1989 851 Strada

dhumphrys

Hi All

After what seems like an age my build is finally under way, today I managed to get the bike on its wheels.

I'm starting with a 'dirty' build just to make sure that I have everything I need and that it all fits together OK. After that I'll tear it all apart again for powedercoat, paint and new fixings, bearings bushes etc...

My biggest headache at the moment is going to be modifying the ST4 loom to fit the 851 chassis.

Spec so far is:
1989 Ducati 851 Strada frame, swingarm, tank, mono seat unit
2000 ST4 916cc engine
1991 900SS Showa forks, yokes, axles, wheels, brakes
SP2/3 alloy subframe
Ohlins shock
Adjustable shock linkage
Oh, and clip-ons from a (whisper it) GSXR750

I want to finish by saying a big thank you to everyone on the forum for all the excellent information and advice and for all the help finding parts.

Thats all for now, I'll keep you all posted!

Seeya
Darren

duc904red

Well done Darren
it is looking good mate
Steve B

Mr.R

Nice one Darren,
Interesting to notice that the 900SS forks have the same "Go faster/Work a lot better colour" fork bottoms as the later SP5 Showa's. 😉
What model/year Gixer did the clipons come from?
No real need to whisper mate...
I've actually got a Honda VF750 clutch slave cylinder on my '79 900SS Bevel, Suzi LH switch gear and a pattern Honda ignition switch.
One of my mates who looong ago converted his 851SP2 to a wet clutch set up uses GS Suzuki plates in it.
I'm not bothered that he used Suzi parts, what gets me going as he did this mod because he didn't like the sound of the dry clutch??? 😯
I did try to tell him that he wasn't riding the bike hard enough if he could still hear the clutch.😁

Steve R

dhumphrys

Mr.R wroteNice one Darren, Interesting to notice that the 900SS forks have the same "Go faster/Work a lot better colour" fork bottoms as the later SP5 Showa's. 😉

Interesting indeed, were they not normally the same colour? My old 900SS had suffered a front ender at some point and the forks had been replaced, I suppose its possible that they were replaced with SP5 forks, that would be a stroke of luck! Would there be any way to tell? My understanding is that the internals would be the same except for possibly the springs.

They're not in terribly good condition though, the fork bottoms have quite bad scuffs and one of the tubes is badly scratched, although I have a replacement for that!

I'm not entirely sure but I think the clipons are from a K2. I believe most recent gixers had 50/54mm forks so a lot should fit!

Edit: I've just done a bit of googling and it appears that the last of the carbed Supersports from about '97 had this colour of fork. Possibly Ducati were using up stocks before the SSie came in?

dhumphrys

Hi All

A bit more progress... I've started fitting up the front fairing and the exhaust.

The fairing looks like it will fit OK, the carbonfibre is quite stiff but I've managed to get it quite close to where it needs to be. I'm thinking rivnuts rather than rubber wellnuts are the way to go. I'm not sure the MOT inspector will like the cable-tie arrangement I have right now!

I might have to do a bit of trimming around the side-stand but I won't know for certain until I've got the other side on.

The exhaust is causing a few headaches; I've got a standard 50mm header with the stamped centre-section from an SPwhatever and Termi cans that look like they're for a later bike.

When I rotate the cans so that the tabs on the end caps are at the correct angle the cans are too close together at the back and leave no clearance for the hugger to move up and down with the suspension. Also the angle when viewed from the side is too steep.

When I rotate the cans out so that they are the correct distance apart at the back the angle is correct (ie the same as the lower line of the seat unit) the tabs on the end caps are vertical and the end caps themselves point inward.

I guess this is either because the cans are designed for an 888, not an 851 or they were designed for use with different headers, maybe spaghetti. Or both. Whatever, I think the solution will be to remove the end caps and rotate them to the correct angle before fixing them back on.

Another problem is that the 900SS hangers I had assumed would fit do not, I'm probably going to make some rather than buying one of each of the various types (SP2, SP3 etc...) until I find one that fits!

Lastly (for now!) the standard brake-lever arrangement will not work due to a lack of clearance. I'm going to have to modify the footrest (ie chop the brake lever part off) and try an engine-mounted master cylinder and lever like an ST4. I've got no idea if the clutch linkage is going to fit but I'm pretty sure that worst case I will have to go with a top-mounted linkage and therfore a reverse shift pattern.

That's all for now
Darren

PS looks like the camera on my phone is knackered!

dhumphrys

Hi All

Managed to sneak off to the garage for another hour or so yesterday, fitted up the other side of the fairing and mocked up the screen.

I had a closer look at the exhaust and fitted the rear exhaust hangers, I'm pretty sure that my 'rotate the endcaps' plan will work out OK. I'm also now fairly confident that the carbon 900SS hangers I have will work with a bit of 'fettling'; the holes that mount them to the rear subframe will need to be re-located and they're slightly too long but that's nothing that a bit of drilling and sanding won't sort out!

For some reason the right-side can wants to sit too close to the bike (the left-side one is perfect). Looks like the header needs 'tweeking'. Has anyone else experienced this? I've heard that spaghetti systems can be a nightmare to set up but surely a standard 50mm header should just bolt up in the correct position?

I'm not sure about the headlight now, I originally wanted to use the corse nose and fit a small round headlight but if I start that now I'll never get it finished in time for this summer. I may still go with the corse nose but with no headlight and just get a daylight MOT.

That's all for now!

AJV

RHS can on my SP2 (fitted with SP3 cans) & SP3 are approx. 10mm closer to the bodywork than the LHS - must be the Italian way I guess...

Your project looks sweet, having a rolling chassis always gives a much needed boost to any project.

Stick with it!

Andy

Mr.R

Hi Darren,
On the SP4/SP(4)S's the RH Hi level pipe had a dent in it (as standard) to clear the brake pedal.

Steve R

AJV

Mr.R wroteHi Darren, On the SP4/SP(4)S's the RH Hi level pipe had a dent in it (as standard) to clear the brake pedal. Steve R

You sure about that, Steve?

My SP4S pipes don't have any dents and I don't recall any SP4's with a dent either. I have seen the dent you refer on a Corsa sytem but I put that down to trip down the road.

Andy

desmo57

AJV wroteYou sure about that, Steve? My SP4S pipes don't have any dents and I don't recall any SP4's with a dent either. I have seen the dent you refer on a Corsa sytem but I put that down to trip down the road. Andy

The only dent I have in mine was caused when a f#cking Honda Wallaroo crashed into me! Yes,...I'm a bit ashamed to admit but once I was slain by a Honda Wallaroo! 😱 😝

Mr.R

[QUOTE=AJV;27469]You sure about that, Steve?

My SP4S pipes don't have any dents and I don't recall any SP4's with a dent either. I have seen the dent you refer on a Corsa sytem but I put that down to trip down the road.

Andy[/QUOTE

Yes I'm pretty sure of that*, my friends SP(4)S has this lozenge shaped ding in it and I've seen it on another SP(4)S.
On the Corse models I wouldn't have thought there was a need for it, as the Corse rearsets place the pegs higher up.

*edit... Since I've only seen 2 SP(4)S's in the flesh in the UK, it seemed to me that as 100% of the ones I've seen had it, it was quite common.

Steve R

888sp4s

Mr.R wroteHi Darren, On the SP4/SP(4)S's the RH Hi level pipe had a dent in it (as standard) to clear the brake pedal. Steve R

My SP4S did have the dent from new, it was in the RH high level pipe next to the pivot point of the brake lever to allow for clearance, this was not obvious unless you looked close, maybe only some of them got that treatmant. In 1996 I changed my exhaust for a Nico Bakker system with termignoni cans.
If anyone has a copy of Fast bikes June ish 1992 ( I bet Seve, Mr R has) it may be noticeable in the article on the 001 SP4S.

Mr.R

888sp4s wroteMy SP4S did have the dent from new, it was in the RH high level pipe next to the pivot point of the brake lever to allow for clearance, this was not obvious unless you looked close, maybe only some of them got that treatmant. In 1996 I canged my exhaust for a Nico Bakker system with termignoni cans. If anyone has a copy of Fast bikes June ish 1992 ( I bet Seve, Mr R has) it may be noticeable.

Hi Doug,
I'm 100% sure that you'd win your bet, 😉 but although I'm a complete anorak I haven't gone as far as catalouging my huge collection yet, it'll be in one of the numerous green binders somewhere in the glass fronted bookcase.
if only I hadn't labeled them all with a bevel twin "DESMO" decal.😱

It would be a lot quicker for me to ride the 20 miles over to my mates place and take a pic' of his dent...
Life's a bit too short (and it's bloody freezing cold out there now) for me to be doing that.

So all you other lads lucky enough to own one of these factory built specials that hasn't got a lozenge shaped dent in it, should get in touch with Ducati and complain that your exhaust systems faulty...
If I were you I'd tell them that I'd accept a full 50mm spaghetti system in exchange and then say no more about their gaff/problem.😁

Steve R

AJV

Just had a look in Fast Bikes June 92 with the centre spread of SPS-001, unfortuntaly you can't see if the RH exhaust has a ding or not... but it does look as if the exhaust is creased in that area which could be caused by a ding...

Mate of mine confirm his SP5 doesn't have a ding, so are we saying it's both SP4 & SP4S with the ding or just SP4S?

dhumphrys

Hi All

Decision made on the nose, I'm going with the corsa. I'll get a daylight MOT and worry about a headlight later.

Not sure what to do about a subframe now. I don't want to drill the nose for mirror mounts because I'd like to run carbon airguides at some point. I've already sold the set I had but I'm not bothered because (a) I needed the money and (b) they were wrong for my bike anyway, being the later 888 style. I'm thinking of modifying the original front subframe in some way, I'll keep you posted.

Other stuff, I've removed the ST4 side-stand I had in favour of the original 851 stand. In fitting up the fairing I discovered that the lower left fairing mounting bracket picks up the engine at the same point as the ST4 stand so it had to go. Of course this means that when I come to sort out the loom I'll have to bypass the ST4 side-stand switch otherwise I may not be able to start the bike!

That's it for now.
Darren

duc904red

Looking good there Darren see it on the quay this summer?
Steve B

dhumphrys

duc904red wroteLooking good there Darren see it on the quay this summer? Steve B

Hopefully Steve, see you there?

duc904red

certainly will mate

dhumphrys

Hi All

Fitted the screen, I think its from an 888 so not a perfect fit but I'm starting to like the bits'n'bobs look that the bike is aquiring.

That's all for now, baby steps and all that!

Darren

dhumphrys

Hi All

I've drilled the rivets and removed the endcaps from my cans today, rotated the endcaps and it looks like my plan is going to work out OK. I just need to re-drill the holes in their new positions and rivet the endcaps back on.

I fiddled with the carbon 900SS exhaust hangers I have but there's no way they're going to work. The centre-line of each can is pretty much directly below the point where each hanger fixes to the rear sub-frame whereas my SS hangers have a large 'step' in them.

Never mind, it will be easy enough for me to make some hangers out of a sheet of something, possibly alloy but I'm thinking about 3mm thick pre-preg carbon. I think that should be strong enough?

Looks like I've got a set of carbon 900SS hangers available if anyone wants them? They'll fit any 91-97 SS or SL with high-level Termignoni cans on standard headers and I believe they'll also work on an 851 or 888 strada with the same cans.

Thanks all for now
Darren