If you have not ridden it yet why are you condemning the stock bars that may be fine, or a set of heli bars that are a little higher?
I am not condemning them ... I have said over and over that
"if" they don't work out,
"then" I'll need to do something different. Please read what I've said again. I've also said over and over that I'm simply looking into options in the event the clip-ons don't work out. I don't know where you're getting this "condemning" thing from.
I thin you should ride it without too much money time spent on it first to see if you will like it before going down the rabbit hole too far.
I'm way ahead of that. Again, i'm not spending any money on reconfiguring the SS ... all i've done is ask questions, take notes, and putting those notes aside. It's just mental preparation, nothing more than finding out what options are available and making choices BEFORE spending a single red cent on anything involving reconfiguring the riding position. It's just questions.
A monster would be cheaper and likely more comfortable with no modifications than a highly modded supersport.
Thanks for your view and opinion.
Great point except it seldom ends there. What will you do to have the bars clear the fairing and windscreen?
remove or replace them. Yes yes ... I understand that it's more than a simple "R or R" task, but to me all of that is a given with no need for me to explain how I understand those notions. Probably my fault for taking a few things for granted (meaning you and others do not really know me yet).
What about the new longer brake lines you will need?
already way ahead of you there. I fully understand that.
Throttle cables will need to be changed to longer (monster) cables., sometimes choke as well.
already way ahead of you there. I fully understand that.
This is not my first rodeo. I've built a number of bikes/ATVs and even SCORE race trucks. I am fully aware that reconfiguring things has a defined domino affect. I purposely did not explain all of that in order to keep my opening post short and concise. Otherwise people don't want to read it, and/or complain about how long my posts are. But all of those problems and domino issues are a given, I understand that. Thinking more about that now, I think it's about the people in this membership getting to know me better. I've probably taken that for granted.
I do these conversions enough to know it is never as simple or cheap to make such modifications as "just" a set of tree's, well unless you simply do not care the outcome which I doubt is the case.
As have I. All of that stuff is a given. I totally and completely understand all of that. This is my seventeenth motorcycle. I've built race bikes, street bikes, and been a metal fabricator since I was 14 years old (1974). I designed all of my own front and rear suspension modifications myself, as well as did all of the welding and fab on that bike myself. I've designed and built BMX frames and forks long beforethe term "BMX" was ever coined. You're making a lot of assumptions about me here.
I have a customer with a spiegler bar conversion on a 996 and it is a very well made kit with many of the parts included to make things work, but it is far from inexpensive for that reason.
...check.
A man's got to know his limitations
Having been a street cop in S.E. Los Angeles during the highest crime rate era in the most densely populated region of the U.S.A ... I fully understand the concept of knowing ones limitations. It also how I survived while serving in a nuclear security counter terrorist team when taking on the Red Brigades in Germany while serving in the military. I owned and operated my own brick and mortar business that specialized in industrial equipment repair ... every day brought challenges that required thinking on your feet and coming up with improvised solutions. Fifteen years, 7k ft/sq facility, eighteen employees, and responsible (contracted) for making sure that emergency power generators were up to snuff for airports, hospitals, police stations, fire departments, communications repeater stations, and casinos.
I would not be surprised though if you asked around you might find a monster 900 owner that woould like a SS so rather than selling think of it as a parallel trade. My customer I mentioned with the modded/monsterized SS would have certainly considered a trade for a more original Supersport so they are out there it is a matter of finding each other.
Thank you, I'll keep that in mind should I find myself in a situation that requires such actions.
True although if you research monsters you will see they may be the most highly modified /personalized Ducati model. You can do pretty much what you want to a monster and you are starting with possibly a BETTER starting point than the SS. In the end it is your bike ,your decision. I am only sharing my experience from building and working on them both for 20+ years, things I see first hand not read off a web page.
Check.
Not Ducati superbike but 1980's UJM "superbike bend" which are about a 1-2" rise from the risers and are higher than what you have now. Not to be confused with clubmans which are lower.
Well aware of that. comes down to risers used and bars selected. Again, I raced for years, built bikes, I get it.
Yes the monster trees have less offset so more trail. I swap SS trees onto monsters with no steering stop issues. I have not gone the other way but have both bare monster frames and monster trees so if you ask nicely I can test fit a set if I can find what box the tree's are in. I would guess the stops just need a slight adjustment to keep the fork tubes off the frame tubes. Also the more rearward bars will need to clear the tank which with the tall risers you will need to clear your adjustable forks if you have them should fit.
I understand that.
Keep in mind that wide bars = more leverage so lighter perceived steering, this is why you have more trail to tame the tendency for riders to manhandle something that needs a light touch. Many monster's have steering dampers , more than clip on equipped bikes due to the wide bars.
Understood.
I would wait until you get to spend some time on the bike as is first.
I'm not barrelling into changing anything ... again, I'm just gathering information.
If at that time you think a slightly higher bar will work I would look at Heli or some of the other brands that are higher than what you own and these while not as high as a monster bar will be close to a 1980's superbike bend with much fewer parts to change and added costs.
I'm not after a "superbike bend" ... I just want to be able to ride the bike without pain. If it ends up that the stock bars work, then GREAT!
This is all subjective if you end goal is more about building the bike into something "special to you" at which point have at it you will learn along the way.
Gotchya.
You are welcome opinions are free but often we both know their worth. It is your bike but I all to often see people create a tar baby out of something that was close to being right or so far off it would never work. As always know the risks and have fun on the journey.
Understood.
Somewhere along the way here things have become confused. I'm not intent on doing anything before actually putting time on the bike. I've mentioned my liking for UJM AMA Superbikes .... but that's all it is ... an admiration. However I fully understand that function comes way way way before form. I've not once said I'm going to spend a bunch of money on triples, bars, and so on before ever even riding the bike. I really hope that I've conveyed that clearly now so I don't cause any confusion. I promise I'll obtain a Monster if it comes to that. Ok? Thank you very much for your input. The fact that you posted all of the above may be helpful to many many other folks thinking of diving headlong into something they know little about. I think you and I have far more in common as far as experience and knowledge gained from decades of doing things than at first thought.
Lastly, just to make certain I've got my intentions across ... I'm just gathering information ... no money will be spent on anything until time is put on the bike. I'm the type of person that thinks forward, and gather information on possible outcomes before the situation is dire and demands immediate action. Which is all I'm doing in this thread.
Thanks so much for your input, and I hope you will continue to do so. Rex.