d6lc
So as a quick introduction I live in MN and was lucky enough to win the auction of Travis's 888 SP4 (great guy and a pleasure to buy the bike from), I am really excited to have got the bike and look forward to putting it back on the road. It's a 20 year old bike that is showing sign of it's age, but it is totally original and low miles.
Had a quick look over the bike and the few things that strike me are:
1. Bodywork tatty, some slight damage, chips and scratches, needs a re-paint.
2. Engine cases showing some corrosion under the paint,
3. Various fasteners corroded
4. Needs new screen
5. Ohlins forks leaking (no station damage).
6. Needs full engine service, brake rebuild, tires, suspension service
So overall a great sound bike, I am not going to do massive miles on it but I want it as a rideable bike. But I want to bring it back to it's former glory. The question to the 851-888 experts is to the level of restoration, a nut and bolt restore is going to cost an arm and a leg and then I probably wont want to ride it much as it would be too perfect. Is there much value in a full restore over a Βpatina' restore using all original parts but making it a good original ridable bike with some age related blemishes?, For example the top yoke, has a few agen related discolurations, nothing bad just 20yrs old, now for a full restore I can get it vapour blasted and back to new, but I kind of like the character the age marks give it.
So whats the collective view of restoration levels on these great bike, Show pony vs. rideable classic?
Also any recommendations on the following:
1. Source for parts?, andy 851-888 specialists in the US?
2. Ohlins rebuild, and recommendations on specialists?
3. Engine finish, anyone restored/repainted/touched up the cases on these with any success?
Lots of questions, thanks in advance
Ross
JImmySL
πWelcome Ross, you bought the second best looking Ducati ever made π
all sounds pretty fine to me, depending on how bad the leak is if the bike has been stood for a while the forks may leak a little for a while, dont rush out for a rebuild, enoy the resource & banter on the forum
and contribute when you can, you will have all your questions answered I am sure.
My view is ride & enjoy, tidy up as you go along it is there to be ridden
Cheers
Jimmy
Mr.R
Hi Ross,
I'm with Jimmy 'ere these bikes were made to ride,
get out there on it, enjoy it and bring it up to the spec you want over time, if you over restore it you'll most probably be afraid to use it (it happens π) which IMHO is a crying shame.
This forum is one of the best sources out there Worldwide for finding parts, if a member hasn't got it he'll (sorry girls) probably know where you can find it.
Marvin's mate Rick Tanerbaum (sorry if the spellings incorrect Rick) at Cogent Dynamics has a very good reputation Stateside for sorting out suspension, IIRC he makes the valve upgrade kits for Ohlins USA.
Over 'ere in the UK it's either Maxton or K-tech these are the TOP boys for road racing as in the IOM TT etc.
Tony IOM
Congratulations Ross on buying the superlatively best 888 going - not that I am biased much π
I think you should do as Jimmy suggests and enjoy the intoxicating noise and pleasure that it delivers by the bucketful!
My SP4 has various age related blemishes - don't we all, but I have no intention or funds for that matter to return it to new condition.
Cheers
Tony
Jasper
Welcome mate. You'll be very happy with an SP4. Until an SP5 pulls up next to you,but I don't think they were ever imported to the US,so you have the second best 888 built and the best in the US!
No bias from me,either! π
marvin
Don't let them jerk your chain. the SP4 is THE one to have!
Welcome
Jasper
marvin wroteDon't let them jerk your chain. the SP4 is THE one to have!
Welcome
Yeh,if you want the looks and no go! π
Mr.R
Oi I've got a humble white framed '92 851 Strada that'll kick your SP5's arse.
Bloody common as muck SP5's all show and no go if you ask me!
I'm pretty sure Marvin's humble white framed '92 851 will kick it's arse as well.
Steve R
marvin
Jasper wroteYeh,if you want the looks and no go! π
Doesn't really matter, most of the roads in Minnesota are straight.
marvin
Mr.R wroteOi I've got a humble white framed '92 851 Strada that'll kick your SP5's arse.
Bloody common as muck SP5's all show and no go if you ask me!
I'm pretty sure Marvin's humble white framed '92 851 will kick it's arse as well.
Steve R
I'm sure it will! I rode a SP2 and it was real slow! A 996 feels slow too.
Jasper
Mr.R wroteOi I've got a humble white framed '92 851 Strada that'll kick your SP5's arse.
Bloody common as muck SP5's all show and no go if you ask me!
I'm pretty sure Marvin's humble white framed '92 851 will kick it's arse as well.
Steve R
I'm sure it will mate,being a "lightly tuned" big bore special. Remember I only have a standard bike, with a few mods and a mere 888!
LOL
markus_sp3
SP3 was the pinnacle. It's all been downhill from there. I mean the Panigale has no trellis frame or dry clutch...
π
Twigs
Welcome aboard Ross, you have one of the best of the Ducs there IMO.
As far as rebuild goes, it all comes down to how much time and $$$ you have to put into the bike.
I bought a 888 strada two and a half years ago with the intention of just giving it a freshen up.
It is now an SP4 look alike with a 955 motor and ohlins suspension etc etc etc.
Have thrown way more money at it than ever intended but have a mickey mouse condition bike which I ride regularly on weekends along with a couple of track days done this year. I even bought a set of fibreglass fairings which are painted to the same quality as the oem farings which I had repainted so that I can happily ride it without being too fussy about stone chips or scratches. The aim was to have a concourse condition bike but still ride it, not have it sitting in cotton wool.
Is it all worth it? financially will never get back what it owes me, but does it give me a woody? - 100%
Will I ever sell it? No way!
To answer some of your questions , if you want to paint the cases properly you will need to get the engine out of the frame, clean it up and paint with the correct heatproof finish.
The guys here on the site will be of much assistance in working things out as you go, even if you just go through the differnt threads you'll pick up heaps of info.
Good luck with it, look forward to hearing about your progress as you go.
Mauro
JImmySL
markus_sp3 wroteSP3 was the pinnacle. It's all been downhill from there. I mean the Panigale has no trellis frame or dry clutch...
π
he has a point, & looks like he has had them all at some point......so you could argue, but you would be wrong π
MarkT
marvin wroteI'm sure it will! I rode a SP2 and it was real slow! A 996 feels slow too.
I wonder which SP2 you are kindly referring to?π
marvin
MarkT wroteI wonder which SP2 you are kindly referring to?π
Duh, I wonder! How many SP2's are there here in the US!
Mr.R
Jasper wroteI'm sure it will mate,being a "lightly tuned" big bore special. Remember I only have a standard bike, with a few mods and a mere 888!
LOL
It's got the same size bore (94mm) as your factory special mate, except it uses much cheaper (FOC), lighter very slightly modified 2nd hand ST4 flat top pistons instead of your special "low comp's".π
It does have an extra 2mm on the stroke though (making it 916cc's) which helps it to produce it's power from much lower down the rev range, hitting peak power at 9,200 rpm.
More power per rev is the way to go in my book, no need to rev the life out of this old nail.
Steve R
duc904red
wadda ya mean mere 888!!!!?????
from a chavy ducati ownerπ
regards Steve B
Mr.R
The bikes are OK it's just the chavy paint scheme and decals that let them down mate.
Steve R
duc904red
hmm hint o jealousy frpm an 851 owner methinksπ
