I will be sending in my Monster 696 ECU soon to Rexxer for a remap. I have an Arrow slip on exhaust with DB’s removed and a K&N air filter installed with stock air box cover. As long as I’m paying for the remap, I’d like to get the most out of the bike, so I’m opting for the O2 sensor delete and 93 octane. One other thing I can do is upgrade the air box with an MWR power upgrade. I’m considering 3 options. First is to keep the K&N but cut the holes in the top cover for added flow (similar to the DP air cover with the 3 holes cut in). I might be able to cut the holes a bit bigger than the DP cover also. Second option is to do option 1, plus add the MWR power up kit (additional holes in the front of the air box). Option 3 is to install the full MWR system with power up kit and main air filter.
Option 1 is free. Option 2 is about $80. Option 3 is $200. Being a 696, I don’t think the air flow is as critical as it would be with a 796 or 1100, so I’m not sure how much I’d be gaining with the MWR options. I’m leaning on just doing option 1.
I’d like to hear comments/thoughts from others. Is the MWR worth it for a 696? Is the MWR easy to install? It looks straight forward and easy to do with a Dremel tool. I looked at a Monster 1200 intake, and the holes are about the same size as option 1 would be (DP top cover with the 3 hole cut outs), so I’m assuming it’s probably good enough for a 696. Obviously, the full MWR kit is the best choice, but I’m not sure it’s worth $200 for the small gain, if any, over just using the DP cover. I’m already spending $300 on the remap.
I've done a bunch of mods to my 09 696 except a reflash for the ecu. I also have a k&n filter with a stock airbox and slip on pipes. I need more info on this rexxor reflash and how they choose which map to download.I would assume you would have to let them know what mods you do to the airbox/air filter before they reflash the ecu as air intake capabilities would affect the tune they will install. My 696 has had a lean throttle tip in and air box backfire since I've had it
Yes, you need to let them know all the mods and options (type of air filter/mods, octane, O2 delete, exhaust, DB Killers removed, etc.) and they adjust the flash accordingly. That's why I need to decide on the air box before getting the flash done.
I've got open air boxes on all my bikes, because that's like the thing you do to every motorcycle. I have K&N and MWR. Remember both are oiled filters and it's a messy thing.
I have read countless threads, anecdotes, actual comparison studies and watched the videos. We swap out to open air boxes so we can listen to the intake. It doesn't really add much in the way of power, and often times will actually decrease power. A well designed air box can cause pressures to rise and stuff more air into your intakes. Opening the air box removes this harmonic balance from the equation.
Many many many people have shown that a stock Ducati air filter can actually flow more air through it than a properly serviced and oiled K&N filter. They definitely protect the engine more.
If I was purchasing it for the cool factor and was keeping some of the box, MWR. If I was purchasing a complete air box delete from the ex company TPO, I would for sure get a Beast kit with the twin K&N stacks.
If I was getting my bike dyno'd or tuned I would ask the people doing the tune which they preferred.
I say get whichever you prefer. If you want to hear your intake roar and want to save a money, get the K&N, if you think the MWR kit looks better, get the MWR.
When it rains out my MWR kit funnels water directly into the intakes of my Paul Smart.
Have considered checking to see if you can tune your velocity stacks? Doing so won't really add any horsepower but it can change the powerband.
I've researched a bit more and talked to the place doing the tune. They said the extra air intake of the MWR won't help much for my bike as far as power gain. It will however make the bike a lot louder and possibly allow water to get into the air box. So I'll stay with the K&N and the DP top air box cover.
I wouldn't use a K&N filter unless you just want the sticker for your tool box.
The stock Ducati dry filter flows much more air than the K&N oiled filter. Also on a micron level the Ducati filter will protect your engine much better. This is one of those things where I say save your money, it's difficult to be the stock filter.
I've got a '13 796 with slip-on Arrows... and no other intake mods. Just the cans themselves opened the motor up big time and made it 100% more drive-able. I had the tank off a few weeks ago to change the battery and install an Ohlins shock, I thought the stock air intake was already a pretty good setup. I don't really see where punching a bunch of holes in the box would make that big of a difference, at least on the 696/796... maybe the 1100, all else being equal.
My experience with K&N type air filters has not been that good. I have one for my XR650 and it's a royal pain... too much oil and the motor gags, too little and you are sucking dirt. I will stick with the factory air filter on my Monster.
FWIW, I bought a second ECU for my Monster... the idea was to have it mapped and keep the original in case something went wrong, or I had to send it out, again. I've found even with the stock map and ECU tangible increases with just the slip-ons... enough so that I've pretty much shelved the idea of remapping. Some day, maybe, so I can get rid of my Duc-ee (to defeat the 796's exhaust flap) and the O2 sensors... but, in reality, probably not. If I'm going to dump money into performance, I'm going to wait until I have something 1000cc + ...where it would make a difference.
Also... my 796 is pretty loud with the DB killers out, so I modded them... I cut all but the last 1" or so of the baffle off. This keeps it quiet enough I won't upset my neighbors at 5AM on a Sunday morning, and still provides excellent performance vs the unmodded DBKs. I can still pop them out in about 2 minutes when I don't care about the neighbors...
Just a heads up to check your MWR filter regularly to make sure it has not degraded into oblivion. I bought my 2014 Monster 696 in November 2020 and needed to replace the battery in January 2021. I found all the MWR intake found broken or missing, making me think that there's only one way it could have gone... through the engine.
A large chunk of it was in the airbox, but piecing the parts like a jigsaw puzzle definitely pointed to a lot of it missing.
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