Hi all,

So I took my new 696 out to the twisties today and got a bit of a scare. Seems the kickstand likes to drag on very tight left handers. Nothing like going into a tight left at 70-75, throwing the bike over and then hearing the sound of scraping metal. It through my line way off. At first i thought it was the peg but after inspecting I saw it was the kick stand. Is there an aftermarket stand that available?And yes I was off the seat in the turn in order to keep the bike as upright as possible. It still was dragging. The other thought I had was the the rear shock was too loose and it was causing mid turn compression thus causing the stand to drag. Does that sound right?

Quote from: RST on June 14, 2008, 10:23:55 AM
The shock spring could be too soft.  Can you adjust the ride height on yours?  Moving off the seat itself doesn't do anything if your body's not also hanging off, but of course you knew that.

Monsters are notorious for having inadequate cornering clearance.  I put the most aggressive rearsets I could find on my S4 and I was still dragging stiff left and right.

If you're going to ride it hard, I suggest a) turning in later and quicker - you'll lean it less and not as long b) hang off more c) get a different bike (I'm quite serious, it's what I did).

-R.

If it was the rearset that was draggin I would be much more bummed, seeing as how there will never be any aftermarket rearsets for this bike. But the fact that it's the kick stand gives me hope that it can be modified. Even If I have to chop it a bit.

Quote from: Mugen939 on June 14, 2008, 12:28:03 PM
If it was the rearset that was draggin I would be much more bummed, seeing as how there will never be any aftermarket rearsets for this bike.

What makes you think this ?

Quote from: SteveH on June 14, 2008, 12:31:12 PM

What makes you think this ?

The rearsets are attached to the passenger pegs  ON this one huge piece of cast aluminum that's mounted to the pivot points on the fram. I don't see anyone making a reaset availble. I'm sure it can be done thouhg. It would just be a whole hell of a lot of machining.

have u seen the stock pegs on an older monster? its about the same size, and it supports the exhaust. with the 696 you can just get rid of the passenger pegs and the rearsets wouldnt be that bad to manufacture. with the older monsters you either have to get a high mount exhaust, or come up with someway to support the exhaust if the company doesnt provide extra brackets for it.

Quote from: Mugen939 on June 14, 2008, 10:06:56 AM
Hi all,

So I took my new 696 out to the twisties today and got a bit of a scare. Seems the kickstand likes to drag on very tight left handers. Nothing like going into a tight left at 70-75, throwing the bike over and then hearing the sound of scraping metal. It through my line way off. At first i thought it was the peg but after inspecting I saw it was the kick stand. Is there an aftermarket stand that available?And yes I was off the seat in the turn in order to keep the bike as upright as possible. It still was dragging. The other thought I had was the the rear shock was too loose and it was causing mid turn compression thus causing the stand to drag. Does that sound right?

maybe you should slow down a bit. believe me i wouldn't be upset at all if i read a thread about a totalled 696,  [laugh]but i wouldn't want to hear about a fellow monster pilot or any rider for that matter getting hurt. You know we all have the urge to ride fast but i don't know of any area where the speed limit is 70 or 75 in the twisties. i hate to preach but i feel that i have had to many close calls and i know that my 2 cents are worth just that. but i figured i would say it anyway, besides if you want to reck your 696, just drop it out of the back of a truck or something, you don't have to be on it to do it

the ron

Oh, my...I actually agree with the ron

Quote from: howie on June 15, 2008, 04:23:47 PM
Oh, my...I actually agree with the ron

watch out my friend,i am like a virus, i creep in and then, there is no getting rid of me

uh oh its to late for you

the ron

Interesting!  You know a lot of folks here ground off the 'knob' -- that little piece that  makes it easier to hook the stand with your boot when you are letting it out.  I've never paid attention, does the 696 have the 'knob' that sticks out a bit lower than the rest of the hard parts?  It doesn't take much -- I was experimenting with exhaust a few months ago and had 2" u-bolts on the stock exhaust, right where the header ends.  I had to position the bolts downward, so that they would not interfere with the shifter and the brake pedal.  So the bolts stuck less than an inch below the pipe and I was dragging them all over the place and yes it is pretty scary the first time it happens.  And even the second!

Quote from: Odeccut on June 15, 2008, 04:47:35 PM
Interesting!  You know a lot of folks here ground off the 'knob' -- that little piece that  makes it easier to hook the stand with your boot when you are letting it out.  I've never paid attention, does the 696 have the 'knob' that sticks out a bit lower than the rest of the hard parts?  It doesn't take much -- I was experimenting with exhaust a few months ago and had 2" u-bolts on the stock exhaust, right where the header ends.  I had to position the bolts downward, so that they would not interfere with the shifter and the brake pedal.  So the bolts stuck less than an inch below the pipe and I was dragging them all over the place and yes it is pretty scary the first time it happens.  And even the second!

you see this is where i think that i differ from most of the riders that are on this site. and correct me if i am wrong, but it would seem that most riders on this site ride the monster like it was a race bike. they push it to the end of its limits. i ride a little different. i mean i get on it now and then but im not one of those knee draggin dudes. maybe thas why the new monster appeals to so many on this site, because it is more of a sport bike than the old monster. i just don't get it. if you are going to ride like that wouldn't it make more sense to buy a bike that is more apt for hard street riding, say like a 848 or something?

the ron

 I live to ride and ride to live. I wanna ride tomorrow..

Quote from: the ron on June 15, 2008, 04:09:28 PM
maybe you should slow down a bit. believe me i wouldn't be upset at all if i read a thread about a totalled 696,  [laugh]but i wouldn't want to hear about a fellow monster pilot or any rider for that matter getting hurt. You know we all have the urge to ride fast but i don't know of any area where the speed limit is 70 or 75 in the twisties. i hate to preach but i feel that i have had to many close calls and i know that my 2 cents are worth just that. but i figured i would say it anyway, besides if you want to reck your 696, just drop it out of the back of a truck or something, you don't have to be on it to do it

the ron

Not that I disagree with this position but maybe the OP weighs 250#s.

My monster would drag parts at legal speeds before I had some adjustments made.

Quote from: red baron on June 15, 2008, 06:08:54 PM
Not that I disagree with this position but maybe the OP weighs 250#s.

My monster would drag parts at legal speeds before I had some adjustments made.

good point. my friend custom chopper dragged stuff when it was sitting still

the ron

Quote from: the ron on June 15, 2008, 05:52:06 PM
you see this is where i think that i differ from most of the riders that are on this site. and correct me if i am wrong, but it would seem that most riders on this site ride the monster like it was a race bike. they push it to the end of its limits. i ride a little different. i mean i get on it now and then but im not one of those knee draggin dudes. maybe thas why the new monster appeals to so many on this site, because it is more of a sport bike than the old monster. i just don't get it. if you are going to ride like that wouldn't it make more sense to buy a bike that is more apt for hard street riding, say like a 848 or something?

the ron

+1

If you haven't raised the rear ride height yet you need to (.5 - 1") - that will fix the dragging stand and handle much better too.

And so far as needing a bike that is more sport oriented than a Monster goes I found the S*R series bikes will hang with pretty much anything in the mountains.

LA