I picked up a frame and V5 at Stafford, straight, no cracks but the odd bit of rust where the paint has been scuffed. Before getting it blasted and primed for storage (I already have a project ongoing and another - BSA - in the pipeline...) the general concensus is that I'd be mad not to brace or patch it now while bare so that it doesn't crack in the future. 470four has a picture of one bracing method here but I recall a thread on Ducatisti (or somewhere...) where four or five people had posted pics of their mods. It would be good to see a range of possible solutions before I reach for the tin-snips. On the other hand, what's the risk? How common a problem is frame cracking?
View attachment 2104 Welded in a cross member on mine. Airbox needs cutting but no big problem as it will run open top with k&n.
Good question, we could do with a couple of seasoned experts who've clapped eyes on dozens of frames to answer ideally. I've had no cracking in the 5 that i've owned and only met one owner whose suffered above. (I don't mean in heaven)
While racing a 600ss i cracked a frame around the headstock and many others did. Also seen many SS road bikes with cracks which the owners never knew were there! I would get it beefed up tbh. Pablo pirate on here has done his which you would be hard pressed to notice.
any stiffening up of suspension and/or constant hard riding is bound to show an existing fatigue problem up even quicker it's true.
That is a good point Chris. I fitted the cross member to tighten things up as the frame is running a tuned ST2 engine with a fair bit more power than a 900ss engine. I think the pre 1994 ss frames were better as they were made by verlicchi and not in the factory ?
Hi Pict, I would love to know what colour paint was used on these pic's.. View attachment 2108 View attachment 2109
Ducati gold frame paint is what I've used Steve, it's not in a rattle can though. Here's my '96 SS frame that I had done last year (before and after), got it done by Speight Engineering (he's done loads over the years and knows his stuff). Steve's right when he says the early SS frames were stronger, having said that I know of a few early ones that did crack but mainly to bikes that have upgraded brakes and engines. Getting the SL frame done as we speak, It's not cracked yet but I would rather do it now when the bikes in bits than have to strip it all down again if it did.
Found these the other day: eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace The infamous Nichols frame bracing plates... fkn expensive for two bits of easily-copied/marked out 3mm steel plate??! The top one will make airbox removal impossible, if not a nightmare - the bottom one could be good though? Still havnt had my plate welded on... having said that Im keeping a close eye on the existing cracks which haven't got any worse? Will look to have them dremeled out and TIG'd in soon enough tho. :smile: Then gold casing? Not a fan tbh. Bit too blingtastic for me. Having said that the green one is a tad Qualcast.co.uk. :biggrin:
Thanks Ian RS Motorbike Paint Colours - Motorcycle paint, bike paint, Kawasaki Honda Yamaha Found this company
Maybe an additional tube/bar going from the bottom of the headstock diagonal across the existing diagonal tube would help? A cross-brace?
And the SS frame cracked again Steve. It now has a cross member (acting as a 748 tank retainer too) to beef up the front End.
This is probably the Zinc Chromate paint you need... LAS - Zinc Chromate Primers The second paint for Ducati Mag parts was a Dark green I think, the first was a Mucky brown colour I believe, although I have magnesium parts which are bare metal, dark green, muckygreenyyellowysilver, light sand and a goldysandysortofcolour!
