I just sold the harley and had a gixxer for 2 years but always lusted for italian iron.  well, it is finally here!  a white 696 and can't wait to get modding    What are the best mods for this beauty?  I am a wood worker/cabinet maker by trade and I am thinking of actually making some of the parts out of balsa wood, balsa wood is lighter than carbon fiber, so i am going to try it!

Congratulations and welcome to the Forum, Where do you start?
I've had my bike for just under 12 months, spent a small (or should I say a large) fortune on Mods, and just when you think you've done everything you want to, some new Mod pops up on the Radar.
I was all ready to fit a Termi kit and that was it, now the Goldline brake kit has popped up on the list
I'd swear this bike is going to send me broke! 

And I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Congrats!!!  Balsa wood...interesting.  I would be concerned due to the density of it...but I look forward to the pics!

Congratulations! Nice bike, enjoy.

Nice.  Pics please.

Congrats & cool idea to use your trade skills to do something really unique to your bike. I like the idea of wood in a few interesting spots -- your 696 doesn't have (I think) the underseat trim bits on other Monsters that would look cool in wood, stained an appropriate color & with new decals applied under the final finish. Think you could pull off a replacement to the existing tail cowling in wood?  Or for a real masterwork, replicate the replaceable gas tank shroud in wood. That'd be unique, and I'd love to see it. A lot of carbon fiber bicycle builders are also doing amazing things with bamboo these days, but I'd stay away from anything structural.

I'm a hobby blacksmith, and keep looking for good spots on the Monster to apply some tasteful ironwork...

The tank stripe down the middle could be a good place to start. also the front fairing although not sure how balsa would handle the wind/rain/vibration.
a nice burnished blackened wood center stripe on the tank would look awesome

Quote from: triangleforge on July 31, 2008, 01:32:16 PM
 Or for a real masterwork, replicate the replaceable gas tank shroud in wood.

Remember those big station wagons in the sixties with woodgrain on the side?  We used to call it beaver-panel.  First there was the "Foggy" Monster.  Then the TriColore Monster.  Now I'm imagining a Monster 696 "Woody"   

Just kidding ya!  Glad you made the move.  I think know you will enjoy it.

Google 'steampunk' - plenty of ideas there!

congrats!  i too just got a white M696 3 weeks ago.  i am enjoying the bike very much!  cant wait to see your italian woodie project.

Hey thank you all for such a warm welcome.  I know, the wood idea is a little wacky but I think that it would work.  I don't see why I couldn't replace some of the parts with different types of woods.  I am going to try it, right now, I am working on seeing how I can use a wonderful left-over piece of mahogany from a job, could I make a set of handlebars out of it?  I could seal it and it would be waterproof, it would look shetz-budness (an old sayin' round here!)

Has anybody ever tried wooden muffler .... Naaaahh .... jk 696Racer

Enjoy your new 696

I don't think I'd do the bars..... I stick to not essential bits. But welcome and enjoy.

Woody 696 

congrats.. I too just sold my harley to buy a 696, but still waiting on delivery  always wanted a sport classic but the ergos and seat height were a bit much for my old bones. I'm actually thinking if it can be done at not to much of an expense of putting on a dunstall fairing . just to give a longer profile.