Some of you may know 'Gizmo' from the Ducati up north forum? I can still remember following him on a ride to Hartside café on a Ducati meet. His was a yellow early 999. I loved looking at his 'rear end' all the way up and down that road!.........or is that a little too much information :fearscream:
I followed Mike one time on that very trip - his yellow 749 put me and my 999S to shame Awesome ride and one hell of a guy.
Aye, they're ugly right enough.....:hearteyes: I've flung a leg over the new 1200r and a 1299. Still not tempted yet. Am I really going to get another 10 grands worth of fun if I go newer?
http://cdn.pinthiscars.com/images/ducati-999-yellow-wallpaper-6.jpg Agreed yella is the best. This one inspired my fist 749 build.
always loved the 916 said would get one when time came thought same as others when 999 came out was not right for the time but looks soooo right now and this is just a work of art can sit for hours looking at it
like eg. an Audi TT mk 1 and Lotus Cortina mk 1,, classics that will never grow old or look out of date
Always liked the 999 but when I actually got to see one for myself, it was love. As soon as the opportunity arose, I nabbed one for myself and I'm still in love. It was so ahead of its time that mine is always being mistaken for a brand new machine, despite being 13 years old.
I remember when they first came out and I was a bit meh on the looks, but then I saw the Fila at a bike show and was blown away buy the looks of it. Never thought I'd be lucky enough to own one though. Fast forward and I now have the Fila and a 749, so I must like ugly I suppose lol. When I first got the Fila, a couple of mates (999 haters) came over to have a gander, over a few beers, as you do. They left believers, maybe it was the beer, but I don't think so
I had a 916 for some years and 50'000 kms (from new). I was doing a few track days, but by this stage everyone had the new 999 and I was unable to keep up on faster stretches. I crashed the 916 on the track (lowside) and decided to sell it to a friend who wanted it rather than repair it. So I got the 999 because that "was what there was" at the time. I actually got a 749 Bip, but missed the lowdown stomp of the 916 and the fuel consumption and tank range were worse, so I sold it after a year. I flirted with the idea of an Aprilia RSV Factory. But I was lured back to Ducati by loyalty to my Ducati garage/friend. So I got 999s second hand. I was disappointed with the silver two-sided swingarm. The double vented fairing looked a bit busy. The silvery exhaust was horrible. But the brakes, comfort and motor were all better than the 916. When the facelift appeared I bought a new one in black and have had it ever since (10 years now). Nicer swingarm, nicer fairing, more motor and black exhaust. I think it's great and it still looks very cool - nicer than a Panigale. I can't see that you need more for the road, so I have never "upgraded" it. I can't believe that I'd have any more real fun with something newer. As for the stacked headlights, they were ripped off from MV at the time and they looked very cool on the MV. They work really well (savage cut-off on main beam). Until a year ago, it has been no hassle at all reliability wise. Then it became a bastard to start when hot. Hopefully it will be back to full fettle for next season.
How are you getting on with persuading your 999 motor to start up occasionally, Glidd? Did you track down the problem?
Everything has been tried and tested that can be, by swapping over with components from another bike. The last time I was in contact, my dealer was about to swap the wiring loom with one he had bought for the purpose as nothing else has worked. He told me that he wouldn't be finished before about end September, so I wrote off the season and cancelled my insurance. But he did lend me his Moto Morini for a month in August. I should be hassling him to find out if there is progress, but the sooner there is, the sooner I will have to pay him (this could be expensive...). Also, I won't need the bike until at least March so there is no hurry... When I saw it in his garage, it was looking very shiny and new. Everything has been overhauled and cleaned as he has gone along... It'll be like a new bike when I get it back with many horses restored. Could be a good 2017 season, if I don't get jailed.
Great. So next year it will burst into life at the touch of a button. Maybe. [It will turn out to have been something that could be fixed for 1 SwFranc.]
I'm sure this will be the case. I have always thought that this was the case. The only problem is finding the failed CHF1.00 component. And that, sadly, will cost a lot more than 1 Swiss Franc. I bet it's a bit of perished rubber, or a furry connection or a pinched cable. Bugger!
Glidd, did you try removing the shim under the crank position sensor. My 05 999 was a pig to start until I took mine out after advice from Glen, a factory trained tech. Bikes from that era were over shimmed apparently. 5min job. No harm can occur. Unscrew sensor and raise it(dont pull it right out) remove shim and refit cps. Pic below.
Thanks for this. I'll definitely mention it if my witchdoctor fails to make any progress after changing the loom. I'm reluctant to give him advice. It's a bit like telling an eminent cardiologist what is wrong with your heart. He's forgotten more things about Ducatis than I will ever know.
