I've had this idea sitting in the back of my head for a long time and I've finally decided to give it a try. Goal: the best of both worlds, SBK handling and 2V simplicity.

Warning: the length of this post has grown out of control, read at your own risk. (Signed the Mad King Pepe')

Everything started a couple years ago when a friend of mine laid down his 748 and decided to sell it. I had always lusted over that bike, so I decided it would be better in my hands than in those of some stranger. What to say? I loved it! The bike handled like a dream, the engine was a blast, and the looks were divine!

But, everytime there was something to fix and the fairing had to come off was hell. A clustermake the beast with two backs of wires, tubes, spread everywhere without rhyme nor reason. The electrics layout looks like a child's drawing, and I had to go through it more than once!

Just before I got the 748, I had traded my Daytona 600 for a Monster 750. And compared to both bikes: I love its simplicity! One valve to get the mixture in and another one to get the gasses out. Air and oil take care of the cooling. Gas goes from the tank to the carbs to the engine; when I open the throttle more goes through: no need to pass through the censors and the encapsulated committee unit to decide how much, when, where, why... I got rid of the side pods, the crankcase expansion tank and the airbox. I put in pod filters and re-jetted the carbs. No need for a black-box to do its magic, old screws out, new screws in.

But, and there had to be one, it feels low on power and something's missing with the handling. I understand the lack of power is due do the lazy head design: one of the reasons the 800/796 is so much better is that it has 900 spec heads on. There's no way to fix that without pouring in serious $$$ into mods, and it's not worth it. The 750 is my almost daily commuter, it's the 2-up bike for fun rides with my wife, it's the bike she will learn to ride on (with plenty of safety tampons). Also the 748 went on rails through the turns and turned like magic, while there's something with the monster that I'm just not happy with. Forks? Shock? Frame? Wheels? Weight distribution? All of the above probaby, or some combination.

So I've decided to take the best of both worlds and put it together: 2V simplicity and SBK handling.

I've begun to buy some bits on eBay and this is what I have so far:

996 frame with the adjustable head stock, forks (w. triples), shock, swingarm (mostly complete), rear sub-frame (bi-posto).


Gas tank (complete with the internal organs)


And (drum roll) Marchesini Mag wheels 



However this is where things slow down a bit and I need to go back into the thinking phase. The main issue is which engine to put in, 900 (cheaper) or 1000/1100 (more power )? This is affected by how much cash can I put in this project and what do I really want? See, I also have a '94 Monster 900 that I need to do something with. It has too many special bits in it for my taste, too much bling, but the engine is great and it has FCRs. It pulls like a tractor and although it doesn't have the power of the 748 it's a blast in a straight line. So do I sell it whole or do I use it for parts FCRs, engine etc.. 

If I decide to use the 900 for parts, I have engine, FCRs, electrical wiring (which I've already fixxed up since it was a disaster when I got it), radial masters, and other bits and pieces I can use. Then I could either put the aluminum rear and Ohlins shock on the 750 or sell them...

On the other side if I sell the 900 whole, I could buy a DS engine and that would open the way to more power and more work. A motor out of a Hyper or Multi should bolt right into the frame but then I would either need to give in to the work of the debbil and use a fuel injected system or get a TCIP unit and FCRs (angels and cherubs).

Cheers,
The Mad King Pepe' 

Use the 900 for the parts.

get an 1100 motor. your potential goes way up and you can get 100+hp with some work.
Go all out to reduce the weight... and you'll have get closer to the same HP/Weight ratio.
then you'll have your simplicity AND your power

+1 on the ds1100 motor.   Get one from a hyper or multi...the SBK arm bolts up, AND they are LOADS cheaper.  Reason being the race guys want the SS motor so they can use the SS swingarm.

Quote from: TAftonomos on March 06, 2011, 09:17:28 AM
+1 on the ds1100 motor.   Get one from a hyper or multi...the SBK arm bolts up, AND they are LOADS cheaper.

Not sure about that, the DS being cheaper, that is.

In the long run, most likely yes, especially if I want to get good HP.

On the other side, I've found plenty of 900 engines on eBay for cheap. There's one for $600 (and free shipping), it has the shitty W heads, but still, $600 shipped is CHEAP! I can't find a Hyper or Multi motor for less than twice as much! Of course the DS motor will perform much better out of the box, while the 900 with W heads is as fast as a dead horse, and just as useful.

Right now I'll just wait and see what I can sell my 900 for and that will probably decide which path to follow. So.. 

I meant cheaper vs the SS ds motor (hyper/multi is cheaper than the SS).  I bought mine with all wiring, coils, ecu, and shipping for $1500

Quote from: TAftonomos on March 07, 2011, 08:08:35 AM
I meant cheaper vs the SS ds motor (hyper/multi is cheaper than the SS).  I bought mine with all wiring, coils, ecu, and shipping for $1500

Damn, that is a sweet deal! 

Cheapest DS engine I found is 850 + S&H, but it's missing starter, cover and clutch. Need to do some more searching!

Hooray for these builds!

also, do you plan on riding 2 up on this bike?   Not sure what your budget is, but if you do not plan on doing so - ditching that biposto subframe for an OEM aluminum monoposto unit, or an aftermarket monoposto unit (like MotoHolders, etc) will save some SERIOUS weight.

Quote from: a m on March 07, 2011, 11:21:52 AM
also, do you plan on riding 2 up on this bike?   Not sure what your budget is, but if you do not plan on doing so - ditching that biposto subframe for an OEM aluminum monoposto unit, or an aftermarket monoposto unit (like MotoHolders, etc) will save some SERIOUS weight.

Most likely no. The Monster is good enough for the occasional 2-up with the lady-wife. I only got a bi-posto because it came cheap with a few more bits. If/when I have the money for it, I'll get a lightweight unit to replace it with.

I have a 2-phase plan for this project, the first is what's going on now IE: get the (my) shit together and running. Once that's done, the bling phase shall commence (just don't tell my wife)! 

Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on March 07, 2011, 12:32:17 PM
I have a 2-phase plan for this project, the first is what's going on now IE: get the (my) shit together and running. Once that's done, the bling phase shall commence (just don't tell my wife)! 

We think alike 

take a look at durbahn.de or kaemna.de or even find body work that eliminates the subframe altogether from rico racing research (may not have it listed but they do it)

Quote from: Raux on March 07, 2011, 01:04:04 PM
take a look at durbahn.de or kaemna.de or even find body work that eliminates the subframe altogether from rico racing research (may not have it listed but they do it)

The Kaemna bits are nice, but you need to use the dummy tank cover with the monocoque tail section, and fab up (or buy $$$) a new tank.  I'll be going that way with my build once it's up and running (phase 2?)

Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on March 07, 2011, 12:32:17 PM
the first is what's going on now IE: get the (my) shit together and running.

Quote from: TAftonomos on March 07, 2011, 12:48:15 PM
We think alike 

Damn you both.

Quote from: a m on March 07, 2011, 02:21:05 PM
Damn you both.

It's not really an option for me, see I live in a studio and all my junk is piling up in front of the only window.... If I don't get my shit together, it's either the wife or the bike!

I've looked at the kaemna site, between them and this project on duccutters I really learned a lot!