Yet another Monster project(updated 7/26)

[Duck-Stew]

Awesome...  I know that feeling of when it's almost ready to go back together.   

Feels a-frickin'-mazing!!!

[JDucati]

what are you using to clean the road grime off the engine?

~JD

[Ducatl]

Awesome...  I know that feeling of when it's almost ready to go back together.   

Feels a-frickin'-mazing!!!

GOD. IT'S. CRAZY.

It's killing me waiting on all the little parts and materials to show up and not having anything to do with the bike until something arrives.  When I'm there I find myself pacing around the basement just staring at all of the parts laid out everywhere.

I WANT TO RIDE IT SO BAD.

what are you using to clean the road grime off the engine?

~JD

A combination of things actually....Lots and lots of rags, acetone, wd-40, alcohol, a set of picks, Q-tips.  You really have to get creative to get everywhere. Oh yeah, a compressor really helps to get all the little rocks and pebbles out of the little gully areas around the base of the vertical cylinder.

[Ducatl]

I've been working too much to do anything to the bike the last couple of weeks but had a chance to do a little playing tonight and luckily I had some new bits waiting for me.  The exhaust strap rivets have arrived so I just need to pick up a new drill bit and those will be going on.  The aluminum swinger arrived and I spent several hours carefully shaving off JUST ONE of the 4 fender mounts, I'm gonna have to set aside a whole day just to attack the other 3.  My plan is to get the swinger all cleaned up and then blast and PC it gloss black, I've already cleaned up a bunch of casting and scratch mark issues so I'm on my way there.  I had a chance to PC one valve cover tonight,  I just got some walnut shell media for my blaster and it works great on the factory aluminum bits as it quickly removes paint but has almost zero metal removal.  I've also built the frame for my own 6'x3'x'3' oven so that I can PC my own frame and tank , should be fun.  Work will continue to be crazy this coming week but hopefully I'll find some time soon.

[mitt]

First time I have seen this thread - nice work.



mitt

[Ducatl]

Finally had time to finish the covers but I ran out of walnut shell media so the clutch side has yet to be blasted and PC'ed.  After that's done and I've finished cleaning the block I'll install the new SS hardware and miscellaneous bits.  The frame bracing is the next big job to tackle,  More progress soon...I hope

[Ducatl]

Had some time to fool around with the bike today so another little update.  I mocked up the frame bracing, it still needs a little file work but it's close to where I'll be happy with it.  My goal was to leave as much room for pods as possible so I hiked up the top tube a little from what I've seen done before.  My plan is to curve a custom battery box/coil mount from the stock battery location and then over the carbs to attach to a little coped threaded bung on the new top tube.

I spent many hours removing another of the fender tabs from the swingarm, it's seriously the worst amount of filing even if you remove most of the material with a dremel. Swingarm will  be PC'ed gloss black when it comes time for such things.

Did a little trial footpeg testing, I think the final version will be slightly longer and in a larger diameter.

[monsta]

nice work mate... 
I'm planningof doing a lot of the same things.
I'd like to add the frame bracing around the head stem as well, but I'm really not sure the benifits will out-weigh the possible disadvantages. I'll be very interested to see how yours work out   [thumbsup

But, I will be bracing the side of the frame circled...



also, I plan on adding lugs or fixing point to the insde of the frame to hold/hide wireing ( idea of Marks from motocreations  )

[Ducatl]

I've seen that done as well,



I don't want to add any plate to the frame so I opted not to do that, it's purely an aesthetic choice. I may even go so far as to remove some of the sheet near the shock mount and add a tube, I'm not sure yet.

I thought about adding wiring tabs but I'm pretty set on running all of my wiring and lines over the vertical cylinder and off the frame anyways.

Cheers

[Raux]

how about running the wiring in the frame. is that possible?

[Ducatl]

how about running the wiring in the frame. is that possible?

I've never seen that done on a monster. I think you'd end up needing a fairly large hole to accept all of the wiring and I assume that would probably severely impact tubing strength.  That and pulling all of the wiring through different spots sounds kind of like a nightmare.  I'd be interested to see somebody try though

[monsta]

I don't want to add any plate to the frame so I opted not to do that, it's purely an aesthetic choice.

I dont know if it is purely aesthetic?  I was under the impression that they were weak points in the frame.. Even I have cracking on my frame there. I dont know yet if its just paint cracking, but if it is just paint, it shows there is 'some' fatiguing going on in that area??

[Ducatl]

Apologies as I was unclear in my previous post, my decision for not adding gussets was a purely aesthetic choice.  I just don't enjoy the look of the frame with gusseting added to those spots, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they did help stiffen the frame.

[junior varsity]

gusseting the head stock would be beneficial. and unseen.

[Monstermash]

Then there's http://www.carbonpartz.net/id94.html which makes custom cans, I hadn't heard of them until recently but they seem to have a pretty decent reputation.  I emailed them and they got back to me right away, really great communication thus far.  I'm mostly interested in the stainless cans around 300mm in length and from what I've gathered so far they're just slightly north of $200 a piece.  I'm thinking I may try them out as the quality looks nice and I like the service so far.

Thanks for posting this. I have been looking into options for my 2 into 1 custom exhaust on my S4Rt and I contacted them yesterday. They mostly do custom stuff and don't really keep too much in stock but he happened to have a Ti/carbon Tri-oval in the lenght I needed in stock. Additionally he is about an hour away from me so I'll be driving up to pick it up tomorrow. I'll report on the quality and shoot a few photos when I get back.