ideas for customisation???
 

Hi all

now the winter is upon us I will be booking in for some insurance repairs following an off - maybe an opportunity to pay a touch extra and get something a bit special?

Any ideas for what might be a good way to go without braking the bank? And if so are any of the parts common with other models?

Damage I have is largely cosmetic to fairings and front guard. Come on guys and gals - what would you do?

Have a look in the DP catalogue and chuck some carbon fibre at it.You could get a carbon front guard,hugger,tank top cover,fairing vent panels.etc,etc,etc.
The bike wont be worth any more when you sell it,but hey,it'll look good and think of the weight savings!;):lol:

Yep, have to agree with Keefy. ST2's are worthy, under rated bikes but they ain't no glamour machines. So it depends on how long you expect to keep it whether you think the outlay is worth it.

I've though about 'customisation' as well but largely discounted all of my more outlandish ideas. The most stupid of these pipe (and slippers) dreams was when I saw a 996 SPS engine on ebay...you can guess the rest.

Other things I've thought of include getting a white number board to disguise the bulbous front end a bit...they look great on a 996 or 999, but then they're in context. On an ST2? I think that's trying to make it something it's not. Sticker kits and things like 'Ducati Performance' emblazoned on the side of an ST2 are also out of place IMHO and bound to raise a s****** from people with proper performance Ducatis (let alone Gixer man)

Another example, there's a lighting modification by Ducati Designs which improves the front end (you might have sussed that I really don't like that front end) BUT it's nearly £500 by the time you've imported it and that's a lot of money to put on a bike like mine.

I've also thought about repairing my Rockingham lowside scrapes with a complete respray in some unique colour but decided against that as well.

So after all this pondering, I've just decided to stick to the bits that everyone wants, like braided hydraulic hoses, adjustable levers, decent brake pads, a smattering of carbon bits and generally keep the bike as a nice clean ST and as true to it's nature as I can.

Oh, I wouldn't mind an ally swinging arm off an ST4S/Monster S4 (same part I think) so I'll keep an eye out to see if I can source a decent unbent one at a breakers somewhere

[Edited on 27-10-2003 by Jools]

Yep, can't say I'm over fussed with the front end! Would prefer the headlight arrangement to be a la 749/999! Yes I'm one of the few that does like it!

Jools - in case you find 2 ally swingarms let me know!

As far as carbon front and rear huggers etc- are they the same as other models or unique to the ST? Would prefer not to have to splash out for new if I can help it!

I've an ST4 (basically the same physically).
This is nowhere near as mad as some of the guys on this site....

I bought a carbon front mudguard (previously from a 748) it fits o.k. but is a little shorter at the back end so doesn't give as much muck protection - still it was cheap.

Rough idea on prices... carbon front mudguard £90 (e-bay), rear hugger (new £100), marchesini rear wheel (e-bay) £190, Clutch cover £50, front sprocket cover £30 - Yep, sad to say I've got the ducati designs headlight about £500 with the import duty an crap - but the front end is as rough-as-a-bear's-arse so I needed to do something.

I did go for some titanium cans but changed my mind - I'd like to do some work at the back end (oo-er) also but with the cost of it might buy another bike instead...there's only so far you can go.

I'm not doing it to lighten the bike - 'cos I weigh they same as a small country, I just think it looks neater. :)

[Edited on 28-10-2003 by fatduke11111]

I think - and I could be wrong here - that all the front mudguards are the same (ish) as any Duke with Showa forks and a 17 inch wheel...so that's a lot of em then. Can't see any reason why a carbon one intended for a 748/9** or even a 999 wouldn't fit. BUT someone cleverer than me will probably be along in a minute to tell me I'm wrong.

As for carbon rear huggers, they come as standard on an ST4S, so your best bet if you don't want to pay DP prices is to scour the breakers - I would imagine that most bikes in breakers are written off for front end or other damage. Living where it does the hugger is well protected so it would have to be an almighty shunt to wreck one of those.

Beat ya....see thread above!

Yup, fatduke you beat me...but then you have got an ST4 so you should be quicker :frog:

Forgot to mention Simon, about the easiest thing you can do to tidy the back end up is to remove that vast rear mudguard extender that ST2's have as standard - you'll know it when you see it, it's nearly the size of a shovel.

Grope about under the rear find the two or three fixing screws, take it off and throw it in the shed for resale time. There you go - five minutes maximum and costs nowt

I thought you used that to act as a stabiliser when you were wheelin'! :lol:

I binned that as well - waste of time, nice bit of wrought iron though.:)

I've been doing a similar thing (just had to get more bits as I had to be different and get broadsided by a car.. not to be recommended).
It all depends on what you want to spend but here's a few things I've found to my liking:
Metmachex aluminium swing arm (The very shiny thing from the old site)
Feathercarbon.com carbon (obviously) goodies including the rather nice dash infills
skidmarx flip up screen (grey) not 1/2 as flippin ugly as I was praying it wouldnt be (not bad at all in fact)
and finally a carbon front mudguard from ripsnortingvtwin (roundabouts here someplace).

feathercarbon also do the st carbon packages that come up on ebay sometimes so there's a chance of getting some a little cheaper.

Or how about dropping on the new ST3 style top fairing? Not sure when they're available or how much. Maybe they'll do a carbon fibre one....

Hi Chris, sold it yet?

I like the new style ST3 nose but i think it would be a very expensive swap to make what with a new headlight, support brackets, the fairing itself and bits and bobs i dont think you'd get much change from £1000.

Hi

Thanks for all the suggestions! Particularly the tips about front mudguard compatibility and ST4S hugger!

Keefyboy mentioned about tidying up the backend as you suggested, Jools. I'll give it a crack and see how it looks.

As far as the ST3 front end, sure it's more up to date than the ST2 but I'm not really sure that I like it. Personally, I think the 749/999 headlight configuration looks soooo much better and that the ducati designs is preferable to the ST3. Shame there isn't an 'up and over' headlight mod!

Fatduke - how do you find the ducati designs headlight mod? Are you happy with the look in the flesh? The website says it works better, does it?

Simon - Yes, mate - I can see in the dark now ('specially with the winter upon us)!!!

It is expensive (import tax was around £100), It was pretty easy to fit, for someone with limited DIY skills! - I did have to mess around pointing the headlights in the right direction and If I remember rightly I had to drill two holes to mount extra relays but that was about it.

You can retain the pilot light if you wish and mount it where you like but I tucked away in the fairing - if needed for MOT I'll mount it somewhere behind the dash (similar to the 749/999 set up).

It is a very good finish and well made.

I did think about doing something with a 996 fairing arrangement but it was too much hassle.

Try this it's a piccy in me garage..

http://fatduke111111.webs.bikers-eng...a/DSCF0001.JPG

[Edited on 1-11-2003 by fatduke11111]

Here's my ST4S-Dialled in cams, 4 pad calipers, carbon clutch cover, sprocket cover, side vents, and dash, the carbon hugger is standard. Ducati performance carbon cans and performance filter, the paint job you can see. Oh and it now has a solid black 'screen'

John

...bloody show off.....

..but it's yellow?!?:P:D

Jees!

Took of the mudguard! What a difference!
You've all given me more than a few ideas - have a feeling that this might end up being expensive!
:)
I already have the DP exhausts but gave them a bit of a scraping a few months ago:mad:
Don't s'pose you can buy just one can you?

Yah 8uggers......
 

Well so much for advice about carbon bits...I've bin watching some carbon side vents and dash for 8loody days on ebay.

Just checked it and fatduke111111 (I assume it's you) beat me again!!! Just about to chuck a bid in and the auctions ended, he persuaded the seller to end the auction early.... and Simon Walsh is in there bidding like a good un for the air vents....

Won't bid against guys I know and drive the price up (no chance on the dash anyhow) so good luck Simon...

So taking the mature approach to being beaten to it on both items, I'm gonna hold my breath till I turn blue, stamp up and down on the spot and scream until I'm sick. Don't do it to me again eh guys...bags I get first dibs at the next lot of scarce ST carbon :frog:



Actually, it was the dash I really wanted. Haven't had one since the DSC day at mallory....and I think since I've got a lot of spraying to get done, I'll colour match the side vents red...like the new 4S

:rodent: "Then get off yer a55 Jools, and get yours back from Monty...he'll be charging storage soon" :lol:

[Edited on 6-11-2003 by Jools]

Jools - The bloke is a bit pikey... he sent me a mail saying that his wife threw all of the bits out!!?!? (Carbon Air vents as well as the dash).

I never got them....**** mate if you want it and I see if first I'll let you know - I'm really not that bothered just looked a bit cheap to me.

Looks like Simon is heading for the renegade cans...

Nah Fatduke, no problemo. Seriously, I was like you. If they were cheap enough then I thought I'd give em a pop but otherwise I'm not losing sleep over it.

I have got the standard dash, I just took it off at the DSC trackday so I could take my mirrors off as well. Gave the bits to Monty for safekeeping in his car and couldn't be assed to screw them back on for the journey home (the dash that is, not the mirrors).

If I get a desperate carbon craving I think I'll see if ripsnorting can make me a few bits, but I've got a carbon hugger, and tank pad thingy now so I wouldn't want to give the ST2 ideas above it's station