I've had some other commitments over the last few weeks so have frustratingly not had much time to devote to this bike, but I did manage to get some time to myself over the weekend. At my age that means time to relax in the workshop Firstly, I'm giving up on the idea of putting a Multi 1000 Oil cooler up in the nose. If I mount it high enough to allow full compression of the forks it will prevent me having the option of putting a standard rectangular headlamp back in the bike, and I'm convinced I'll want to do that one day. Over the weekend I mocked up a 1098 Triangular Oil cooler in a couple of positions, in front of the horizontal cylinder and below it. I actually did this exact mod on a Carbie 900SS a few years ago and there was plenty of room, but on this bike I just can't get it to fit to my satisfaction. I currently have another option under investigation, more to follow.
I've never been that happy with the solution I came up with (Post 27) to include a Park/Running light on the bike: It was too big and too bright, so I recently brought one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354376018529?var=623790221837
I made a small bracket to mount it inside the windscreen on the Clocks bracket: I recently rode my 999 at night for the first time, and was surprised at just how distracting the windscreen mounted running light is on that, so also added a small rubber bellows I had in my useful spares box:
Whilst previosly playing with the Oil cooler I'd moved the Regulator Rectifier wiring and noticed the bike had the usual overheated connector for the three feed cables from the Generator: It was easily fixed with a replacement connector and crimps from Kojaycat after I'd cut the old connector off:
I also decided to convert to the much better later style of Reg/Rec unit. I had planned to do this months ago, so already had in stock a 1200 Multistrada Reg/Rec, and a pair of leads sole for various Triumph models which allow the direct fitment of the later unit to an earlier Ducati: Part number for the Triumph leads is T2500676 if you need them. They make it a direct plug and play exercise. On my old M900 I cut the ends off and spliced them directly into the M900 Loom, but decided to be lazy in this case as I'd just replaced the burnt connector anyway.
With the help of a small Ali adaptor plate I fitted the new reg/rec in the standard position: And with the engine running get a nice health charge:
I made a decision that this bike would look better, be less divisive, and appeal to more with a standard 900SS/SL headlight: I need to order it a new pair of tyres, get it MOT'd, and it may be up for sale along with my 999 and my M1000.
I've just received my Multistrada reg/rec in the post for my M900 and have a small piece of ally ready to make a similar plate to the one like you have done. As my bike is very early wiring loom but my engine is 900ie I'm wondering if I will need to add a 3rd wire as its now 3-phase but the loom was originally for 2-phase. PS - is the Marcol Moto decal related to the long since defunct Marcol from Nottingham?
Yes, for a 3-phase alternator you need 3 wires from the stator to the regulator or you will not get the full output.
Who did the anodising? The first three that come up on Google are all offering such a similar service that a cynic might think they are all subcontracting to the same place.
I had them done at a local company I use for work. They don't deal with the public unfortunately. I know for sure they processed them, and that they don't do them sub-contract for other people as they are an Aerospace company not general Anodiser. If I didn't have access to the guys I used I'd be going to Dorset Aluminium products in Dorchester: https://dorsetaluminium.com/ Unfortunately I don't deal with them through work any more but would recommend them. Anything they do will be properly processed and looked after. They will do a great job at a reasonable price and they will be the same colour as all of Talons Gold parts
That turned out great in the end! I had a 1992 900SS back in the day and on first glance it looks like a nicely restomodded 900SL with the beefier swingarm (something I'd expect out of Febur back in the day), five spoke wheels (Marvic Penta) and the radial brakes. I barely notice the "wrong" frame colour and the different bits in it for the subframe ha ha! As muh as I like my 999R I much prefer the old SS (in standard form) to the Terblanche design 900SS. that said, I am sure I've seen Terblanche SS's modified to look pretty good. But the older SS just has that little bit more something....
I've been going backwards and forwards deciding over the last few weeks if I should fit the JMC swingarm I picked up into this bike: I was reluctant, as being a 1000SS it was already fitted with the later standard Aluminium swingarm that a a lot consider to be the ultimate upgrade for an older 900SS. But I kept seeing it hanging on the wall in my workshop and thought why not. It went in really easily, and luckily I had some different thickness swingarm to engine shims to play with. I modified a standard 1000SS rear hugger to fit, and added rivnuts to the arm to mount it. I'm really happy with it at the moment:
The point of this bike is to confuse, and wind up some purists, the JMC certainly adds to the confusion as it's aimed at the older 900SS carbie bikes. But looking at it with the JMC, and having gone back to a standard Headlight I was suddenly really aware of the small rear lights I'd fitted, and that the 1000SS rear mudguard, plate hanger, indicators, and separate numberplate light didn't fit in with the older 900SS/SL look. Don't get me wrong, I really like the rear lights, but just came to the conclusion that they didn't now suit the bike. A 900SS/SL rear guard etc won't simply fit the 1000SS frame as they are too wide, so I had to cut the bottom part of a 900SS/SL one off, and attach it to the top part of a 1000SS one. Then fabricate a new bracket to fit the standard 900SS/SL rear light: I then cut out the original hole in the aftermarket seat unit that I'd previously filled and added some standard looking aftermarket indicators: I did have to add a couple of threaded bosses to the exhaust hangers to mount the seat unit as previously I'd put pins right at the rear for it to slide onto:
And this is how she now sits: 1000SS. Standard twin Spark EFI Engine. Standard for the 1000SS 5 spoke wheels. JMC Swingarm. Genuine 900SS Tank. Aftermarket 900SS/SL Bodywork. Carbon front guard. Standard 1000SS clocks. Ducati Performance Remus silencers. A set of my hybrid 1098 forks built into 900SS outer fork tubes to fit the original yokes. Radial brakes. Plus lots of small other bits and pieces. Plans for the future? It will never be finished. I think I'll get the wheels Powdercoated Gold. And would love to do something with the dash to make it look more 900SS/SL like, but it won't be easy being just a PCB inside a plastic housing. Fitting older clocks isn't an option really either as so much of the bikes controls are actually handled by the PCB in the clocks.
