Tacoma riders...

[yellowjacket]

Any duc riders near Tacoma? if so, let me know, I'm interested in working on mods, trading info on local services, and riding out.

[hay13]

Hey, I'm close... In Federal Way and I'm from Tacoma

I just dusted the Ducati off and came up for air now that the weather has finally decided to turn for us.  I've had my S2R800 for just over a year now and love it. 

[yellowjacket]

Nice, where do you go to get your bike serviced, Seattle Ducati? Have you done some mods on ur bike? If so, what have you done? Mine is still stock (as far as I know) and looking to do something small, probably get a 14T sprocket but I'm still researching it.  Not really sure the pros and cons for the change. 

[krolik]

I have an '03 800, and I highly recomend the 14T countershaft sprocket.  It makes driving in the city alot easier as your not lugging it in 2nd gear or reving it  in 1st at 30 MPH.  With a stock rear sprocket you have 14/42 gearing if you go to a 14T.  I currently have 15/44 on my Monster, and that's still great for around town, and I don't lose much off the top end that I'd notice anyway.   

[ryandalling]

I currently have 15/44 on my Monster, and that's still great for around town, and I don't lose much off the top end that I'd notice anyway.  

Veektoooor is sooooo smart! He even waxes his seat to force him to get his ass off the seat in the corners. 

[hay13]

Nice, where do you go to get your bike serviced, Seattle Ducati? Have you done some mods on ur bike? If so, what have you done? Mine is still stock (as far as I know) and looking to do something small, probably get a 14T sprocket but I'm still researching it.  Not really sure the pros and cons for the change. 

I bought and have taken my bike to Eastside MotoSports in Belleveue.  I've purchased both bikes from them and they delivered both for me.  The first one I bought while on my lunch and I had my car with me and the second was my quad and I made that deal over the phone while stuck in traffic.   I've done the basic service myself.  As far as mods go I haven't done much to enhance the performance. The closest thing to that is that I've taken off the Cat and did a mid-pipe ceramic coated in flat black.  Everything else has been cosmetic but then again so was the cat removal.  Here the link to the pics.  It's the gloss black S2R http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=205.480 I haven't thought about the sprocket before.  I'll check into that.

[yellowjacket]

I bought and have taken my bike to Eastside MotoSports in Belleveue.  I've purchased both bikes from them and they delivered both for me.  The first one I bought while on my lunch and I had my car with me and the second was my quad and I made that deal over the phone while stuck in traffic.   I've done the basic service myself.  As far as mods go I haven't done much to enhance the performance. The closest thing to that is that I've taken off the Cat and did a mid-pipe ceramic coated in flat black.  Everything else has been cosmetic but then again so was the cat removal.  Here the link to the pics.  It's the gloss black S2R http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=205.480 I haven't thought about the sprocket before.  I'll check into that.

Nice bike! I've wanted a black or blue monster but I'm pretty happy with the yellow one for now. My bike was purchased at Eastside MotoSports (at least according to the last owner). My bike had its 6k service done prior to me buying it so I'm set for the summer but most likely would need to do the oil change at the end of the year. I'm pretty much a newbie to motorcycle and have no tools. What do I need to just do the oil change? I use the bike for commuting to work (16+ miles round trip) and have not yet gone out for a weekend ride. Do you have any recommendation near here?

[yellowjacket]

I have an '03 800, and I highly recomend the 14T countershaft sprocket.  It makes driving in the city alot easier as your not lugging it in 2nd gear or reving it  in 1st at 30 MPH.  With a stock rear sprocket you have 14/42 gearing if you go to a 14T.  I currently have 15/44 on my Monster, and that's still great for around town, and I don't lose much off the top end that I'd notice anyway.   

I could get a 14T for about $20 to $30 online but how much does it cost to have it installed (in general). I'm still not understanding the ratio of front and rear sprockets. According to my owner's manual the stock transmission sprocket /rear ratio on my bike is 15/42. So if I change the front sprocket to 14 (14/42), how does it affect my bike (pro/con)? and if I increase the teeth on the rear, to say 44, with the stock front sprocket (15/44) like yours, how does it change the bike's performance?  I generally don't lug too much on 2nd gear now but high rev on 1st gear is annoying, if changing it to 14T helps to alleviate that issue than I'd say its worth the mod...

[krolik]

Ducatis come geared tall from the factory, it helps them pass euro emitions and noise specs. 

A 14T sprocket is easy to change, it takes about 15 minutes, but since you have over 6K already on your Monster, you should probably wait until you have to change your chain/sprockets.  If you change now, you'll just increase the wear on your chain and sprockets.

I had mine changed to a 520 chain/sprockets at the 12K service.  Change both sprockets.

[hay13]

Nice bike! I've wanted a black or blue monster but I'm pretty happy with the yellow one for now. My bike was purchased at Eastside MotoSports (at least according to the last owner). My bike had its 6k service done prior to me buying it so I'm set for the summer but most likely would need to do the oil change at the end of the year. I'm pretty much a newbie to motorcycle and have no tools. What do I need to just do the oil change? I use the bike for commuting to work (16+ miles round trip) and have not yet gone out for a weekend ride. Do you have any recommendation near here?

I don't remember what mm wrench or socket you want to change the oil.  I had to pick up one. I'll check it tonight if nobody else chimes in on what you'll need.  I've been considering a weekend ride to eastern washington to chase a little sun and have lunch.  Other then riding back and forth to work and around town I haven't been out much on the weekends.  I'm still hooked on riding my quad every chance I get and that's taking most of the time away from work.  There's also a place between Gig Harbor and Shelton that looks like it would be a fun ride.  I've been in a car on it and I think it's HWY 16 to 302 to 3 and then onto 101.  Oh and part of those "around town rides" included going up 509 from Tacoma to Browns Point and back. 

[krolik]

The general rule says going down one tooth in the front is the same as going up three in the back. So having a 14/42 is roughly equal to a 15/45.

Fixed it for you.

[hay13]

I don't remember what mm wrench or socket you want to change the oil.  I had to pick up one. I'll check it tonight if nobody else chimes in on what you'll need.  I've been considering a weekend ride to eastern washington to chase a little sun and have lunch.  Other then riding back and forth to work and around town I haven't been out much on the weekends.  I'm still hooked on riding my quad every chance I get and that's taking most of the time away from work.  There's also a place between Gig Harbor and Shelton that looks like it would be a fun ride.  I've been in a car on it and I think it's HWY 16 to 302 to 3 and then onto 101.  Oh and part of those "around town rides" included going up 509 from Tacoma to Browns Point and back. 

I remember now... I had a hex key style of drain plug which I think was 10mm.  I replaced it with a magnetic drain plug that I picked up from monsterparts.  This video helped get me started as i wanted to make sure I did everything right as to not void any warranty. http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=410.0

[yellowjacket]

I remember now... I had a hex key style of drain plug which I think was 10mm.  I replaced it with a magnetic drain plug that I picked up from monsterparts.  This video helped get me started as i wanted to make sure I did everything right as to not void any warranty. http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=410.0

thanks, the video was very informative and simple. do i need a bike stand (front and back) to do the oil change myself? i suppose i can start draining the oil on the kick stand and stand it up to fully drain it.

[yellowjacket]

You asked about performance of different ratios, here a cool site to help you figure it out:
http://www.gearingcommander.com/

The general rule says going down one tooth in the front is the same as going up three in the back. So having a 14/42 is roughly equal to a 15/45. At least where the ratio is concerned.

There is a debate about the possibility of excessive chain wear with a 14 in the front. Some say the small diameter will cause the chain to rub against the swingarm, others say they have had the set-up for thousands of miles with only normal wear.

There is also a great debate that one should change out the chain, and both sprockets as a package at the same time. Some say changing one sprocket will increase the wear on the other parts. Others say if a part is worn replace it, if not then don't.

You'll find several threads where these debates waged on for months, if not years, on the old board.

As for my experience: I currently have 14/41. The change of dropping a tooth in the front is surprisingly subtle. It really only affected 1st and 2nd gears and not very much. I haven't notice any loss at the top end, or a change in gas mileage.

I suggest you look over some of the posts on this and other online boards, but also talk to your local mechanics. Like a important medical procedure, always get a second opinion. That being said, there is something to be said for trial and error. Sprockets are not that expensive in the grand scheme of things. You could get 1 down front and 3 up rear and try them out in different combinations, ride one set-up for a week, then change to the next, and so on till you find the one out of the four you want.

thanks for the layperson's verison of the gearing debate. i guess, as you suggested, i have to experiment, which seems to be the fun part of owning a bike.

[hay13]

thanks, the video was very informative and simple. do i need a bike stand (front and back) to do the oil change myself? i suppose i can start draining the oil on the kick stand and stand it up to fully drain it.

Nah. I did the first oil change without a stand. I had to hold it up straigt to make sure I was getting most of the oil out.  However, I did pick up a put bull stand for the rear and it made a huge difference for doing just about everything on the bike like oil changes, cleaning, chain, replacing the exhaust, etc.