Bike of the Year 2017

[Mr Gazza]

https://s9.postimg.org/k6d7srq3z/DSCF6539.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

It's been a pretty good year for me and my Monster. I'm still chuffed to bits that she was voted Bike of the Year at the Weekender in May.

https://s9.postimg.org/lbbvbdmdr/DSCF6587.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://s9.postimg.org/p7p77q2bz/DSCF6544_2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I picked her up in 2013 as a non runner, partially dismantled. Getting her running and back together was a pretty swift operation and I've been steadily improving things as we go along.
The philosophy is to retain the essence of Monster, so any alterations have to be subtle in order to respect the original silhouette and keep the bits that I regard as iconic to the Marque and Model. The intention was to add some colour to the rather dull original Sie and bring the contrast up a bit. I chose Gold and Silver as the theme colours, with polished metal making most of the Silver.
The Gold for the wheels was mixed to match the Brembo disc carriers and is used elsewhere.
After carefully re-painting the front disc carriers, all three discs subsequently warped and I replaced them with wavy Arashi ones, which have turned out to be very good indeed.

https://s9.postimg.org/kffdwhpq7/DSCF6533.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I painstakingly re-lacquered all the carbon, which was peppered with pin holes. Then using the Gold from the wheels, I sprayed on a translucent stripe to the mudguard, hugger and tea tray, by mixing about 10% colour to clear lacquer and building until satisfied.
It looks like old Gold or sometimes Silver depending on the angle the light hits it, it also shows the carbon weave through in a strong light... I'm pleased with the effect.

Note that it's un-chopped and keeps the original indicators for the reason stated above... The Mk2 versions of the winkers and tea tray are much nicer than the earlier ones in my opinion anyway.

https://s9.postimg.org/bmyf8kc8f/DSCF6536.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[350TSS]

Lovely looking bike

[Mr Gazza]

https://s9.postimg.org/rey19a9tr/DSCF6540.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Mickey Mouse mirrors are still used and the silencers are original Monster too, but cored and polished ones from an M750.... those are about an inch and a half shorter than the 900 ones, so they sound and look better.

The swinging arm, hoop, footrest hangers and some other little bits are powder coated with a mirror chrome finish by Aerocoat.

I fitted some mvs rear wheel adjuster plates as the old ones were scruffy, even after painting with the Brembo Gold. They probably look better, but I was disappointed that they are heavier than the original steel ones and I still gained some grams, even fitting Ti nuts at the same time.!

A little mod I did that was quite involved, yet hardly noticeable, was to add a digital clock on the dash... Very handy, and it lights up with the lights too.

https://s9.postimg.org/qdxsk3fyn/DSCF6535.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Another hopefully subtle mod, is my headlamp adapter ring, (Brembo Gold again!) which allows me to fit a standard 7" headlamp unit. this gives a huge choice of units to improve upon the standard Bosch one. The rings are fully developed now and will soon be available for members to buy. I'm really pleased with my new powerful light. It makes night riding a pleasure.

https://s9.postimg.org/mdv8lg9ov/DSCF6546.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://s9.postimg.org/4p3hu0sun/DSCF6532.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I also made the timing side a little sleeker by fitting oil cooler lines from a Hypermotard. These both run under the front pot and up to the cooler nearly out of sight.
I made up a longer starter lead too, and that runs along the frame and down the nearside of the pot to the starter, again almost completely out of sight.

[Froggy46]

Great work Gazza, I do like your attention to details! The bike looks great and must be a blast to ride! I see see you have been making the best of the year’s fastest day! Thanks for the post!!!

[Mr Gazza]

https://s9.postimg.org/4rndh6wlr/DSCF6545.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I designed and commissioned some frame bungs and footrest hanger top hats. A mate turned them up for me from some 1" ally bar from ebay.
They are meant to mimic the Ducati conical washers used on the headlamp, horn and oil cooler mounts. Original plan was to have them Gold anodised but it proved complicated, so I sprayed them with (you guessed it) Brembo Gold.
I'm not 100% happy with these and I may re-design the frame bungs to match the top hats better. (note swinging arm pivot caps too.)

I resisted the temptation to fit an open clutch cover for a very long time. I used to have a nice solid twin wall chrome one fitted and felt it to be something unique.
I caved in though, when I spotted this one from Holland. It was originally Gold anodised alloy and a little battered. It had a strange sort of heartbeat design in the centre, which I cut out, leaving the four little window retaining screws.
I polished off the anodising and the scratches along with it. I left the Gold on the edges of the slots intentionally to keep the Gold/Silver theme going. A squirt of Gold on the standard pressure plate.. Some polished spring collets and Fanny is your Aunt!
The din from the worn out clutch is horrendous now, but there is a brand new EVR 48 tooth jobbie sitting on the shelf waiting to go in.

I had to get the mop on the oil strainer cap when I discovered it was brass. All four control levers are polished alloy and the pipes see the mop once a year too.


https://s9.postimg.org/7s47xb02n/DSCF6541.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I like to polish her, but she's not all show and no go, we've done thousands of miles together now, including 1154 miles on the Ness Point to Land's End run... Just love to be in the saddle.
Really chuffed that my club mates voted for her at the Weekender.. Chuffed to bits. :D

The thing is it could be you next year. All you have to do is bring your lovely Monster to the Weekender At The Sharnbrook Hotel in Bedfordshire on the May Bank Holiday and you could be the next one on the list.

https://s9.postimg.org/pjkfpocmn/DSCF6590.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Mr Gazza]

Thanks for the kind words 350TSS and Yes Froggy of course it's a blast to ride... See you at the WEEKENDER?

[Froggy46]

Looks like I need to put it on the family calendar!!!

[Jez900ie]

A real beauty Mr Gazza.

[Moco1961]

Fantastic Mr G, it's not hard to see how it was voted the winner this year, vv nice:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Zimbo]

Beautiful job, it looks absolutely mint. Well done and a well deserved winner.

[Albie]

https://s9.postimg.org/pjkfpocmn/DSCF6590.jpg (https://postimages.org/)[/QUOTE]

Nice to see my old 1100s got it the few months after I sold it. Martin actually wanted me to have it but refused the gesture His bike then and I narrowly missed out two years previous with it. Having said that I won in 2008 I think with my s4/s4r.
It's a nice feeling to win and your bike justifiably so

[Mr Gazza]

Yes you're up there Albie... Bloody hard to photograph the engraving btw!

Looks like Zak is the only one to win twice... Does anyone have photos of these bikes?

https://s17.postimg.org/vi40d0g67/DSCF6591.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Albie]

Zak's bike was nitrous custom sort of thing. He changed it the second time around after folk disliked some parts Somewhere there must be pics.

[TonyG]

Very tastefully done!

[jonzi]

Zaks bike was fricking hideous.

Mr Gazzas bike is the opposite of hideous.

[Darkness]

Zak's bike was nitrous custom sort of thing. He changed it the second time around after folk disliked some parts Somewhere there must be pics.

This one?

https://wheelwell.com/zac-/xz5/2005-ducati-monster-s4r?photo_id=57f5956afd513c0c7623ed40

[slob]

No. Zac’s bike was a proper tarts handbag. Green hotrod flame paint and every bit of bolt on bling available.

[Jez900ie]

No. Zac’s bike was a proper tarts handbag. Green hotrod flame paint and every bit of bolt on bling available.

Tarts handbag! I will remember that one.

[jonzi]

No. Zac’s bike was a proper tarts handbag. Green hotrod flame paint and every bit of bolt on bling available.

And that awful predators head light surround thing.

[Darkness]

No. Zac’s bike was a proper tarts handbag. Green hotrod flame paint and every bit of bolt on bling available.

We need photo's.

Without photo's it didn't happen. :confused::confused:

[Albie]

We need photo's.

Without photo's it didn't happen. :confused::confused:

Photo bucket is the issue. There are and there were images.

[jonzi]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8716637901/in/set-72157633441221226/

And the predator headlight

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8716608601/in/album-72157633441221226/

The super cool knuckle dusters

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8717723478/in/album-72157633441221226/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8716603703/in/album-72157633441221226/

[Albie]

google helped

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4683/39325128542_471180d3b6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/22V2yDC)8717755028_afe746dd6c_b (https://flic.kr/p/22V2yDC) by Andy Patterson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/148687504@N08/), on Flickr

[slob]

...Without photo's it didn't happen...

... if only

[Darkness]

Thanks Jonzi & Albie [I think...?], that's more spectacular than Slob's description suggested.

[Capo]

Well a majority thought that it was the best - two years in a row

[Albie]

Well a majority thought that it was the best - two years in a row

Thought my 1100s was better tbh lol Well I would do wouldn't I :running::running:

https://flic.kr/p/ehmERA

[Darkness]

Well a majority thought that it was the best - two years in a row

Never overestimate the opinion of the majority.

Theresa May: note.

[utopia]

Ah yes, the knuckle dusters.
You drill holes in your frame to mount unnecessary extra weight, add more nooks and crannies to clean, and display your aggression in a tasteless way.
The nitrous conversion was fairly pointless too, in my opinion.
The real irony was that Dukedesmo's excellent build was a competitor that year, and should have won by a hundred twisty country miles.
But unfortunately, a group of us were lunching at the pub down the road and missed the vote.

I hate to bitch about anybody's build but in this case the record does not accurately reflect the view of any club member that I've spoken to.

[Mr Gazza]

Thanks for finding the pics of "Nitrous"... Tried to form an opinion of the "bike" but nothing happened in my head?

I found this on the same reel and take it to be He11cat's "Hector" with "Stella" in orange in the background?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8716592345/in/album-72157633441221226/

Sorry for the link, I don't know how to post pictures from flickerer.

Any more pictures of Bikes of the year?

[utopia]

Yes, that is Stella in orange .. though the name didn't arrive until the change to blue.
But that's not Hector .. its Hellcat's other monster, an M400 to be precise.

[Mr Gazza]

Ah, in that case I've not seen Hector yet.
I should have known better as I knew she had an M400 and the reg is visible in another photo... M400 DUC.

Still keen to see any photos of former bikes of the year.

[Albie]

https://youtu.be/QA1MsZbXi-8





My s4 to s4r winning bike
Base bike 2002 red s4 with road race fairing . Bought the swingarm singlesided, wheels,footrests and exhaust decided to powdercoat frame and wheels red. Came out a bit too Tomato for my tank so repainted in Pearlescent white which had a flip of mint green and pink in the light. Started Jan 2008 finished it around end of March 2008

[jonzi]

Now I might be wrong on this, but I think this is Deans bike (2014)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8717738542/in/album-72157633441221226/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8717738958/in/album-72157633441221226/

J-mo (2005)

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=50319

[Albie]

Now I might be wrong on this, but I think this is Deans bike (2014)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8717738542/in/album-72157633441221226/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35074942@N06/8717738958/in/album-72157633441221226/

J-mo (2005)

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=50319

That must have the year after his s4rs got cat C'd then. Lovely looking both bikes.

[Mr Gazza]

Thanks Jonzi and Albie.
Nice work on the S4-R Albie.
Jmo's Smeegal was always a peach in all it's guises... Clever girl!
Keep digging let's see some more.. :D

[Blah blah]

This one any good?? It is a picture of a winning bike.... :mand:

https://i.imgur.com/p1lwjc4.jpg

Trying to find somewhere other than photof*c-kit

[Mr Gazza]

You just won't let it lie will you?... :dunce: :)

Most important thing to note on the photo is my splendid UKMOC club mates helping me out hundreds of miles from home after I had been a 2@.

It's also the last known photo of my original trip re-set knob, which dropped off, probably less than a mile down the road.
Once again my splendid UKMOC club mates helped me get a replacement sorted and a CAD model of a knob for 3D printing.
You can read the story of my Knob here. Must be the UKMOC thread with the most innuendo ever?
http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=55321&highlight=trip+winder

:ukm:

[Blah blah]

:hail:

And it gives me a reason to sort out my photos so people can see them again, just need to sort out imgur now...

[Mr Gazza]

Use Postimage.