Superbike forks?

I am far from a Ducati newbie, but I just picked up a 2000 M900ie and although they seemed easy from the outside, there seems to be as many OEM variations as there are bikes on the road. My M900 came with non-adjustable forks, and since they will need to be resprung for me anyway, I figured to upgrade to adjustables, preferably from a Sbk, or if the process is easier a M900s, or maybe SSie. I am sure there is some wisdom already available on this, but I did a search and found nothing. Is it me or does the search feature on this board suck?!?

Also, being an SS owner I know the ins and outs of that breed, but can someone enlighten me about the model evolutions? What I am really looking for is info on how the bikes changed, so the 1999 - 2001 were basically interchangable (except for carbs vs FI), the 2002 - 2004 are interchangable, and so on.

I'd do a search of the DML for alot of your answers as it is covered extensively.

I think that forks are interchangable through the years. Monsters come 50 mm at the top triple 54 at the bottom. SBKs are 53/53 so you either bore and shim or go with sbk triples etc. I don't know what SS dimensions are.

http://www.ducatimonster.org/smf/index.php

Do a search and you'll get about 800 pages of info. Just as a summary: Foggy is correct on fork sizes. Any Monster/Supersport adjustable fork should be a bolt on for your 900. SBK forks will require a triple swap among other items such as clip ons. From personal experience, it's a slippery slope.

Good luck.

Heya Nick.D

If you need clipons I have some that I want to sell, out of interest I measured the forks on the MH v Monsta, the monsta forks are a coupla inches shorter in the top alloy stanchion than the MH.

I put SBK forks on my 2001 M900ie and I had to bore out the top triple 1mm and shim the bottom. I took the upper clamp to a machine ship so it would be done correctly. As for the shims I made my own but I have seen them for sale for $20??

I do know that the SBK forks are a little shorter that the orignal monster forks but not by too much.

Just my story hope your swap goes well!!!!

Pretty sure the SBK triples have different offset which doesn't work well with a Monster.
No FHE, just rumor...

+1 on checking the DML.

shims sell for $20ish at motowheels. I have a bored S4R top triple that came with a DP kit that will be for sale in a week or so.

hey nick,
got your email regarding the new (to you) bike and i will agree with the "touche" comment!
depending on how much of a rush you're in regarding the forks, i'll be selling the adjustables off my SS at the end of this season when it goes under the knife. they'd be a direct swap and i'll even provide the clip-ons

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by s4strati &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey nick, got your email regarding the new (to you) bike and i will agree with the "touche" comment!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Too funny! For any not in the know, Strati has a Monster and bought an SS, and I have an SS and just bought a Monster.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by s4strati &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> depending on how much of a rush you're in regarding the forks, i'll be selling the adjustables off my SS at the end of this season when it goes under the knife. they'd be a direct swap and i'll even provide the clip-ons </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well that sounds fine with me. I was looking at going with sbk forks, but I am not sure the difference between those and the SS forks is all that great once the SS forks are re-valved and re-sprung for my weight. I won't be in any real hurry to move on this until the winter anyway, so when you are yanking yours apart I might be in just the right place for those forks unless a set of sbk forks falls in my lap.

Does anyone know if the Cyclecat top triples maintain the provision to use the stock handlebars or do they want you to use clip-ons or the Cyclecat bar risers?

DML...great tip! Why didn't I think of that?!?!

Monstaman, thanks for the offer, but I think I am going to keep the stock bars on the M900. I bought that for the upright riding position, I have my SS if I want a reason to visit my chiropractor. Thanks anyway though! If you have a windshield cowl in red I would be interested in that...

NickD,

When I swapped a set of SS Adj. Showas for the non-adj. sticks on my 03' 620, I was unable to use the stock bars as the ss fork tubes are about 2 1/2" longer then the Monster's. This might be different on your bike but just an FYI. I had intended to stay with the stock bars but had to decide between a chopper/ape hanger Monster or a cafe racer. I went with the cafe racer and the clip ons where my only option with the SS forks.

Also, the SBK forks have a heavier spring (1.0) then the SS (.65) if memory serves me. I'm a bit of a chunk so had to go with a respring on the SS forks. Many said that the SBK forks would require softer springs to work with the Monster but probably would have worked well for a guy my size. (6'3" 235lbs)

Greg:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GregP &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When I swapped a set of SS Adj. Showas for the non-adj. sticks on my 03' 620, I was unable to use the stock bars as the ss fork tubes are about 2 1/2" longer then the Monster's. This might be different on your bike but just an FYI. I had intended to stay with the stock bars but had to decide between a chopper/ape hanger Monster or a cafe racer. I went with the cafe racer and the clip ons where my only option with the SS forks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Interesting! I really want to stay away from clip-ons if I can. Do you know whether the Sbk forks have this same issue?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GregP &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the SBK forks have a heavier spring (1.0) then the SS (.65) if memory serves me. I'm a bit of a chunk so had to go with a respring on the SS forks. Many said that the SBK forks would require softer springs to work with the Monster but probably would have worked well for a guy my size. (6'3" 235lbs)</TD></TR></TABLE>

The 1.0 spring might be a bit much for me. On my SS where most of my weight is over the front wheel, BCM installed a .95 spring and it works great for my riding. I am guessing the M900 would require something a bit softer since the weight is more evenly distributed with the upright riding position. I am 5'10", +/- 205.

ahhh...
dunno why but i was assuming you were going to go with clip-ons. though given your SS, why would you bother? nick... i'm pretty sure you won't wanna do the SS forks because they WILL conflict with the stock monster handlebar. note also that SBK forks are on the longer side and would also likely conflict. unless you raise the front end (along with the rear to keep balance).
you may wanna keep an eye out for ST forks or the forks off a monster s4.

I may have some S4 TiN forks available in a couple months. If my plans come together.

If my memory serves me correctly my swap the SBK forks were SHORTER than the monster forks. I can take pics and measurements when I get home this weekend.

They are on my 01M900ie and so far so good but they are a little on the stiff side but I haven't set them up yet.

Nick if you want to send me your e-mail I can get you the info this weekend. s4duc@netscape.net

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nick D. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

If you have a windshield cowl in red I would be interested in that...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry dude I don't, I have a Titanium Grey cowl only plus all the other bits and pieces listed in the Classified section.

There are a set of s4 forks non TiN on ebay right now at ~150.

Thanks foggy...and the one bid on those is mine! LOL!! Saw those yesterday.