Hi all, I will be starting my 748 rs corse project soon, if any of you guys/ladies have any parts for sale for a rs spec 748, please let me know. I will post pics and info throughout the build. hopefully sourced, an 853r motor with rs heads, a sp frame as I want this to be road worthy and used, on both track and road. any other general info appreciated.
Just a quick update, I've now secured the sp frame, 853r motor with RS heads, (many thanks to V2 Cranker ) just waiting for delivery which will hopefully be here within a couple of weeks. have sent an email to zero limits for fabricating some carbon panels, has anyone used them before? And comments appreciated. the plan is to build a 748 RS replica, road going version with a more dependable motor, use, buy , fabricate all parts the same As they were on a original RS. looking for all other parts if anyone can help? found a magnesium swing arm on ebay, but at £2500??? Bit much I think, the search continues. once parts start arriving I'll be posting some pics.
I am part way through a "Factory" 748 build having started with the 748R as my donor bike. Depending on how "original" you want your build to look I would advise doing your research before commiting to any "Corse" bits. Cranker's 853 is a fantastic engine to start your project and had I had the cash before Christmas would have bought it myself but it wasn't to be. The 748sp won't take the deeper "R" spec airbox so be careful about what injector bodies you decide on. I don't believe the shower injectors will fit. Be very wary when sourcing your mag alloy racing swing arm, so try and get one with history and a recent refurb including crack detection, magnesium alloy doesn't age well if not looked after. That one you have seen for £2500 is well overpriced and been reappearing on ebay for some months. There are also two distinct types of racing swing arm with rear suspension pivot points at either 110mm or 130mm from the main pivot. The 110mm is a "supersport" version and is likely to be manufactured around the late 1990s and the 130mm is for the 916/996/998 "superbike" version which will also require a different suspension rocker. RS front discs have a 15mm offset instead of the 10mm offsst of the standard bikes (except 748R/996R/998R) so make sure you get the right calipers. The RS rear disc is 200mm diameter and mounted on "semi floating" bobbins and will not fit on a standard rear axle. Small diameter RS axles to suit road wheels are available but beware of standard axles that have been converted to take the RS disc bobbins. If the conversion has been done professionally there is no problem but don't pay RS money. Oh yes, RS disc bobbins are like rocking horse poo and very expensive when you do find them. There are pitfalls but don't be put off, I would however advise that you decide now just how far you are prepared to go especialy if time and cost are limiting factors. Good luck, Andy
Hi Andy thanks for your help and information, much appreciated. the project is long term for me or as soon as I can get all the parts together. I want to try and keep it as close as possible to an exact spec RS corse model, just the chassis from an Sp for registering and the 853 motor for usability. I have been in contact with Ducati Italy and have asked for as much information as possible, waiting on a response at the moment. i have a 916 sp3, and the guy I bought it from had workshop manuals he obtained for 916 and 748 models across the range which has been helpfull. the info on the rear disc and axle set-up is a great help, I will make sure to source these parts correctly. im not sure what route to take for the rear swing arm, wait and try and find a good part or have one fabricated? IF you have any other info you can send me, that would be a great help? Thanks again Matthew
Hi 916epa I wish you well with your project,i hope it all goes well and is everything you hope for.The 748RS specs are very varied depending on the years if i am correct,did some of the early bikes use a standard swingarm?.My project(still ongoing) used a 748sp frame,i removed the centre "v" and replace it with a deeper item,it can be done and not to hard if you have some decent facilities,and can weld.I might have some parts that maybe of use,i will drop you a msg if i find anything.
Hi Dukeecol, Thanks for your response, I'm trying to base my project on the year 2000 RS, the info I've sourced so far is, they had rear magnesium swing arm and front adjustable clamps, though it does spec it as having front Showa forks on this year, though I'd like to spec ohlins front end. when you have time any parts you have available, if you can drop them in an email to me? thanks
Hi Don't know if its any good to you I know where there is two 748 engines from Stuart Easton's 2002 winning bike Paul
Hi ducati916o, thanks for the thought, I've managed to source a good 853r motor. I do have a mate of mine who'd be interested, can you get some more info for me and prices please? thanks
I had a 2000 (or was it 2001?) 748RS. It didn't have a magnesium swinging arm and it was original. The carbon fibre was from MS composits and is the best I have seen this side of a moto GP, lovely stuff but very hard to find and expensive when you do. The wiring loom was also a work of art, basically the bike looked like a 748R but when you got into the details many many things were different. good luck with the project.
Gregory is right. The 748rs was built to WSS rules, which did not allow modifications to items like the swing arm. If you want a road-going 748rs replica, just buy a 748r. If you want a real replica, but an r and put kit cams, loom and ECU and suspension components in. I don't think there's a lot more to it than that.
It's part of why we all love Ducati's, working on them changing parts, building a project is more fun, than adding some bits to an "R"version. :wink:
Tom I on this forum broke a 748RS and may still have some parts. One part he did have for sale was whole or part of the wiring loom, these have military grade connections so it's quite different from a stock 748 loom of any type. I know he got the bike from Canada as a basket case but I am not sure what, if anything, he has left of it now. But it might be worth a PM to him, he does have some good connections that he might be able to share with you. He has always been helpful to me in the past.
Options for the swing arm here, http://ducatiforum.co.uk/f91/magnesium-swing-arm-ebay-18565/ post no 4. Steve
