OK, I have some first hand here with respect to both IMA triples for Monsters and for clipons thereon. Also, I have raised the forks in the triples from experimentation with what felt good (lowered the front end a smidge)
The IMA Monster triple clamps (MOD1
and MOD2) have the pinch bolt location/setup like the original Monster top triple clamps - two bolts perpendicular to the bike's centerline. Because of this, it protrudes forward of the fork. This allows the 98-99 era Monster fairing brackets to be attached (they use those two pinch bolts on each side). The IMA triples accommodate those fairing brackets by using the same bolt location as the Ducati triples (which I believe are the same from 94-01). This is contrasted with the SBK style triples, which typically have a single pinch bolt located much closer to the headstock, leaving a rounded profile matching the fork curvature on the outside of the triple clamp).
Original Monster Top Triple Shape:
SBK Shape:
The old school fairing and brackets I speak of:
The problem that I think you have run into is that most 53mm clipons are designed for SBK shaped upper triples in the way that the bar is mounted/oriented around the clipon "ring".
Personal findings:
- I had clipons with IMA triples with OEM Showa 3-way adjustable forks on my M900. My clipons were CycleCat brand designed for the Monster - with the 2.5" or so rise. That's the normal 50mm diameter. Doesn't really matter the boring diameter of the clipon with riser so much as where the riser was positioned on the clipon 'ring'. Pictures to demonstrate at very end.
- I switched to 998 Showa forks with ohlins internals. Instead of boring/shimming my IMA triples, I just ordered up another set since they are reasonably priced, and I was sure I'd find a use for the standard boring set. Since my bike was the older model, this meant I had to also change a bunch of stuff at the fork bottom as well (axle, brake caliper adapters, wheel, fender, etc).
I then needed to figure out some clipons for this system, since it was 53mm instead of 50mm. I had the option of finding a place to bore my clipons, or I could try to locate some 53mm clipons. I had some NCR clipons for the project that I could mount up - no rise, similar droop to the Ferracci clipons. I quickly realized that the 'droop' made the bar interfere with the pinch bolts on the top triple clamp because the bar is mounted on the front of the fork tube, rather than off the side like the Monster-specific CycleCats.
Boo. So I mounted them below the triple clamp. Its very aggressive in this posture, looks mean as hell, and puts lotsa weight on the front end and the stability feels fantastic. Advantage: You can still pick and choose the fork height in the triples so that your geometry is where you 'want' it, not determined by the various pieces and their interplay.
That's too extreme for many. After trying it, I do like it. But I would not ride this bike on a gentle-thrills low-speed long distance cruise. It would kill me.
Here's some findings of alternatives: I put the first set of IMA triples and forks on the fixxer-upper M900 I picked up. I got a standard Rizoma bar (22mm because I didn't get that top triple bored for tapered bars), and put the IMA riser-clamps on with that bar and noticed that it was actually a smidge lower than putting the 2.5" or so riser clipons above the top triple. Its not hunching over, but its nice and lower than the stock bars were. There's also bars that are "flatter" and get you even lower - more of a clipon result, especially if you were going to mount clipons with riser BELOW the triples. Yeah, you are back to using a bar instead of clipons, but if you need reason to justify, a single aluminum bar is lighter than many brands of clipon brackets+bars.
Other findings: Monster specific clipons will work, but most don't come in 53mm boring. Note the difference between the bar mount orientation in the cyclecats, the speedymoto tall boys (only advertised in 50mm), and the normal SBK speedymoto clipons (no riser, 50mm or 53mm):
SM TB 50mm:
See how bar is perpendicular to ring, off of side (looks to be at approx 3 and 9 o'clock)?
SM SBK 50/53mm:
See how bar is mounted 'tangential' to ring at front? (12 o'clock bar mount)
CycleCat's installed - shows them cocked off to the side, bar coming out perpendicular rather than tangential to ring:
What would I like to do? (same thing I would do in your situation and may do myself): Call SpeedyMoto and have them make you a set of Tallboys in 53mm boring. If they won't do it, find somebody local to you who will, order them up and have them bored. Once installed, take pics and send them to SpeedyMoto and say "you guys should totally do this for customers".
Not only is this what I would suggest, Its probably what I will eventually do for mine.
