G'day from Australia

[koko64]

Hi I'm Tony from Melbourne Australia.

I have a 1995 M 900 with hi-comp pistons, dialled Vee Two cam pulleys, open air-box, K & N filter, porting, valve job ("D" shaped inlet ports and cleaned up manifolds), Vee Two clutch (whole shebang), lightened flywheel (1 kilo/2.2 lbs off), custom indicators, tail chop, c/f DP screen, mild suspension work, shift lights/tach combo and of course Termi slip-ons.

Jetting the carbs has been a work in progress with each state of tune and I'm using a combination of Factory Pro and Dynojet tuning parts to get it just right because of the port work on the inlet side (exhaust side not really touched). 41 FCR's are nearly 1800 bucks here so the tedious chore of carb tuning  has been worth it and when I read about some of the problems on the closed loop injected Monsters, I dont feel so bad. Mind you, my hands have smelled of fuel for months!! .

I retarded the ignition 3-31/2 deg, fitted a custom race type fuel filter, trimmed the handle bars an inch and a half each end, painted the belt covers, frame and headlight rim black and raised ride height 20mm rear and 10mm front (10mm net rear).

I've previously owned another '95 M900 (new from way back which I should never have sold) and a 1992 Superlight (which I should never have sold), plus various Harleys and Japanese bikes. I have raced as a humble "C" grader in club events, mainly supersport (ZXR600) and Formula 400 (VFR400 x3!!). I just do the odd track day now.

I heard about this forum from Brad Black  who I am fortunate to have as my mechanic when I get stuck or bugger things up! I do most of my own work on the bike but Brad does the valve adjustments and fix my mistakes! Brad re-fitted the hi-comp pistons, dialled the cams and fixed a broken head stud, (I knew I should have put heavy duty ones in!! )

I'm 45 and been riding since my youth. I went six months without a motorbike once,.. it was wrong and the world wasn't the same. I love Ducati's.

My fantasy wish list for my Monster is:

41FCR's
lightweight wheels
Reconfigured heads with big valves (reduced valve angle and 45/39 inlet/ex)
ST2 cams
Dyna coils.

I'll get one of my kids to do some photos sometime.
I brought along beer and bacon   ; as I was told a guest should.

Cheers
Tony

[herm]

welcome to the board Tony!
hopefully you are able to gain some knowledge from the board....and better yet, add some.
make sure and check in with the OZ monsters group over in the local club forums. they look like a very active group.

enjoy!

[koko64]

Thanks Herm

thanks for the welcome so soon. You must be on night shift !!

I'm really impressed with the DMF. It's good to have passion about our hobbies/sports and learn from peoples experiences with their bikes. I was too scared to do a tail chop untill I saw people do it on the DMF.

Ducatis are addictive and I hope the factory always respects the passion of the Ducatisti. No bike is as fulfilling to ride for me despite all the work involved in the upkeep.

Ducatis are like a really hot wife that cant get enough of you but cant cook!! (Am I allowed to say that?)
I know where my priorities are  !!

Cheers
Tony

[DoubleEagle]

Fosters Tony,

Welcome aboard mate.

Glad to have another Aussie in our presence and one so passionate about Ducati.

Hope you enjoy the banter and find this forum worth your time .

It gets a little weird around here at times but mostly good fun.

Dolph       

[koko64]

Thanks Dolph

your bike looks awesome  . are you an aussie too? I watched Casey in practice a few hours ago live on TV. Just behind Rossi and they're both well ahead of everyone else. Couldn't see Nicky anywhere, hope he goes well, because he's the nicest guy in the paddock I reckon. I'd have a beer with him anytime.

Cheers
Tony 

[somegirl]

Welcome Tony, nice to have you here, thanks for the beer.

You live in one of my favorite cities.

As herm says, don't forget to check in with your local hooligans, OZ Monsters.

Looking forward to seeing pictures and hearing more about your M900.

[koko64]

Thanks Somegirl

You guys have been great at welcoming newbies to the forum. It's no wonder so many people are joining up. Great to hear that you like Melbourne and it sounds like you get to travel. Is it through work or do you have the travel bug?

I haven't been to the States since the early nineties but got to travel through the Californian countryside on motorcycles, and it was an experience I will always treasure and tell my kids about. [moto]

Ducatis are just the most special bike that despite their occasional unreliable moments and impracticalities, are easy to forgive because they're just so damned gorgeous (alluding to the analogy I shared with Dolph)!

My wife bought me my latest Monster and she chose it independently of all the Ducatis we looked at. She sat on it and said it was more comfortable than an ST! She also selected the exact same model I once bought in 1996, a new 1995 model (one I regretted selling). Was it Karma, Destiny, Providence?

Cheers
Tony

[somegirl]

Great to hear that you like Melbourne and it sounds like you get to travel. Is it through work or do you have the travel bug?

It's been mostly through work but also because my dad is from Oz (Perth).

My wife bought me my latest Monster and she chose it independently of all the Ducatis we looked at. She sat on it and said it was more comfortable than an ST! She also selected the exact same model I once bought in 1996, a new 1995 model (one I regretted selling). Was it Karma, Destiny, Providence?

You're a lucky guy.

cheers
Paula

[junior varsity]

We are going to have to see some photo's! Your M900 sounds fantastic, I'd like to hear more about the D-shaped inlet and cleaned up manifolds (pictures if you got 'em!).

Glad to have you on board

[koko64]

G'day A M

My bike actually looks stock when you compare it to many of the really creative customs here on the forum! It's pretty understated.
I did do a tail chop, paint the frame and some bits black, painting cases silver grey again, and the disaster of a broken engine stud, etc.

The "D" shaped ports were on the inlet side and looked like a "D" on its side with the flat part of the "D" at the bottom (from what I can remember, actually I'm not sure, no photo). I could see the dremel work, but it was a car racing mechanic mate that pointed it out.

The work was in the detail sorting the stock carbs, ignition, cam timing (Brad),
taking an inch or two off the handle bars,etc and Brad Black was a great help fixing my mistakes!
My bike goes ok (low 80's hp, but I need 90+) and handles well after some suspension work. I will do some pics now the kids are on school holidays and can do it for me.

Cheers
Tony

[junior varsity]

My bike goes ok (low 80's hp, but I need 90+)

Hahaha, and when it makes 90+, you'll be looking for it to break the ton. I know how this goes

Thanks for the info!

[koko64]

Gday A M
I forgot to tell you that the inlet manifolds were cleaned up with a dremel type tool and small wire brush attachment (by me) with advice from a mate who's a race car tuner. There were alot of casting ridges, lumps and blobs from the factory castings and I assisted the radius of the manifolds with advice and having the work checked by people who know better. I made sure that there was a fine brushed finish to the manifold to assist atomization and stop edying(spelling?) of the fuel mixture. My mate who ported the heads is a mechanic for the Suzuki superbike team in OZ and he has his own tuning business. He did a good valve job too. Brad dialed the cams with Vee Two pulleys, advancing them to his specs.

The bike spins up very quickly and I have set a shift light to 8000rpm. It wheelies real good and I have smacked myself in the visor with the carbon DP mini fairing/screen! Maybe the kilo (2 lbs) off the flywheel and the 1.7kilos (3 lbs) off the  clutch (Vee Two and Barnett parts) have something to do with it!

The bike has showed 125mph on a dyno without me as a wind sail.
Jetting the stock carbs was a nightmare. I only just put rich enough main jets in so I am keen to see how much it makes now. I had 155s but had to put 165's in (175DJ). Maybe 84-85hp. I'm gonna find out.

Cheers
Tony



Thanks for the interest in my humble machine. I'll put up a photo soon.

Tony