After a long Slumber the 998 is a runner again thanks to John Cellier @BVT. I'd forgotten the knack of getting it started from cold. Had a little run up and down the road just warm it through. Had to buy a new lid as the newest I had was 14 years old.
Its no garage queen, its got 28k miles on the clock. I bought it with 1700 miles on in 2003. Yep, looking forward to a proper ride. A quick spin up and down the street just whetted the appetite, at low speed it felt just as I remember it I'd forgotten the front mudguard/front fender was damaged, I vaguely recall it was an impact a Pheasant. I'm pretty sure I don't have one in the stash of spare bodywork panels. I think the front mudguard/front fender is a different size to the non ohlins fork models as well? A 996r one is the same though.
I think the front mudguard/front fender is a different size to the non ohlins fork models as well? A 996r one is the same though. No mate don’t make it more special than it is Just a carbon mudguard, fits every 748,916 Showa, or Öhlins.
Beautiful that mate, still looks amazing after all these years! Must feel great to hang on to something for such a long time. I've had 10 bikes in the last 20 years, so 2 years is is normally that time I start to get the itch.....I've never had a Ducati until now though. I have a feeling I'm going to hang on to this bike a bit longer than normal
Thanks for putting me right on the front mudguard/fender. Had it running again today after much churning away, deffo lost the knack of starting it from cold with a tickle of the fast idle.
Are you sure £5 is scrap value? You are going to have to spend some time separating the metal, plastics, rubber and glass! Attempted to sell it about 8 or 9 years ago, complete with all the spare wheels, Panels, seat unit, termi exhaust sets, clutches, etc. that I gathered up in the previous years of ownership "just in case" No interest was a blessing, it's come out of its slumber pretty well to be honest. Just need to find the sidestand switch bypass kit I bought from Nelly years ago but never fitted. I'd made my own bit of wiring to allow it to start on the side stand but someone who thought it didn't look good removed it. Major annoyance that it won't start/run on the side stand.
The old thing had cataracts so I've had to deal with the milky headlamps today before I book an MOT. Tried a few shortcuts but eventually but the bullet and removed the lamps from the bike. Removed the headlamp bulbs and the projector unit. That made it easier to do the cataract operation. Hope the sidelight bulbs never fail as they wouldn't come out. All back together now. I even managed to start it without too much bother so maybe my Ducati Foo is coming back Still can't face trying my leathers on as I suspect an hour or so isn't going to fix the potential problems with shrinkage. It's been built up into some sort of spectator event even if it's just household members who get to fall about laughing at the comedy show