Hello all - been just lurking for ages, because I sold my first 851 back in 2003 to pick up an Aprilia Mille SP that I could not resist. The Aprilia and many other Ducatis are gone. The one I missed most--really the perfect street-bike for me--was the 851. So, after a long search, I finally found and acquired a worthy replacement.

I have been steadily upgrading bits, and [yes] carefully storing all OEM takeoffs, since picking my bike up in April. Truly was looking forward to writing a nice intro and reviewing some of the new parts when all installed and set up. Of course, the Ducati gods had other plans.

After making changes mostly to the suspension, exhaust and cosmetics--all bolt-on stuff--and renewing the vital fluids, I went yesterday for my first ride with everything installed. Though the 851 has been perfectly well behaved since I purchased it and passed every garage-test with flying colors--no leaks, good idle, TPS just right, etc.--I got all of 8 blocks away before the bike began to feel like a big, coughing, stuttering and surging thumper. I thought "one cylinder...nah." Well...yes. And then, it died; no power to anything; nada. Oy.

Pushed my MC home, with the help of my son, and proceeded to carefully remove my beautiful and freshly renewed bodywork to try to figure out WTF, besides the obviously killed battery. After checking all the fuses, I removed my EarthX battery and replaced it with a new Yuasa YB16, to check the rectifier and charging system--think from now on I'm going to leave the lithium to faster riders and my bipolar friends. Anyway, the bike fired right up and settled into a nice albeit single-cylinder idle. Additional revs upped the voltage at the battery, so at least the charging system seemed Ok. But, cylinder one was (and still is) cold.

I looked around for obviously disconnected wires and the like. Nothing to see.Then, I pulled the horizontal plug wire and verified impedance/continuity. Pulled the very new plug, which looked a bit juicy but unfouled. Put in a new spare, just in case. Checked for spark at cylinder one--the dead one--and found it weak and just about continuous--no pulsing Frankenstein arcs to thrill a delight. Stuck a meter on the input wires going to the left-side coil from the ECU and found constant 12v from key on through start. Checked the other side, which worked correctly, as I understand that--quick load-up at key on, pulses at start up. Finally, I went to the trunk to stare at relays and the power module(s). After considering things for a bit too long, I swapped the #2 plug over to the #1 socket of the power module...voila! Vertical cylinder now dead, too. As a result, I am guessing that the trouble is likely on the signal/pulsing ground(?) wire between that (side of the) power module and the ECU or, Ducati gods forbid, in the module itself. However, I have no idea whatsoever if there is something on the other side of the ECU--some sensor or condition that could command the ECU to shut down spark in this fashion.

I have an amazing Ducati expert/technician/wrench who does all the hard stuff for me--Scott Waters of Motoservisio in Signal Hill, California. Scott is certainly among the very few best in the US, especially with older Ducs, but he is a 40+ mile tow from me and usually booked. So, I am looking for anything I can check or do before biting that bullet and giving up on riding for the next few weeks. What say the experts? Help.

By the way, and for the good of the order, here are a few pics. I will wait until I have a few miles before I tell you about the great shock and amazing customer service from Rick at Cogent Dynamics, or the Matris drop-in upgrade to the Marzocchi M1R forks, or my custom take on the ST4/Termi exhaust solution, and so on. First things first: need to put in the road work, so I need to be on the road.

Thanks, all,
Greg