Hi everyone, I just took delivery of this bike. It is apparently a Ducati Monster M900 Dark, first registered 10th March 2000. Didn’t think too much of it until I started searching for a few parts etc online and found that nowhere lists the M900 Dark. Also checked a few websites that give the Monster model history and again no M900 Dark. The only dark models mentioned in the older bikes are the M600 and M750. Do any of you knowledgeable people know if there actually was an M900 dark? Also when I try to buy parts and enter the year 2000, it just gives items for the M900ie. Mine is a carburettor bike so should I be basing my searches in the 1999 model year? Thanks for any help.
IIRC, "Dark "was just a cosmetic thing, more black paint instead of polished metal... A sales promo to add a new twist without actually adding anything new? The bike looks great - all classic Monsters do in my eyes!
Perhaps of help? https://www.bike-parts-ducati.com/ducati-motorcycle/Monster/1999/Monster_900_Dark_City/689
It does look good in black I think. It’s just a bit confusing when trying to search websites by bike model and it doesn’t appear. Thomas a rule I will just order whatever fits the 1999 bike.
There certainly is a Monster Dark M900 (I have a 2002 M900ie Dark) but since yours has carbs then it's probably a 1999 model albeit registered in 2000. According to the Ducati Monster Bible (by Ian Falloon) the 2000 models onwards have fuel injection, as you've found from your own searches. Looks like a nice bike from your picture!
Hard to say from the picture as I'd guess its potentially been painted in its life (think the dark was matt black iirc). The rear brake would have made me think it was a 900s but it doesn't have the matching front brake discs either... Might have been modified over the years is my thoughts?
Yes it’s pretty good for the money I paid and has been looked after but is showing its age a bit now but I will get it back up to spec in time. As far as parts I will just treat it as a 1999 carbs bike I think.
Craig (Parts Manager) at Moto Rapido will be a very good person to get to know. His Ducati knowledge is second to none. Andy
You are probably right although I think they did do a gloss black Monster Dark City version from 1999 to 2002. May well have been painted or even different tank fitted although clear on HPI records regarding accidents. It’s defiantly had new front discs as I’ve got the receipt for them. Think I will just treat it as a 1999 for parts ordering and smarten it up without worrying too much about it’s provenance.
It's always entertaining ordering parts if the bike is not a specific year/model. I always have fun with my Monster, being that it's a 1999, 900 with carburettors and most online ordering places show 1999 900 Monsters to be injected. For some reason the MOT info calls mine a Monster 1000? Adds to the fun that it's got the earlier oil/air cooled ('95) engine but many later and even non-monster parts - It's a 'bitza' but as I made it, I know (more or less) what bits are what and where etc. Yours looks to have been customised to some extent, I've not seen a black swingarm and, AFAIK the 'dark' models had matt black paintwork, 'S' models floating rear caliper etc. Nice looking bike BTW.
Thanks. I suppose it’s appropriate for these bikes to be ‘bitzas’ given that from what I read about the original version it was made up of parts from several different models. I would say you are right that one or more of the previous owners has done a bit of modification like the black anodised forks, swing arm and rear sets however I quite like that and someone has put some decent bits on that I would probably have done myself like the carbon cans, Dynojet kit, tail tidy, Renthal bars etc so overall I’m pretty happy with it. Only known problem so far are leaking fork seals and a few electrical gremlins which I understand are pretty common on these but no doubt as I take it apart over the winter there will be more wrong but that all part of the fun (so they tell me).
Got a leaky fork seal on my 916, the second time it's happened but I know it's common with Ohlins forks. My Monster forks have been fine but they are 916 Showa forks which seem pretty good with regards to leaks, don't know how prone Monster forks are to leaking but not a difficult fix. Electrical gremlins seem to be a Ducati thing.
I’ve done fork seals several times and although a bit long winded it’s a straightforward job and at least the parts are nice and cheap. Italian manufacturers just don’t seem to be able to do decent electrics in bikes or cars but at least bike wiring is quite simple so I expect I’ll chase down the faults. I’ve already had a good swat up on the forums including this one and looks like just about everything has been seen and fixed before and loads of really good tips which helps a lot with a new (to me at least) bike.
