Monster Rmx Vol.3

The third Cafe-Racer based on the Monster was more or less obvious. STs and Monsters share similar frames. Since the faired Cafe-Racer was using the ST frame, it is easy to think to use the Monster for the naked version. The only significant difference is the rear part of the frame, where the ST has two horizontal beams while the Monster has one. With those two pics combined together you can see the differences between the two frames. They were taken from slightly different angles, but i have centered them on the oil-level glass, so you can roughly check the similarities and differences. In the last pic i have highlighted with red the Monster frame. 

One of the basic features that makes the ST such a great basis for a Cafe-Racer is the fuel tank. It has that upper line almost parallel to the ground. In contrast lets say with the Monster or the SS. The Monster follows the V-shape of the frame and the SS has a forward slope. That was the tough part when designing the SSie Cafe-Racer. To keep the stock fuel tank, in order to keep the cost of the modification low.

 

So since Monsters and STs share the "same" frame we can use an ST tank. Can we? Well my Monster was a carburated one so i bought an ST tank from ebay and covered the pump hole with an aluminum round plate using the tank's bolt holes and a gasoline resistant sealing glue. On the plate i've opened two holes and placed two aluminum tubes through them, for the fuel line and the overflow. I don't have pics of that, but i have sold the Monster in the Vol.2 version, so i have that ST tank on the workshop and i'll make some pics of that. I kept the Monster tank holder, but since the flaps on the tank have exactly the same opening as the flaps on the tank holder, i have slightly open the ones on the tank. Why i kept the Monster's tank holder? Because under the tank the ST has no room for the battery, so the hole under the tank is not a big one. The Monster's tank holder is higher than the ST one so, it gives those 1-2cm needed to avoid messing with the air box and electric parts under there. Despite that, there is no room for the battery under the ST tank, that is why i mooved it back under the seat like i did with the ST. Because of all that i became a Ca-Cycleworks dealer. So that if you want to have a factory like modification, you can have one of their Monster tanks. They have tanks for carburated and fuel injected Monsters so with their tanks it is plug and play. And of course the Ca-Cycleworks tank has the shape and size of an ST tank. For details you can visit:

https://ca-cycleworks.com/products/tanks

So the rear subframe was build as holder for the Sport-Classic fiberglass seat/tail and for the battery.

The subframe is asymetrical, because i wanted it to be a bolt-on part. Check the front part. The two beams are welded on a metal blade that is attached on the main frame under the fuel tank holder. You can see that every stock part under the seat of the Monster is in its original place. Fuse box, under tail, seat lock. This is maybe the easyest modification you can have. You use your two seater Monster the hole week and for the weekend you remove six bolts. Change fuel tanks, place the subframe, battery, two cables (if it is the Ca-Cycleworks tank not even that) and you have your single seater Cafe-Racer. 

And man what a bike! Let's see some pics. 

In those first four pics the Monster has the headlight placed lower and the instruments forward, because it is wearing the Rmx.Vol 2, headlight and instruments subframes. While in the next four pics it has instruments and headlight in their stock position.

The difference between those versions, is a couple of hours. I was out for pics with the lower headlight and i was so anctious to see it with the stock headlight that i went back to my workshop, removed the subframe and the aluminum plate from the instruments and went out again to shoot it again. Like i said in my previous post this is my favourite naked bike. More pics!

Finally a couple of days later, after i tryied the normal windshield the one i used on the Vol.1, i realised that there was something wrong with the windshield. Here's what. the normal windshield, is actualy a Triumph Thruxton windshiled with a bigger gap in front, for the bigger Ducati headlight. So the lines of that windshield maybe they look fine on a Triumph, but they are not proportionate with the ducati shape. So i've created a smaller, wider windshield, to match the Ducati proportions. here is the result.

And now the beautifull part. The Monster is an underpowered Super-Bike, with a lower seating position and a steering-bar in order to become an everyday city-bike. But this Super-Bike potential is there. From the next two pics i've created a new one that points out, how mutch lower and forward are the grips with the Ace-Bars, compared to the stock steering bar and how mutch higher and forward is the riders body with the new seat. The result of this combined weight transfer to the front wheel is surpising. The Monster becomes pleasantly vivid and alive in everyday driving and of course in high speed cornering. But i knew that the Monster had the same, more or less riding position and weight distribution, with the ST bikes, i've ridden, yet it felt mutch more pleasant and vivid than an ST. Trying to find out why, i realised that the Monster 600 is a mutch lighter bike. Especially like you see it on the pics with the Termis, without the seat, without all that plastic parts in the rear end. I don't know exactly, but it felt (not when ridden, but when pushed) like between 160-170 kgs. That is why i loved it so mutch. Because it is the lighter Ducati Super-Bike i have ever ridden.

And a handsome detail, necessary for sutch a bike. Instead of the usual back pillows, i've made one that continues the lines of the body stripes.

I will say one last fact and i will leave you to enjoy a truly great 15 years old, $2,800, 170kgs Ducati Super-Bike. The harmony of the lines and the volumes of the final result, is sutch that the bike looks aggressive even with the 160 rear tyre. 

The Monster Rmx Vol.3 is also available as a kit. The kit contains: The rear subframe and the fiberglass tail/cowl. The cost of the kit is $300+$45 for worldwide shippment.
For the fuel tank, you can have either a second hand ST tank or a brand new Ca-Cycleworks tank (priced $500-$550 depending on the model).
For details or orders you can contact me at:
ducatitifoso@hotmail.com


Best
Kostas