Hey Josh, here you go. 

Yes I've decided to stick with the Ducati seat for now.  Its lines complement that of the bike's gas tank better, and gives it a bit of a sleeker look.  There are several models of the Ducati Monster out there, each with different looking seats so beware...

Mine looks like this one that came off of a 2011-13 Evo  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ducati-Monster-1100-EVO-11-13-796-696-Front-Rider-Seat-Saddle-SCRATCH-59510971A-/302172191441?hash=item465addbad1:g:3asAAOSwnHZYWZ~l&vxp=mtr

It's not the most bombproof modification, but it's worked fine for the past several hundred miles.  At the front, I had to trim down the plastic flanges to allow them to hook underneath the gas tank.  The middle section had a big bulge that prevented it from sitting flat, so I also cut that area out.

As for the seat "striker" plate, I just bolted it in with a wood spacer below it to get the alignment correct.  That plate BTW has proved to be annoying hard to find by itself... I'm talking about the "striker" piece that is attached to the bottom of the stock seat, not the catch that's mounted to the frame.  Anyone out there got an extra for sale?

Josh, I also read about your issues with the Katana shock.  I'd highly recommend the R6 shock - all the rebound and compression adjustments are awesome, and it also keeps the bike at stock height.  About $50 on eBay

Thanks a ton for that information. The seat pictures and description are super helpful.

What year models of R6 shock fit?

Anyone, if you are after a seat of a similar shape the VTR250Honda seat should be easier to find ( depending which country you are in) and a lot cheaper. You wouldn't feel as reticent in cutting and modding it. Prbably more comfy as well.

Awesome bike man! That tank looks amazing

Thanks, folks!

I think R6 shocks from 2006-2008 will work.  Just make sure there is a clevis on the bottom end.  There are several good threads here on the topic, with more details and pics.

The VTR250 seat may be a decent substitute, but it's got quite the curve in the middle.  The Ducati is just so much sexier and sleeker...  and its base is relatively flat so that it will be easier to fabricate a subframe that's compatible.

Comfort wise, if you slip a 5-8mm gel pad underneath any seat it'll be plenty comfortable.  Pretty simple mod even for this newbie - you just pry the staples to peel off the cover material, slip in the gel pad, and get a staple gun to tack it down again.

Quote from: Endopotential on May 18, 2017, 10:23:59 PM
I think R6 shocks from 2006-2008 will work.  Just make sure there is a clevis on the bottom end. imple mod even for this newbie - you just pry the staples to peel off the cover material, slip in the gel pad, and get a staple gun to tack it down again.

Thanks for that info. The R6 shock looks pretty fab. I'll get on the hunt for one. In the mean time it looks like with only a spring compressor you can easily swap the spring from one shock to the other, so I might try to put the GS spring on the Kat shock (if the diameter fits) and see how that does. If all else fails I always have the GS shock to fall back on.

I'm pretty good with modifying the existing seat. It's on my list to redo all of the foam on that seat and reuse the cover because it's not the seat I don't like, it's just not comfortable due to the shape/angle. If the ride height helps with the angle I might not need to do anything at all. Basically I need the part I sit on to be much more level. It's sloping towards the front of the bike even when loaded. I really do think this contributes to my discomfort on the bike, and it's my own doing, swapping the shock.

Here's the shock I got.  It came with some extra linkage bits and dogbones, which are not necessary.  Just make sure yours comes with the nuts and bolts for both ends, along with the associated spacers.

Looking at the bottom end, also make sure it has the clevis type design.  The R6 is much easier to install compared to the SV650 shock, as that one requires you to drill in new mounting holes on the clevis.

Nice looking bike, and the duc seat is a solid choice. Any link/info on those rearsets? Also, are those lower frame sliders, or some type of forward aux peg?

As a merchant mariner, I'd caution you against supporting Sea Shepherd. 

Thanks SuziQ!

The rearsets are from a CBR900RR, or the equivalent off of eBay.  Install is fairly straightforward.  If I remember correctly, I had to drill out / ovalize one of the holes on the brake side to make it fit.

Yes those are intended to serve as slider pegs.  Thankfully have not had to put them to the test.  http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=71139.msg854587#msg854587

Nothing personal and way off topic from motorcycling, but what's wrong with Sea Shepherd and saving the whales?  I know their methods are not entirely legal, but neither are those of the Japanese whaling fleet, or clubbing dolphins in a bay...  The international community doesn't have to nerve to do much about it.   Fight fire with fire!

Ah cool. I have a set of factory 900RR rears in my box of misc, but those looked to me like the ebay mega adjustable ones from China. Did you make an adapter to move them at all? How far back and up can you go from factory with those?

Cool sliders, thanks for the link! Glad you haven't tested, but hope they work if ever needed.



Yes, way off topic; I am a huge fan of charismatic mega-fauna, and am generally against whaling/sealing/shark finning/rhino tusking/etc/etc, and support proactive action v. reactive. I guess Animal Planet is doing their best to shed light on what is fundamentally a good cause but, as a Merchant Mariner, I take issue with wildly ramming ships at sea, thus endangering the lives of both the other ship's crew, and Watson's own. Legal issues aside, it's a duck move. He should go back to blowing up ships at anchor, but I guess the television ratings aren't as high.

SuziQ, if you just happen to have CBR900 rearsets lying around, you must have one heck of a nice junk box!

Attachment was directly to the frame, no adapter plate needed.  If I remember correctly, the hole that needed to be ovalized was the one that fits the lower screw of the rear brake cylinder.

The one I got had a bunch of potential adjustment options, but the rate limiting step was interference with my funky exhaust. 

On the clutch side though, you need to fashion some sort of adapter for the shifting spline, or get a linkage from a GSXR.  I've got a picture of that on the first page of my build.

Yeah likewise I'm using the linkage from a 900rr as well for shifter linkage, but the stock 900 rearsets actually drop the position down instead of up, so I'll be milling adapters or just cannibalize the 900 sets and make something new. Thanks for the info!

Endo, I'm thinking about getting the R6 shock when I upgrade my springs and get some new fork parts. I read where (above) you need the nuts and bolts for both top and bottom. After a scroll through eBay, I found a fair amount of these shocks for a good price but they are missing the bottom bolt and nut.

I thought well hey I'll just go on motosport and find the parts diagram and see how expensive a new OEM bolt and nut would be. Can't be that much!

But I was having trouble figuring out which bolt and nut I'd end up needing to order... because they aren't shown on the shock's diagram.

Do you think you could help me out at all? As in, what is different about the lower mounting bolt from the GS's? And if you have a spare moment, could you look at the diagram and is there any way you'd be able to tell what bolt it is? Since it's not on the shock's diagram, I'm guessing it's on this one somewhere:
http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/oem-parts/yamaha/2006/yzf_r6/rear-arm

Thanks so much !!

Hey Showbiz!  Happy to help, as much as I can...

So that triangular piece is the anchor of the rear suspension.  The front hole bolts to the frame; the middle one to the dogbones; leaving the rear hole for the shock.

If I recall correctly, the R6 uses the same external diameter for the shim/spacer #8 on the diagram, but bolt #35 from the R6 is thicker than the GS's.  So sleeve #7 is what accommodates the difference in size.
Same issue with the top of the shock.

I was swapping out from an SV650 shock, so not sure if those bolts would have worked.  Nor how the stock GS bolts would mate with the R6 swap.

I suppose you can always email the sellers on eBay to see if they can scrounge up the missing bolts to complete the package. 

Else I just looked, and there are complete units for $70-90.  If you're patient, sometimes $50 

Good luck, you'll love it!

Ooooh, this helps a bunch!

Ok so, normally I go and search and find things on my own but I'm gonna be totally honest... work has been busier lately and I'm dead tired... so I'm just gonna ask ya.

Do I need the triangular piece for the install?

And so I'd need #8, #35 and #7?

Thank you so much for your patience. I seriously can't brain today to save my life and I'm just now starting my shift!! I need a vacation :dead:

No, for the triangular piece you just use the existing one on the GS which is roughly the same configuration as the R6's.

I think #7, 8 , and 35 would be a good place to start, but please don't take my word for it.  It would probably end up being cheaper and more certain if you got them all with the shock in the first place, rather than sourcing those bits from a Yamaha dealer or elsewhere.

I'm not as tired today and I've had time to process this haha

Thank you so much. I believe I understand now!!

Quote from: Endopotential on May 07, 2017, 10:59:44 AM
T

Man, I really like to know about these pegs... I am searching for one at EBAY, however I do not know what are the most compatible set.
I am betting on the SV650, but if you can help w/ this would be super!

Thnaks

For those who wanted details on the rearset modification:

Look up "CBR900RR" rearsets on eBay, brand new ones go for about $85.
Then look up "GS500 shift lever" to get that splined bit.  You'll need to tinker on this to get the shift rod to connect. 
Basically cut off about 2 inches of material, then drill and tap a hole so you can put a bolt through the Heim joint of the shift rod.
Then you can set it up as regular or GP shifting as you desire.

All good things must come to an end....

I'm putting this up for sale and would love to have her go to a fellow GS Twin member.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=72997.0