Right!  So, with 13,750 miles on the clock, five track days and an SS1k I thought I'd run through my current list of mods.

On the Touring end of the spectrum:

1.  Gerbings style e-Vest hookup w/ Heat-troller
2.  Heated Grips
3.  USB Charger Port up front
4.  12 volt plug under the rear cowling for the Bel 95 radar detector…plus a Y-splitter & USB charger for IPhone (both fit side by side…)
4a. Marc Parnes Visual Alert for Bel 95 Radar unit.
5.  Spare Gerbings style e-Vest hookup up front.  (*useful for accessories like a GPS…)
6.  PDM60 solid state "fuse" block (like a circuit breaker - awesome!)
7.  2x Quad-Cree 3,000 lumen fog lamps (slaved for 30% power on low beam, 100% power on high beam)

On the sporting end of the spectrum…
8.  25mm GP Suspension cartridge emulators (*the BEST stuff!)
9.  Penske 8983 Triple Adj. rear shock w/ remote reservoir (rebound, compression and ride height)
10.  Arrow Works Titanium exhaust - no baffle (60mm input…58mm output diameter    and about 8# weight savings)
11.  Rexxer Chip Reflash
12.  De-flappered exhaust, full flapper assembly removed.  (3# weight savings)
13.  Shorai Battery (like 6# weight savings)

Bling-O-Riffic stuff
14.  Oberon bar end mirrors (probably saved a pound…)
15.  Mirror Mount Eliminators (gets rid of the ugly screw holes where the mirrors go)
16.  Custom Exhaust Hanger (self-made too!)
17.  "3-Finger" cheap knock off brake and clutch levers.
18.  Ram Ball Mount for GPS / IPhone mount / GoPro
19.  Cannisterectomy
20.  Left side Euro airscoop (needed to cover up the cannisterectomy)
21.  SpeedyMoto crash bungs
22.  De-stickered and De-reflectored the bike

Surprisingly, the OEM saddle is freaking GREAT.  I haven't changed it and won't.  It's comfy for 500 mile days without question and I have a lovely memory foam pad for SS1k type days. 

Other tidbits:  ABS seems to go off a little early, but it's pretty decent overall.  The only time I notice it in a negative light is on the track.  Yes, it's switchable but I'm a huge believer in it.  I've also become a fan of Traction Control - I never thought I'd say that but it's something that can help exactly when it's needed.  The ABS and TC is one of the reasons I bought this bike. 

Favorite luggage:  Day to Day:  Bags Connection Reverse mounted as a tail bag.  For Touring:  Wolfman Wolf Tail is good for two night trips…I also have a Wolfman Mini-Beta Bag for long tours (*TBD).

So far, with the exception of Maintenance, I love this bike!

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Favorite Tires:  Metzler M5's for feel and performance…but I barely got 2k out of them and they messed with the traction control.  I still loved the way the felt...

Current Tires:  Michelin Power 3's.  Damn fine compromise!  A little less twitchy than the Metzlers but should get 4k of life out of them.  I can live with these tires quite nicely for the long term.  They warm up fast, turn in is just a bit slow (not a bad thing on a sub 400# wet bike with aggressive steering geometry).  Stick is good enough to drag the shifter and foot peg…both of which happen long after the knee hits the deck.  Plenty of feedback.

Tires I hated:  Micheline Power Pure's.  What a shitty feeling tire…I got 4k out of them but I should have pitched them sooner.  They sucked from mile 1 and simply got worse.  Hyper sensitive to pressures.

Any unusual wear?  Yeah, the rear brake pedal rattled off.     Got the bike teched for a track day anyhow.   

I'll be up for the 15k maintenance in about 3 weeks…I've been quoted some scary prices…$900-1100.  Piss on that then.    I'll have to nut up and figure it out the hard way. 

All in all, one of the BEST riding purchases I've ever made.  What a fantastic bike that's a constant head turner.

I thought I'd post a quick update on my suspension.  I rode the Fast 400 yesterday and the new bingers absolutely felt fantastic!  I was concerned that the setting I'd used on the track would be too stiff but the compliance afforded by the 25mm cartridge front and penske 8983 rear was phenomenal.  At no time did it ever feel harsh or punishing. 

No, it wasn't as plush as my old GS but then again the GS could never handle with the precision the Monster does.

Well worth the money I put down!

See... I know this guy, eh, who can maybe help you through a Ducati maintenance. Issa not sucha a bad theeng...



Particularly after doing a BMW maintenance.

Hmmmm, I have beer…   

PS:  BMW maintenance was JOY compared to Desmo's!

True on the BMW clutches.     I've replaced clutches, final drives and my favorite:  primary output seal (ugh!).  I just love that it takes 4-6 hours just to get into the clutch area.

The Monster is a 2v motor - not the Quattro style.  Arguably this is much easier as there are half as many valves to adjust.  Still, it's the closer valve measurements that are difficult for me…

I'd welcome your company!  January Beer and BBQ / Valve Adjustment event? 

True on the BMW clutches.     I've replaced clutches, final drives and my favorite:  primary output seal (ugh!).  I just love that it takes 4-6 hours just to get into the clutch area.

The Monster is a 2v motor - not the Quattro style.  Arguably this is much easier as there are half as many valves to adjust.  Still, it's the closer valve measurements that are difficult for me…

I'd welcome your company!  January Beer and BBQ / Valve Adjustment event? 

 So the evo is more like the 900SS then. Easy-peasy. You'll need one of these if you don't have one already.

 Jan is good as long as it's not storming. If it's storming I am working 12hr night shifts.

Right, stormy days:  skip the beer and go straight to Scotch then?

 Yeah that or red wine.

 CSW are good folks. If you really want to get on their good side send 'em some of these.

Oh, and I can also confirm that my Monster holds 3.53 gallons and can go a max of 163 miles on a tank.  46mpg on SoCal freeways at elevated speeds is pretty darn good. 

On the other hand I still ran out of gas.    

(Thankfully the gas station was only 100 yards away...still, it was an uphill push!  For those interested, yep, it sputtered once and died almost immediately after the sputter.)

 Looks like I need to find another reason to come drink your beer now.

 The ST4 was a bit daunting at first, but once I got the hang of it the worst was the rear exhaust valves. Not much room to get in there. I just hope it doesn't develop the rocker flaking issue. That could get pricey. So far so good though.

 Bummer about the shelf. I try to avoid storing hard/heavy things on shelves above the bikes for that very reason this being earthquake country.

Quote from: BMW-K on January 04, 2014, 10:25:39 AM

I had a shelf collapse in the garage dumping a half dozen folding chairs on top of my bike.   

I'm amazed every time I see the crap people pile on "shelves". I made Susan take down the piles of books she had on a built-in shelf system that was pulling away from the wall at the top. Structural engineering appears to be a lost art. 

Actually, four separate supports pulled out from studs on an 8' shelf.  I thought I was over engineered to a fault on this one.  Apparently not.  Total weight on the shelf was less than 75#. 

Anyway, it's not that big of a deal.  Just one more story about the ride.