A good ride ruined

[Nasher]

Had a great ride round on the M900 yesterday, took in Southsea seafront, which was packed as usual for a sunny day, so headed back North past home again and had a run round the back lanes to West Meon, East Meon and up to Butser Hill, which is only a mile or so from my house.

I stopped to drink my can of Pepsi on the side of the single track road from Butser Hill car park, which is also the South Downs Way, took the opportunity to get more shots of the bike following some recent work, and then it happened.

A bloody walker on his way past said "Nice café racer mate":banghead:

I wanted to point out that despite being unshaven for the long weekend I do not have a beard, wear a pocket watch, or pass out Business cards with the word Artisan printed on them with wild fungus ink in an illegible font.

I wanted to explain in great detail about how my Father had a Café Racer, and how his memory is insulted by the trend for any old pile of Sh1t to be tarted up by so called London bike builders with a leather seat and clip-ons.

But I didn't, because I was chilled, and had enjoyed my ride.

I might however have to think about taking the clip-ons off and putting the std bars back on.

Nasher

https://s19.postimg.cc/65nhj5fn7/P5280005.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/r2jpntdnz/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/d8vcyw343/P5280008.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/ledex1rcv/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/3lrup6x9v/P5280011.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/k9jcros1b/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/6fv02s4mr/P5280013.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/6sme8ymwf/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/z6rtsfxhf/P5280006.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/fc5s6bi9r/)

[Mossleymonster]

Very nice, I'd have kicked his walking stick away.

[350TSS]

Nice looking bike, the clip ons are nowhere near the bottom yoke so it could never be called a cafe racer and besides you have proper tyres not the block tread square Goodyears so beloved by the poseurs (who obviously never ride theirs so equipped).

[Albie]

Great looking bike. Makes me wonder why I even sold it all them years ago. Love the clip ons. Keep them on there

[Mr Gazza]

Don't worry Nasher, we know you're not a hipster 2@.
The presence of mudguards confirms that anyway.

[slob]

get some rearsets, ya beardist

[Albie]

Does it still have the front carbon mudguard on. It was from a later model I had to make an a adaptor plate.

[Jez900ie]

Great bike, great pics, & clip ons are too cool to remove...

A long time ago I was a regular at the Southsea front. Neros nightclub, and was it Juliettes on the pier itself? On other days with different mates I could be found riding along the front in scruffy Wranglers on an RD with the Suzuki Owners Club... Great times!

[Nasher]

Does it still have the front carbon mudguard on. It was from a later model I had to make an a adaptor plate.

That's strange.
When I brought it from Blah Blah it had a standard plastic front guard on.

I brought the cheap Ducati Performance Carbon guard off Ebay, re-lacquered it, and only then realised it was for a later bike, so made some adaptor plates. to fit it.

Only a few days ago I made another pair to fit another DP carbon guard from a later bike to my 900SS Mongrel project.

If you're down this way you really must drop in and see it.

Nasher

[Nasher]

A long time ago I was a regular at the Southsea front. Neros nightclub, and was it Juliettes on the pier itself? On other days with different mates I could be found riding along the front in scruffy Wranglers on an RD with the Suzuki Owners Club... Great times!

It was the Albert Tavern on the end of the pier, but I can't remember the name of the club closer to the road. The whole pier has been closed for years as it's been unsafe to venture out onto, and has been worked on for ages.
The clubs opposite have all gone too, Joannas, Peggy-Sues, and Neros, all replaced by posh flats for pensioners.
The main Club area has moved up into Portsmouth around Guildhall square, and of course Gunwharf - Or so I'm told:rolleyes:

You must have been at Portsmouth Poly/Uni too.
I came down from Bucks for the poly and never moved back 'Home ' again.

Nasher

[Davy]

Really! Do you really care what he called your Monster. You me and every other Ducati monster owner knows what we own. Really nice cafe racer you have bty. Haha

[Miky]

I have a route I enjoy through E/W Meon up to Alresford. Love the roads round there.
Ledgend has it they sold the sticky carpet from Joanana’s ha!
Very nice 900 there.

[BeePee]

It's because of the cut down down rear

[Jez900ie]

It's because of the cut down down rear

I think 90%+ of all monster I've seen on the road have the tail chop. Each to their own, but for me its a must do mod. A hige improvement on the standard look.

[Flip]

I think 90%+ of all monster I've seen on the road have the tail chop. Each to their own, but for me its a must do mod. A hige improvement on the standard look.

And to be fair, if you look at the original sketches of the Monster it was drawn that way.

It’s probably the various Construction and Use laws of the Countries it was exported to that caused it to have the tea trays etc.

[Darkness]

I think 90%+ of all monster I've seen on the road have the tail chop. Each to their own, but for me its a must do mod. A hige improvement on the standard look.

90%+? That’s a lot more than I’ve seen; could be a local thing?

[Jez900ie]

90%+? That’s a lot more than I’ve seen; could be a local thing?

Hi Darkness,
Yeah it might be a local thing. Out of curiosity I did a quick pole on the Monsters listed on eBay. There were more than I could be bothered to count! Still, based on a low down number plate / clearly visible T Tray, or high plate / no T Tray the numbers were 70% have had a chop and sport a streamlined rear!

Ah lazy Sunday morning, ideal for wasting time on pointless tinterweb research. LOL.

[Darkness]

Ah lazy Sunday morning, ideal for wasting time on pointless tinterweb research. LOL.

Isn’t that what Sunday mornings are for, until the rest of the family wake up?

One possibility your eBuy trawl throws up is that a lot of people with “spoilt” Monsters want to sell them on rather than keeping them?

Eventually they may all become chopped as I’ve heard of people cutting them, but very few reversing the process.

[Jez900ie]

Isn’t that what Sunday mornings are for, until the rest of the family wake up?

One possibility your eBuy trawl throws up is that a lot of people with “spoilt” Monsters want to sell them on rather than keeping them?

Eventually they may all become chopped as I’ve heard of people cutting them, but very few reversing the process.

The "spoilt" Monsters? I had always thought they were the best loved Monsters. The owners had taken time and effort to improve them, like the parents who resolve their childs buck teeth?

Theres also the performance gains from the reduced weight and aero improvement. Surely makes the chop essential?

Still I guess the unspoilt ones are convienient when you're having a picnic and you need a table. Or perhaps somewhere to iron your shirts...

[Darkness]

The "spoilt" Monsters? I had always thought they were the best loved Monsters. The owners had taken time and effort to improve them, like the parents who resolve their childs buck teeth?

Spoilt brats are often much loved, though not necessarily in the best long term interests of the child/bratbike! :chuckle::chuckle:

[Jez900ie]

Spoilt brats are often much loved, though not necessarily in the best long term interests of the child/bratbike! :chuckle::chuckle:

You are so right! But its the exception that proves the rule.:chuckle:
https://s33.postimg.cc/j34oduqbz/teeth.jpg (https://postimages.org/)imgur (https://postimages.org/)

https://s33.postimg.cc/f6rchx2sf/180s.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Is it true that the early edition Monster came with their own crockery?
https://s33.postimg.cc/d26zh2e33/cup.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

TBH I always thought the term "Tea Tray" was wrong.

https://s33.postimg.cc/gn2uzxvdr/whale.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Darkness]

:mand::mand:

[Flip]

Is it true that the early edition Monster came with their own crockery?
https://s33.postimg.cc/d26zh2e33/cup.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

TBH I always thought the term "Tea Tray" was wrong.

C'mon you'd be a 'mug' to chop a perfectly useful Monster tail0 it's the perfect thing for keeping a cuppa out of the way while you're working on the bike in the sunshine :mand:

https://s20.postimg.cc/4k84hvbrx/IMG_4324.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/k5pg1tnq1/)

[Nasher]

I much prefer the look without the teatray, but I think I'd be reluctant to cut an unmolested frame now.

That reminds me, who was going to send me a cut off bit of frame so I could make a couple up to replace previously removed ones?

Nasher

[Jez900ie]

I much prefer the look without the teatray, but I think I'd be reluctant to cut an unmolested frame now.

That reminds me, who was going to send me a cut off bit of frame so I could make a couple up to replace previously removed ones?

Nasher

Really? To me the most important feature of my bike is to do all the things I like, including my preferences. So engine mods (done), suspension upgrades (coming), cosmetic revamp (almost finished).

Personally -and I may very well be wrong- these bikes are not worth huge money. They have been made in large numbers and are a well liked bike, but only have a hardcore niche group that attach value to them. Looking at eBay listed bikes and what they sell for, the value of original early 90's bikes in good condition is still flat. Of course a virtually unridden, pristine bike is different, but how many of us have one of those?

If my bike is still in one piece in fifty years it might be be worth more than I could afford. It also might be worthless as the "electronic box" could have failed making the bike unusable. Besides I will be dead and it won't matter to me anymore!

Ducati investment? I'd be looking at a 916. Ducati life? An air cooled Monster, ridden, customised, modified - ideally a 900...

[Nasher]

Mmm, I reckon the value of all Carbie Monsters has risen in the last few years, especially the 900s.
The more sympathetically modded ones appear to be worth more.

It's guys like me that had young families etc in the 90's and couldn't afford one that are buying them.
The early ie won't be far behind, as buyers appreciate the lack of maintenance of the injection with the classic looks.

My previous preference was for classic Z1000's, and I dread to think of what I lost on them by cutting them up.

I'm playing a different game with my M900 and 900SS, in that all mods I'm doing are reversible or the standard bits are being stored.
I do actually have another M900 frame in storage which has also been chopped, and which is partly why I'm looking at developing a repair section.

Nasher

[Jez900ie]

Mmm, I reckon the value of all Carbie Monsters has risen in the last few years, especially the 900s.
The more sympathetically modded ones appear to be worth more.

It's guys like me that had young families etc in the 90's and couldn't afford one that are buying them.
The early ie won't be far behind, as buyers appreciate the lack of maintenance of the injection with the classic looks.

My previous preference was for classic Z1000's, and I dread to think of what I lost on them by cutting them up.

I'm playing a different game with my M900 and 900SS, in that all mods I'm doing are reversible or the standard bits are being stored.
I do actually have another M900 frame in storage which has also been chopped, and which is partly why I'm looking at developing a repair section.

Nasher

I have all the original parts for mine too, but thats because I might get better money for the upgraded parts selling them separately should I decide to sell the bike!

From what I see frequently on eBay, Monster 900 variants. 93 to 02 fetch £1800 to £2800 with the odd exception and they are cheaper in winter. Imagine prices increase £500 over the next five years (approx 20%). I would think for a £100 gain a year for not making the mods was a poor decison compared to working an extra day instead?

What do you think they are worth?

[BeePee]

Of course a virtually unridden, pristine bike is different, but how many of us have one of those?
.

Me, I bought that S2r off ebay a week ago, been looking for one for ages and hoped I could find a 1000cc, all of those that I found had "issues" for me.
This one is mint and has now got 15miles on it, 6 more than it had when it left the dealers in November 2005. The bike went through an extensive recommission last year at Ducati in Bristol with all paperwork to prove.
I'm now waiting on the V5 for it to use while I am on holiday. It can go in my swb Sprinter easily while we pull our caravan to wherever we like :D

https://s25.postimg.cc/ms03dftfz/20180617143631_IMG_0251.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/7w1k5ui17/)

[Jez900ie]

Me, I bought that S2r off ebay a week ago, been looking for one for ages and hoped I could find a 1000cc, all of those that I found had "issues" for me.
This one is mint and has now got 15miles on it, 6 more than it had when it left the dealers in November 2005. The bike went through an extensive recommission last year at Ducati in Bristol with all paperwork to prove.
I'm now waiting on the V5 for it to use while I am on holiday. It can go in my swb Sprinter easily while we pull our caravan to wherever we like :D

https://s25.postimg.cc/ms03dftfz/20180617143631_IMG_0251.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/7w1k5ui17/)

Yes I saw your stunning bike in another thread. I'd consider yours one of the "exceptions" I mentioned.

[Darkness]

What do you think they are worth?

Depends whether I’m buying or selling. :mand::mand:

[Jez900ie]

Depends whether I’m buying or selling. :mand::mand:

Ha ha ha, same here.