Another no-Monster build thread

[MonsterHPD]

As some of you might know, my first Ducati was a Monster 900, bought almost new in 2002. As I got hooked on track day riding, it got more and more track-day oriented mods, and at some point it was no longer a very good street bike.

DSC_0566 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

So, in 2008 I bought an ST4s to use as a basis for an ST2-motored track day bike. Seemed like a not too-bad idea at the time, since chassis-wise everything I'd made or aquired for the Monster would fit, and the ST2-motor could be made a little stronger than the 900, and most motor components would also fit both ways.
In parallel with this, my wife decided she'd take a drivers license for bikes, so after some deliberation I bought a Monster 800 Dark in 2005, for which much of the same parts would also fit.
As is so often the case, life got in the way with house projects, kids school, work, …. So this is how far the ST2 project got before it was canceleled:

P2220007 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

While visiting a friend, who was building a 749R / Hym 1100 / Radical project, it turned out he was in much the same situation; his project had also sort of petered out, and after not too much haggling, I was the proud owner of a barely-running project with a lot of potential.

P5100020 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

Since my wifes riding plans also more or less petered out, and since my 900 was mostly in track day trim, I'd taken to riding the 800 more and more, and found it more and more enjoyable. After fixing the worst glitches (suspension and exhaust), it's actually an enormously fun little bike to ride, even on track days, and I can't recommend the Bridgestone S20 tyres highly enough.

P5060034 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

Well, so much for background.  As you will see, also half-finished projects means a lo of work, and a lot of money. The only marginally cost-effective way to get performance is to buy it from the manufacturer, in form of one of the very competent sports bikes available these days. Boring as that would be.   

More to follow, but it's time to hit the bed now.

[koko64]

Subscribed .

[Howie]

 

[koko64]

 

[MonsterHPD]

Well,
this thread will be a little back and forth along the timeline.

The Carillo rods arrived recently, so I had to split the spare motor to get at the crank, all now on their way for balancing.

Rodswise, Ducati claimed the following upon introduction of the DS motor:

The 94mm pistons are linked to the crankshaft with new connecting rods, made from a new material composition (30NiCrMo4) that has exceptional flow characteristics during forging. This allows Ducati engineers to design a more optimal shape to the connecting rod cross section because of the consistent and flaw-free characteristics of the new material during the forging process. In cross section, the new rod is thinner side-to-side, but wider fore-to-aft (a more advanced I-beam) which is stronger and lighter for increased reliability and performance. Additionally, the rods have been mechanically and chemically surface stress relieved resulting in a smoother and imperfection-free surface for higher reliability and strength.

Be that as it may be, digging out all rod versions I have:

20161025_174900 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

From left to right:

Autoverdi (398.5 g)
Carillo (418.5 g)
HYM 1100 (490.0 g)
M / ST / SS (494.5 g)

Interestingly, the Autoverdi is even lighter than the CArillo, and I was slightly surprised at the very slender-looking small end of the Carillo rod. To some extent, it may be appearance deceiving the eye, since they are differently designed:

20161025_175244 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

Presumably, Carillo knows what they are doing 

[koko64]

Thanks for the update. What are you going to do with your other projects?

[MonsterHPD]

Well,
I don't really know what to do with them. On the other hand, there aren't really that many. I'd like to test out the ST motor, so sooner or later that will end up in the rain bike. I thought the 80K or so km motor currently in the rain bike was about to give up, but we're servicing that right now and it seems healthy enough.

For the M800, I'll probably leave that pretty much alone. For some reason, they seem to work well enough like that ..... but I will fix the rear, and make some footpegs that won't drag my feet all the time. Should not affect reliability that much, I suppose ....

As for the current project, the Pistal hi-comp pistons also arrived some time ago, and Pistals always look nice:

20161025_203025 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

20161025_203100 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

20161025_203231 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

The stock piston with rings and pin is 457.5 g, the Pistal is 434 g, not really that much in it weightwise.   

The crank would be a prime candidate for a lightening action, but I decided to leave it, apart from balancing. I forgot to weight the crank, but it's not light.

20161024_193948 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

[koko64]

Cool.
What compression ratio are those Pistals?

[MonsterHPD]

I have no idea, really. The Pistal catalogue only says "xx mm hi comp" etc. I'll check stock and Pistal when I get them back from the balancing.

[MonsterHPD]

In order to keep the motor as cool as possible, I'll use double oil coolers, so I need to fabricate ned cooler mounts (again ...).

Can't help but wonder how much clearance there should be between front wheel on full bump and motor / cooler etc:

20161102_205239 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

There's even some travel left in the forks .....

20161102_205227 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

... but Ducati also don't seem to be too particular about clearance on full bounce, this is the travel stop:

20161102_205326 by torbjörn bergström, on Flickr

It's not a Duc fender, but I don't think it's taking up any more space than a duc one.

Any ideas on clearance, someone?
   

[koko64]

^^^ Feeler gauge clearance. .

[Speeddog]

I'd say at least 1/2" at full bump.

[koko64]

Yeah you gotta allow for tyre growth and fork flex. You dont want to get black flagged for a shattered guard or ruptured oil cooler.

[MonsterHPD]

Yeah you gotta allow for tyre growth and fork flex. You dont want to get black flagged for a shattered guard or ruptured oil cooler.

Especially not  a ruptured oil cooler .... so back to the drawing board.

What's the best source of oil cooler hoses and fittings;  preferrably in Europe?

[Speeddog]

To clarify, at least 1/2" between the tire and any hard parts.

Business card between the fender and triple is fine.