I can’t leave things alone, me. One of my favourite distractions is converting time on the internet into the process of making my bikes better.
As my Monster S2R 800 had a gaping hole on the spec sheet, I deep-dived into an online research and spending spree. Here’s the thing – the forks, amazingly for a posh bike with a slipper clutch, single-sided swingarm and lightweight Marchesini wheels, were non-adjustable. I mean, how very 1970s. Where at least a pair of preload adjusters should be living, the Japanese-made Showa units offered just plain non-adjustable fork-tops. Add in the fact that one of the forks was home to an inch-long crack perpendicular to the dust seal rim (see pic) and it was clear they had to go.
Along with the flat-topped forks, the brakes were more than a bit below average, too: unsexy two-piston Brembo calipers bit on to equally unsexy medium-sized 300mm discs, with (in my opinion) ugly silver centres. I’m really unsure what Ducati was doing when it specced this bike up; I actually wonder if Ducati ran out of budget. Other Monsters even prior to 2005 when this was made had worn better suspension, better calipers and bigger discs. Bearing in mind this bike has an ‘R’ in its name, which usually comes associated with lovely trinketry from the Italian marque, all in all it’s a bit disappointing. Anyway, the crux of the matter is it was now obviously time to go internet shopping! Yay!
