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Turn a Monster into a 888? With a Testa Evo engine....

11016 Views 34 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Lucky Pete, Feb 22, 2020

rodericb

Discussion Starter · Feb 1, 2020

I remember reading that the original Monster 900 had a frame and rear swingarm and linkages from, or similar to, the 888. Obviously the rear subframe is different along with some bracing. I believe the steering rake angle is different (24 on the Monster, 24.5 on the 888, ?? on the 851...) With all of that in mind, would it be possible to jam a Testastretta Evo in there? Along with the Testastretta injection and the whole loom...

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belter

· #2 · Feb 1, 2020

like an s4rs?

Reactions: 2

duc96cr

· #3 · Feb 1, 2020

Do you have an 888 engine lying around ? If not, they are not very common, and for all the work involved, what are you trying to accomplish ? It’s an expensive way to go a little faster if you don’t have the engine already. The question I would have is if there is room for the rear head.

spinoli1

· #4 · Feb 1, 2020

So, a 1098/1198 into an old 900 Monster chassis? You do realise that, if someone say it can be done, you are now legally obliged to do it?

Reactions: 2

rodericb

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 1, 2020

belter said:
like an s4rs?

More a home-brewed 888 look-alike with silly power. 888's (and even 851's) are as rare as hens teeth and are expensive. Later monsters have chassis based on the ST2 or something. In doing further research (851and888 forum...) it seems that there might be one or two of these in the world....

belter

· #6 · Feb 1, 2020

there's a few st4s dressed up as 851/888, and marvin has an s4rs engine in his 851, plus there's a couple of 1098 engined ones around.

if you specifically want to use an early m900 frame then you need to modify the cross member in front of the vertical head to be a v shape like any of the 4v one, and add radiator mounts. the st based 4v frame from 2001 s4 onwards would be a better starting point. frame is stronger and already made to suit the 4v engine.

Reactions: 1

rodericb

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 2, 2020

belter said:
there's a few st4s dressed up as 851/888, and marvin has an s4rs engine in his 851, plus there's a couple of 1098 engined ones around.

if you specifically want to use an early m900 frame then you need to modify the cross member in front of the vertical head to be a v shape like any of the 4v one, and add radiator mounts. the st based 4v frame from 2001 s4 onwards would be a better starting point. frame is stronger and already made to suit the 4v engine.

At this point in time I've got nothing of any donor bike - just a sudden lust for a 888 SP4. So anything to make it easier is good, but keeping the look of the 888 and roughly period looking things on it where possible. Like a restomod. 1198 and as much 1198 engine stuff that can go on. forged alu wheels from a 999, Ohlins forks with axial calipers (!)....

final_edition

· #8 · Feb 2, 2020

I have put a 1098 engine in a S4 frame, along with a black 999 swingarm.

final_edition

· #9 · Feb 2, 2020

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rodericb

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 3, 2020

Is that to create a 1098 monster, or are you going to change it more?

final_edition

· #11 · Feb 3, 2020

final_edition said:
View attachment 979687

Unsure at the moment but would be nice to 888 it.

nine16

· #12 · Feb 4, 2020

2

There are many desmoquattro transplants into genuine 851/888 frames--Mostly ST4 (916cc) and ST4S (996cc), both for personal and vintage race use. Most of the stuff is plug and play or relatively simple, and the ST cases are way stronger. My ex Jimmy Adamo 851 is one such example. It has a built 996 in it. I used the ST4S donor motor, along with its throttle bodies and electrics to keep things fairly straight-forward. But everything else can be 851/888, even the race parts.

Converting an ST or Monster frame has been done (check out Practical Sportsbikes SP4 replica from a couple years ago), but IMO a lot of work to wind up with something that still isn't a real 851/888.

Several people have also built 1098/1198 versions, but those are a ton more work--you have big issues to resolve with the airbox, throttle bodies, exhausts, and on and on. BUT...once you solve all those and add late model Panigale electronics you've got a beastly ride with really nice traction control. Find the one from Biggelaar Performance.

Anyway, if you're truly interested in building one, I've got a spare frame available, including swingarm and corse suspension rocker and hoop. In the meantime, threads are better with pics, so here's my previously mentioned 851 from Deal's Gap last fall. Marvin did the corse frame gusseting and removable cross brace.

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rodericb

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 4, 2020

nine16 said:
Several people have also built 1098/1198 versions, but those are a ton more work--you have big issues to resolve with the airbox, throttle bodies, exhausts, and on and on. BUT...once you solve all those and add late model Panigale electronics you've got a beastly ride with really nice traction control. Find the one from Biggelaar Performance.

The holy grail would be an 888 SP4 or SP5 frame with a 1098R engine. The 888 chassis with a 1200 Multi or Diavel would even be a quick bike. Is the conversion of the testa evo cases to run the swingarm bearings troublesome?

nine16

· #14 · Feb 4, 2020

There's no reason to use an SP frame. It's not TIG welded or braced like the corse frames, has no performance benefits, and you would actually be hurting the value of an SP4 or SPS.

Get a normal, genuine 851 or 888 frame. If you want to be able to enjoy the bike in a reasonable timeline, use a desmoquattro. BTW, even without a big bore you can make a 996 run with a standard 1098 (see dyno) and it will still be cheaper than all the one-off stuff you would need for the testastretta.

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rodericb

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 5, 2020

nine16 said:
There's no reason to use an SP frame. It's not TIG welded or braced like the corse frames, has no performance benefits, and you would actually be hurting the value of an SP4 or SPS.

Get a normal, genuine 851 or 888 frame. If you want to be able to enjoy the bike in a reasonable timeline, use a desmoquattro. BTW, even without a big bore you can make a 996 run with a standard 1098 (see dyno) and it will still be cheaper than all the one-off stuff you would need for the testastretta.

Sorry, I was rambling and forgot to elaborate on the 888 SP4 frame thing. We have this scheme in Australia where you can create an Individually Constructed Vehicle (ICV). I'd seen that Pierobin make three types of 888 frames (888 bip, 888S and SBK - 888 Archivi : Pierobon Frames - frames and accessories for motorcycle). So I have the (expensive) option of going down the ICV path as that can use a new frame. The VIN number is done via the engineer who inspects the vehicle. But I'd end up with an 888 frame and rocker rear suspension. Being late at night I'd been seeing SBK as SP4...... blah. Anyway, it seems there's no shortage of wrecked 1098's 1198's, 1200 Multis and Diavels here and that'd be the source of the engine, injection, electrics, switchgear...

I found that Biggellar mega 888 - whoah that's a serious piece of kit!

nine16

· #16 · Feb 6, 2020

That's kinda what I was planning to do with that spare frame I bought until I realized it was a Tricolore--I just don't want to cut it up. I guess I may if nobody else wants to preserve it, but even then I don't know that I have the patience to do the testastretta.

loony888

· #17 · Feb 6, 2020

2

You may as well cut it up, the tricolour geometry isn't the best anyway......

A 1098 or 1198 engined 888 chassis would be fun, frame mods would be necessary, and a removable cross brace like the SP and Corsa frames would almost be a necessity.

A big airbox is possible, this one in mine helps my original size 888 engine to 130 RWHP

Vehicle Auto part Engine Car Automotive engine part

Land vehicle Vehicle Motorcycle Car Motor vehicle

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Reactions: 3

rodericb

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 6, 2020

loony888 said:
A 1098 or 1198 engined 888 chassis would be fun, frame mods would be necessary, and a removable cross brace like the SP and Corsa frames would almost be a necessity.

What sort of mods do you think would be necessary?

And just for the sake of discussion, would a carbon airbox like on the 916SP's stiffen things up? Would you be able to use the fuel tank as the airbox cover?

loony888

· #19 · Feb 6, 2020

rodericb said:
What sort of mods do you think would be necessary?

And just for the sake of discussion, would a carbon airbox like on the 916SP's stiffen things up? Would you be able to use the fuel tank as the airbox cover?

I've not done it so i can't say with any authority.

I can say that the 888 frame is quite weedy compared to a 1098 frame, the tubing is much more substantial to deal with the significant horsepower increase used in the race bikes.

The carbon airbox in the 916 was engineered from the design stage to increase chassis stiffness, to replicate that you would need to add fixing points to the frame and they would have to be in the right places, triangulated steel trellis frames may appear simple but they're just as complex as any other when the designers engineer them, it would be easy to turn what is essentially a sweet handling chassis into a dog.

Yes, i use the underside of my tank as the airbox top, the seal works quite well and i have two intake ducts like the factory set up as well as an open front behind the steering head like the race bikes of the era.

vtwin

· #20 · Feb 6, 2020

@loony888 That is beautiful! More pics, please!

Reactions: 1

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