want new wheels = requires 4.5" --> 5.5"

[Duck-Stew]

I spoke w/Carrozzeria a couple years ago about custom doing some 4.5" rear wheels for Ducati's and he was receptive to the idea but my then-customer backed out so it never went any further...

[Raux]

I spoke w/Carrozzeria a couple years ago about custom doing some 4.5" rear wheels for Ducati's and he was receptive to the idea but my then-customer backed out so it never went any further...

so they would be willing?

[Duck-Stew]

Seemed like he would and I am a dealer for Carrozzeria wheels...  I have the email somewhere.

If there's serious interest, I'll run it by him again.  Best part for me is that they're local.

[Raux]

thanks, will be putting that on the list when i'm ready. i don't want to go up to 180's either. seems the extra weight and turn in effort completely defeats the point of the lightweight 'addition'

[TwoWheels]

Are the Alpina Tubeless Spoked Wheels available at Monster Parts available in the 4.5 width?

Does anyone know what they weigh relative to stock wheels?

[Duck-Stew]

I have some here in the 5.5" width and they're definitely heavier than a stock cast aluminum 3 or 5 spoke Ducati wheel.

[TwoWheels]

Wow, heavier than the stock wheels on the lower end bikes with the 4.5 rear like the 620?  Very disappointing.

[MotoCreations]

It's been a few years, but the trick lightweight 4.5x17 rim was from the racing Aprilia RS250.  Somewhere there was a lightweight FZR400 rim available from the aftermarket as well.  I've seen these latter adapted to M750's for racing. (guy did the swap as the Japanese bike lightweight wheels were cheap in comparison to Ducati direct swap items) Same type of swap as putting Honda CBR600RR wheels on a Ducati that is posted elsewhere. 

(Stuart -- maybe a kit with all the parts to make easy swap kits for folks?  There are some cool non-Ducati rims that would look good on a Monster and some are 6.5in wide rear!)

[Raux]

It's been a few years, but the trick lightweight 4.5x17 rim was from the racing Aprilia RS250.  Somewhere there was a lightweight FZR400 rim available from the aftermarket as well.  I've seen these latter adapted to M750's for racing. (guy did the swap as the Japanese bike lightweight wheels were cheap in comparison to Ducati direct swap items) Same type of swap as putting Honda CBR600RR wheels on a Ducati that is posted elsewhere. 

(Stuart -- maybe a kit with all the parts to make easy swap kits for folks?  There are some cool non-Ducati rims that would look good on a Monster and some are 6.5in wide rear!)

hmmm OZ is making some killer rims for the 250's (more things that make me go hmmm )

[BK_856er]

So "about to pull the trigger" stretched to about 6 months...the whole tire size issue really damped my enthusiasm...but eventually I caved in after realizing that a new bike is probably not in the cards this year.

Here's a tease pic.  Ordered from MW yesterday, and had the wheels less than 24hrs later.

Now I need to settle on some rubber.  It'll be 170/60 with either 120/60 or 120/65 front.  LOTS more choices with the 120/60 size.  Did the math calculations and the differences in radii are quite small.

Been real happy with Pilot Power 2CT.  Also considering BT-016, Rosso, M3 and Sportmax Q2.  Any opinions?

BK

[ducpainter]

Powers.

I run 70 series for added rim protection, but you can run any size you want.

[BK_856er]

Ordered the parts in quoted text below and received them today.  Holes are in the wrong place!

Seems the part number for the upper has been updated, but the lower is the same one that I ordered:

44710302A    upper (listed as 1000 M/03 on label)
44710311A    lower (listed as ST2-ST4/02 on label)

Somehow I screwed up.  Anyone have a part number that'll work for me, ie steel DSS sliders compatible with 5.5" wheels?

Plan B is to modify the existing M695 slider.  Any tips/pitfalls on that?

BK

These would seem to be the correct chain guides (from an '00 ST2 with steel swingarm):

44710301A     upper
44710311A     lower

The parts diagram shows the bolts on the opposite sides compared to mine, so that makes sense with respect to the offset.  Currently my chain nearly rubs my aftermarket rear hugger, which I guess is technically made for a 5.5" rim, so more offset in the outboard direction should put the chain in the middle of the opening/passage where this hugger expects it to be.

How do you handle the front sprocket?  Just flip it around and shim under the retainer as required to get correct front/rear alignment?  No case clearance issues with a 15t?

BK

[BK_856er]

Wheel are mostly on!  Everything bolted up no problem.  More details on measurements later.

Flipped the front sprocket around.  Clearance near the clutch slave is tighter.



Sighting down the sprockets looks good.  Quick check with my Profi laser tool shows perfect alignment all the way to the front sprocket.



Took a box cutter to the ridge on the upper slider, then made it perfectly smooth with a dremel.  Polished it up with some sandpaper.  Coverage looks decent, about half in the rear and maybe one-third in the front.  It'll do for now.  The ST2 sliders I bought actually WILL WORK PERFECTLY.  But I will need to drill two new holes.  Is a rivnut really required, or can I just tap a hole for an M6 bolt??



Looking pretty darn good!  I still need to fine-tune the rear alignment and take a few more measurements before the first ride.



BK

[BK_856er]

Mission accomplished!  Here's a first ride report.  For various reasons I decided to go with 120/70 and 180/55 Pilot Pures as the first set of rubber.  Measured circumference/radii were VERY similar to my previous 120/60 160/60 2CT tires, so no significant change to geometry.  Less "fall into the turn" sensation than the 2CT, but very precise and linear.  No negative consequences so far to the larger tire size - still feels like a nimble little monster.  Brakes definitely bite harder and the bike scoots better with hard throttle.  Overall greater level of responsiveness for sure, which is exactly what lighter wheels promise.  Maybe it was just the virgin rubber, but the back end got a bit squirly on some downshifts (wet type slipper clutch) and driving out of one particular turn I got an unexpected little rear slide.  I'll need to be a bit more careful with this new responsiveness.  The Nichols flywheel likely contributes there.  The modified chain slider worked perfectly - thanks, Duck-Stew!.  I didn't get good weight measurements due to an untrusty scale, but with rotors/tires/sprockets installed the front "felt" similar and the rear was substantially lighter than what I was running before.  A bonus on the 120/70 front tire is that it is far more compliant than my previous 120/60 size, so that finally helps solve a long running issue I've had with my Matris forks.  Overall I'm pleased with the outcome, but I still would have preferred to stay with a 4.5" rear wheel.  I will say tha the OZ wheels are superbly designed and manufactured - a real first class item.

BK

[The Mad King Pepe']

I was poking around Carrozzeria's site and noticed they have sets for motards as well which have 5" rear wheels (no 4.5 available).

Emailed them about it and a nice guy name Craig quickly answered and told me they could provide me with a set for my '01 M750 for about 18 houndred $. Time to start saving