Jools' Monster Project

**jools** · 28 Nov 05, 11:52 PM

Ever start something you regret????? Think this might be mine.....................

Just to fill you all in, having owned my M900 for two and a half years now. I've decided to use a minor accident to the seat cover as an excuse to make a few changes.

Originally I bought my bike for one reason, I had decided it HAD to be a Monster, therefore may as well be the big 'un. It also had to be an early looker, Black rims, Gold forks, Gold frame, Red paint and of course HAD to be the pukka 888 frame geometry.
It filled those criterion, and the SOOOOOO LOUD carbon cans, carbon flyscreen, carbon hugger, carbon clutch cover and carbon tail extension were all an added bonus!

According to the docs, it was a Ducati show/demo bike for it's 1st year, hence all the carbon goodies, then owned by a couple of people who parked it in their houses, and barely rode it. I bought it with 5500 miles on it, the MOT's showed it had done about 150 miles in the previous 3 years.

So anyway, as soon as I bought it, I cut the tail off, fitted a DP carbon bellypan, Sparco carbon wing indicators, DP teardrop mirrors, and made an LED tail light insert with integrated LED indcators. Unfortunatly my DIY soldering couldn't resist the vibes for more than a couple of months, but by then I had found someone selling them.

Since then I've done nothing but ride it and service it. The only parts I've fitted are a clutch plate pack, Oil filters, brake pads and tyres. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup's for those interested, really good tyres, that seem to suit the bike well. Oh yeah, went up to a 180 rear from 170 stock.

Month or so back, I reduced the seat cover to a jigsaw thanks to my own lazyness.
Dropped off a mate, pushed on the cover, thought "Hmmm, that seems snug enough, only going half a mile home." and rode home. Got home, two fixing screws safely in my pocket. NO TAIL!!!! Straight back towards mates, and there it was in the middle of the road, in bits. D'OH!!!!!

So 1 month of searching the net for an alternative, she's here!!!! Found an MV tail made to fit a Monster seat on eBay. So ordered it, and promptly received a stock shape one in white GRP. Couple of MX race numbers later, not a bad look.

Then got home last Friday to a HOOOOOOJ box in the hall. Ripped it open, and there it was!
Admittedly it's gonna take some work, don't want it to look like some lash-up job,
so got to paint it, get a tail light, and (Eeek) mod the subframe. Not so it fits, just to clean up a few bits, move part of the loom, and move a relay mount round out of sight.

To be continued...........

**jools** · 29 Nov 05, 12:02 AM

Oh, yeah. For the observant among you, just reupholstered the seat in black Alcantara. And NO I"M NOT DOING IT AGAIN. It was a bitch to get the front and pillion smooth and crease free in one piece.

**jyncks** · 29 Nov 05, 09:14 AM

Jools

Sounds like you got your work cut out...........no pun intended. Like the seat..can I have it? :wink:

J x

**Brian** · 29 Nov 05, 10:35 AM

Its looking good Jools when its done i think its gonna look very very sexy

**Steve** · 03 Dec 05, 06:05 PM

Now that does look good Jools, better than we we saw you last. Hopefully the rear light will stay on this time. Oh, and hows the little oil leak?

**jools** · 11 Dec 05, 06:34 PM

Yay!!!! Finally put the engine back together today.
I drained it down and removed the alternator cover last week to sort the oil leak, and decided to respray it whilst off. The plan was to prep and spray last sat, then following a trip to Pro-twins, spend sun putting it back together, job done..........
Er, no! As with all the best plans, it didn't get painted on sat, got all the new seals, etc. though. Then spent sunday servicing a friends Aprilia! (Don't ask!!!!!)

SO it's now done. Also rebuilt the clutch slave cylinder, including a new fangled quad seal. It's amazing what a non leaking clutch feels like!!!!!

Whilst at it I've also fitted some renthal MX bars too. But had to drop the forks in the yolks to clear the bars, only 8.65mm and seeing as the rears jacked up as high as possible already it might feel a little slower to turn. Think I'll have a look round for some spacers to raise the bars a touch.

Well, thats it for now, off to Rio next saturday, so the MV tail will have to wait till next year!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone! :P

**Brian** · 11 Dec 05, 06:59 PM

well its one job off the list matey 8)

Have a nice holiday in Rio ya lucky git and bring us back a stick of Rio rock :P

**jools** · 11 Dec 05, 10:10 PM

Do you know how long I'd get for drug trafficing????

Just get me soap-on-a-rope for christmas!!!!!

**Dan** · 13 Dec 05, 01:51 AM

That's a wicked looking bike Jools and a great project and excellent write up. Now I want a Monster as well as my 748 and a 749 Dark... better do the lottery this week..!

**ducky996r** · 10 Feb 06, 05:52 PM

looks pretty cool, good luck