Well this is where "Project Ebay" starts... The frame arrived yesterday and was as described and all paperwork was present and correct, so am happy at that. Did some basic measurements to ensure the frame was straight, which it was thankfully!!! other than a small amount of surface corrosion in 1 area the frame is in very good condition, but it will be bead blasted to remove all paint, corrosion etc and be repainted in due course. The only area I found that made me wonder if anything was amiss was the steering stop wasn't level but that is easily sorted. Don't expect quick updates but they will come and she will slowly rise from the ashes back to better than her former glory, talking of which, she was orognally a bike local to me, so I have actually brought her home. A quick breakdown of the spec as it stands at the moment... Comments, suggestions or banter are all welcome and can be ignored...
A good place to start, looking forward to seeing more! Don't forget the offer of help is always there. Chris
Thats quite an old frame, whats your v5 say re model as the steering stop is central on the later frames
Looks like a 748E frame which has that type of lockstop, the central stop is on the adjustable head frames.
just for your info heres a comparison....at least its on ebay! DUCATI 2001 748R FRAME 748 916 996 998 RACE CHASSIS | eBay
Old? lol it's younger than me.... it's a 2000 on a "W" reg and for that price I could have bought 6 of my frame, and I can mod my frame if there is a need for it to be R spec but thanks for the link, I have been looking for a pic of an R frame bare
just for my comparison here are the pics of the 748R frame I like the idea of the adjustable headstock so will look at what is involved in swapping that aspect....
Easiest way would be to start with an adjustable frame. :wink: It would be a lot of cutting/welding to change the headstock, plus you'd need an adjustable headstock to weld on and the only place you'd likely find one would be on a frame (916/996/998 or 748 non 'E') and the only way you'd get it cheap enough to cut would be a damaged frame so headstock maybe damaged? Plus you then have the complication of identity (frame no. on headstock) which would be an issue for registration/MOT etc. 99% of owners never adjust the headstock angle anyway so not really a huge advantage to be adjustable other than the bottom yoke of the adjustable model being a little more substantial. On the plus side the non-adjustable frame must be (a little) lighter...
valid points and yes it must be lighter (even if it isn't we will still say it is lol) For clarification my frame is a 748 B, not an E I was hoping the difference between the adjustable and non adjustable would just be an insert and not actually part of the frame itself, the cutting and welding is not an issue but the frame numbers are so that kills it stone dead...
The adjustable part is an insert, however it inserts into a much bigger headstock tube. 748E was a denomination used when they changed to the non-adjustable headstock, I believe it was done, along with some other changes (no Dzus fasteners, dropped exhaust valve heads etc) to make the base model biposto (B) more affordable. The S, SP and R models continued with the adjustable frame.
So what are you building around it? Some special with lots of non 748 or Ducati parts or building up to what it was?
That seals it's fate then... non adjustable and I can stop watching an insert on ebay lol well the plan is to build it so it looks stock (not including paint) but will be tweaked under the skin, so engine, exhaust, suspension etc will be breathed upon... Things don't stay stock with me for long lol... but I like to do it subtly so it looks stock
good to know but the whole point and ethos of this build is all parts will come from ebay, just to see if I can... and on budget...
I may, along with all the other stuff. I dont use paypal though to sell, i hate the feckers having anything to do with a sale.
that said the most important thing with the front end is trail,.........yes Jerry not rake. the rake is the 23.5-24.5 bit.....though 24 degrees (what a std B or E frame is) is pretty much a good compromise..... The steeper you go with rake the less castor or trail you have which is where expensive yokes come into it.....the std offset of Ducati yoke is generally 36mm. When you go to the 23.5 from the 24.5 as allready said you lose trail.......6mm to be exact. This is where 30mm offset yokes instantly regain said lost trail and by my maths the 6mm you lost with the 23.5 rake. Now Ducati engines with that front cylinder get in the way as the more you pull the front wheel back because thats what you are doing with trail the nearer it gets to the radiator and cyl head.....hence the expensive corse stuff to get around this and even to the point of using 27mm offset yokes ie 3mm more trail......i heard the best trail is anything beyond 100mm. The std ducati set up of 36mm offset yokes and 24.5 rake has.....97mm of trail!!!! put the rake to the 23.5 and this drops down to 91mm.... Food for thought when you think that the "race offset" is making your cornering better..........
