Has anyone ever made a titanium Frame for a monster?

Just wondering! The 996 naked bike at the bike show (long beach Cycle World) had a Ti frame, boy did that look sweet.

Monster dudes are rather over the top about mods, yet I have never seen a Ti frame. If it were kept in it's natural state, it sure would be purdy, and would probably save 15 lbs. (just a guess, I have no idea!)

Rideon

IIRC, Alex Oertner's got a Ti frame for one of his Ducs.

I think he said his was a little lighter than the stock frame. Titanium is lighter than steel, but it's more flexible, so you have to use thicker wall tubing to get the same frame stiffness. So most or all of the potential weight savings gets consumed...

Definitely pretty looking.

That was the Scuderia NCR / Poggipolini Ducati -- @ $164,000 at the US/Euro exchange rates then -- a bit more now.

Titanium has a lot of great qualities about it for frame use. Problem is that welding it takes a lot of expertise. Also graceful bends in tubes is a nightmare -- thus the cut/bend routine. Machining of ala mill/lathe requires patient and skill else things get ugly fast. Availability of tubing diameters and wall thickness is fairly limited.

Hailwood from the DML is working on trying to produce Ti frames. Casoli in Florida sells a Ti SBK frame for ~10k.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by foggy123 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hailwood from the DML is working on trying to produce Ti frames. Casoli in Florida sells a Ti SBK frame for ~10k.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, he emailed me a bunch of shots of the frames at one time as the s4 project was underway. if money wasn't an issue, it would be an awesome upgrade! it was a bunch of high-rez shots and the cuts and welds looks very clean.

I'm a big fan of titanium bicycle frames, but you couldn't give me a titanium motorcycle frame. Wrong tool for the job.

BSA made a Titanium MX frame in the 60s before Tig and Migs were a dime a dozen,it
broke alot.

In my wilder years, I raced go carts. They used cromemoly frames. I had to change out every year, because of stress, shock, and torque factors. Guess thats why the use it on the monster. Because of suspension, and equal torque factors. Nothing like a rigid nitro methane, Methanol burning, offset overpowered fun as it get's toy. Every time you put the do any metal fusion, I prefer Tig, You have to Jig, and I also heat the part to keep the warp factor to a minimum. No doubt Re painting. Myself, not having alot of jingle. Would get titanium to the back burner. Opinions are line arses tho, every one has one. Toppino Ed A Proud Foggy S4R #062

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FoggyToppino Ed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> In my wilder years, I raced go carts. They used cromemoly frames. I had to change out every year, because of stress, shock, and torque factors. Guess thats why the use it on the monster. Because of suspension, and equal torque factors. Nothing like a rigid nitro methane, Methanol burning, offset overpowered fun as it get's toy. Every time you put the do any metal fusion, I prefer Tig, You have to Jig, and I also heat the part to keep the warp factor to a minimum. No doubt Re painting. Myself, not having alot of jingle. Would get titanium to the back burner. Opinions are line arses tho, every one has one. Toppino Ed A Proud Foggy S4R #062</TD></TR></TABLE>

I didn't know there was a Foggy S4R? I thought it was an S4.

The foggy S4 is not a "R" but a limited edition of the standard S4, with 996cm3 ans SPS cams. It had a specifical look.

Concerning the titanium, i knew it was lighter than steel, but i thought it was less flexible...

???
Foggy S4 is 916cc, and has the same cams as regular S4.
That picture is correct.

Titanium is approximately 40% lighter than steel.
Also 40% less stiff.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Gladiateur &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The foggy S4 is not a "R" but a limited edition of the standard S4, with 996cm3 ans SPS cams. It had a specifical look.Concerning the titanium, i knew it was lighter than steel, but i thought it was less flexible.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

no SPS cams and no 996 engine in the foggy s4. what ducati needs to do is put a 999R engine with ohlins F/R, with a set of forge aluminum rims on the monster. now that would be a true S4R Monster.

Titanium can make great frames. Cost a lot more money and takes a lot more engineering. Larger diameter tubing not thicker walls is the key. This frame weighs 7.25lbs. That is 33% of what a ducati monster frame weights.

What do you estimate that frame would weigh with a tubular subframe?

You fitted a structural CF subframe/tailsection, right?

True that would add some weight. Done right your still looking at half. That is why it really isn't cost effective. To do the frame justice you have to save weight everywhere which ends up making the bike really outrageously expensive. Saving weight cost money I speak from experience.

True words, it's a slippery slope.
My second-hand mag Marchesinis trimmed weight to the tune of about $150/lb.
Other than replacing the stock cans, significant weight reduction is likely at an even higher rate.

sorry, i was wrong
Only the exhaust system and injection parameters are different from a standart S4.


I certainly made confusion with a Ducati Performance kit for S4.