M696 2009 lock to lock questions

[babydoc]

Am new to Ducati, accustomed to BMW. wondering if I need some riding tips due to the problem of the hand grips hitting the tank guards and even scratching the paint off with a tight turn effort. Is this something that I am just going to have to deal with, ie. avoiding the need for tight turns (like in a parking lot). Everything else about the bike is a blast. AAny suggestions?

[Howie]

Either the steering stops need to be adjusted or you have a bent handle bar.  This is assuming the stops are not bent or broken.

[Raux]

need some more info.

did you buy new? dropped? mods? pics?

[bikepilot]

Yes it shouldn't hit. In addition to all of the above your bars may simply not be aligned in the clamp correctly.  Make sure they are centered and consider rotating them forward just a touch.

[babydoc]

Thanks for the replies, and since I first posted this, I have  talked to the mechanic who has always serviced her. I already knew that the former owner had a lowside on it losing the stock tankskin, turn signal, passenger foot peg as well as the rider foot peg. What I didn't know was that the handlebar also had to be replaced and is not stock. So now that I have put on new tank covers, the control switch area, on the left especially, hits the tank preventing a tight steer action. What I would like some help with, is do I replace this one with a stock one, or are the aftermarket ones better?

[freeclimbmtb]

Thanks for the replies, and since I first posted this, I have  talked to the mechanic who has always serviced her. I already knew that the former owner had a lowside on it losing the stock tankskin, turn signal, passenger foot peg as well as the rider foot peg. What I didn't know was that the handlebar also had to be replaced and is not stock. So now that I have put on new tank covers, the control switch area, on the left especially, hits the tank preventing a tight steer action. What I would like some help with, is do I replace this one with a stock one, or are the aftermarket ones better?

Having had a similar lowside on my 696, look at your tank from the top down in the keyguard area.  make sure the gap is uniform all the way around between the key to the tank.  When mine went down and bent the bars, they also tweaked the tank to the left, so the left grip would hit the tank because the tank was moved, and the right would hit becasue the bars were bent.  Just another thing to check.  Also an FYI, Ducati deems ANY frame damage to need replacement, so which includes the two flimsy little tabs that the tank mounts to.  (I sure as hell wouldnt replace the frame, id just bend the tabs back...but in my case i was trying to get the insurance to total the bike...so they wrote off the frame)

[696DCRider]

Just adjust the screw to account for it.  It's just a lock nut.  Loosen the nut, turn bolt until happy, then tighten nut again.  That easy.