Monster Race Bikes

[jarelj]

Where did you get that header system
I found one similar?? at spareshack.com
but I emailed them and have not heard back from them
I am a bit leary about ordering anything out of the country
I called motowheels and they were going to call me back regarding
a group buy but also have not heard back from them

I am looking for a spaghetti header for my '95 supersport
and I also have a '98 monster

Dan....

 

I got it from http://www.eurocorsa.com/ had to wait about 6 weeks but it finally came in.

[jarelj]

My plans got derailed for the track day last week, I ended up justing taking the 1098.  I'm going to try again this coming Monday.  I did get a chance to take the Monster out for a brief shakedown spin, and I think I'm going to like it once it's running well.  The chassis felt very "sporty" but stable, I didn't get to drag a knee since I wasn't at the track but I could at least tell that it's close to a good setup.  But the jetting is way off, it needs to get to the dyno.

[Grio]

I've got a question for you monster racing folks:
How are you addressing how light the monster is on the front wheel.  I've just got my monster back after a year of separation, and I am shocked by how little weight is on the front.  Under heavy breaking I can get the front tire to skip consistently.   The front is not “pushing”  there is just not enough weight to get that thing settled in.  Long ago I sent Fasterblackduc a PM regarding raising the rear...I have a 916 front end on my bike and the forks are dropped maybe 3-5 mm, but it just does not inspire a lot of confidence for really aggressive riding.  The bike feels like a tail dragger in comparison to the gixxer I use for the track.

Any words of advice?

[fasterblkduc]

I don't remember if you raised the rear at all or if you have clipons? I would start there first. The Monster is very capable of cornering hard, but you're right...it is a tail "dragger" in stock form.

It took me a while to get the perfect set up. Off the top of my head from memory, I have 9.5mm of fork above triple, and I've raised the rear enough to get 12 degrees of swingarm angle. I think your forks are longer so I could take some measurements for you as a guide if you need me to. I could measure from the floor up to the bottom of the lower clamp,(that would cancel out the difference in fork length) and find a reference point to measure for the rear. You could use this as a starting point to make adjustments. My Monster is awesome on the track now. It handles so good now that it does not feel like a Monster at all. It's rock solid. I had a few lowsides before I got it dialed in from tucking the front. Now, with rebuilt stock forks and the right geometry changes, it has turned several 1:59 laps at BIR. That is freakin' hauling the mail on a 60hp. bike. I think that's the second fastest time ever for an Ultralight. (these laps were done by my teammate Mark Miller during an endurance race, I'm running 2:04s)
I'm only talking about mine to explain that it's set up awesome for racing, and that you could reference it.

Or, just make small adjustments yourself. Let me know if you want some measurements. I can take some this week.

[Grio]

yeah, I'd be interested in knowing how you've got yours set up.  I've got clipons...thought I would get them on the bike sometime soon.

[fasterblkduc]

Cool. Give me a few days. I'm super busy this week. I'll just pm you the info.

[jarelj]

We weighed mine yesterday, it was 365 lbs. with 183 on the front and 182 on the rear, so pretty good weight distribution.  I've raised the rear quite a bit and have the forks 5mm above the triples.  Haven't had it on the track yet, so I'll probably end up tweaking the ride height settings after I've had a chance to put it through the pace.s

[jarelj]

Finally got the Monster out to the track for a "shakedown" run.  I didn't have a chance to get it to the dyno beforehand, so I just guessed at the jetting, it wasn't too far off but can definitely use some further tuning.  I found the riding position was not going to work, so I had to improvise a spacer under the seat to get it up a little bit higher.  The footpegs are still a problem, too close to the exhaust, so I'm still going to have to do something about that.  The handling was surprisingly good, considering the whole chassis is completely customized and had never been tuned on the track yet.  I think it's going to make a fine race bike!  It went to the dyno today, so it should be ready to roll next week for the next track day.  I'll post some pics of it on the track when I get them downloaded.

[jarelj]

[JDS 07 S4Rs]

Jarel. Nice Pic. Isnt that a Yamaha Helmet 

Hey,,, what R your thoughts on turning a S4RS into a track bike ? I am so tempted

[jarelj]

Jarel. Nice Pic. Isnt that a Yamaha Helmet 

Hey,,, what R your thoughts on turning a S4RS into a track bike ? I am so tempted

I prefer to think of it as a Colin Edwards helmet, the Yamaha association is purely incidental..... 

Just depends on why you'd be doing it.  If it was for an occasional track day, and the rest of the time it would be a road bike, then go for it.  I've ridden an S4RS on the track several times, they do quite well up to a moderately fast pace.  The motor, suspension, and brakes are great for the track.  If you were going to make it a dedicated track bike (and/or if you're a fast track rider - racer, "A" group rider, etc.), then I'd probably say start with a different bike unless you have an S4RS with crash damage or something like that which could be modified without losing a lot of value.  For faster track speeds, you really need more weight on the front end, so you'd be switching to clip-ons, and the ground clearance would need to be increased with adjustable rearsets.  The seating position is not ideal for the track either (needs to be higher and canted forward more), so if you wanted to make it into a real race bike you'd probably want to switch to a different tail section like I have on my Monster, that makes it feel a lot more like a proper track bike.  At the end of the day, you have a 999 without the Superbike chassis and riding position which are already great for the track, so you might be asking yourself why you didn't just get a Superbike.  If you just want to take it out and have some fun, go for it!

[JDS 07 S4Rs]

Thanx Bud/Jarel............Thats kinda what I thought. So,,, I have a few people I know,, looking into a SBK that has been cosmetically altered.
I seen a 1098 on the back of a flat deck truck last week. The fellow lost it on the Hiway some place close to me. Frame, wheels & suspesion looked good. The rest not so good. The poor guy. Hope he had good Ins.




A SBK 999R,,, would be a good tracker/Race bike,,, ehhh ? ? Keeps me under 1000 cc,,,,,,,,hmmmm
Anywho,,,,,,,,Taking the S4RS that I have now,, & changing it to be competative on the track(cause,,, thats what I would end up doing) Would be a waist. Thanx for clarifing that.

Keep us posted on your results with your Monster/tracker.

Cheers

JDS

[gm2]

a monster is a street bike.  if you want a track bike, esp a "competitive" track bike, get a track bike...

A SBK 999R,,, would be a good tracker/Race bike,,, ehhh ? ? Keeps me under 1000 cc,,,,,,,,hmmmm

why does staying under 1000cc matter?

and yes, a 999R is a superbike.. but there's a lot of debate about whether or not it's a *good* superbike.  especially, and if you're already talking those kinds of $$$, in light of, say, an 848.  or 1098.  both farrrr better track bikes that the 749/999.  but personally i don't know why you would track any ducati, unless someone was paying you to do so.  or at least providing the bike and paying for it when it goes down.  or you have lots of cash.

[truckinduc]

HOLY EXHAUST TUBE DIAMETER!!  How big are those primary tubes on the 1098?

[darylbowden]

a monster is a street bike.  if you want a track bike, esp a "competitive" track bike, get a track bike...

why does staying under 1000cc matter?

and yes, a 999R is a superbike.. but there's a lot of debate about whether or not it's a *good* superbike.  especially, and if you're already talking those kinds of $$$, in light of, say, an 848.  or 1098.  both farrrr better track bikes that the 749/999.  but personally i don't know why you would track any ducati, unless someone was paying you to do so.  or at least providing the bike and paying for it when it goes down.  or you have lots of cash.

Especially if you already have a track bike that you bought a month ago!  Fix the one you have.  No point in spending 15k+ on a bike that you won't be any faster on than the one you already have in your garage.