Dual Sided Swingarms - Aluminum or Steel

[Travman]

On the DSS monsters did some of them come with aluminum swingarms?  If so, which models had an aluminum swing arm and how can you tell the difference at a glance? 

[needtorque]

Dont know all the years but I know some of the 900 monsters had aluminum rear swingarms.  Use a magnet to identify them as they look pretty much identical to the steel ones.

[Armor]

Your 05 has an aluminum swingarm.

[Ducatl]

they actually don't look all that similar and you can easily tell by simply looking at them that they are different.

this is an aluminum one


this is a steel


AFAIK all aluminum swingers came with gold end caps, they're all natural colored, they have ridges on the top and bottom of the arm and they all have threaded holes for spools.

Also, make sure you don't buy a hoop model as that will def. not fit your bike/ yours probably already has an aluminium swinger.

[Travman]

I was pretty sure my 2005 1000S had an aluminum swingarm, but was not sure.  I couldn't check it with a magnet because I am away from my bike for a few weeks.  Here is a picture of it.  It doesn't look very special. 

[Q]

I was pretty sure my 2005 1000S had an aluminum swingarm, but was not sure.  I couldn't check it with a magnet because I am away from my bike for a few weeks.  Here is a picture of it.  It doesn't look very special. 

According to the Ducati.com web site for previous model years, the 2005 1000S has an aluminum swing arm.  The web site does not specify whether the non-S model has aluminum or steel, so I'd guess that it's steel (for the non-S).
http://www.ducati.com/bikes/my2005/monster.jhtml?family=monster

[Travman]

Thanks guys for all the information.

[ScottRNelson]

AFAIK all aluminum swingers came with gold end caps, they're all natural colored, they have ridges on the top and bottom of the arm and they all have threaded holes for spools.

All of the aluminum Ducati swingarms that I'm familiar have the spools welded on.  At least for the 96 and 97 Monsters and the 888.

In 1998 they finally stopped putting the aluminum swingarms on all Monsters and only put them on the S versions from then on.  Most likely all dual-sided swingarm S-model Monsters have aluminum.

I have a steel swingarm on my ST2 and it's not nearly as nice looking as the aluminum ones.

[Cider]

'03 M800S has an aluminum swingarm without spools.  I had to weld my own on.

[Duck-Stew]

93-99 M900's had aluminum arms (except 1999 M900D)
All M600's & M750's up to & including 2001 had steel arms
In 2000 when the M900Di.e. came out, it had a steel arm on it.  (2000-2001 M900Di.e.'s)
Other 2000-2001 M900's (regular and S model) had aluminum arms on them
2002 M900's & M750S's had aluminum arms
2002 M750's (non S models) had steel arms
ALL M620's, M800's (except S model), and M695's had steel arms
M1000's 2003-2005 had aluminum dual sided arms on them

That's what I know (pretty damn sure on the entire list but if I've F'd up, I'm sure someone will correct me)

[ScottRNelson]

That's what I know (pretty damn sure on the entire list but if I've F'd up, I'm sure someone will correct me)

Thanks for that information.

As far as I can tell, all 851's from 1990 onward and all 888's (93 and 94) had the beautiful aluminum swingarm with welded on spools and the gold end-caps.  I have photos of a few 1988 Tricolore bikes (and one red 851) and one 1989, and some have the nice aluminum swingarm and some have the braced swingarm like they used on the SuperSports.  I don't know why some are different from the early years.

[Spidey]

93-99 M900's had aluminum arms (except 1999 M900D)
All M600's & M750's up to & including 2001 had steel arms
In 2000 when the M900Di.e. came out, it had a steel arm on it.  (2000-2001 M900Di.e.'s)
Other 2000-2001 M900's (regular and S model) had aluminum arms on them
2002 M900's & M750S's had aluminum arms
2002 M750's (non S models) had steel arms
ALL M620's, M800's (except S model), and M695's had steel arms
M1000's 2003-2005 had aluminum dual sided arms on them

Gonna add that to the model comparison's FAQ, Stew.   

I think the '03 800 *might* have had an aluminum arm, but then that's because it was basically an S spec model. Edit: Cider already said that.  I should read before posting.

[Triple J]

Other 2000-2001 M900's (regular and S model) had aluminum arms on them

My '01 M900 Cromo had a steel swingarm.  Not sure where the Cromo lies in relation to the other models. It had dual discs, but non-adj. forks.

[ScottRNelson]

My '01 M900 Cromo had a steel swingarm.  Not sure where the Cromo lies in relation to the other models. It had dual discs, but non-adj. forks.

Every M900 had dual discs.  The Cromo was a regular Monster with a really shiny tank.

[Duck-Stew]

Every M900 had dual discs.  The Cromo was a regular Monster with a really shiny tank.

Actually IIRC, it was a Monster 900 Dark w/the shiny tank and some CF bits added to it.  (now that I'm thinking of it)