What next for Mr.Meanie?

[Yellow Meanie]

So I'm back at work, now cruising past Hinchinbrook Island, and obviously there's not much riding going on.
Here I sit, on the bridge, drinking coffee and staring out the window (yes I get paid to sit on my arse, drink coffee and stare out the window)
I pull out my notebook and start to write a list of things to do to the Monster when I get home. She just went past 30K and the weather was way too good to miss any days riding and actually give her a service
List so far: Change spark plugs
               Check belts
               Check compression
               TB sync
               Change fuel filter
               Check valve clearance
               Change clutch / brake fluid
               Change fork oil (should have been done at 20k - oops)

I should be able to knock all this off pretty easily. Although I will have to borrow a fork compression tool from somewhere, or just take the forks off and get them done at the shop.

I was also talking about changing the gearing in another thread. Stock gearing is 15/38. I'll go to 15/41 I reckon. Unfortunately this will mean I need a new chain too - the old one is not long enough 
Ca Cycleworks list a "MVXZ X-Ring 520x120 chrome" chain and "MVXZ X-Ring 520 rivet link chrome". Then all I'll need is a chain breaker and riveter. Hopefully I can borrow one of these too, or would it be worth buying one???

Oh, and I'll be doing an advanced cornering course in Tassie at the end of March [moto]

So after a good service, new gearing and some more training, I should be quite happy terrorising all the grey nomads up and down the East Coast




Now for the bigger questions...

I'm not sure where to go next. I either strip the bike down and get her painted, or start on engine internals.
Those of you who have seen the Thylacine up close, will know she is no show-pony. She has a few scratches on the tank, faded paint on the rear cowl, even more stone chips on the bikini fairing and the dreaded "battery dribble" on the trellis frame.

Or..... while the dollar is so good, I start buying up on parts.
I've always wanted to go for high compression pistons, PC3, lightened flywheel, and most likely open up the air box too.
After a little research here and TOB, I'm thinking - if the engine is in pieces anyway, why not bore it out to 944 
I know when you do these sort of mods, it can start to get expensive, and you lose the "bang for buck" value, but it would sooooo be worth it 

So, with an engine at just over 30K and running well, is it too early to go "that far"?

Another option is to go - air box, PC3, flywheel (and obviously a dyno and re-map) and then leave the pistons for another 10 or 20K. Would I notice any difference here without going to a full exhaust system? I only have the MiVV slip-ons.
 


Any thoughts, questions, opinions, theories and (abuse) are more than welcome 

[DosVerde]

So is it 1st mate Meanie? Last time I was in a boat on the Queensland coast, we got circled by a "Huey" with a digger on the gun, hope you have a better time.

Instead of doing it yourself, how about getting the suspension re-vavled, re-jigged and re-set (I dont know the right terminology) by an expert. It should make a big difference in how the bike feels.

Then you can use the power of the 944 kit better 

[Jukie]

might wanna do and engine oil change too, but i suspect that is just a given. i would start buying parts now while the money is good, and you can always fit them on at a later date, if you run out of time. We have a chain bracker as we thought this would be good as we have 2 bike, and it is easy to do. If you are going to paint her keep her YELLOW

[Yellow Meanie]

Good idea Dos. I wouldn't have thought the forks would need to re-built totally, but I'll do some digging.

Yeah Jukie, I gave her an oil change, new pads and a good check-over when I had the wheels off
(remember the "Hover-Duc") 

And yes, YELLOW all the way, I wouldn't ride anything else 

[Dannog]

G'day Dave, if its more ponies your after check out this thread. It has lots of ideas included a 944 kit and hi comp pistons. The challenge is to decide if the expense is worth it or a newer S4RS is more your style 

[mattyvas]

Where's the thread Dannog?

[FIFO]

Hey Meanie
All you need is an angle grinder and pin punch to break the chain.

And a centre punch and ball pane hammer to join it.

And that's from the horses mouth the local ducati dealer.
That's what they do
That how i  have joined many chains not for bikes but machinery.

And tomorrow doing Dezmonsters bike the same way.

Or get an EK screw link from monster parts no special tools needed
http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/EKSCREWLINK/Chain-Sprocket/EKSCREWLINK.html

I got quoted $100/$150 to do the forks plus seals which i have.
And that is giving them the bike as well to set up the damping
That from Dezmo works here.
As i just did the 20k service my self, valve adjust and belts etc.
And saved heaps.a small price to get the forks done as i don't have the spring compressor.And need my fingers

[Yellow Meanie]

Yeah Dannog, where's the thread? You suck at the interweb...
I have thought about upgrading, and I know that I'll never get the same amount of power out of my 900 that I could get from a newer bike. And I am after more grunt, but...

The newer Monsters have that funny, bent swing-arm on one side, and *gasp* two exhausts on one side and nothing on the other!
Maybe I need to get out and see more Monsters, but I still haven't ever heard a S*R Monster that sounds as mean, or as lumpy as mine
And don't get me started on the big fridge hanging off the front. Actually, maybe I could plumb it into my tail bag to keep my beers cold...


Thanks for the chain tip there Rob. How about some pics and a "How To" write-up?
Sounds like a pretty good price for the forks too. Although I'm not sure who to go through in Tassie for that type of work. I'm a bit reluctant to take my forks into a "normal" bike shop here in Hobart. I don't really even trust the Ducati shop in Lonnie anymore, after they put on a new chain that I consider to be too short 
There must be some sort of a specialist down here somewhere. I've met heaps more riders lately, so I'll ask around.


 

[heatherp]

There's always the 1000s.  No big fridge on the front. Dual swingarm. Exhaust on both sides.  Don't think they came in YELLOW though.

[Dannog]

opps http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=33608.0

[loony888]

ca-cycleworks do a 95mm mahle piston kit for about $600 that gives a lot more grunt, all you would need then is a set of 41FCR keihins and that would be the business! the nikasil replate would be the expensive part of the big bore but other than that it's a drop in job, food for thought?


paul.

[Yellow Meanie]

Thanks Dannog, good thread. There seems to be quite a bit of info on carb'd 900's but not a lot on injected.

It looks like Loony has just blown my budget way out of the water    I spose if I'm gonna go for the big bore, I might as well go for the biggest!
Lucky I don't need the Keihins...
Any idea what sort of $$$'s I'm looking at for the bore and replate?

hmmm, definitely a 2 or 3 stage operation now 

[loony888]

 apparently i can burn through cash faster than MC Hammer, so i'm just doing what i do best

[Jukie]

since you have money to burn Looney how about signing up for the training day huh

[Dannog]

When I looked at this it was going to cost a lot more than $600. 2 pull down the motor means that you'll be spending anything up to a grand so the staged approach seamed like an expensive way to go, not to mention the time involved. These guys in the eastern states only ride half the year so they have plenty of time in the 'off season' for these mods.

You should have a look at costs to shoe horn in a second hand 1000DS engine. Do the pistons, cams and anything else you want when its on the bench and then swap over. I dont know what a second hand engine would cost here but might be worth looking into.