Why I'm here - not the usual story!

Discussion in 'Newbies Hangout' started by matt_j, Aug 28, 2013.

  1. Hi everyone,

    i actually just sold my own motorbike (a Honda cbr1000rr-5) today meaning I no longer ride, marriage beckons in December and its just not something I can afford to do now but maybe for the future.

    so why join a ducati forum? Well I've got this friend who I met when working at a previous company, he had a 748 and entered it into the no budget cup series, they were a rider down and needed me to join (I'd never raced before so I reluctantly tried it out). Why reluctant? Racing seemed like such a step up to me rather than pottering around B roads and at 18 stone, 6ft 5in I really don't look like I fit on a 748 :cool:

    nevertheless we had a great time, we did very well for our limited ability and the bike was near enough faultless. We then entered the following year and again, it was a fantastic time which we will never forget.

    the 748 came out of he last race and sat in a garage, then it was moved to my garage, it's been two years and it hasn't moved, I can't bear to see it looking this way anymore and my mate has zero money but can't bear to get rid of it. The reason being that this bike was given to him by a friend when he hit a lifetime low losing his job and his marriage in the same week shortly before one Xmas. The bike helped get him through and has a significant sentimental value to him. Tragically one of his fellow ducati riders was killed in a terrible accident on the road and we raced in his honour with his family's support.

    I want this bike working again for him, it's not a huge job but needs to be done on as best a low cost/no cost basis to restore it back to road status and healthy running. I'd like to do this whilst I'm currently off work with anyone on the forum's support and get the bike back into doing what it should be doing rather than gathering dust and leaking oil.

    ive made a list of a number of things that I know need doing so was hoping to start a project thread that should see a good start and finish basis over the next 2-3 months and I don't want my mate to find out until its done. I'm sure it would really make his year.

    hi to everyone in advance and looking forward to getting another ducati back on the road. It's a 748 biposta in red ;-)
     
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  2. I got goosebumps reading this
    I hope you get it sorted they are a friendly bunch here
    Someone with more knowledge will be along shortly meanwhile a warm welcome to the forum :)
     
  3. Good luck with the project, I'm sure you'll get plenty of good advice here. I look forward to reading about it.
     
  4. Maybe your mate is reading about this?
     
  5. Welcome to the forum and all the best for the project :)
     
  6. how do, and enjoy.
     
  7. Hello and welcome, and good luck with the project! If you can, post up some pics, and a write up of all you do, or plan to do, and I'm sure those on here who know about such things will be along with loads of useful help. Chris
     
  8. Thank you all for the very warm welcome and I will do as suggested by getting some pics up on a project thread, day 1 of which is today as my garage racking arrives so I can open up these boxes and see exactly what we've got to work with
     
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  9. Oh and he's a paramedic so works long hours and honestly, just will have left the ducati way in the back of mind, he wouldn't torture himself looking at forums. Plus he can be lazy :D
     
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  10. If its leaking oil then you`ll need to find out where from. Apart from that, it really depends on what needs doing as to how much it will cost. I just bought a 996 and have given that a full over haul. Belts are easy to do and need to be done if they havent in 2 years. £80 from ducati, easy enough to fit & tension (youtube has some good guides on how to do this), oil & filter is easy to do, brake pads again are easy with the brembos - and cheap too. I went for EBC HH and they are very good. Fuel filter I did too and that was a bit fiddly trying to refit the unit, but if you take your time and again follow the youtube guides its straight forward - remember to replace the quick release coupling rubber washers, and the big rubber washer around the filter/pump unit. Ive also just done the chain & sprockets - again nice & easy bolt on/off job. So all in all, everything for a good overhaul you should be able to do yourself without too much trouble.

    Where abouts are you based?
     
  11. Check his profile on the thread :wink:
     
  12. Ah, you learn something new every day! Blackpool. Bit far away from me else id offer to give you a hand.
     
  13. Welcome to the forum & good luck with your project
     
  14. Thanks again to all and for some of the detail there rabbitstew. I got a little progress today in setting her up in a new environment and reviewing boxes of parts and panels.

    The good news is that we did have some major brake and suspension overhaul work done before the last race and for as much as I can see, apart from a good clean and a brake fluid flush and bleed we should be pretty covered on that side.

    i found the oil leak...this is the bad news..well frustrating news. The bike used some donor parts from another 748 kindly loaned to support the race, prior to this bikes return a lot of parts/bolts have been taken randomly leaving a lot of gaps in places I have no prior knowledge so I'm going to need to really review a workshop manual and play a few games of "spot the missing bit" with you guys ;-)

    Im going to start the project thread now and link it to here when I'm done, thanks in advance for all advice and support.

    image.jpg
     
  15. Hello and welcome :smile:
     
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