Ducati Monster Forum

I have been wanting to do this mod for awhile because I have always thought the Fast Idle lever on the monster was kinda cheesy.  Through research here, it seems that the 748-998 series of bikes had a simple Fast Idle button, located on the throttle cam housing.  It also seemed that nobody was sure which parts you needed, if it was just the housing or the whole grip/housing/cable assembly.  So for starters, I bought this cam housing/cable assembly off eBay for about $30, thinking that if more parts were needed, I could buy them. 

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll348/DucatiBastard/100_1605.jpg)
It is from a 748, but the throttle setup is the same for all 748, 916, 996, and 998 bikes.


(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll348/DucatiBastard/100_1607.jpg)
Exploded view, top to bottom is the rear cam housing, front cam housing w/bolts, cable, cam housing cover w/ screws.


(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll348/DucatiBastard/100_1608.jpg)
This is the rear housing, sorry for the fuzz.  You can make out the button at the bottom, this just rotates the throttle a small amount when pressed.  Guess what? THIS IS THE ONLY PART YOU NEED!!  You don't have to buy a whole assembly or grip, your local Ducati dealer probably has these new for a reasonable price.

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll348/DucatiBastard/100_1611.jpg)
These are the two 8mm bolts that hold the two halves together (the gold ones) 
-Remove these and the halves come apart
-Replace the old non-button rear housing with the new rear housing
-Replace blots

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll348/DucatiBastard/100_1613.jpg)
The new rear housing installed, you can see the button on the bottom.  Without adjusting any cables the Fast Idle was set at about 2000 rpm.  This compares to about halfway on the old lever.  You can adjust this by adjusting the length of the cable at the throttle bodies.  Loosen the locknut where the cable goes into the bracket and turn the adjuster in or out (best done with the engine running and button depressed for best control) Pics of this adjustment procedure to follow. 

In conclusion:
-Very easy mod, just two bolts!!
-Applies to S*R series bikes ONLY, as far as I know
-Throttle cam housing from 748, 916, 996, or 998
-Left Controls (blinker, lights, horn) from Sport Classic Series is same design with NO LEVER, should fit, but don't quote me. I am currently looking for a set of these to completely rid my bike of that lever.
-Cleaner, simpler, less weight (every little bit helps)

Any questions/comments, please post

Cheers!
-Bastard

Does it bring up the idle only when you actively press the button, or is it like click-n-double click sort of button (like a click ball point pen)?

- And from the photos, it look like it'd work on older IE monsters too.  That 748 housing looks about identical to the one on my '00 900.  Can't be sure w/o actually trying, but it looks like it would work.

It brings up the idle when you press it, it is a firm click that rotates the throttle just a bit.  To put the throttle back to normal, you roll the throttle forward, to click it off.  Is this what you mean?

Hopefully it will work on the older Monsters too.

You answered my question.  I just imagined the release mechanism was a little different than what is actually is.  I thought you pushed the button to engage the fast idle, then pushed it again to release it.. so same effect, jsut different way to release it. 

Thanks for putting this up... I think I'm going to track down one of these and give it a go  [thumbsup]

Great tutorial.

It doesn't apply to just S*r monsters.  I have one on my M1000SS (originally an '03 M1000). One downside is that when you blip the throttle or if you roll off the throttle too enthusiastically, you disengage the fast idle.  You learn not to blip while fast idle is activated.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2832244002_f63fe72979.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2831407615_eb6b538ca0.jpg?v=0)

Ducatibastard - what did you do with the left control now that the fast idle lever is redundant?  I suppose you just removed the lever and cable?

 I would be nice to have one less cable, but even cooler to have a more narrow control.

Spidey - I know your bike has Pingel slim line controls.  :)

pompetta - Right now I just removed the extra cable and lever and cut down the bracket on the throttle body that holds the two cables to remove the part that holds the extra cable.  I also removed the now un-needed spring and lever stuff at the throttle body (from the old fast-idle ramp system).  From the looks of it, the left controls from a Sport Classic are the same design but without the lever, I'm looking for one of these now.  The left control with a hole where the lever was looks kinda cheesy.   :-\
damn, been trying to avoid cheese all along!

And Spidey, thanks for posting, I could stare at your bike for hours! [bow_down]     

But it appears that the left control from a SC is the same width.  Maybe black plastic plug would suffice?

P.S.  I just picked up a throttle cam off eBay!  I look forward to removing my stock throttle cable, lever, associated brackets, etc.!!

Great mod/post!!!

I was looking at this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300291350932&category=35617&viewitem=#ht_523wt_1260) on eBay, unfortunately it's mighty rashed.  The controls are probably the same width, but the rear part of the case on the SC is all enclosed, without the cutout and ridge for the lever (I think+hope ;))

And have fun with yours! I always get the warm fuzzies when taking extra crap off my bike  [thumbsup]

I saw that SC control.  It is rashed: no flash to pass button.   :-\

When you removed the spring and lever at the throttle bodies, was the lever held on by a pin and a tiny circlip?  I looked, but I needed a little more magnification than my glasses can provide.  :P

Yeah, its a tiny little c-clip/circlip.  I pried the spring off the eccentric thing thats on the throttle vane shaft, i also took that eccentric thing off.  You remove the plastic throttle opener thing (black plastic circular thing the cable goes into) by the 11mm (i think) nut. then a spacer, then the eccentric.  Every little bit of weight helps!

OK, so I got mine installed last night, but no amount of cable adjustment causes fast idle when the button is depressed.

My problem might be that I have the Rizoma grips/throttle cam, and a shortened throttle cable for my Cycle Cat clip-ons.

All the button does is remove the small amount of (necessary) play/slack in the throttle cable.   :-\

Hopefully, I'm missing something simple, but has anyone with Rizoma grips done this mod?

Edit:  Got it!!  It just needed a little shim between the throttle cam and the small plate that pushes against the cam when the button is depressed.  I have a very small piece of rubber tubing doing the job now, but I'd like to replace that with a small ball bearing.

sweet!

yeah.. that fast idle lever is very clunky.  off to ebay!

I bought a left-hand switch from a SC off eBay.  It arrives Monday, so I'll report back on its installation.

At some point, I'd like to remove the bracket that holds the fuel pressure regulator (I moved this to the left side of the battery tray when I re-routed the fuel lines) and cut it to remove the unnecessary parts.

Edit: I removed this bracket and cut off the unnecessary portions.  Filed down the cut edges and bolted it back on...looks great!    DON'T DO THIS!!  SPEEDDOG SAYS THAT THIS BRACKET IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER SPACING BETWEEN THROTTLE BODIES!

I also replaced the rubber "shim" in the throttle cam cover and replaced it with a small ball bearing.  I figured a spherical shim is least likely to bind.[/color]

I got the SC switch today.  Five minutes later it was turning on my signals and my high beam!!

To quote Geoff, it "looks the dog's," and works great!!   [thumbsup]   [moto]

Nice score, I haven't been watching eBay for the last week at all, I bought a house so all other projects are on the waaaay back burner...

And Pompetta, I'd like to hear more about the fuel pressure regulator bracket, maybe pics?  Is it removing the whole thing that screws the throttle bodies up or just carving it down? 

I'll take some pics this evening.

The relative position/distance between throttle bodies needs to be kept rigidly constant (so the butterflies are opened the same amount), so the brace is needed to help with this.  There is a bracket on the other side, but apparently two are needed.

Cutting off the unused cold start cable holder can't hurt a thing, because the brackets of the SBKs completely lack the separate cold-start cable/holder.

I'm trying to determine whether a bracket from other throttle bodies (older SBK) will bolt up to mine (a used set of throttle bodies from eBay is cheaper than a new bracket!), but it's difficult to figure out unless I can find someone with a 748/9*6 bike who is willing to measure the distances between the bolt holes on the bracket.

OK, first the good news.  Here's two pics of the SC left switch bolted up.  Direct plug-n-play replacement!
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/DSCN2338.jpg)
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/DSCN2339.jpg)

Now the bad news.  :-\  The bracket I chopped up is the more important of the two brackets that connect the throttle bodies.  :-[  The worse news is that a new bracket is $175!!  :o   [bang]  Live and learn!   [bang]  What a dumbass I am.   :P

However, I can buy a set of throttle bodies off eBay for considerably less, and even better, a buddy as a bracket with which he might be willing to part.   ;D

Anyhoo, here's a pic of my make the beast with two backs-up as it currently stands (look good though [roll] ):
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/DSCN2336.jpg)
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/DSCN2337.jpg)

And here's the piece I cut off.  I've drilled and filed down the indentations -- neither of which cause a detectable reduction in structural rigidity.  I might do this to the replacement bracket and then paint it black.
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/DSCN2335.jpg)

Feel free to call me names.   :D   [cheeky]   [popcorn]

I'm confused, I guess this is only on the four valve motors? I've never seen this on my bike, did it used to go back from the pulley  and hold the pressure regulator?

2V throttle bodies are completely different.  This bracket is on 4V throttle bodies only AFAIK.

In the unlikely event that there's someone out there as dumb as me and cuts this bracket, rest assured that brackets from other throttle bodies fit.

Here's one from a set of 1996 916 throttle bodies that I got off eBay for a small fraction of the cost of a new bracket:
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/DSCN2344.jpg)

I drilled out the webbing, filled in the threaded hole with an aluminum bolt and sanded the bracket a bit.  This bracket also lacks the separate cable holder because the cold start mechanism is the button-type.

Retarded?  [thumbsup]

Once you're cleaning up and working on the throttle - seen this? Electraeon fast throttle cam.

(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l394/stopintime/throttlecam_04.gif)

That's me!   ;)

Funny you should mention the Electraeon cam, 'cause my buddy Stewart just turned me on to those!!!!

In this context I mean it as an honor, you know that?  8)

My Electraeon is on already - it made my grip harder to rotate, but that could also be because it seems the cable or sleeve got a little bent.
I found that my hand/my grip had to be adjusted/elbow up just before twisting to full throttle, to avoid ending up with a wrist under the normal/safe position. The 75% action of the Electraeon changes this quite radically - an effective mod for spirited riding - I hope.

Not to forget, it's red ;)

How does this mod work when the weather is actually cold outside?
Does it work as well as the "normal" monster cold start lever?

I haven't used it in cold weather yet, but it should work as good as the lever.  The button raises the RPM on my bike to about 2000.  I think some fiddling with the cable tension might be all that is needed (if at all).  Remember, these levers came stock on the 748-998, and you can ride those in cold weather ;)

I cut off my right s4rs bracket to get rid of the idle stepper motor - just removing the stepper left the hideously formed cheesy steel bracket there.  I also tried buying a set of throttle bodies to get the nice cast piece but no joy - the testastretta TBs are farther apart I guess?  I'd try it again if I knew what set to buy to get a piece that would work. Anyway it has been several months now - I had done a TB synch with just the left bracket and the rubber boots holding the TBs in place and so far they seem to be staying put.

 [laugh] Sorry Bill, I was being self-denigrating, nothing more!!  ;D  Glad to hear that your setup has been trouble free.  I'd like to remove the bracket, but I'm pretty happy with my modded one.

Dave are you ever going to finish modding your bike  ???

I think we'll have to rename you "Dave the Dog's" [laugh] [laugh]

Now how about an LED 1098 rear light assembly, nudge,nudge, ;) ;)

Still waiting for the pics  [cheeky]

 [coffee]

Bump from the dead.

This mod worked on my 99 900ssie also.

I switched to the sbk fast idle since I changed my master to 999/1098 ones.

 I'm happy that you resurrected this thread! The fast idle cam on my bike was hanging up, resulting in a reving engine at the most inopportune moments. I have rigged it so that it is inoperable butt now have no fast idle. This fast idle button is exactly what I need! Now to try and find one.......
 

I tried ebay first and didn't really find anything. I typed the part number in for the throttle assembly and Gotham's link showed up. It was under $30 and had a free shipping promotion going on.

Unfortunately they are sold out! A tech at the local shop says that you would need the throttle tube as well, and the button trick will not work with the existing one....
 P.S., they will sell me the assembly for $130.00.

Theo from here has a complete one for sale on eBay.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=161675178785 (http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=161675178785)

 Oh crud, more money...I bought it. [thumbsup]