Questions on part compatability - Ducati.ms

1Bolt · Jan 29th, 2012, 9:36 pm

Well, I picked up a 99' 748 Biposto for a song and I'd like to make it more comfortable to ride. I know the 9xx series bikes share alot in common with the s4 and s4r, but I'm not sure just how much. I'd like to run actual bars, not clip-ons, rearsets and the wiring harness of the s4. Would this work? If not, could you point me in the right direction?

DukeDesmo · Jan 30th, 2012, 5:41 am

Don't think the bar setup from an S4 etc would fit but whilst searching for other stuff I found this that would give you bar monts on a 748;

PerformanceParts Webshop | steering head in 'Superbike' version DUCATI 748 - 998

Not my kind of thing but looks well made.

1Bolt · Jan 30th, 2012, 10:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeDesmo

Don't think the bar setup from an S4 etc would fit but whilst searching for other stuff I found this that would give you bar monts on a 748;

PerformanceParts Webshop | steering head in 'Superbike' version DUCATI 748 - 998

Not my kind of thing but looks well made.

Thank you for the link, I'll look into it.

After some research of my own I've found The 748 forks are 43mm Showas and have clamp diameters of 53mm and 53mm, while the Monster's are also 43mm but have clamp diameters of 50mm and 54mm respectively. So I think I can get monster triples and have the upper triple bored from 50mm to 53mm and the lower shimmed from 54 to 53 to fit. I will look into prices and see if it is just cheaper to buy the 748 bar clamp triple from above.

I'm still researching wiring, it appears while the SBKs use a multi-piece harness, the monsters use a one or two piece, maybe to aid in hiding it? (No cannon plug to hide?) But I suspect it may be easier to buy a 748 mid harness and rewire it to hide all the bits and pieces off the side.

Can anyone chime in on rearset fitment or anything I may have overlooked?

DukeDesmo · Jan 30th, 2012, 10:37 am

Correct on the fork dimensions and you can machine the Monster triples as you say - I have just done exactly that to the triples on my Monster as I have fitted 916 forks to it, but the Monster triples won't fit the 748 frame - at least not if it is a 748 with adjustable steering angle. Don't know about a 748E with non-adjustable head, but I think the stem is different?

The wiring harness will be different due to different gauges, lights etc - best use a 748/916/996 harness.

As for rearsets the bolt holes in the frame are different to a Monster frame but there are many different models of rearset for 748 and although most are designed to put the pegs further back and higher, I have seen 'lowering' plates, or you could make some yourself.

Beer Baron · Jan 30th, 2012, 8:03 pm

I don't mean to be rude, but if you want to sit upright and have your legs straight down why not buy a S4? that's exactly what they are. similar engine etc but without the superbike ergonomics. add bars on your 748 and you just end up with a silly looking bike that may well still be uncomfortable.

if you just want a little more height there are better option than adding bars.

you can get an upper tripple clamp that has the fork mounts lower so your clipons mount right at the top of the forks with the top triple mounting just under them (instead of vice versa). that should give you about 40mm more height.

or you can buy adjustable clipons, or buy clipons that have a spacer from the fork tube to the bar.

something like these woodcraft ones would be suitable. Woodcraft Riser Clip-Ons from SportbikeTrackGear.com

1Bolt · Jan 31st, 2012, 10:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beer Baron

I don't mean to be rude, but if you want to sit upright and have your legs straight down why not buy a S4?....

Not rude at all, I expected this question to be honest. The reasoning behind it is I could maybe sell the 748 for a few thousand? S4's are in hard to find here and honestly a little out of my budget at the moment.

After talking it over with a few people I think the adjustable or taller clip-ons like the ones you linked are a much better alternative. Would you need a different top triple clamp to run something like that? Or could you raise the forks in the triples slightly to give you enough mounting room?

1Bolt · Jan 31st, 2012, 10:32 pm

Ignore that this was taken with a potato, thoughts on the bike itself? I don't mind the look, but I still worry that regardless of how well I tuck everything and clean it up, it'll always have that "Too cheap to buy OEM parts" that all streetfighters seems to have.

Beer Baron · Jan 31st, 2012, 10:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Bolt

Not rude at all, I expected this question to be honest. The reasoning behind it is I could maybe sell the 748 for a few thousand? S4's are in hard to find here and honestly a little out of my budget at the moment.

After talking it over with a few people I think the adjustable or taller clip-ons like the ones you linked are a much better alternative. Would you need a different top triple clamp to run something like that? Or could you raise the forks in the triples slightly to give you enough mounting room?

fair enough. that makes a bit more sense.

you can use those clip-ons I linked with standard top triple (they have a decent variety in spacers to make them higher or lower).

BUT

you will most likely need longer brake lines if you go over 20mm or so higher and will also need to reposition the brake reservoir as it'll hit the upper fairing/screen. might need to relocate clutch res too but probably not.

that's the only problems I can think of off the top of my head.

my suggestion would be buy the size riser you want to start off with, install it (not a hard job) and see how you go with line length etc. if it's ok then good, if not then either buy new lines or get a smaller riser. the woodcraft one has different size risers which I believe are available separately.