[riversbikes]

Just got back from a 4-day trip to the Black Hills -- around 2500km of riding, and my 10,000 km 2003 999 performed really well. Once the Harley Brigade got out of the way, going through the twisties was a blast! Highly recommended riding for those that live near enough to go, but think about May or Sept -- June to August means RV traffic (both the 2 and 4-wheeled kind). Basically my 999 is bone stock. After returning from the trip, I'd like to make some mods to improve the comfort and make the exhaust the loudest thing on the bike, not the clutch!

1. Seat -- either a Sargent or a Corbin. Anyone tried either of these and can make a suggestion? Did 700 mi yesterday and am suffering from Monkeybutt!

2. Bars --some of the helibar-type product advertise a 1.5" rise, but according to the pictures, they look almost stock. A slight rise would be preferable... has anyone put on higher bars and can weigh in with a suggestion? My wrists are killing me!

3. Exhaust -- here is my plan... would like to get an MJS cored exhaust, and also eliminate the catalytic converters, to avoid toasting my rear (as I did following my cruiser buddies trolling through Sturgis on Monday...). Does MJS offer this service as well? I will need a PCIII as well I assume, and will have to download a richer Map to start, and then tune from there. My other idea was the Mivv system with Mid-Pipe, but that with a PCIII will be close to $1300, while the cored exhaust ($500?) and PCIII could be done for around $800 by my guess. Anyone gotten a 749/999 exhaust cored by these guys? They have been recommended here in the past.

 

[DMCTRUBY]

I never had an issue with the stock seat on the 999. Riding with leather track pants seems to help. While the pants leather would seem not to add much incomfort with a mere few mill of padding...it does makes a difference vs jeans or some other lesser material.

Exhaust. Never liked a cored exhaust sound. Remus are dang lound and mean sounding. I have termi's, love that too. I know you-tube has some good clips of various exhausts on 999...you might want to listed to cored ones....lound by not a cool loud like mivi, remus, termi.. Sorry to tell you I did not seen a huge difference in a free-flow non-cat exhaust over the stock (which I had used for 1 summer) in terms of heat. Thighs still roast, again the leathers help that situation.

I am not exactly sure what is different on my current 999s with the clip ons. They are stock, but I think the prior owner may have removed the seating pin and angled the clips-ons out just a bit, they are also raised on the tube as as high as they can go. On my prior 999 (same year as the 999s, 05) my hands would go numb after 30 mins or so. On the current bike I can ride for hours with no wrist pain or finger numbness at all. Perhaps a small adjustment change to your stock setup might do the trick I also know the stock levers have little tolerance/clearance to the fairing parts so be careful on what you do select if you do go with a raised clip-on.


Good luck with the mods.

 

[mbevans]

I wanted comfort on my 999S but found there are a few issues.

Any aftermarket seat will raise the seating position, that equals lowering the handlbars.

Raising the handlbars works, but you can only go so far. I bought the LSL clip-ons, nice quality, look great, yet I do not like the angle, I believe it is OEM angle. Had to go to remote reservoirs which meant new master cylinders. Yeah it got pricey.

Sound? Look for a Termi half-system, best bang for the buck, great Termi sound, good looks and it will give ya a few ponies, and most likely you will not need to change to a PCIII, maybe.

Good luck....

Mark

 

[j.davis]

Seat -- either a Sargent or a Corbin. Anyone tried either of these and can make a suggestion? Did 700 mi yesterday and am suffering from Monkeybutt!/QUOTE]

I have a pristine Sargent saddle. Black with red piping. PM me if you're interested.

jD

 

[mbevans]

I believe that Ducati sells a more comfortable seat an the stocker for the 999. And I am told it's around $200.00

 

[kaos]

i've got a cored exhaust (with decatted front pipe too) and a pc111 that i'll sell.fwiw it sounds better than the termi full system that i run now.give me a pm if your interested,but i'll be away till monday

 

[LaRossa]

I had a Corbin on my S4Rs and swore to never buy one of those again, beautiful but painful! I had a Sargent on my 1098S tri. and loved it so I got one for my 999R and don't regret it a bit, very comfortable according to my boney ass. As far as clip ons, I was getting some numbness on my right hand with the stock so I decided to get a Speedymoto top triple, that alone raises the clip ons about 3/4" but while I was at it I also changed the clip ons with the Speedymoto adjustables, it changes the angle as they rotate. I love the combo, way better than stock. As far as the exhaust I choose the full Zard, added a pcIII and now the beast wants to come out and play.
So far, I'm very happy with these choices. Good luck with yours!

 

[Bella749]

I may have a set of the fully adjustable Cycle Cat clipons off of a bike I'm picking up next week. I'm not sure what the rise is on them.. probably an inch or so, and they're adjustable for bar angle via an eccentric insert. I'm planning on replacing them with Woodcrafts, so I may have the Cycle Cats available for sale. I guess those things are hard to come by since CC closed it's doors.

 

[DMCTRUBY]

just fyi, angle/rise/height of my old 05 999 with clips on at stock placement, and pic of current 05 999s where the prior owner had moved clipons. My hands never go numb on this set up. Not the best comparison pic but you can see the 999s setup with the clipons slide up the fork and then turned out a bit, it makes the bar height higher and grips at nearly a level stance vs the stock angle where the grips have a significant down angle I found very rough on my wrist.

 

[j3w]

just fyi, angle/rise/height of my old 05 999 with clips on at stock placement, and pic of current 05 999s where the prior owner had moved clipons. My hands never go numb on this set up. Not the best comparison pic but you can see the 999s setup with the clipons slide up the fork and then turned out a bit, it makes the bar height higher and grips at nearly a level stance vs the stock angle where the grips have a significant down angle I found very rough on my wrist.

Sorry for the blast from the past, but one of the things I search most for here is '999 comfort' heh.

Is Ruby still around? Looking at the pics - is it possible that the previous owner swapped the clip ons left for right and flipped them over?

 

[ZDM]

I have a 2003 999 and have done the following:

Installed a set of FBF bars....they are better than Heli in quality, I've seen them side by side. They do make a huge difference.
I also installed a Ducati Performance "comfort" seat. $150 I wanted to gain some legroom this way, the seat is 15mm taller. I understand that if you raise the seat, you defeat gain in comfort you get if you install bar risers. But it just doesn't work out this way. The angle of the FBF bar also improves comfort. All in all two great mods which improve the ergos of the 999.
As far as a Corbin or Sargeant seat-forget it...IMO they are way too expensive compared to the DP comfort seat, and just junk....some guys love them, but get the DP comfort seat if they are still available. They are unbeatable for comfort!

 

[DMCTRUBY]

It's Don, I live in CT and own a modifed jeep rubicon... hence the dmctruby screen name, but I'll answer to "ruby"

I found out later that the clip-ons are not stock on my bike. I assumed they were. The prior owner had put a set of heli-bars on. I'd never seen heli-bars, they looked stock to me. So my comfort is not due to stock clips on being moved, it thanks to Heli -bars.

Sorry for the blast from the past, but one of the things I search most for here is '999 comfort' heh.

Is Ruby still around? Looking at the pics - is it possible that the previous owner swapped the clip ons left for right and flipped them over?

 

[Turboflyer]

You can also add the standard throttlemisters which will allow some safe right hand relief if needed. My stock saddle is fine for my rear so I guess it is all relative. My half termi sounds awesome. Ear plugs required, WHAT. I am doing my own front pipe decat, fixture done will be tiging it up this week. It will also have a O2 sensor bung for AFR measurement and setting. Give Dobeck a call. I have their FI module on my 999S. Great item.

 

[j3w]

I found out later that the clip-ons are not stock on my bike. I assumed they were. The prior owner had put a set of heli-bars on. I'd never seen heli-bars, they looked stock to me. So my comfort is not due to stock clips on being moved, it thanks to Heli -bars.

Thanks for the follow-up, man.

 

[j3w]

I have a 2003 999 and have done the following:

Installed a set of FBF bars....they are better than Heli in quality, I've seen them!

Quick question - do you need remote reservoirs for the FBF bars? I took a look and will probably pull the trigger on payday if they are a straight swap...

 

[DMCTRUBY]

My Heli-bars use all the stock parts (levers and res), easy swap if you go with those.

 

[j3w]

My Heli-bars use all the stock parts (levers and res), easy swap if you go with those.

Yeah but Ferracci sounds so much more Italian.

 

[BrianG]

I wanted comfort on my 999S but found there are a few issues.

.................................................

Raising the handlbars works, but you can only go so far. I bought the LSL clip-ons, nice quality, look great, yet I do not like the angle, I believe it is OEM angle. Had to go to remote reservoirs which meant new master cylinders. Yeah it got pricey.

You don't need new Master cylinders to use remote reservoirs. You just pull the integral reservoirs and place a Brembo barb fitting into the rubber grommet. You also install standard bleed nipples in place of the integral-reservoir-retaining/bleed fitting.

Here is my LSL installation with OEM masters and Rizoma remote reservoirs.

and a couple with more detail....
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/nairbg/Duc work/P6190001.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/nairbg/Duc work/P6190002.jpg

Sound? Look for a Termi half-system, best bang for the buck, great Termi sound, good looks and it will give ya a few ponies, and most likely you will not need to change to a PCIII, maybe.

Good luck....

Mark

+1

 

[ZDM]

Quick question - do you need remote reservoirs for the FBF bars? I took a look and will probably pull the trigger on payday if they are a straight swap...

No, you can mount them straight up. The only issue I had was when I turned my front wheel full lock right it pulled on the fast idle cable causing the throttle to race. You can resolve this by re-routing the cable or adjusting the cable inside the airbox.
I recently went back to a slip on and forgot just how loud they are compared to my old 54mm full system. I never set off car alarms in my neigborhood w/ the full system......but they are bothe rated at 102db..which is BS