MY 1198 tank had swollen. I didn't realise until refitting it & had difficulty lining up the fixing points (which you can buy a kit for I understand). The tank was touching the steering damper mount too. I have since replaced mine with a very nice alloy unit from a Corse; these are like hens teeth to find for a reasonable cost.
I was talking to rich Lewellyn this morning and I mentioned the stretched tank issue. As far as I can tell, from Robarano's experience, SF tank distortion is not an historic problem, its still going on. His bike isn't very old. So is it really worth buying a new OE tank? I certainly wouldn't buy one off ebay. Supposedly new ones are £800, so one from Ducati will be a grand, and I wouldn't touch a S/H one with a barge pole. It'll only be on ebay for one reason. That leaves carbon or aluminium. Fullsix make a carbon tank for the SF for about £2000. Rich said he had a carbon tank on a race bike (don't know if it was Fullsix). He raced it in Spain where their ethanol content is even higher than ours and the tank went soft and was ruined. He said he wouldn't trust one without some sort of protective coating and for the price and if you plan to keep the bike long term, the only real option is aluminium, which is $2700, plus importing and painting (I don't know of a UK manufacturer) - I don't think polished ally with red bodywork on the rest of the bike would work. The tank would look like an afterthought. Doesn't look like I can sell my SF. It owes me too much money. Better to hang on to it as a piece of sunny day exotica and in ten years time what it owes me will have inflated away especially as 1098 SFs are becoming increasingly sought after and may acquire classic status. Carry on customising I guess... Anyone got a spare 1190 engine...?
They look like a nice piece of kit @Gimlet Such a shame they cost so much. Ducati Streetfighter 1098/848 Aluminum Tank
Yes and another 200 bucks if you have the QR Corse fuel pump base, whatever that is. The polished alloy effect looks better with the 848 because of the red frame. I guess if Bought one and had to have it painted for the cost of it I might as well do the rest of the bodywork as well and this time fit some Venture shield - lower side panels down by the front cylinder have a few stone chips. And if a respray then why not a custom paint scheme, possibly with a bit of polished ally on show. I've always wanted to get rid of that naff bit of gold on the headlight surround. This gives food for though. Think I'd prefer both wheels black though, and both fenders the same colour. Like the pipe.. Anyway... I'm hi-jacking. Sorry.
I heard on a forum that pouring sugar in your tank works. The sugar absorbs the ethanol and leaves the petrol alone. Will try later tonight. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I can make cheap petrol tanks outta mdf btw.. Sure they ain't pretty or fuel tight... But they are cheap.. I'm calling em exacta tanks... Pm me for details
there is only one shed boy. He's 18 and about the same in stone... Don't make me send him up norf. He don't like norf... Though he runs on ethanol, so It would be cheap
