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31 Posts
I've only ever ridden mountain bikes and some small dirtbikes but have wanted a proper motorcycle since college. I've casually followed bikes since I'm a big car gearhead but finally bought a used 2000 M750 early this fall. It has been a lot of fun since there is tons of info on the 1st-gen Monsters so its nice to have a lot of reference, DIY, and mod materials, but its half-fun and half-frustrating to hunt for parts since most of the really good ones stopped being made years ago. I've gotten split reactions to a Monster being my first bike, either it seems logical or you'll kill yourself (because Ducati). I tried to approach it the same way I did when I got my 225 TT - the carb'd 748cc isn't particularly powerful but is plenty quick enough, it is smaller and nimble, and it can't get me into any more trouble than basically any other bike. I constantly read that ~600cc is a good starting point so although the engine is a bit bigger its not like its a liter bike either. I definitely didn't want a heavy bike, nor something with peaky power, and there is just something about the original trellis frame that gets me. I plan to respect it completely while learning and figured this was a good bike to learn on and grow into, it seems like a good all-arounder and I plan for maintenance, new tires, the MSF, and lots of neighborhood practice in spring.
I'm hoping to get some input - I've already bought gear and done a few mods, specifically Dynacoil Greens with NGK 8mm wires, Staintune reverse cone slipons, and a 2001 speedo/tach cluster (plug-and-play!). However, the frame has some corrosion I want to touch up, I want to replace all the timing gear, and I will check the valve spacing and deal with anything else over the winter. Here is the project thread so far, I've since picked up a mint yellow seat cowl and CF seat fairings: Duc, Duc...Goose
Thanks!
I'm hoping to get some input - I've already bought gear and done a few mods, specifically Dynacoil Greens with NGK 8mm wires, Staintune reverse cone slipons, and a 2001 speedo/tach cluster (plug-and-play!). However, the frame has some corrosion I want to touch up, I want to replace all the timing gear, and I will check the valve spacing and deal with anything else over the winter. Here is the project thread so far, I've since picked up a mint yellow seat cowl and CF seat fairings: Duc, Duc...Goose
- I found the bronze touch-up paint on eBay for the frame, ideally I'd like to disassemble the bike and send the frame for refinishing, it'd make doing the valves and any other case maintenance pretty easy
- Should I check the valve clearances before or after I install the new timing stuff? (belts, static tensioners, adjustable tensioners, anything else that's recommended)
- I'd like to maintain/update the suspension, the goal would be newb-oriented street for my 225lbs, I have the non-adjustable Showas so I figured RaceTechs and new oil in the forks and maybe an ST3 rear shock, both linear springs? The consensus seems to be that getting weight-matched springs, good oil, and an OEM upgrade rear is fine if I don't want to spend $1000 (I definitely don't). If everyone thinks I just need to ride it first that's fine, too, it just makes sense to do big stuff if the thing will be in pieces anyway
- Am I missing anything obvious or important?
Thanks!