thanks for the comments......
After I finished restoring my 851 I decided to build a bike that was for track use only.
I was looking to build a 996 but was offered this 888 frame with a rocker but it as no numbers and no provenance to speak of. As I was looking for a track frame this was perfect!
I had an Ohlins shock and swingarm but no hoop. I looked at the Strada hoop and was sure it could be modified. As you can see, they can. I was a bit enthusiastic with the grinder and took out a bit too much here and there.
Cutting off the two lugs is by far the trickiest part. Though now coated its not so noticeable.
So that’s it, we’re off.
The intention developed to build a bike as close to a ‘real’ 926 corse as was possible within certain cost restraints and available parts.
That was over two years ago!
The motor was put together by John Celier aka Ducati John, I have done as much as I can and was present ‘through the delivery’. It was a worth while day off work to watch and learn as an experienced builder assembled all the components I had been collecting for so long.
There was of course a running commentary and Q & A’s as this is the first bike I have built from scratch.
As I have everything in bits its easy to clean, polish, powder coat and re-plate.
Once you start were do you stop?
One shiny, newly coated frame and the rest soon looks shabby!
The front wheel was straight forward, 25mm spindle from a 620ie monster and it as a spacer to take up the 30mm speedo drive that I don’t need.
The rear wheel was a bit more work.
I wanted to run with a 25mm spindle and had one machine from EN24, then used a pair of standard nuts – re-plated of course!
For the swingarm I made a jig for the router and cut it out with an 8mm carbide cutter.
I am a cabinet maker by trade and have ‘wood’ as a default setting!
I had collected a full set of sprocket carriers and this is still to be finalised, however the 25mm ST4 is too wide and throws off the centre line.
I’m not sure if the final one will be the 888/851, the SS or one of these skimmed to suit but to allow for the 25mm spindle, I removed the 17mm bush that sleeves into the 25mm ID of the bearing.
Then I had a bush made to space between sprocket carrier bearing and wheel bearing.
I have not clamped a straight edge down the wheel side yet but it looks to line though.
On the brake side I have used a ST4s 25mm calliper mount and temporarily spaced with flat washers that were bored to 25mm to take up the slack. I will have an ally bush made at some point and tack weld it to the calliper mount.
If you were to use the 17mm spindle and bush out the bearings I think you could used the standard calliper mount but it may need a couple of mill off the outside face.
