Needs a "frame change"?

[hellkat]

The Esteemed Daughter is looking at bikes, and has spotted this, which I think she quite fancies.

https://www.bikesales.com.au/bikes/details/2018-Ducati-Monster-659-ABS/SSE-AD-6724408

So effectively its an accident damaged bike/write off.

But she has asked me to ask you guys ( ) ...

Is a frame change an expensive option?
Sounds like it to me, but I'm guessing you could pick one up at a breakers for reasonable price.

I'm not asking you to talk her out of it ... just explain why she shouldn't (or indeed should) buy it.

Neither of us has particularly high levels of mechanical knowledge, although ... she is younger and quicker-minded than me these days, she could probaby learn.
If she wanted to
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[A100man]

Hmm, so it doesn't need a frame change due to damage but requires one for admin purposes in NSW, Australia - is that correct?

My FZ750 is a frame swap - it makes it worthless to a collector but as a hack it doesn't bother me. In UK reg number goes with the frame so my 1988 bike became 2 years younger with the 'new' frame.

In terms of mechanical know how it shouldn't be too bad - the most tricky part will be routing the wiring and cables correctly. Also if there are any seized fastenings although if looks too new for that.

Overall you have to take into account the hassle, the time the cost of the new frame and how much value the frankenbike then loses..
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

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[hellkat]

[c_dug]

Regardless of the cost which, obviously will vary from bike to bike, it's A LOT of work, it's not something I'd happily choose to do based purely on the amount of space, time, and effort required, rather than outright difficulty.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[stinkwheel]

I've "reframed" two bikes. The mechanics of it aren't too bad IF you have a complete bike to change over with all the fixtures and fittings. That said, it's not straightforwards either, on a modern bike there are an inordinate number of small fiddlty bits that need to go in the right place in the right order. You don't want to get the engine in then find you needed to fit the airbox first or that you got the wiring loom looped the wrong way round a chassis beam.

That aside, both the ones I did were, on paper at least, complete and fully working motorcycles, even if they were actually a pile of knackered rusty shite out the back of an indian takeaway. As far as the DVLA were concerned, I'd simply changed the engine on a totally vanilla motorbike, not built a bike up from scratch onto a bare frame.

So I'd say you'd want the "frame" side of the deal to appear on its paperwork as a complete bike and you're just swapping the engine, even if the frame is the only bit of it you're actually using.

Not sure how the rules work down-under though.

EDIT: A less scrupulous person might just swap the VIN plates and make sure they kept the new "frame" in their posession.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Riejufixing]

[stinkwheel]

Also always worth mentioning the old addage "If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.".

If it was quick and easy to do, why haven't they done it?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MarJay]

I can sum this advert up in one easy to digest phrase that Minellials should understand.

Dodgy AF.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Robby]

It's the equivalent of a category B (in old money) write-off over here. Australia does seem a bit more keen to do write-offs where the vehicle can never go back on the public road than we are.

In terms of time/cost, she would need to:
1. Get a frame that can go on the road. Traditionally done by buying a vehicle that was stolen, ragged and vandalised - blown engine, knackered bodywork, but good frame.
2. Strip everything off both bikes.
3. Put all the good bits on the frame that can go on the road.
4. Get rid of all the other crap.

It's 2-4 days work for someone competent, followed by a few more weekends of fiddling to get it all right. A frame is likely to be quite expensive, seeing as the bike is only 2 years old - you aren't going to find breakers yards full of them.

[Tdibs]

North worth the time/money tbh unless you are keen on spannering. Also I would leave it as a big question mark how truthful the advert is, any the likely hood of finding more (expensive ducati) damage.

Also tanks resale value.
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[wr6133]

Strip one frame and reassemble on to other based on what you photograph/video when stripping.

Unless the saving is HUGE I wouldn't bother and I'm confident that I could do it (with the aid of a workshop book). It won't be "fun", it'll be a frustrating learning experience of what it would be like to work in the Ducati factory if the factory was a small garage and your daughter the sole employee

Though that may be the easy part, compared to actually getting a replacement frame that isn't written off and doesn't kick the bottom out of the budget bucket.

That's why I think she shouldn't do it.

[hellkat]

[MaybeGuy]

It's not a frame swap... It's an engine swap.

Over here it's a very simple process. Swap "engine", get a blue slip to check and update the new numbers. And you're free to register it.

NSW has dumb laws that mean no kind of write off can return to the road unless you're the one who owned it at the time. It means the scrap auction lots are full of brand new cars with fender benders.

You need a receipt for the engine, so the buyer would need to provide it to prove its not stolen.

I own an engineering company in Lisarow, about an hour north of Sydney if it's of any use for the swap. Enjoy finding just a frame though.
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith