So you dropped your bike...
Yeah, it happens. To almost all of us at some point or another. It might have been a driveway drop, or maybe you were trying to do a tight corner and discovered just how big a turning radius the Monster really has, or maybe it was something a little faster and scarier. Or maybe it hasn't happened to you yet and you were wondering why so many Monsters you see have a dent right near the D in Ducati. Read on...

One of the more peculiar design 'features' of the Monster is that on pretty much any drop the end of the stock bar will bend in and hit the tank, creating a nice little golf-ball size ding. On a faster-get off you might also have side scrapes and crushing.

Do I have to fix it?
You'll want to fix anything busted off, but unless your tank is leaking gas, no, you don't need to fix it. If you're going for a rat-bike look then read no further. For most folks though the look of the Monster is a big part of the appeal and that tank ding becomes more glaring with each day.

Repair vs. Replace
The next question asked by those with tank-ding is whether to repair the old tank or replace it with a new one. Simply put, repaired tanks are usually indestinguishable from new and a whole lot cheaper, both in the cost of repair and the lack of an insurance premium hike. Unless your tank is very badly mashed, or you can't bear to be without the bike for more than a day, it probably makes more sense to repair the ding. The process usually involves brazing rods onto the tank surface and pulling as much of the dent as possible, then filling in any gaps and sanding, priming and painting. (See below for sources.) The tank may also get an interior coating to prevent rust. Cost to repair and paint should be less than $500 US total.

If you choose to replace the tank the cost as of this writing is in the neighborhood of $1100 US at your friendly Duc dealer. If you opt to buy a second hand tank on Ebay or other private sale you should be aware that the tanks for carbureted Monsters don't fit fuel-injected bikes and vice versa. However, that factor being equal, the displacement is not a factor (a carbed 900 tank will fit on a carbed 750).

Some things to consider about repairing your tank are:

• You can have flames or whatever color you want for the tank. (Fenders and seat cowls can be painted to match.)
• If you like those old-style Ducati logos they can be purchased and used instead of the modern font.
• If your tank has extensive damage and needs a lot of filler a magnetic tank bag may not work well on it.

Can I prevent dings?
There are some reports that having clip-on bars (those low down models that attach directly to the fork tubes) reduce the likelihood of tank dings as they're generally quite strong and resistant to bending. Another option is to install frame sliders, which are basically big cylinders of plastic that attach to the frame and take the impact of a fall.

Sources - Bodywork, Painting & Decals

• Ducpainter (Nate) - DML member who does tank repair and full service refinishing
• California Cycle & Watercraft Design in Costa Mesa , CA (714-979-3911)
• Robbie Nigl of Peachpit Racing in New Hampshire (603-731-8955)
• Richard Bruggisser, Rembrandt M/C Painting, Petaluma, CA (707-778-1640)
• Decals - Tapeworks

Replacement Parts

• CA-Cycleworks - sells inexpensive replacement levers
• CRG - manufactures & sells adjustable levers and very nice bar end mirrors
• Cycle-cat - manufactures clip-ons and frame sliders