I posted this at Ducati.org too. I can use all the help I can get!

Caio All,

I just closed my business to retire so I can focus on more important things...like tinkering on cool scoots!! I was making a living with them (exhausts, Chain Reaction Moto) but as fun as it is to be able to make a living with them, its not near as cool as just doing it for fun

So my goal is to build something I've been contemplating for a long time: a street tracker built from a cool modern scoot...and what's cooler than an Duc? Rhetorical question of course. The answer is obviously "nothing"!

I just took delivery today of an 09 696 that was striped and/or crashed. Its missing all the body pieces including the tank, headlight, instrument cluster, air box, etc. I don't really mind though. I got what was left for $1200 and I'm planning to make my own tank that, as much as possible, reflects a classic flat tracker, and other stuff out of aluminum. I'm also going to build a new aluminum tube/plate subframe to accommodate a tracker seat/fender setup from Omar's. (I just discovered when I got the bike that that will also involve the shock mount and motor mounts. But hey, it'll just be that much cooler.) I'll also be removing the pillion pegs, which means coming up with a way to mount the rear sets. And I'm also thinking doing a new aluminum tube swing arm. The wheels will have to be billet hub laced 19"ers of course.

So, for those of you who don't think I'm a heretic, crazy, or both, I'd love some advice, suggestions, and maybe even some collaboration.

It may be that you already know where I can get some of those parts. I can fabricate, so if the cost is too high I still might choose to build my own, but I'd at least like to know what my options are.

As for collaboration, regardless of what kind of shape the engine's in, I'd like to start off knowing that its perfect, and maybe a little built. That part isn't really my forte, so if someone likes the idea of trading some labor, maybe we could talk. If not, maybe you have some other suggestions on someone to send it to, or a comprehensive step by step for the top end--pretty sure I can handle that, and just send out the heads.

I can also cut, bend, and weld aluminum, but if I want to shape the tank or other things like number plates, I'm pretty inexperienced, so collaboration on that is possibility too.

This is not going to happen real fast, just a bit at a time.

So let me hear what you think, Bob

Welcome! You've come to a good place.

I'd post your plans in... probably in Accessories & Mods as the overall build. But I expect you're going to be in tech a good bit as well for various detailed answers. In here, it won't get som much attention.

You've got a lot of work ahead, but sounds like you're up to the task!

sosoo want to see sketches where you going with this

Quote from: Slide Panda on October 09, 2012, 11:01:20 AM
I'd post your plans in... probably in Accessories & Mods as the overall build. But I expect you're going to be in tech a good bit as well for various detailed answers. In here, it won't get som much attention.

Can I use the "Jump to" deal at the bottom to move this thread over?

No - that's just a navigation tool. But if you scroll to the bottom, where you spotted the Jump To - and look left you should see a 'move to' link. That's the one you want.

This is so cool.

Welcome aboard oldsquid 

Looking forward to this.....

the 1st thing I would be doing if I were you is this...since you are missing the instrument cluster, I would be looking into getting some sort of functioning replacement like a Nemesis or other type for bypassing the immobilizer protocals so that you can make sure the bike runs and without issue before investing a whole bunch of time and money into the project...I can't want to see the outcome of this though!...sounds like it could be an awesome bike when all is said and done.

Quote from: zooom on October 10, 2012, 05:28:45 AM
the 1st thing I would be doing if I were you is this...since you are missing the instrument cluster, I would be looking into getting some sort of functioning replacement like a Nemesis or other type for bypassing the immobilizer protocals so that you can make sure the bike runs and without issue before investing a whole bunch of time and money into the project...I can't want to see the outcome of this though!...sounds like it could be an awesome bike when all is said and done.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to send the engine to some guys I trust to go through it.

However, I'd love to hear about instrumentation options. Given that I'm sort of hoping to achieve a somewhat retro style, I wouldn't mind going analog. It would obviously have to be an electronic/digital to analog deal, but a pair of gauges--speedo/tac--with a digital info bar would be ideal. Any plug and play options anyone is aware of?

ALSO!! Sketches from me have been mentioned. If you're interested in stick figures, I can do a passable job. When it comes to design, it usually goes from my head to paper (or whatever) mockup on the bike. I'd absolutely LOVE to see some sketches, CAD, whatever, of what you guys would do.

Here's what I'm thinking: I've already purchased a seat made by Omar's. I'll stick a picture in below. I'll be fabing a subframe to accommodate the flat design. I don't have it yet, but I'll post a picture of it with the bike when I do. Assuming I retain the stock shock configuration, the seat will basically be horizontal at the level of the top shock mount.

For the tank: First of all, I want to mock a traditional flat tracker (Triumph, HD XLR) teardrop as much as possible. However, the up-sloping trellis is totally anti-teardrop! So I could just follow that line up and do the teardrop on the rest, which result in a sort of parallelogram. I want to use all aluminum and the frame will likely be redone in black, so if I used polished metal inside the trellis, It might show up enough to mimic the teardrop shape. Or, I could run a skirt over the frame to give the appearance of that shape. I'm not too hot on the latter. I'm not opposed to a little bling, but it has to be functional, not ornamental. One thing FOR SURE: It will be flatish on top, no higher than the ignition switch, no wider than the frame, start sloping to meet the seat at around the halfway point.

So, any artists out there car to post some suggestions??? I'd love to see them.

Here's the seat:

You need the full URL of the image.

There's been a few builds using aftermarket ECUs - you can find info here

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=109.0

You/we need you to learn that

Its been a long time since I was active on a forum. Now that I remember how to do the pictures I'll try to post regular updates. I'm going to post a picture that I hope some of you folks will doodle on.

I'm loving the help. Please keep it coming.

Thanks, Bob

Oldsquid, I assume the bike came with throttle bodies? If it did then, since there's no airbox you could run velocity stacks in large barrel/pod filters. Ducshop and TPO make kits for this. While not race carbs they will give the old school look.

By the way, my favorite Harleys are the XR/KR flat trackers.

Welcome Elder Squiddly.  I like your idea of going a bit more analog with the gauges.  You may check out

http://www.kosonorthamerica.com/
http://motogadget.com/en/

I've been toying with the idea of throwing something from either of these guys on my Suzuki project.  Not only does it shrink the overall size of the front end (the Suzuki's gauge cluster is farkin huuuge) but it gets rid of the speedo and tach cables, which you really won't have to deal with on a new Duc.  Looking forward to the project. 

If you really want to clean up the bars as well, Motogadget has some pretty bad ass switches and other controls that would look pretty swank.  I think Spidey used some on his old carbie Monster.

http://www.louis.de/_1096ac7edda2a7f5e58f1dcdab35e4fb18/index.php?topic=wgr&article_context=list&grwgr=480&wgr=346&anzeige=0&page=0

here's a list of options from a Euro company