Illusion or slow?? Monster 750

[redhouse7]

Okay, I bought a Monster 750 (2000) and everything on it works just fine, but it just seems slow to me. I'm kinda disappointed in the overall performance of the bike. I had a Honda Nighthawk 650 that seems about as fast as this bike. My old CBR600 seemed a lot faster (that was a long time ago though so memories sometimes aren't so reliable.) Am I missing something here? Is it some sort of grand illusion that I just don't get it? Maybe the power is just more linear and I'm not getting my 6000rpm+ rush I'm used to.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great bike, light and nimble and more than capable of breaking every speed law in my state, just doesn't give me that silly feeling when I crack the throttle at a green light that I'm used to.

Perhaps a gearing change would help?

[al@sktc]

14t!

[yoreese]

It's not going run like an inline 4.  [moto]

[Spidey]

I think it's probably a combination of things that you've already identified.  It's definitely going to be slower than your CBR.  It's also going to *feel* slower because of there's not that big hit in the powerband up high.  You also probably do have a bit of "grass is greener" in how you remember the CBR.  That said, it's not a particularly fast bike, though it's definitely faster than your nighthawk.  Like others have already said, a 14T front sprocket makes a big difference.

It's impossible to tell over the interwebz, but it could be down on power because of some mechanical or maintenance issue.  We'd just never know without riding it.

P.S.  Can you clutch wheelie?  If so, there shouldn't be a problem rediscovering the silly feeling.   

[Nekkid Tim]

I had a '92 750SS that dynoed stock at 57hp.  It took high compression pistons, a custom racing exhaust, 41mm Keihin flatside CRs, porting and polishing of the heads, and a racing 3-angle valve job to get it up to 72hp for racing in CCS Lightweight Sportsmen classes in the late 1990s.   It was slow stock, and it was still slow as raced.  Fun, though.  Just slow.

I now have a 2000 750SS with fuel injection.  It's lighter than the '92 was, and I have upgraded it with 1000SS suspension components and full floating brakes and a host of other handling upgrades, while leaving the motor stock.  It is dead-ass, bog slow.  Turtle like.  Ennervating.  (Yawn.)  I think it's probably making 55hp.  I can ride it all day at full throttle and no one even turns to look.  It has more brakes and suspension than it would need with TWO of these motors in it.  Fun, though.  My other bikes attract far too much attention, while I can flog this one with impunity and receive no arched eyebrows in return.

Last year my 800SS racebike with stock motor, Ducati Performance ECU, and race exhaust system made 72.25 hp with the modern cylinder head design that it shares with the 620 and 695 and 1000 motors.  I don't think there's an economical way to make a 750SS or Monster a faster bike, other than an 800 or 900 or 1000 engine swap.   I am thinking about putting the 800SS racebike engine (or a 1000SS or 1100) engine in my 750SS....

[tankerbutt]

I've got a 14T sprocket that i've been trying to get rid of for quite a while...  http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25579.0
pm me if interested

[He Man]

i got beaten on a 20mph roll out by 1 bike length......the other dude was on a 1993 Honda CBR600 F2... oh and i have 250ccs on you. lol our bikes arent fast at all.

[ducatiz]

750 needs headwork and high comp to get it out.  the post about the 800 heads is spot on.

i put 620 heads on my 600SS and the difference with the bigger valves and better chamber was noticeable, like 10-12 hp noticeable right off

[ODrides]

I bought my M750 new and rode it for 8 years.  Loved the bike, but finally had to get something with more power. 

[redhouse7]

Great, so it's not just my perception, the bike is slow. If I win the lottery it can be a little less slow, until then change the sprocket and just enjoy the non-eyebrow raising fun. Regarding the gearing, if I go 14 tooth do I need a new chain, or can the adjuster take up the slack. What about going with a bigger sprocket in the rear?

[cbartlett419]

it didn't take me long to arrive at the same conclusion about my 02 750ie. I did a 520 chain 15 and 46 which was 5 up in the rear on my bike, big difference. 65mph=4000rpm which blows for long distance riding, but man it gets to that 8k mark pretty quick and that gives me the grins, I don't think my nuts hang low enough for a sbk bike right now anyway

[KEH]

Dang, up until I read this thread I thought my '99 750 was doing ok. I feel so inadequate now 

[Spidey]

Regarding the gearing, if I go 14 tooth do I need a new chain, or can the adjuster take up the slack. What about going with a bigger sprocket in the rear?

With a 14T, you can generally just snug up the chain.  With a larger rear, you can often get away with adding one tooth and no bigger chain.  2 or 3 teeth might need an extra link and/or new chain.  And since going up 1 in the rear isn't worth the bother . . .

[corndog67]

Just be glad it's not a 620.  If you want a fast bike, buy a fast bike. 

[Monster Dave]

Just be glad it's not a 620.  If you want a fast bike, buy a fast bike. 

What's that supposed to mean. My 620 will get me a ticket just as fast as an S4Rs will!!!