Flex Monster 696

Flex · 07 Feb 09, 04:00 PM

HI Guys

Here are some quick snaps. After the crash (the reason I decided to give her a nice makeover) the seat cowl is cracked and so off at the body shop. I ordered the 2009 carbon strip one from the catalogue to complete the carbon mohawk but it didnt arrive so I am going to do something fun with the stock one and have 2. Will get some cool moody shots when all finished but i figured you'd want to see some pics for now and besides i just wanted to go riding - hence the rush job you understand

Mods to my 696+ so far:

Carbon:
Instrument panel cover
Ignition guard
Tank strip
Heat shield
Exhaust guards
Rear mud guard
Sprocket cover

Engine and Drive:
Carbon Termis plus ECU and filter
14 tooth front and 45 tooth rear Ducati performance sprockets
520 Pitch Red Ducati Performance Chain

Other:
5 spoke light weight wheels with Pirelli Diablo Rosso Tyres (180 rear)
Black Renthal handlebar
Red Rizoma grips and bar ends
Pazzo Racing levers (Red shorties)
R&G Tail tidy + LED light

Future mods:
Black headlight panel sprayed
HID light upgrade (in the post)
Some form of rearset (either rizoma or custom cut of standard)
Small front indicators
carbon timing belt cover
rizoma mirrors (in the post)

Enjoy....

jim shea · 07 Feb 09, 05:18 PM

Flex,
I must have missed something, when did you have a crash? the bike looks nice now..
Rod,
CF ones are about 700 quid, S/S ones are 600 I think and the Titanium ones are about a grand...

Flex · 08 Feb 09, 08:22 AM

Before Christmas a woman pulled out and tboned me.

Got her back the day b4 yesterday. I feel very edgy now and because of the different weight and steering geometry i dont feel comfy. Couple that with a quad bike accident in Dubai last week where i shattered my nose, i feel like a crash test dummy at the mo.

The pirellis are very slick so i need to scrub them in asap as it feels like i'm on ice. Sould be okay though. When the cowl is carbon/i decide what to paint on the old one, it'll look awesome. The carbon strip in the flesh transforms the look so much. Wheels not so much actually as the brakes are so big. Just looking 4ward to bedding all the new parts in sop I can utilise that 14t and chain to get that front wheel up

moonster · 08 Feb 09, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flex

Before Christmas a woman pulled out and tboned me.

Got her back the day b4 yesterday. I feel very edgy now and because of the different weight and steering geometry i dont feel comfy. Couple that with a quad bike accident in Dubai last week where i shattered my nose, i feel like a crash test dummy at the mo.

The pirellis are very slick so i need to scrub them in asap as it feels like i'm on ice. Sould be okay though. When the cowl is carbon/i decide what to paint on the old one, it'll look awesome. The carbon strip in the flesh transforms the look so much. Wheels not so much actually as the brakes are so big. Just looking 4ward to bedding all the new parts in sop I can utilise that 14t and chain to get that front wheel up

A great looking 696,love the wheels.The paint looks more glossy than the standard wheels which looks nice,i will be doing the carbon strip mod and seat cowl soon so please post a photo when done.

half man, half mole · 08 Feb 09, 09:46 AM

Great looking bike there Flex

. Loads of tasteful mods and more to come

.

I've added it to the members bikes section and deservedly so.

Mike

Flex · 08 Feb 09, 11:14 AM

Thats great thanks mate - glad to see its appreciated

Neil Keogh · 08 Feb 09, 11:19 AM

Hello mate,

I hope you're on the mend?

Bike looks great by the way!

Neil

jim shea · 08 Feb 09, 02:10 PM

Flex,
Sorry to hear that.. Get back on that horse and enjoy, but be careful....

748rosso · 08 Feb 09, 03:50 PM

Hi

Looks great..how does it ride with the 180 rear tyre on it compared to the standard size ?

Flex · 09 Feb 09, 06:21 AM

well i havent had a chance to scrub them in yet, so its a bit twitchy at the mo.

When i have taken her up to the mountains i'll let you know

Rudolph Hart · 09 Feb 09, 09:57 AM

Should be interesting to read your comments Flex. I fitted a wider rear wheel to a BMW boxer twin some years back after buying a bike needing some work on it.

I found that the slightly wider tyre resulted in slightly slower steering. There was no more grip seemingly available but I suspect that the wider tyre was taking more effort to move to the contact patch. When entering a turn, the contact patch on the tyre moves to the inside of the turn. The wider the tyre the further it has to move & hence the greater steering input required.

The 180 section combination is supplied by Ducati so you probably won't notice much change at 'normal' road speeds. You have mentioned that the bike feels different with regard to steering geometry, perhaps it's just a case of getting used to the bike again?

Enjoy your revived bike.

moonster · 09 Feb 09, 10:06 AM

If you look at the 1100 spec with the 180 rear tyre the front tyre is a different profile,maybe that makes a difference.I remember reading that Ducati had decieded the 160 was the idea choice for the 696,but the 180 does look great.

Flex · 09 Feb 09, 10:21 AM

now that is interesting, on tight turns (eg coming out of a b-road) i was heading for the curb quite noticeably. Upon closer inspection, the mechanic has my steering lock screws uneven (3.5 visible threads in the left and 7.5 on the right!)

I am taking it in tomorrow to be checked and to get them to bleed the brakes again (very soft with lots of travel - i imagine where they took them apart to fit the rims) so she still has some kinks to straighten out.

I'll see if I can get some more pics up soon so you can see the 520 chain and rear mud guard better (they look amazing)

cheers

p.s watch this space for a marchesini coffee table made from a rear wheel

Rudolph Hart · 09 Feb 09, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flex

p.s watch this space for a marchesini coffee table made from a rear wheel

What's a Marchesini Coffee? Anything like a Cappuccino, but with an extra shot??

Better not say too much or Starbucks will add yet another overpriced yet strange caffeine-based beverage to their menu.

Flex · 27 Feb 09, 09:39 AM

A few more pics from recent light mods:

where she lives in my homemade workshop

Renthals and carbon key-guard

with fork and axel sliders fitted (R&G product)

the coffee table is on hold as I am off travelling for a bit to climb mount Everest, then do some volunteer work on Cambodia. I thought I would be able to put a sheet of glass over my old rear wheel and make a coffee table (a la the v8 engine block one off topgear style). Problem is the wheel comes out wider than the rim (were it attaches to the swingarm) so I need to get it machined down. Coz of the trip both time and moneys are a factor so Monster on pause.....