Hi Ya

Joined this forum nearly two years ago and this is first thread. Former member of the late and great Ducatisti forum, any of you out there?? I have owned my 900ss for over 20 years, and about 7 years ago I embarked on 'tarting the old girl up (although it was reasonably fettled with 900 hi comp), Dymag wheels, Metmachek swingarm etc. I was working away bored in a hotel room and got caught up in the Ducatisti how much can I mod my 900ss fetish that was prevailing at that time.
I relied upon a renown Ducati specialist(?) to do a lot of expensive work, and after parting with many thousands of pounds I rode the bike for less than a thousand (never working properly) miles before the hand grenade scuppered the project. Virtually every engine part was fubared. Langports saw the the wear on the (944 bores) and just said 'I've seen engines with starship mileages with less wear.'
Big end shells 0.062 thou wear, crank 0.022 thou wear (outside service), every (new at rebuild) bearing stuffed, rods trashed, Pistal pistons trashed etc, it wasn't pretty.
It took me 6 months to work out what had happened. It had been dynoed for 3 days with petrol in the oil, had grit in the engine from casing blasting, and the ignition timing was so far out I'm surprised it ran at all. Thanks then, another 'Ducati specialist' mate of the first for charging me a fortune and destroying my bike

Ever the masochist I decided I would bite the bullet, 'tool up' and rebuild it myself as I don't think I can trust anyone else (probably unfair, but I am jaded).

Along the way I have changed from trying to make the bike as trick as possible whilst looking bog standard, to something that will be totally unique when (and if) I eventually get to rock up on it.

Engine has been rebuilt with 966 pistal pistons, Fardon rods (150bhp per rod), balanced crank, blueprinted, headwork by CJS, Vee Two cams (13.1mm lift), RTD 34 path programmable ignition, Ducati Performance slipper clutch, linked flat slide 41mm Keihins with TPS on Malossi intakes. Every bearing replaced (including the half bearings on the gear shafts for each gear). It was a right laugh rebuilding that lot without any relevant manual.

I've had a new frame and swing arm made, and very unique styling inspired by Radical Ducati. I have just sprayed the tank and body work myself, and very happy with it. Still have the Dymags, but there are far too many chassis parts to list, Galfer discs, Maxton shock and fork cartridges, etc.

I don't know how long it will take to finish now, as it has made me a very poor boy, but driven on by the advancing years and wanting to be able to actually get on and ride the thing before rapidly advancing old age hits.

Next is the motogadget fuseless, and keyless loom. After reading the 'thieving scum thread, I think I'll fit a brace of Rottweillers in there.

Dry weight is 146KG, I expect about 160KG fully brimed. The dyno will tell the real BHP and torque figures (the one I'll use was within 1 BHP of the one used as the official British Super Bikes at 160 BHP) at Sam and Petes.

Best thing second time around is the really great and helpful and inspiring people I've met. 'you should have come here first' is oft frequented. Caveat emptor.

Hope this gives something to discuss

Churz Drive