916 Forks Questions - 96 M900

[dropstharockalot]

Apologies for the derby, I'm sure I've seen several threads on this topic in the past but I couldn't locate any in my quick scan...

Are 916 forks a direct swap for a '96 M900, or is some boring of the stock triple necessary?
Do the brake calipers line up in the same position for the stock rotors, or would I need to have spacers machined?

I've currently got the stock set-up: non-adjustable Showas w/ the 40mm Brembos and the 25mm axle, stock wheels and rotors.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

DTRAL

[Speeddog]

Shim required for lower triple, and bore-out for upper triple.
Or aftermarket triples made for SBK fitment to early Monster.

SBK forks are longer than your Showas, 29-5/8" vs 28-11/16".
At least by my measurements....

Reference: http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=33173.0

Brakes, wheel, rotor should all be fine, if your axle is cross-drilled, than you're set.

[ducpainter]

Apologies for the derby, I'm sure I've seen several threads on this topic in the past but I couldn't locate any in my quick scan...

Are 916 forks a direct swap for a '96 M900, or is some boring of the stock triple necessary?
Do the brake calipers line up in the same position for the stock rotors, or would I need to have spacers machined?

I've currently got the stock set-up: non-adjustable Showas w/ the 40mm Brembos and the 25mm axle, stock wheels and rotors.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

DTRAL

Are you sure your axle is 25mm on that 96?

I have a 96 and the axle shaft is 17mm with larger section on the r/h side where the hex is.

[Speeddog]

Was wondering about that axle myself...

[ducpainter]

It makes the wheel pretty useless. Axles are available.

I have a 3 spoke off a 748 that should work if that's the only thing stopping the project.

[dropstharockalot]

Are you sure your axle is 25mm on that 96?

I have a 96 and the axle shaft is 17mm with larger section on the r/h side where the hex is.

Uhh... y'know, that's very possible. I only measured the right side last night.  I'll certainly double-check tonight.

Is your post implying that the 916 forks actually use the 25mm axle, and not the 17mm that is likely present in my 96 m900?

[ducpainter]

Uhh... y'know, that's very possible. I only measured the right side last night.  I'll certainly double-check tonight.

Is your post implying that the 916 forks actually use the 25mm axle, and not the 17mm that is likely present in my 96 m900?

Yes.

The 25 mm axle originated on the 916 I'm pretty sure.

Do you have the new forks yet?

[dropstharockalot]

Nope, doing homework before jumping in to a purchase. I'm trying to sort out what i can accomplish before it gets nice enough to ride in a couple months.  Upgrades are down the list behind regular maintenance stuff, and if it gets too spendy it'll probably get postponed. 

The prospect of having shims machined, plus the triples bored - a bit daunting, but not a deal-killer yet.

Would I need to swap my whole front wheel, or is there a common spacer/bushing/bearing fix for the 25mm/17mm axle problem?




///or should I just commit myself to 30mins with the search function and stop bugging you guys?

[ducpainter]

A bearing swap isn't really the best way because the larger ID bearings are wider and then you get into making custom spacers or having your old wheel machined.

Probably cheaper just to get the right wheel and axle and bolt it on.

[junior varsity]

Hold on, i got this for ya - as I have just done this recently... twice.

Whatever the front wheel is on your M900, it won't be used with the 916 forks. Your M900 is going to have from the factory (unless its already been changed once) a 17mm or 20mm front axle. Your wheel will be for either of those two. The 916 forks (and 748 forks, and the later 748/996/998 forks) do not use this size axle. They use the 25mm hollow front axle.

Your to-do homework:
Triple Clamps and Controls: You will need to bore/shim your triples, or order a set for that purpose (53/53 for 916 showa forks). Mine are from IMA SrL, and I like them lots. If you have clipons, they will not work unless you bore them to 53mm ID as well, or get SBK clipons. Or beg speedymoto to bore the TallBoys at 53mm so you can have adj clipons with rise. Ignore if you are using a bar setup, but know that you may need to get bar risers so that your handlebar will adequately clear the fork caps/adjusters.

Axle/Wheel: You need a 25mm hollow front axle. If you got money to burn, get a lightweight one from TPO or Motowheels (they have the lightweight 7068 Alu front axle at TPO, which I have on my bike, and Motowheels has the Titanium version). You need a wheel for said front axle - with accommodation for the mechanical speedo drive gear. That kind of limits your options away from the newer monster front wheels that do not have this (AFAIK) unless you get creative finding another way for speedometer. Additionally, you want to make sure the wheel has the speedo pickups (meaning a 748-916-996 era wheel) and that it has the 6-bolt rotor pattern (so your brake rotors bolts up).  You will also need to procure a 25mm axle specific, Monster-specific speedo drive (the SBK ones will show a different speed apparently).

Brakes:
If you pick 916 (or early 748) forks, your Brembo Goldline 2-pad 1-pin calipers will bolt right up, no mods needed. They both have 40mm caliper mounts, correct offset to work with the 6-bolt rotors you already got, etc.
If you pick 996, 998, or late 748 forks, they have a 65mm brake caliper mount. You can either get 65mm to 40mm adapter plates (yoyodyne, ams, etc) and use your existing brake calipers (may need new line, no guarantee depending on other variables as to whether there is enough free play) or get 65mm mount Brembo Goldlines (just like yours but use 2 pins to hold in pads, so you'll need new pads to), or the 4-pad style 749/999 with 65mm mount (i *think* they work too).

If you are being choosey, you want to pick forks with a Titanium-Nitride coating (or DLC, whatevs) over the chrome ones. Chrome sliders are the most common (whats undoubtedly on your M900) however. But unless you are made of money, don't go and bid on those 916 forks on eBay with the TiNi sliders and the racetech hard anodizing because they are priced stupid high at over 500 bones. (Might as well get 848 forks and brakes for almost the same price as those forks alone since you are going to need a new axle and wheel anyhoo)

Last note: Your front fender won't work anymore. Any post '99 Monster fender should work, as will superbike fenders (more desirable as they protect the slider from rock dings - required if you get those TiNi sliders, protect the investment!). You also will want to make sure to snag the appropriate fork bottom "collars" or "straps" that the fender bolts onto.

[Nomad]

I'm in the middle of doing the exact swap.  916 forks on a 96 M900.  I got the IMA triples and everything is on right now except I'm waiting for the proper bushing for the left fork leg to arrive.  The end of the axle fits perfectly into the right fork when you slide it in.  I don't see why you would need anything except for the correct spacer for the left fork, but until I get mine and try it out, I wont be able to tell you for sure.

[ducpainter]

I'm in the middle of doing the exact swap.  916 forks on a 96 M900.  I got the IMA triples and everything is on right now except I'm waiting for the proper bushing for the left fork leg to arrive.  The end of the axle fits perfectly into the right fork when you slide it in.  I don't see why you would need anything except for the correct spacer for the left fork, but until I get mine and try it out, I wont be able to tell you for sure.

When you say spacer are you referring to the threaded insert for the axle that goes into the left fork bottom?

[junior varsity]

i thought that was just on the non-hollow axles, like the 20mm axle on the pre2000 monsters and pre99 ss... The 916 style forks use the hollow axle with a threaded end, sticks through the fork bottom and a washer and nut go on the outside.

You can put a spacer between the wheel and the fork to replace the mechanical speedo drive - is that what you mean?

[Nomad]

When you say spacer are you referring to the threaded insert for the axle that goes into the left fork bottom?

Yes this... I bought the forks/triples from Duck Stew and explained to him that I know nothing about any of this.  He told me all I would need is the threaded insert, but he had to wait for it to be ordered and will be sending it to me soon, I think.  So I will be able to say for sure then.

[ducpainter]

Yes this... I bought the forks/triples from Duck Stew and explained to him that I know nothing about any of this.  He told me all I would need is the threaded insert, but he had to wait for it to be ordered and will be sending it to me soon, I think.  So I will be able to say for sure then.

Easier to get the proper wheel and axle IMO...unless you have a machinist in your back pocket which Stu probably does.