Monster 696 Cafe Racer

Gecko

Gecko

Joined Sep 2012
2K Posts | 2K+
Switzerland
I couldn't sell my GF's first bike for a reasonable price. She made her driver's license on this Monster 696 (2008).

So, I decided to pimp this old bike a little bit and make it more "cafe racer" like.

Hardest part was changing the ugly handlebars. Took me 3 days to reroute all the electrics and hydraulics. But it's fun working on this bike!

With the QD exhaust's sound everybody thinks it's Harley, really :)

And all relevant components are homologated, it's street legal in Europe.
 

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Long time since I worked on this bike again....
Earlier this year I decided to go for a single side swingarm.

Luckily I could get most parts on Ebay and from a scrap metal heap.
Wheels, axles and brake discs are from a streetfighter. I cleaned and grinded them and let them be painted by a professional painter. Swingarm is most probably from an 796 monster or a hypermotard. S/N on the cast is unknown to ducati :)
Rear axle and caliper mounting plate from a streetfighter, hub from a 1100 evo monster. Switched to a DID 525 chain, front sprocket from a really old monster 1000 since the 696 (2008) still has the old style secondary drive shaft. Old school Pirelli Phantom tires.

A little problem was the tacho, this 696 has no ABS, speed is not measure by a sonic wheel but by the 6 screws that hold the old rear brake disc. But the streetfighter axle has only four sensor pins. I could solve this problem by attaching the Healtech Speedohealer to the tacho signal line.
 

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Damn Gecko. You make working on bikes more than just a fun hobby. That looks awesome man. I'm gonna ship my 1199 to you and let you go nuts with it and do it up however you want.

Wonder what all you're going to do with your Anniversario. Guess it's time to update your profile yet again. Next up....1299SL!
 
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Twistedracer said:
Looks sweet. Love the retro paint on the tank.
Click to expand...

There is actually a funny story about this vertical "imola" stripe. History goes that the Ducati Imola racers had a fiber glass tank and they had a vertical stripe on each side which was not painted, for quick fuel level assessment.
 
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Gecko said:
There is actually a funny story about this vertical "imola" stripe. History goes that the Ducati Imola racers had a fiber glass tank and they had a vertical stripe on each side which was not painted, for quick fuel level assessment.
Click to expand...

Yes I'm familiar with that. You know the one that had the fly stuck in the clear section when the tank was made? :D
 
double0 said:
Damn Gecko. You make working on bikes more than just a fun hobby. That looks awesome man. I'm gonna ship my 1199 to you and let you go nuts with it and do it up however you want.

Wonder what all you're going to do with your Anniversario. Guess it's time to update your profile yet again. Next up....1299SL!
Click to expand...

Hey double0

Your bike is already an outstanding beauty!!!! I love the unique white/blue scheme, it's somehow pretty royal.

I guess you'd be shocked if you get your bike back after my "treatment". I really want to turn a Panigale into a freakin Steampunk bike, lot's of polished brass, enamel tank and oiling glasses, leather and wood applied. Of course without making it heavier.
 
awesome progress and job well done. Whenever i can make it over to Europe, I will need to stop by to say hi to you and your bikes.
 
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Gecko said:
Hey double0

Your bike is already an outstanding beauty!!!! I love the unique white/blue scheme, it's somehow pretty royal.

I guess you'd be shocked if you get your bike back after my "treatment". I really want to turn a Panigale into a freakin Steampunk bike, lot's of polished brass, enamel tank and oiling glasses, leather and wood applied. Of course without making it heavier.
Click to expand...

Lol appreciate that. Certainly isn't everyone's liking but my opinion is the only one that matters ☺

I'm actually trying to redo my decals but no one I have contacted has even considered trying my request. I'm trying to redo them in a different way and then clear film over it to prevent it from peeling. That and a couple more cosmetic changes. Nothing crazy.
 
This week I received a small parcel from Podium Racing - Performance Ducati Parts and Accessories

These guys are awesome. High qualtiy Titanium products for a very good price. I have lots of bolts from them on my SL, so I decided to put some stuff on my GFs 696. Everything fitted perfectly.

I like the design of the wheel axle nuts. They are super light. Would be cool to have something similar for the Panigale.

Design of some of their bolts is similar to MotoCorse and NCR, others are completely unique.
 

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