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Just got my next licence (I'm not in the UK) that allows me to ride bikes up to 400cc.
Found this and thought I'd share with you all:
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It's a 15 year old Monster 400. Mechanically decent (it's just had an engine rebuild) but in need of some cosmetic TLC.
My 1st world problem of the day:
Do I keep the tank pearl white or respray black?
That's lovely, think I'd go for a red tank though.
Nah, leave it white. Looks like it has a red stripe down the centre anyway... and EVERYONE has a red Ducati.
Love the Monsters myself, but they tend to be a bit small for me so I am trying to persuade the other half to get one 😉 Probably the 600 as a starter mind! Just waiting to see what the new big beast is going to be like though, and if it has grown a wee bit!
Lovely but what's up with the wheels? Ride safe.
oooh, that's different. Keep it white. Looks good! How are you coping with a dry clutch?
The wheels are the old style from things like the monster dark, single side disk. Do the job OK...
Ugly though
Great little bikes...everyone who's into bikes should own at least 1 Ducati in their life.
Congrats on the new purchase.
I very, very nearly bought the Diaval last time around... but decided on the Guzzi instead.
If that were my bike I would be damn tempted to switch the wheels out for some of the modern tubeless spoked jobbies as it would look deeply class!
Nice. A mate of mine bought a brand new Ducati Monster 750 while still a sponging student, back in around '98. It was a 750 in silver and was a pretty amazing bike. He's still got it, I think.
White does make sense I think.
No dry clutch, the 400s came with a wet clutch.
Wheels will certainly be next on the upgrade list. However it needs some more pressing stuff doing first (like getting it road legal again and sorting the mess of the loom out 🙂 )
Thanks all
That's the bollox for tearing along the PIE 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Can leh
15 years old? the only part that dates the bike is the wheels
Lovely find
Beautiful.
Other people might think this is a bit Barry Boyz, but I'd get some of that red half inch scotchlite reflective tape and run it along the frame - near invisible during the day and a decent bit of side-on visibility at night.
Leave it like it is
Ride it like you stole it.
Maybe add an interesting sig..like this..
Cheers
Dookatti B
Ben,
I agree with Cheez0.
Cheers
Dan H
Wheels make it look like a Bros. Lovely though! I like the way the mudguard/number plate is longer than the entire bike too.
it looks like a Lego Technic motorbike.
I want one.
Northwind - Member
Wheels make it look like a Bros. Lovely though! I like the way the mudguard/number plate is longer than the entire bike too
Law states it has to go past the furthest point of the tyre for MOT purposes.
Watch out for the tank leaking from around the hinge at the rear, weeping fork seals and seized rear brake callipers. Also if you drop if the forks will put a dint into the tank!
When riding it the lack of steering lock might catch you out.
Someone once said that the quickest way to do a U turn on a Monster was to park up at the side of the road, wait for another Monster to come along from the opposite direction then swap bikes!!
Popular mods would be going down one tooth on the front sprocket and if you are feeling flush a twin disk conversion on the front. Also many owners cut down the tea tray at the rear as its rather huge as standard. A longer front mudguard stops spray soaking the front cylinder and making it cut out.
Weeksy, true for Construction and Use regulations, not true for the MOT.
Rockhopper - Member
Weeksy, true for Construction and Use regulations, not true for the MOT
thank you 🙂 always prepared to be educated.
save your cash for the next rebuild !! its a duke bud good luck
Bloke's in Singapore so UK regs not really relevant....
paver456 - Member
save your cash for the next rebuild !! its a duke bud good luck
Couldn't be a more 'basic' version of a Ducati if it tried. There'll be no £1000 horror rocker/camshaft issues with that Monster, any fairly decent home mechanic can service an old Ducati and change the belts etc.
Cheers for all the replies and tips. Decision made; it's staying white.
I'll post a couple more pics up once it's had its fresh coat of paint. On the look out for some more modern wheels also.
www.ukmonster.co.uk
Spray it red
White but add in a green trim. Love ducatis in the red, white and green livery.
Wheelie machine.....
Wheelie machine.....
Errr no. Not the 400. Even the 600/620/695/696 bikes aren't wheelie machines.
The 400 was only made for certain markets and is a rare beastie indeed. I don't know about the regs in Singapore but I believe the main market for them was Japan.
There are only 14 left on the road in SG.
Got the transfer of ownership through from the LTA today (the equivalent of the logbook) and it started life as a yellow monster.
It has the red stripe down the tank, which will be re-instated post respray.
It will be keeping both of its (aged) wheels firmly on the ground. 🙂
Leave it original, that's a little beauty. Still tempted to change from my ZX6R for a Monster.
Carbon look 🙂