Hello and Dark 620 question for start

[nabassu]

Hello all duc fans.
I'm a first-timer, owner of 620 dark 2002 from 2 weeks.
I want to tweak it a little, so two questions.

1. chopped and cored stock pipes for small money,
or, if you may help, schematics of mono exhaust from more powerfull monster.
the one you have just before the wheel with two short pipes (or is that not stock?)
2. engine swap? problems?

it's my first bike, but already i'm feeling it's not so powerfull (i have galan VR-4, 300BHP)

so, is this a good material for mods if i feel the hunger for more power?

special welcome for norge friends! (i have aunt there )

[Slide Panda]

1. The exhaust you are seeing is either ans S*R model Monster with it's silencers removed, leaving what's loving called the 'udder' or an after market exhaust system from Quat-Dm the ExBox. Eitehr way, these are not stock for your bike.

2. Engine swaps have been done, but they pose a number of issues. The mostly center around the ECU and it's immobilizer function. Dropping a bigger plant in there means all sorts of ECU twiddling and headache. In a few cases folks have totlly scrapped the factory ECU to dispense with the immobilizer issue and get the fuel right for the bigger plant.

- But seeing it's your first bike, unless you're a total prodigy - the bike is still faster than you are at this stage. Not saying that a 620 is a rocket, not by a long shot... But a skilled rider will put one around a track and fair pace. Bikes are not cars - a car will forgive a lot more than a bike will. The 620 is fairly forgiving for novice riders.

You may want to ride the 620 as is, or with minor mods, and trade up at some point in the future w/o sinking tons of cash into it. The 620 is the entry level bike, consistently it has the entry level suspension which leaves something to be desired.

One cheap and excessively easy mod that improves the feel of 620 a lot is changing the final drive ratio (changing sprockets). Going to a 14 tooth in the front OR adding 3 teeth in the rear improves the feel of the bike a lot. Given the age of your bike, it might need new sprockets and chain anway - so look into +3 in the rear, as that's the preferred way to do it.

[nabassu]

hmm..
i have something to think about now.
i'm looking from car point of view.
engine swap in a car is a pain in the ass, because it mostly won't fit etc.
also, sport version of daily car also have bigger brakes, suspension and so on.
when i look on my 620, and it's twin brembo, i think the only problem is engine. in the future that is.
you know what i mean, in my galant, i have no problem spending tons of cash on oil coolers, turbos etc, because i know, it's the fastest galant, and i can only improve the best.
with this 620, i know i have the lowest version, so i ask, invest in tons of mods, or i just end up with tons of money spent, and +5BHP like in super tuned honda civic 1,4

p.s. can this muffler of yours fit in my 620? or can you spare a schematic to make on with my muffler mechanic?

[sbrguy]

honestly if you want to save money and such, ride it and don't mod a thing.

remember every penny you put into modding a bike is basically lost money, you won't get it back ever.

now you do this with a "beginner" bike, even if you did major work to the engine it will cost tons of time and money for what? maybe 10 and if you do alot of work maybe 20-30hp that puts it at around 80hp total, when you can just buy an upspec monster for almost hte same money adn get that from the get go.

i say this from expereince i have put way too much money into my 620 and i'll never get the money back so iin a way i'm stuck with the bike, if i had to do it again i would have gotten maybe a m1000 instead.

ride this bike stock, don't do a thing, if you feel its too slow in a month or so sell it and get a bigger version of the monster and mod that instead at least then you are starting from a larger motor and such.

good luck.

[nabassu]

that is my point.
not big tune for lot of effort.
so, rattle can paint, screwdriver, and cored stock exhaust
and next year... a 1000?
i have to educate myself a bit.
year 2000-2002 perhaps. it's my favorite year of everything

i recon, handlebars, mirrors and such will fit another monster?

[Slide Panda]

Handle bars, perhaps. Their are some differences the cropped up over the years - with the S*R bikes. Mirrors and most other things like that are universal. Mirriors signals etc would probably fit any bike, unless noted.. and many after market items for monsters will fit a large segment of the line through the years.

For example - your exhaust silencers (cans) will fit any Monster with a double sided swing arm.

[redial]

ride it till you get bored and then trade up to a 2001 m900 ftw.
its like what, 1k more?

Like a lot of riders i wish i had gotten a bigger motor from the get go.

[Slide Panda]

I started on a 620 and traded up to a 900. Though there were times on the 620 where I wanted more power - really, really, it was better to start on the smaller bike. As I said, the 620 will be more forgiving that a bigger bike.

Not long after I got the 900, I hit some spilt oil while on the brakes in crawling traffic. The bars did a quick wobble, and I lost my grip on the clutch lever - while the bike was in 1st.  That 900 pulled a rather abrupt 45 degree wheelie, with me in tow. Though luck and some of the built up skills from my time on the 620, it came down with the only real problem being the stain in my pants. If I'd been a rookie and that happen, it would have been down to pure luck to see me through that on the 900.

If I'd been on a 620 and lost the lever like that, it probably would have just stalled between my weight and the force of the brakes.

And though I'm not sure the 2002 to has it, my 620 (2005) had the ATPC slipper clutch which made for one less thing on my mind while being a new rider. The non slipper clutch on the 900 sure a shit lets you know if you've botched a down shift.

So, ride that 620, spend a little bit on it (including getting the suspension adjusted for you) and get to be a good rider. Good riders are fast... fast riders aren't always good.

[nabassu]

Al right then
620 stays for sure.
Just have to darken it.

In summary, low cost mods:

1. self made paint
2. 14 tooth spocket (or what in the back?) specific brand? (chain lenght?)
3. low clip bars (still wondering)
4. cored pipes (MUST!)

i'm very keen on mounting that sprocket. but front or rear?

i'm a photographer, so mostly estetic point of view will be applied color and SOUND!

[Slide Panda]

1. Just be sure to do good prep work for your paint. There's information in the tutorial section about that.
2. How many miles/km are on your bike? Unless it's really low, you would be looking at replacing both sprockets and the chain. If it happens to be low, and the chain is in good shape you could just swap teh front sprocket and retain the chain and rear sprocket

Stock gearing is 15/46, and it looks like it's more difficult to find a 49 tooth sprocket vs a 14. Stock chain is 106 links. IF you got a 49, you would need a longer chain. If you used a 14, 106 would work fine.

More info and sources for chains and spockets
http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/shop/catalog/ducati/chain.html

[nabassu]

i'm a wannabe painter
much work done in the past, so i think i'm on the safe side here.
thank you very much for summing up all usefull info in one post.
tommorow i think there will be time for sweet 14

are you familiar with sunstar sprocket?

ah, my 2002 monster have 12500km, as the seller stated so...

[sbrguy]

here is the one thing i would suggest.

if you plan on selling the bike later in a few months. don't even mod the bioek at all, most people like stock bikes to get and mod themselves.  if you don't see yourself liking this bc its down on power keep it stock and save up for something faster in a few months or a year.  that way its easier to sell later.

[nabassu]

stock sprocket will last, and i have all the fenders
tailchop is a must i think

one more thing thou..
is the stock rear suspensiond adjustible?
higher rear end perhaps?
better/worse handleing? (high end for the look but what are the consequences?)

deamn! my english is rusty as heck!

[sbrguy]

rear suspenson only addjustable for sag, height is not adjustable that is set unless you buy a new part for the bike.  the dogbone part.