Servicing near Swindonia

[spacemonkey]

Hello peeps. Now I am in the land where Dreams Are Made (copyright Honda from some time ago) I was wondering where I can get the overpriced parts to feed my Monster when it throws a tantrum? And who for servicing the bits I can't be arsed with?
I'm amazed by the cheap insurance here- I insured my thing for £160, and they will add a 916 to the policy for a further £124. Hmm... bit of a no brainer then?


ps I need an XR400 to add to the collection too.

[Zimbo]

If only we had a club member living somewhere near Swindon that dealt in monster bling on the side. Someone like Nattyboy, for instance.

Hang on, doesn't Nat live in . . . .

.. oh yes, so he does. Swindon. Sorted :chuckle:

Servicing: You're about mid way between Cornerspeed, Snells and Louigi Moto, your choice! Unless there's someone more local I don't know about?

[NattyBoy]

Hi mate - well catch up soon...Servicing and parts...www.louigimoto.co.uk..Dont tell rich I sent you or he'll charge you extra !!!

Insurance is cheap mate...my S4R and 888..£341 comp with protected bonus..! I think its probably got summat to do with the web fingered locals finding it hard to use the throttle when they try and pinch your pride and joy..!!

Nat

[Gilps]

If you want official Ducati dealer for warranty stuff etc. then you are in between Riders of Bristol and Pegasus in Reading. I bought my bike from Aylesbury Ducati but found their service dept to be rather unhelpful (I do hope they don't respond saying that I should have taken up my complaints with them directly rather than posting my opinions on here first). I used Pegasus in Reading and found them to be excellent. I have heard good things on here about Luigi Moto and will probably use them myself for non warrant type stuff.
Swindon's lovely isn't it. I try not to go there too much myself as I live nearer to Cirencester, but I work in West Swindon so am in and out most days.

[Pedro]

You'll not go wrong with Rich at Louigi - top fella!

[spacemonkey]

Where is cousin Louigi based then? If I go in and ask him to do stuff, will he make me an offer I can't refuse?

[Pedro]

He's based just east of Bristol so not far from you, Natty will know...

[NattyBoy]

Clutton, Nick, between bath and bristol. He always welcomes new punters with a little look round his workshop and a cuppa/cake of your choice !! You'll not find a better duke spannerman - hes even more obsessed with dukes than I am !!! :freak:

Nat

[CK & AK]

or Moto Rapido:

http://www.motorapido.co.uk/

about 50 miles from you

Nat, Nelly is also a good spannerman - as are a few others too :p

[spacemonkey]

Thankyou one and all.

Incidentally, does anyone know a rough cost to ride a bike in somewhere and get them to remove heads and fit new valve guides in? Is it worth going down the bigger valve route for a 93 900? Or would a head from a 98 onward with the bigger valves be cheaper? Does anyone know if the mods to the 98 900s lump went further than just bigger valves? Do they ever come up for sale and what kind of price for heads or just whole engine??????

Phew, that's a lot of questions.

[JR]

Talk to Chris Steedman (CJS Performance Engines) in association with Louigi Moto's, he is the Ducati Engine build Specialist.
Tel Mobile 07835 771434. He will be able to tell you what is possible.
They will collect your bike sort it and return it, so no need to ride over.

[Zimbo]

Thankyou one and all.

Incidentally, does anyone know a rough cost to ride a bike in somewhere and get them to remove heads and fit new valve guides in? Is it worth going down the bigger valve route for a 93 900? Or would a head from a 98 onward with the bigger valves be cheaper? Does anyone know if the mods to the 98 900s lump went further than just bigger valves? Do they ever come up for sale and what kind of price for heads or just whole engine??????

Phew, that's a lot of questions.

I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that post '97 M900 engines actually had smaller valves rather than bigger, to "improve torque in the midrange" did they go bigger again after that and if so how do they compare to the early monsters with the 900ss engine?

[spacemonkey]

Maybe it's just the 900s model then. My error.

[Pedro]

SM

your bike should have the big valve heads as I checked mine when it was apart and as they're the same age I see no reason why yours should be different.

The valve guides are about £15 each, seals another few quid. My guides were ok at 25k miles, well within service limits.

Ped

[spacemonkey]

mIne still uses excessive oil, and that's after having rings done. Mine is somewhere about 38k miles and I hear the guides are not too clever on these things, so it seems a likely suspect. It's all I can think of. The other option is to bite the bullet and try and find a complete newer low miler good engine and just swap it as mine is suffering the paint probs badly now. Long rides (2-300 at a time) are off the cards due to having to carry oil, which is getting a bit tedious now.

Interesting about the valves though.

[Zimbo]

Maybe it's just the 900s model then. My error.

Done a quick bit of checking up:

The earlier (big valve) engine was used in all 91 to 97 900 SS and SL bikes. These engines were also used in 900 Monster up to engine number 037727 ( late 1996 build ) and the 98/99 900 Monster Special.

The later carb engine came in 900 Monster from engine number 037728 and the Cagiva Elefant series. The differences are camshafts and valves. The valves are a couple of mm smaller. The cams are about the same duration, but lower lift than the previous 900 cams, with different timing, much wider lobe separation and less overlap.

[spacemonkey]

Or in other words, stick with mine....

[Pedro]

The smaller valve heads are actualy 750 heads adapted to suit 900 barrels.

Nick - it's worth getting your heads sorted I reckon.

Ped