Tracking the 696 Sunday to tape or not to tape?

[NekkedChic]

Ok, so doing my first track day at Jennings this Sunday, May 17th.  Prepping and trying to make some decisions so would love some input from anyone who has tracked a 696. 

Headlights:  tape or remove? 

Remove?  How, specifically and any suggestions?

Cowl on or off?   Leaving Leo Vince on and IF anything happens, these will take bigger beating n more likely "protect" cowl, best I can figure.  Hell, if Leos thrashes, cowl is just one more to add to bill.  Besides, we will NOT go down, not allowed period. 

Otherwise, not much else we CAN do aside from taping wheel weights n signals. 

Any suggestions where to place numbers also?  GUESS what my number is...yup, 696 of course! 

So, as I said, appreciate any input. This will likely be ONLY time Monster will hit the track since we also bought SV650 for track only, but we are both riding same class this time.  Next time, Tim should be in Int, then we can "share" SV. 

Thanks all.  Hope to get some feedback fast, going out now to start on the Beastie Boy! 

Oh n wish me LUCK!   

[mostrobelle]

Remove anything and everything you can.  In case you haven't noticed:  Ducatis are expensive.    

(But seriously, the headlight on one guy's bike was like $400 to replace--for a headlight.  I'd expect to pay that for a small human internal organ--not a headlight.)

Have fun!! 

[Spidey]

I don't know how easy the headlight is to remove on the 696, but I always encourage people to take off their monster headlights for trackdays.  It's an expensive replacement if you go down, and they often get damaged in crashes.  The older ones only required two bolts to remove and one electrical connection.  Dunno about the new ones, but i'd be surprised if there were many more than a coupla bolts holding that thing on.

For the cowl, it doesn't sound like you want to take it off.  That's fine.  It's still easy for it to get damaged in a crash, even if your LV pipes take a bunch of the impact.

I'd putting numbers on teh sides of your cowl/seat.  Also, if you take off the headlight, put a buncha tape up the front and stick numbers on there too.

Good luck.    Make sure you don't forget your key or your helmet.  And check your tire pressures before you start the day.   You'll have a blast.

[NekkedChic]

Tks SOO much for answers n replies....still at a loss on HOW to remove headlight and then electric connection so not to screw up stuff also. Even hubbi who is inept at this stuff is kinda going "huh"?   
Can't I just tape it up with BUBBLE WRAP???!   no, seriously?!@!!   well?   


I am excited to get on a track finally tho.  Hope I ride somewhere near my street levels at least near end of day.  Preferred to do both Sat n Sun, but with two of us going and no work/income for a YEAR now, not sensible. 

Will post few pix up after we get back also. Show me representin.  I didn;t get my stickers made in time tho:
"Ducatista Barista" becuz I WILL have capuccino machine at track and then
"Tea n Crumpets Racing"  --we may not be fast, cuz we are working on form n etiquette    sorry, getting loopie with excitement here. 

[Spidey]

Tks SOO much for answers n replies....still at a loss on HOW to remove headlight and then electric connection so not to screw up stuff also. Even hubbi who is inept at this stuff is kinda going "huh"?   
Can't I just tape it up with BUBBLE WRAP???!   no, seriously?!@!!   well?   

Don't tape it in bubble wrap.  On the older monsters, there was a bolt on each side of the headlight.  I don't know about the 696.  The electrical connection was easy to just unplug.  You're really unlikely to screw anything up.  Have you tried to take it off?  You might want to check in Tech with 696 owners who can tell you the specifics.  Or go to ducati.com, click on the 696 and download the spare parts catalog on the left mum.  The healight is diagram #22. 

If you're going to tape, don't use duct tape.  Use blue painter's tape.  Duct tape leaves sticky goo.

[Raux]

the front headlight is easy take off

BUT... the headlight frame holds the gauges.

two options.
1 if you take off the headlight you can take the glass and turn signals off and just leave the lightweight AL frame.

2 leave it on and tape it up. 

Option one requirements:
1. remove bikini fairing or guage cover
2. disconnect gauge cluster and remove gauge cluster
3. turn bars to the right
 a. unplug the headlight and two turnsignal connections
 b. take off bolt on the lower triple holding the headlight frame
4. turn bars to the left
 a. remove the bolt on the lower triple holding the headlight frame
5. pull the headlight frame up carefully.
6. on the headlight frame
  a. remove the top cover
  b. remove the glass
  c. remove the turn signals
  d. (not sure about this part) put the top cover back on (can't remember if the glass has the holes or the frame does)
7. put the headlight frame back on.
  a. tighten the lower bolts
  b. install the gauge cluster
  c. hook the gauge cluster up
  d. install the gauge cover or bikini fairing
8. cable tie the wires for the lights to a safe location

OPTION 2 requirements:
I would still follow all the procedures and take off the turn signals, tape up the glass with painters tape, then reinstall the glass in the frame. also, do not hook up the light when reinstalling the whole assembly.

[zooom]

honestly, looking at how a headlight is situated on a 696 as apposed to an older Monster...if your headlight is going to get damaged, so is your cluster and a whole lot more...I'd just tape it up...you can bubble wrap it if it makes ya feel warm and sqwooshy inside...but simple blue painters tape will do...it just seems to me in how the newer Monster is made, if you go down at any kind of speed...there are alot of things that will end up damaged generally speaking....so just ride it and enjoy riding it...if you spend your time worrying about crashing and what'll get damaged, you won't get the most out of your track time...