180 tire and 5.5 rim on a M620 - DONE!

[shortbus]

Despite a lot arguing I've read on various boards about going with a wider rear rim on a M620, I've pulled the trigger on the switch and my local Ducati shop did the conversion for me. I must say I love how the bike handles with a bigger rear tire - normal street riding with occasional bursts of speed and pretending to corner hard, no track time nor sparks from the exhaust dragging on the asphalt 

I went with what we think to be an ST3 rear 5.5 rim (the grey was close enough and the spoke pattern was spot on) put a Pirelli 180 on the rear. It definitely is heavier, and feels slightly heavier. It feels more stable really, the rear feels more planted, downshifts feel grippier. I have been running with a 120/70 front tire for a while, and must say this conversion has made the bike feel more balanced. It's definitely raised the rear end up a bit which helps in the overall feel. The bike is a little slower to turn in, but i like that, versus the feel or the bike wanting to drop on its side.

Last (and very important), it looks freaking fantastic. I've also removed the coal canister, cut down the license plate holder and chopped the rear hugger. I love the look of the bigger tire on the little Monster 

some pics

[joshuajcrouch]

fap fap.

Any additional mods to get chain alignment?

[shortbus]

Yes actually. Front sproket was flipped, they used the carrier from the 4.5 wheel with a different conical spacer. The hugger had to be cut a bit also to clear the chain in the front most end. The chain rub pad doesn't quite sit under the chain properly, but we're keeping an eye on it to watch for how it wears.

[Rudemouthsky]

Thanks for sharing. Bout to get mine back from having the same thing done. 5.5 wheel from an M900 on my 750. Did a 180 Pilot R3. Stoked to try it out. Then my 900ss engine will hopefully be ready to swap in shortly thereafter

[ungeheuer]

About your rear wheel/tyre setup, I have nothing to say that you wanna hear.

But I do love those Conti-esque exhaust pipes.  Simple, clean lines.  Beautiful  .

[SpikeC]

 Boyhowdy, those pipes are nice! I could live with those.

[Rudemouthsky]

What's the diff between Contis and cheap $20 slip on megaphones? I dig em too no matter what the cost but I can't tell em apart

[shortbus]

The pipes were pretty much my first mod to the bike, I'm pretty sure they're made by Ducati, but it's been a while... They sure are loud  One day I'll get around to spraying them flat black...

Rudemouthsky, any advantage of putting a 900 engine on a 750 over just buying an M900?

[Rudemouthsky]

Rudemouthsky, any advantage of putting a 900 engine on a 750 over just buying an M900?

I got to keep my bike. I have a lot in her I know I'd never get back. That and by the time I'm through I'll have become a way more confident mechanic.

I can't lie though it makes me ill how many low mileage M900's with all the farkles I've seen for under 4 grand...when by the time I'm done I'll have easily over half that invested.

I should have stopped putting $ in her a long time ago but that ain't the way that it goes.

[shortbus]

ah. I know the feeling 

[Betty]

One day I'll get around to spraying them flat black...

Nooooooo!

  ... it's your bike do what you want.

[Rudemouthsky]

My own 5.5 swap is done...900ss engine swap is next. I am soooo stoked on this, I'd never go back

[shortbus]

awesome glad you also like it :-)

it really changes the bike. The more i ride mine the more i love it!

Did they do anything funky for your chain alignment?

[Rudemouthsky]

awesome glad you also like it :-)

it really changes the bike. The more i ride mine the more i love it!

Did they do anything funky for your chain alignment?

So far I love how it rides also. I did a pair of steel suspension risers at the same time. Really diggin the taller profile and aggressive seating position.

 AFAIK no chain issues. I've read that when the hub from the 4.5 wheel is used, the sprocket has to be flipped. But my wheel came with the sprocket carrier and I'm pretty sure it was a straight swap.

[shortbus]

OK makes sense. My wheel didn't come with the carrier, so they re-used my carrier off the 4.5 wheel, flipped the front sproket and had to get a different conical washer to make it work. I do have tons of chain clearance from the tire, but again my chain doesn't sit on the chain rub strip properly, does yours? I'm toyed with the idea of cutting a custom chain rub strip out of some sort of poly-plastic, but the dealer said leave it be and we'll monitor the wear.

Again great to see another monster with this config! enjoy, it looks great