Ducati Monster Forum

Info on the headlight lowering kit can be found here:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=13011.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=13011.0)

Stock bracket vs. Modified bracket.  Not only are the headlight mounting brackets lowered, but the U bracket itself is chopped down to accomidate lowering the gauges below the triple.  You COULD leave the gauges above the triple, but I do not believe the flyscreen would fit if you did that.  I can accommodate NOT chopping the bracket on request if you arn't using a fairing/screen.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/stockvsMod.jpg)



Install pics (my bike)
Bare
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/Bare.jpg)

Gauge mounting lugs need a spacer.  On my bike/early on, I cut the plastic piece that fits in the top portion of the ubracket.  I chopped it in half, then stuffed it inside the guage mounting lugs to take up the space.  This lets us use a M5 fastener, instead of having to custom machine a bolt with a flange on it ($$).
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/spacer.jpg)

Gauges with the spacer in, M5 bolts in (yum, Ti), and the other half of the plastic piece, that will secure the top of the U bracket and help stabilize the gauges. 
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/gauges.jpg)

NOTE:  I put a rubber washer inbetween the gauge and the triple, to help a bit with vibration.  The gauges don't shake at all, and I've put around 2K miles on the bike since this mod with no ill effects.  HOWEVER, I'm not responsible for your gauges/vibration.  I took a look at fabbing some sort of rubber mount ala factory, but it's not something I wanted to get involved in.  I havn't read anything about someone dropping the gauges under the triple, and then having issues, but it is possible.  This is all up to you all to install the way you see fit, I'm just providing the welding service to the U bracket, and some fasteners in the correct length.  If you screw up your bike, break your gauges off and consequently run over clifford the big red dog, don't come whining to me about it :)

Now, enough of that.

Remember the other part of that plastic piece?  Well, thats why it goes there.  The u bracket now slides up into place.  Those plastic pieces fit into the top part of the ubracket, and then the bracket gets bolted down.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/gaugesmounted.jpg)

More Ti (of course- NOT INCLUDED)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/boltingitup.jpg)

NOTE: If you are using Ti fasteners.  ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use Ti prep, or antiseize (nickle based/silver stuff) otherwise you risk galling (actually you always risk that, when dissimilar metals are fastened together).  Torque to the appropriate setting, or good-n-tight depending on how adventurous you are.


What I did with the pressure sensor.  A quick zip tie takes care of this.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/pressuresensor.jpg)


Some pics in progess (He-Man's)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/stripped.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/stripped1.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/welding.jpg)

Email sent.

Can anyone post up a before and after pic of there bike with lowered headlight and gauges
would be interested in seeing the diff. and if its worth the effort as a purely cosmetic mod.
cheers
dez

Sent a PM (For whatever reason your email is "hidden")...

No before pics, only after.  Gauges are dropped below the triple (mounting), and the screen/headlight is lowered as well.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/DSC_0246.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/DSC_0240.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/DSC_0243.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/DSC_0476.jpg)

Pics are coming of the Ubracket on the bike.

On my bike, I've eliminated the second, wire U bracket that holds the air temp sensor.  A simple zip tie secures this piece up out of the way, and lets you get rid of that second offending u bracket up there.

I don't really have a better way right now of re-locating that temp sensor.  If that is a concern to anyone that contacted me, please let me know.  I can possibly come up with a tab to weld on the U bracket to bolt that sensor to.  Will take a bit to have it made, but it's possible.

Thanks  for that  [thumbsup]
 your bike looks great

Thanks!

Anyone know how I can copy a page/pic from the adobe reader to a .gif file?  I want to post a pic of this bracket I'm talking about, but the only thing I've been able to do is put it on the clipboard, and I can't get the image to display.

you can use photoshop or an online converter to pull out the image. or just PM it to me and ill do it.

the piece hes talking about can be cut loose from the main wire assembly and shuffled around anywhere you want. Its actually a pressure sensor for altitude changes it think, so it isnt quite sensitive to relitively minor temp changes. I have mine zip tied to the bracket as well.

Thanks He Man :)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/TheoAftonomos/DUcati%20S4Rt/Headlightbracket.jpg)

The bracket indicated by the arrow is the one that goes bye bye

Will this fit on  98 M900 ???

has anyone tried it on an older Monster ??

Dan.......

So I really like the look of doing this but does it make it harder to read the guages. Meaning, do you have to make more significant head move instead of just glancing down?

I didn't notice it at all, but I'm fairly tall (6'5").

Easy way to check.....pull the headlight/bracket off, and hold the gauges under the triple and see for yourself.

I know that the little screen doesn't do a lot to help with wind, but in people's experience with this kind of modification how much does this reduce the effectiveness of the fairing?

It will most likely be a case by case basis since we're all of varying heights--unless you're talking about being in full-racing tuck, in which case this probably will make it less effective.  I removed the fairing altogether years ago because at my height (5'10") it was just redirecting air straight to my head and creating extra wind noise...and aesthetically speaking, I think it looks better without.  I imagine with it a couple inches lower it's still not going to help.

...but what do we care, right?  After all, we ride naked bikes.   8)

I certainly can't argue with that.

The sensor mounting for earlier bikes is different, although still on that wire U bracket.
You may want to consider that.

Taftonomos if you are going to use Ti bolts do the bling thing and get them in the gold finish other wise you will never get your belly pan from japan  [bow_down]

LOL :)  Can't see them, but I havn't been able to find stainless bolts with the tapered hex end for any cheaper than the Ti, hence the Ti bolts. [thumbsup]

Not sure what you mean? 

Again, I have no idea if this will work on the early model bikes at all.  If the gauges are the same, mount the same way, and have the same diameter mounting points, this SHOULD work fine.

This what my '04 S4R looks like

(http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm143/Tarugo996/bracketcopy.jpg)

Looks like the same thing to me, cept that the sensor is mounted different.  Since you would be using a zip tie to secure it anyway, I don't see where there would be any problems.  [thumbsup]

I see that the sensor is mounted differently.  However, when you put the gauges under the triple tree, most/all just aip tie the sensor back to the u bracket behind the headlight.

Again, I can't be sure it will work until someone steps up and tries it. :)

By the looks of the lowered kit on your bike, I can't wait to get the piece back and fit it to mine!!  Looks great bro!

 [thumbsup]

Please post your bike photos once you get the new bracket installed.  This is definitely a nice mod!

bracket comes tomorrow  [evil]

hopefully!

run run as fast as you can! you cant catch me im the stinky cheese man!
dude, i remember that book. incredible.

thank you for answering my prayers.



I'll be in touch after the new year.
Andy

hahaha. That book was indeed awesome. Someone posted the 3 little pigs story and the first thing i thought of was the stinky cheese man. lol

got my brackets today! trying to figure out how they go back together...  :-X

You shall be known forthwith as Cheese Head  ;D

I'm preparing to do this mod, and I was planning on cutting the bracket just below the sensor mount, retaining that piece and discarding the remainder.

There lies 2 problems.

a) I DONT LIKE THE GREEN BAY PACKERS!!!!!!!
b) no.

cheese man is fine though.

 ;D

I got the bracket back today and will attempt an install. Majority of hte problem lies with putting the bracket together and figuring out how long it takes my fingers to go numb. its 19 degrees in my garage. ;p

You can try that, but the point of that bracket is two fold.  By getting rid of the bottom portion, the gauges will flop around quite a bit.  The rubber mounts for the gauges is stabilized quite a bit from the bracket.  Hence why I mounted the gauges to the triple.

Tried doing it without lowering the headlight, thats what I got.  YMMV.  Maybe the rubber mounts on my bike were worn out after 1500 miles, but I doubt it.

Stinky Cheese Man. One of my favs

  ???   I'm not getting rid of the U-tube that bolts to the triple clamp, just a piece of the smaller, wire-frame bracket that holds the air sensor (the part that you omitted all-together).

EDIT:  Oh, I think I see what you're saying...I'm retaining the OEM fasteners, just moving them around.  My gauges will also be bolted to the triple clamp.

UPDATE TO THE FIRST PAGE.

I WILL NO LONGER BE OFFERING THE "KIT" FOR ANY OTHER BIKE THAN A S4RS/T.

I will still lower the headlight brackets/re-weld, but I do not feel that I can offer a comprehensive kit for each different model/bike.  There are apparently more than 3 different ways the gauges are mounted to the triple, so gauge mounting will be up to the customer in the future.  All I will be providing will be the welding services of dropping the headlight mounts. 

$57 w/return shipping will be the new cost. 

I don't want to do this, but I don't feel I have the resources to come up with the individual parts for each model bike, and there are a myriad of different ways to mount the gauges.

Alright heres the results. Not to informative since this is yet another way to do this mod... best bet is to open your bike up and see what your working with and start from there.

First up. my puppy! was looking for an old pic of my bike but found this (from this summer, he had a clef pallate and he actually isnt much bigger than that!  those tiles are 4x4 i believe.)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2494011820_97b7cb081a_b.jpg)

OK Serious now.... ;D

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/3131944050_858f4b3745_o.jpg)

youll see a white nub and a brass nipple. The brass nipple slides over a metal rod that is attatched to the triple. NOTE: THIS IS FOR A 2006 S2R 1000 ONLY. I dont know how it looks like on other bikes.

result:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/3131115021_b45ca9ee80_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/3131114955_87e07ff2c5_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/3131114883_211b5698ea_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3131933942_b6b0e8b097_o.jpg)

I need to find a way to plug that top hole. then im good to go. Its an M5, so maybe theres a short m5 screw with a nice looking cap.

Heres a pic of bracket, mostly of TAft's weld. Once you paint over it, the whole thing looks pretty much OEM.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/3131129265_b61c16c7b4_o.jpg)

your bike looks sick as balls.
i think i saw it in one of my nightmares killing unicorns... love its evilness.

 [laugh] ROFLAMO! Thats the funnest shit i heard all day. thanks man!

I like the idea of dropping the gauges, but I wonder if it would not also be nice to add some sort of "mini" windscreen that would prevent rain damage. I ride whenever. I don't care if it rains, but I don't want to compromise protection for looks when it can be avoided.

Almost if the gauges sat in a half oval bucket with just a smidge of windscreen (1" or 2") that lipped to keep the rain out.


 [beer] Nice mod though! [beer]

"youll see a white nub and a brass nipple. The brass nipple slides over a metal rod that is attatched to the triple."

I see no brass nipple or white nub.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/3134009418_f749f9d879_o.jpg)

that guages slip over those 2 pegs, then the nipple slips inside and the white nub slips over it.

if u look at the pic wher ei made the comment, all u see is a washer, thats part of the nipple. the actual nipple part is just inside the guages.

Just got mine on today.  Took a few hours figuring it out, shaving down pieces we didn't end up using, etc... We ended up accidentally pulling out one of the pins that come down from the triple, which is the intended way in the first place.  After that they just bolt up to into the bottom of the triple.  Cut down a few rubber grommets to make some shockmount spacers and BAM!  Good to go!  Solid as a rock with a little bit of shock absorbtion from the rubber spacers for those nasty NYC roads.

I'll take some pics of the finished job tomorrow and post up.

HeMan couldn't get the pins out of his triple, so his mount is a little different but still solid.

Hey Chchadder, so how did you get this pin out?  Will a pair of pliers do the trick?

And/or HeMan, since you weren't able to remove yours, can you elaborate a little on how you dealt with the situation?

TIA,
b.

Are you sure it's dissimilar metals that risk galling? I'm pretty sure it's the other way around.....

We ended up just knocking it off by accident. the next pin was forcefully removed with little effort.

If you look at the pics, youll see how I ended up doing it.

Bumpage, I've got 2 "cores" now that are modified and ready to go :)  [thumbsup]

A quick question if y'all don't mind. If I'm planning on ditching the whole headlight and going with something fork mounted, do I need a headlight bracket at all? Will I be able to mount my gauges below the triple solid enough, without the headlight bracket holding them there that they don't snap off if hit a bump?

Maybe, but I'd count on drilling the tripple for a larger mounting bolt.

It's only a M5 as OEM, and I wouldn't want to hang the gauges off of that.

I agree about it being too small of a bolt. I'm pretty set on doin it this way. I'm sure I can figure something out.

Thanks

I forgot to post pics of my finished product!  Thanks again to Theo for a great product...the welding was perfect.   [thumbsup]

(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_beyYkNn5r7A/SXAqYDXbB2I/AAAAAAAACAQ/6IfV5GyebxI/s800/DSC_0131.jpg)

Looks really clean!

Everything looks tight and compact.  [thumbsup]

How much work is required to install your new bracket? Basically just bolt on or any other work/parts required? I've been interested in lowering my headlight for a while

It's not galling per se, but two dissimilar metal are subject to galvanic corrosion.  Which is fancy talk for "won't get the #$%@ out of my engine block"

I posted pics in the thread, pretty simple :)  [thumbsup]

Well I'm def interested in lowering my headlight on my s2r1000... I want clipons bad  [laugh]

Nice Clutch Lever!  [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

You bastard.  Haha...and to think I even felt bad for not publicly thanking you for helping me wrench! 

Not as nice as my clutch lever.  [laugh]

But its going away when the ASV Shorty gets here.  ;D

(http://jdude.brinkster.net/extras/migs.jpg)

what's that you got comin' off of the ignition cover, bullet boy?

time & temp:

http://www.jpcycles.com/productgroup.aspx?GID=81F35F3B-3397-4E92-A81E-FE6FB8D52AD6 (http://www.jpcycles.com/productgroup.aspx?GID=81F35F3B-3397-4E92-A81E-FE6FB8D52AD6)

Does anyone know if this mod will work without lowering the gauges?  I like the look, but being 5'6", lowering the gauges may not be such a good idea in terms of being able to read them.  Thanks.

Sure.  I build each one of these when they are ordered.  I can just leave the Ubracket the stock length, and it will just lower the headlight while leaving the gauges mounted on top of the triple  [thumbsup]

TAftonomos@gmail.com

Email sent.

Question:

With a speedymoto top triple and guages mounted directly under the top triple, how far down do the brackets need to be moved on the "U" frame?

By my calcs, looks like 43mm.  If anyone can confirm it would be much appreciated.

Tx.

I found the 3/4" lower than stock is enough.

Many do 1", but seems to pinch the headlight wires against the base of the U-bracket. 

YMMV.

I just finished lowering my headlight and gauges, can anyone tell me how to set the headlight so it shines on the road at the right distance or is it trial and error?
Don

Trial and error. Park on a level surface, loosen the bolts on the side of the headlight, aim the beam so it hit's the road where you want it to. Make sure you check the brights when you do this so you take it into consideration when aiming.

BTW, helps to do this when it's dark outside...

The owner's manual has a "formula" for adjusting the headlight.  Well, at least mine did.