Newby

15-10-2007, 06:23 PM

I am looking for a Monster,

I have a Norton Commando that I will keep but I am looking for something less painful to ride as my body has been abused from 20 years of MX Enduro.

I borrowed a 600 (750 engine) Monster and liked the riding position, handling was acceptable, very good brakes but it was too slow!!!

I think I will need a 900, I will probably go for an older biker to try out for 12 months. I will do all maintenance myself.

What are the weak points to look at when buying a 900?

Where can I find the model history?

Mike

15-10-2007, 06:48 PM

Commando 750

03May 010b.JPG

Mike

15-10-2007, 07:37 PM

in yellow, best eva

MX eh , beware monster have low ground clearance

16-10-2007, 03:33 PM

Bought My M900 Few Weeks Ago And After 30 Years With A Bike License And Many Bikes Under My Belt, I Love It. I Find It Comfortable And So Easy To Ride Hard And Safely. Went Out With A Bunch Of Mates At Weekend And Really Suprised Them. All On Mixture Of Bikes Suzi Tl1000/ Yam R1 Etc. As Am A Bit Older, Perhaps I Am Now Not Quite So Brave, But Across Country, They Really Struggled To Keep With Me. Never Been So Impressed With A Bike, So Quickly.

Nonnie · 16-10-2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevm

Never Been So Impressed With A Bike, So Quickly.

I Am More Impressed You Have The Willpower And Inclination To Put A Capital Letter At The Beginning Of Every Word!

Seriously I Am.

Welcome To 944 BTW

JerryXt · 16-10-2007, 03:58 PM

welcome 944. There are loads of helpful people here.

I just provide balance.

16-10-2007, 04:20 PM

Very well behaved bikes in my experience. Clutch slave cylinder seals can weep but rarely let go completely, the symptom is oil weeping from the Dry clutch cover.
Pre 96 ones have bigger inlet/exhaust valves,so a bit more poke but cylinder studs of that era were prone to snapping if not warmed up slowly, particularly in cold weather. Mind you any such bike you buy now will almost certainly have had them replaced. Later (1999 on) fuel injected Sie types reverted to the bigger valves I believe and most S types have a lovely plush Ohlins shock.
Engine wise, flaky paint on cases is about as bad as it gets.
Brakes, running gear, fork seals, bearings,shocks wiring etc all seem fine.
Just go buy a reasonably clean one and change the cam belts (about £35 and 40 minutes of your time) to be safe.
Dumping the concrete lined standard silencers knocks about 12 kgs off the weight but feels like a lot more in terms of handling!
Fitting a 14 tooth front sprocket makes them smoother and more responsive as does open pipes and open airbox (just cut a massive hole in the lid-not rocket science) although this last mod makes them a lot noisier.
Buy all the second hand bling off this site you want, or spareshack for everything monster new.
They are top fun, go get one.

19-10-2007, 04:21 PM

Try looking at Zimbo's bike, good price for a well sorted early 900

20-10-2007, 08:33 AM

Welcome 944 to a great place to hang out. I personally have had a M600 which I found hard on the left wrist! but kept up at ride outs and loved her to bits. Have now got an S2R1000 and its my M600 and so much more! What a dream to ride, so if its power, looks, bling and head turning machine, this, to me is your bike

21-10-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Try looking at Zimbo's bike, good price for a well sorted early 900

Does look interesting, but rather than get an 80bhp tuned to ? wouldn't I be better off getting an unmolested 916cc that already has 100 bhp?

Also has 980cc on V5, so would have to have insurance "modification"

Mike

21-10-2007, 04:56 PM

well the two valves have a much reduced servicing cost cf the 4 valve ones

maybe to the tune of £100 at a dealer

air cooled are significantly lighter also

get a quote see what they say

21-10-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 944

Does look interesting, but rather than get an 80bhp tuned to ? wouldn't I be better off getting an unmolested 916cc that already has 100 bhp?

Also has 980cc on V5, so would have to have insurance "modification"

Mike

I had an S4 (the 916 model) and they're great but no good if you're planning on using it round town. The clutch is too heavy, they overheat, they don't like moving at anything under 4000RPM and they're heavy in slow traffic. But, and its a big but, get it on the open road and it'll annihilate almost anything else out there. Just be aware that for spares etc, the engine is the 916 ST4 Engine and not the 916 Superbike engine (different cam profiles etc) but still phenomenal!!

The other watercooled models are the S4R and the S4Rs. Obviously specs get better as they go up the list. 999 Testastretta engine on these two with Ohlins and Brembo Radial monobloc calipers on the S4Rs.

Hope this helps.

31-10-2007, 04:24 PM

How does the 916cc compare to the 998cc

J.P · 31-10-2007, 05:25 PM

From the feedback the extra 82 cc's is more than just a number. The Testastretta engine creates more from the cc's and is a bit more refined from what I've read in past posts. (I don't know because I haven't ridden the older ones). The power increase goes from 117bhp to 130bhp, so an extra 10% for your money.

JerryXt · 31-10-2007, 08:57 PM

IMHO, the testa engines (S4Rs and 2007 S4R) are too much for the road. Around town a 695 is as much as you need.

15-10-2007, 06:23 PM	#1
944 Guest Posts: n/a	Newby I am looking for a Monster, I have a Norton Commando that I will keep but I am looking for something less painful to ride as my body has been abused from 20 years of MX Enduro. I borrowed a 600 (750 engine) Monster and liked the riding position, handling was acceptable, very good brakes but it was too slow!!! I think I will need a 900, I will probably go for an older biker to try out for 12 months. I will do all maintenance myself. What are the weak points to look at when buying a 900? Where can I find the model history? Mike

15-10-2007, 06:48 PM	#2
944 Guest Posts: n/a	My Norton Commando 750 03May 010b.JPG Mike

16-10-2007, 03:58 PM	#6
JerryXt everyone gets home safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Bike: S4Rs Posts: 933	welcome 944. There are loads of helpful people here. I just provide balance. __________________ There is no depth to that mans talent... Sorry, there is no END to the depth of that mans talent.

16-10-2007, 04:20 PM	#7
steve wright Guest Posts: n/a	M900 Very well behaved bikes in my experience. Clutch slave cylinder seals can weep but rarely let go completely, the symptom is oil weeping from the Dry clutch cover. Pre 96 ones have bigger inlet/exhaust valves,so a bit more poke but cylinder studs of that era were prone to snapping if not warmed up slowly, particularly in cold weather. Mind you any such bike you buy now will almost certainly have had them replaced. Later (1999 on) fuel injected Sie types reverted to the bigger valves I believe and most S types have a lovely plush Ohlins shock. Engine wise, flaky paint on cases is about as bad as it gets. Brakes, running gear, fork seals, bearings,shocks wiring etc all seem fine. Just go buy a reasonably clean one and change the cam belts (about £35 and 40 minutes of your time) to be safe. Dumping the concrete lined standard silencers knocks about 12 kgs off the weight but feels like a lot more in terms of handling! Fitting a 14 tooth front sprocket makes them smoother and more responsive as does open pipes and open airbox (just cut a massive hole in the lid-not rocket science) although this last mod makes them a lot noisier. Buy all the second hand bling off this site you want, or spareshack for everything monster new. They are top fun, go get one.

20-10-2007, 08:33 AM	#9
jwood26 Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome Welcome 944 to a great place to hang out. I personally have had a M600 which I found hard on the left wrist! but kept up at ride outs and loved her to bits. Have now got an S2R1000 and its my M600 and so much more! What a dream to ride, so if its power, looks, bling and head turning machine, this, to me is your bike

15-10-2007, 07:37 PM	#3
Scotty Guest Posts: n/a	in yellow, best eva MX eh , beware monster have low ground clearance

16-10-2007, 03:33 PM	#4
kevm Guest Posts: n/a	Bought My M900 Few Weeks Ago And After 30 Years With A Bike License And Many Bikes Under My Belt, I Love It. I Find It Comfortable And So Easy To Ride Hard And Safely. Went Out With A Bunch Of Mates At Weekend And Really Suprised Them. All On Mixture Of Bikes Suzi Tl1000/ Yam R1 Etc. As Am A Bit Older, Perhaps I Am Now Not Quite So Brave, But Across Country, They Really Struggled To Keep With Me. Never Been So Impressed With A Bike, So Quickly.

19-10-2007, 04:21 PM	#8
Spike Guest Posts: n/a	Try looking at Zimbo's bike, good price for a well sorted early 900

21-10-2007, 04:56 PM	#11
Scotty Guest Posts: n/a	well the two valves have a much reduced servicing cost cf the 4 valve ones maybe to the tune of £100 at a dealer air cooled are significantly lighter also get a quote see what they say

31-10-2007, 04:24 PM	#13
944 Guest Posts: n/a	How does the 916cc compare to the 998cc

31-10-2007, 05:25 PM	#14
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	From the feedback the extra 82 cc's is more than just a number. The Testastretta engine creates more from the cc's and is a bit more refined from what I've read in past posts. (I don't know because I haven't ridden the older ones). The power increase goes from 117bhp to 130bhp, so an extra 10% for your money. __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

31-10-2007, 08:57 PM	#15
JerryXt everyone gets home safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Bike: S4Rs Posts: 933	IMHO, the testa engines (S4Rs and 2007 S4R) are too much for the road. Around town a 695 is as much as you need. __________________ There is no depth to that mans talent... Sorry, there is no END to the depth of that mans talent.