My Monster 696 will be ten years old soon. The bike is a keeper, my favourite bike. And so I think it deserves some love. I won’t be doing anything radical to it, just a tear down and clean. Anything nasty will be replaced, anything I don’t like will be upgraded. Here it is on day one.
Not sure how far you are going with this project but take many,many photographs or you might just get lost on the rebuild
I’m going from front to back, starting with new bars and master cylinders. So off come the callipers for a clean and new seals.
Out of every bike I’ve owned (long list) it’s the most fun. I have the 1199s also, but the 696 is the one I ride most.
Woke up with a hangover and lots of stuff ordered when drunk. Mostly Teng tools and titanium stuff. Oh dear.
Rebuilt the front callipers. Titanium pins, new seals, clips, pads. Now waiting for parts and tools. Next up the front comesxapart and the rear shock comes out to be sent off for a service and re-coating. To do that I need a 28mm socket for the slim bolt, so ordered that today. Service on those parts will take 8-12 weeks, so I’ll fill the time going towards the back noting every bolt that needs replacing, and polishing everything else. 150 micro fibre cloths arrived today
Question: is it ok to rest the bike on the engine while the suspension is off? Or is a block of wood between the swing arm and the subframe a better option?
Question for you all - rear shock. Service and re-finish it with new bits and soda blasting... or buy a new shock? The service etc will cost £280 plus £30 carriage. Not a huge amount more will get me a shiny new thing. If I can find a UK supplier, otherwise it’ll be double the cost (import duty).
Interesting question. Has anyone on here taken a rear shock apart and rebuilt it minus corrosion? It's a Showa on my 748.
