Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: giordy on December 03, 2008, 04:44:01 PM

Title: I dropped my monster!
Post by: giordy on December 03, 2008, 04:44:01 PM
I don't know how it happened, but I lost my balance while moving the monster in the garage, and I dropped it on its left side!  :-[  :'( [bang]

The damage:

The clutch lever is bent (but luckily is still working) and the left instrument block slides around the handlebar (I tried tightening the screws but it didn't help).

The worst part is this: there is a screw in the steering head base that is supposed to hit a small lid on the frame to stop the handlebars from turning too far; the small lid on the frame is bent (by about 1/8"), so the handlebar is now free to turn left too much and slam in the tank!

Bending back the lid on the frame seems impossible - it's too thick... I don't even know how it got bent in the first place... It would seem easier to turn the screw on the steering head base so that it protrudes an extra 1/8", but the darn thing feels like it's welded in place, I couldn't move it!!

Anybody has any advice?

Thanks
Giordy
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 04:52:10 PM
Quote from: giordy on December 03, 2008, 04:44:01 PM
I don't know how it happened, but I lost my balance while moving the monster in the garage, and I dropped it on its left side!  :-[  :'( [bang]

The damage:

The clutch lever is bent (but luckily is still working) and the left instrument block slides around the handlebar (I tried tightening the screws but it didn't help).

The worst part is this: there is a screw in the steering head base that is supposed to hit a small lid on the frame to stop the handlebars from turning too far; the small lid on the frame is bent (by about 1/8"), so the handlebar is now free to turn left too much and slam in the tank!

Bending back the lid on the frame seems impossible - it's too thick... I don't even know how it got bent in the first place... It would seem easier to turn the screw on the steering head base so that it protrudes an extra 1/8", but the darn thing feels like it's welded in place, I couldn't move it!!

Anybody has any advice?

Thanks
Giordy
Dropping the bike in the garage is more likely to bend the bars than the steering stop.
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: giordy on December 03, 2008, 04:55:30 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 04:52:10 PM
Dropping the bike in the garage is more likely to bend the bars than the steering stop.

The bars don't seem bent, at least not obviously so. The steering stop is definitely bent, I can even see the paint flaking where the metal was bent...
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: Speeddog on December 03, 2008, 05:04:05 PM
Get a good 6-point wrench or socket on the nut, sometimes they're hella tight.
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 05:06:04 PM
Quote from: giordy on December 03, 2008, 04:55:30 PM
The bars don't seem bent, at least not obviously so. The steering stop is definitely bent, I can even see the paint flaking where the metal was bent...
Wow...

I've crashed my monster 3 times and dropped it twice...

and never bent a steering stop.

I'd use a heat gun to loosen things and adjust it.

You did loosen the locknut correct?
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: Ducnial on December 03, 2008, 05:19:23 PM
Ouch!  that sucks big time :'(  The adjusting screw has a lock nut, loosen it first. Might need to lengthen the set screw to get it out far enough.

Hind sight - leave the kick stand down when moving the bike around from the right side.
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: giordy on December 03, 2008, 05:30:57 PM
Ok, with some elbow grease I was finally able to loosen the locknut and get the screw out far enough... now the handlebars stop more or less in the right place.

Do you guys think that this is good enough, or should I be worried because of the bent stop? Maybe I should have it fixed somehow - I don't even know if it's possible?
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: giordy on December 03, 2008, 05:32:29 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 05:06:04 PM
Wow...
I've crashed my monster 3 times and dropped it twice...
and never bent a steering stop.

Hey, when I make the beast with two backs up, I do it well!
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: giordy on December 03, 2008, 05:34:15 PM
Quote from: Ducnial on December 03, 2008, 05:19:23 PM
Hind sight - leave the kick stand down when moving the bike around from the right side.

Lesson learned...
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 05:35:02 PM
Quote from: giordy on December 03, 2008, 05:32:29 PM
Hey, when I make the beast with two backs up, I do it well!
Mine is the older style frame.

I don't know what you're riding.
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: giordy on December 03, 2008, 06:13:26 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 05:35:02 PM
I don't know what you're riding.

Sorry, it's the 696. The frame is different, maybe the steering stops on the 696 are weaker.
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: He Man on December 03, 2008, 06:24:23 PM
bent mine going down at 3mph. :P
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: DucatiBastard on December 03, 2008, 07:40:14 PM
personally i always straddle the bike when I'm moving it, much less likely to drop it
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: somegirl on December 03, 2008, 07:43:44 PM
Quote from: DucatiBastard on December 03, 2008, 07:40:14 PM
personally i always straddle the bike when I'm moving it, much less likely to drop it

It's the opposite for shorty folks. ;)

And for the OP: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3151.0
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: Capo on December 04, 2008, 02:56:49 AM
Quote from: Ducnial on December 03, 2008, 05:19:23 PM
Hind sight - leave the kick stand down when moving the bike around from the right side.

+1  I'm 'cack handed' and approach a motorcycle from the right hand side, I allways leave the side stand down when maneuvering
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: duclvr on December 04, 2008, 03:29:38 AM
Quote from: DucatiBastard on December 03, 2008, 07:40:14 PM
personally i always straddle the bike when I'm moving it, much less likely to drop it

+1 And I'm short.

Sorry to hear about your drop.
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: TiNi on December 04, 2008, 04:12:57 AM
Quote from: somegirl on December 03, 2008, 07:43:44 PM
It's the opposite for shorty folks. ;)

yup... she's right on that one.

parking is no fun when you can only get your toes down,
i always get off when moving it around.

i always handle the bike from the left side,
and the kickstand is down if i'm getting on or off off the bike.
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: giordy on December 04, 2008, 08:14:25 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 05:06:04 PM
I've crashed my monster 3 times and dropped it twice...
and never bent a steering stop.

I showed it to a mechanic and he was surprised by the fact that the stops are fairly thin. I guess they are thinner than on the previous monsters.
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: He Man on December 04, 2008, 10:09:36 AM
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on December 04, 2008, 04:12:57 AM
yup... she's right on that one.

parking is no fun when you can only get your toes down,
i always get off when moving it around.

i always handle the bike from the left side,
and the kickstand is down if i'm getting on or off off the bike.

Its worst when you have to steer your bike poing downhill. and you wanna  turn her around so your rear tire hits the curb. Its kinda emabrassing to have to get off the bike and steer her on foot just to get the damn thing in position.

:/
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: Takster on December 04, 2008, 11:34:12 AM
Quote from: He Man on December 04, 2008, 10:09:36 AM
Its worst when you have to steer your bike poing downhill. and you wanna  turn her around so your rear tire hits the curb. Its kinda emabrassing to have to get off the bike and steer her on foot just to get the damn thing in position.

:/

It's considerably less embarassing than dropping it on the pavement. [beer]
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: TiNi on December 04, 2008, 12:12:53 PM
Quote from: Takster on December 04, 2008, 11:34:12 AM
It's considerably less embarassing than dropping it on the pavement. [beer]

oh hell yeah  [laugh]

i like this way of thinking :)
Title: Re: I dropped my monster!
Post by: Ducnial on December 04, 2008, 04:46:54 PM
OK..  since we're all confessing here [roll]   I dropped a previously owned 695 TWICE at a stand still. Both times were when I thought the stand was down [bang].   The feeling is probably  same regardless if its from ignorant stupidity (as in my case) or an accident from getting on wrong side of balance.   Fortunately the damage is usually minimal and its a good learning experience.  [bow_down]