Hi guys, thought I'd start a thread on my project. Excuse me for knowing next to f* all about Ducati's and I'll be asking the most stupid questions on the tech forum, I don't mean my ignorance to be insulting and I WILL become an expert in time.. I'll explain.. My younger brother died of illness suddenly at 38, his Ducati was the one thing he loved the most (and hated when it broke down). It's a 916 and it's Definitely a Ducati, but I don't even know at the moment if it's a Biposto, Strada, Mono or what! Soooo I want to get it running again and get it restored. Maybe I'll ride it, maybe I'll keep it in case his son wants to ride it. So, long old story, but basically what I know so far is it needs: battery, swingarm, ecu, wiring loom, forks, fairings, chain, sprockets, keys!, sidestand and that's all I know of so far - I don't even know if the engine starts, but that's my first bit... So here's a pic and I'll update the thread with progress. Thanks for listening and thanks for your anticipated help in the tech forums... NB For reference, I started a blog which you can find here: 916 Restoration Project Ian
Hi Ian. Firstly sorry to hear of your loss. Unless your brother changed the original fairings or commissioned a paint job, then it looks like a 996, not a 916. It also appears to have the biposto rear subframe fitted and the seat unit swapped out for a monoposto variant. If you really want to be sure, you can email the frame vin number and engine number to Ducati, and they will confirm its original identity/model variant and year of manufacture. Hard to tell what else may have been changed from the photo. It may well be a mixture of parts as from my recollection, the 996 had a silver frame and the 916 a bronze coloured one, but then again it could well have been sprayed at some point in its history. As I said, a quick check with Ducati in Bologna and you will know for sure, assuming engine and frame are original and tie in with log book details. Hope this helps.
Tnx Top, the frame is bronze colour, the pic probably doesn't show very well, I don't doubt my brother would have swapped every thing he could swap, but thanks for the advice I may well e-mail Ducati with the frame and engine etc. just to make sure and keep a log of everything I can find about the bike..
Sorry for your loss mate. Are you putting her back to standard then? When was the last time she ran? If it's years then new belts should be high on the list. Any service history? As above, you can contact Ducati via their website and they will tell you exactly what you have. Best of luck with it. Lots of people have spares in their sheds on here.
Customer service e-mail [email protected] The main customer service reps are Sofia and Theresa. Great project, I'm sure you will do your brother proud :smile:
98 was the last year for the 916,although there will be the odd 99 one that slipped thru.Do you know when it last run or any time it was serviced at all?Sorry to hear about your brother.
Thanks guys, yeah belts definitely will need doing and a full service I would guess. It's a '98 on the log book. I know my brother rode it at the British Legion Ride of Respect 2013, but that was probably close to the last time it ran. Would I need to do belts etc. before even trying to start the engine?
Thanks Cream. I want to keep as much of it "as is" (like keeping the stupid automatic flick up side stand), but restore back to what my brother would have wanted and also something me or his son could ride! Haven't fully decided, but want to make it good and something to treasure.
If the engine has not been run for a couple of years, I'd personally get the belts changed first, flush the old oil out and change the filters (air and oil). Might be an idea to fit new plugs and replace the fuel with fresh gas in the tank. If the engine is sound, there is no sense in damaging it, if curiosity got the better of you to see if it will run. If you knew it to have been in working order before, then you will be doing yourself and it a favour, by some preventative maintenance first. Are you planning on stripping the engine down as part of the restoration?
Good luck and I prefer the stickers but that's just me I guess. Ebay and forums are your best bet for cheap replacement parts if some are starting to look a bit tatty.You will also find some good advise on this forum and some crap advise also like the quiet clutch mod thread.So beware lol. I also share the same sentiments as cream regarding your brother.
If you are looking for any engine work (valve shims, dialling in the cams, re-profiling, blueprinting or a general overhaul and don't feel like tackling it yourself, not sure where you are located, but you might want to try Carl Harrison. He's been working on Ducatis for well over 20 years and is highly respected and very reasonable in charges. He really knows his stuff and is a nice down to earth bloke to boot. Carl Harrison Motorcycles - Welcome
Hmmm... Wasn't planning to strip the engine down, but then I might do... At the moment I'm having enough trouble getting the ignition barrel out from behind the yoke!
hi mate i live in cheltenham so if you need me to have a look at any thing for you id gladly help, ive stripped and rebuilt both my 748's. theres also a ducati specialist in cheltenham as well moto vation racing bloke called tim hyett very helpfull when you can get hold of him. if you need any help just pm me.
Yeah Tim at Motivation is a great bloke, he helped me out to start with (the bike was with him for a while to have a look at and he's helped out a bunch already) I'll have a go at what I can and I'll be giving him another call at some point. Would be good to catch up with yourself sometime. I'll carry on stripping things down and PM you when I forgot what went where!
yeah no worries mate im always about, my track bike is usually in bits in my work shop so if you need to look at anything just shout,ive also got a fair few spares hanging around the place. Do you have a bike your self other than the 916??
I havent ridden for a few years, used to have a CBR. thinking I might get a Bandit just to commute with and get back into it! I'll ping you a PM
