one of the carbon tubes) $80
http://www.no1special.com/mychromo/gauages.jpg


Woodcrafts with extra chromo tubes in addition to the aluminum (never used ones) $100
http://www.moto-racing.co.uk/ccp51/media/images/product_category/Woodcraft%20Clip%20Ons.jpg


Heli's that I just got from another DMFer (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=9793.0) $100 that's what I paid. I can send you pics of these if you're intersted.

You gotta post pics when you're done!!!!!

I'll have to look around for an SR4S fender. Looks like it's the easiest replacement.

Why all of the changes for the Clipons? Were some more comfortable than others?
From the photo, it looks like the bars are way forward and lower than stock for the FBF.
I certainly like the look of the FBF's on your bike, are the replacement carbon tubes available?
Send me a PM with some photos of them all

The mail just came and my forks just arrived ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Now I have to make a decision about risers or clipon asap as it's going to hold up this project!.

I'll be sure to take some good pics.

good news about the axle compatibility!

a metal machinist will help with the spacer - look for a motorcycle machine shop - ask Motorcycle shops in the area if there is a specialist around.

I just got a small bushing made up for my CRG lever from a shop that specialises in fuel injection and the like (Dynoverks in Victoria, Australia). Most good mechanics will know of a 'can do' guy around.

sorry to dig up an old thread, but this seemed related.
I've come across some forks from a 2000 996 that I'd like to put on my 620.  I know the top triple will need to be replaced or bored out.

I couldn't find any info on the axle size or caliper spacing.  Anyone have that info?


thanks in advance,
Andy

I've got a pic of a customer's '99 996 that shows it has a 25mm axle and the 65mm bolt spacing on the calipers.

I don't think the '00 forks would be any different.

awesome thank you.

after much searching and clicking on pictues I was able to verify it is 65mm calipers.  The axle was still confounding me.  Too difficult to tell 25mm to 20mm without hi rez close ups.

Thanks again.  Wish me luck.

Andy

i asked one seller on ebay, "Please verify the axle size for the forks" and he responds:

"They use standard Ducati Front axle. I beleive its 1""


dude.  "ducati" and "standard" don't go in the same sentence.

Just a headsup, Superbike forks of that era only used one type of axle. It's the 25mm one. And that's the same as 1".  St's are the same.

The only one's that used the 20mm axle were the Monsters and SS's and 851/888 of the time.

HTH

yup yup.  I knew about the 20/25, and the 40/65 for caliper spacing, but it's hard to tell 20 or 25mm in a picture.  The label for this piece wasn't clear what bike it came off and I didn't want to bid blindly.

Thanks for the tip.
Andy

All 25 mm axles are hollow.
The 20 mm are solid.

good point.  The picture of this fork though didn't include the axle, but I'll keep that in mind for next time.

Thanks for the tip