Did Ducati do a manual set for the '87 851

pkay

Silly question I know but all of the online literature is for the '89 and onwards bikes. As I have discovered the hard way there is the occasional difference (clutch being the starting point). I'll have a read through the files section too but if anyone knows where, if and how I'd be most appreciative. My 851 is getting closer to the first ride and I want to make sure it's set up correctly.

Cheers

pkay

Answer my own thread - I found an 88 parts manual buried in the site - same as mine yay!! So that's a positive on the parts manual, now the workshop manual!!

wgsvintage

This is the earliest 851 shop manual I've ever seen, for the Kit but no publication date. Typical of most Ducati published shop manuals, might not be worth the effort of referencing it. The parts manual may be more useful.

I'm curious about your use of '87 in describing your 851 in this and other posts. Could you elaborate on that please?
Bill

pkay

Hey Bill
Not meaning to be a goose but I am curious about why your are curious?
Regards
Paul

wgsvintage

Hi Paul,
From what early 851 history I can find there were eight 4-valve 851's built in 1987, one prototype and seven 851 Superbikes. Of those seven I'm guessing some were intended for show purposes. And then I'm really speculating here, some might have been distributed to their favored race teams around the world to get a jump on the 1988 race season. Those are the ones I'm most interested in finding out about. Is yours one of those first eight by any chance? If not, the production runs of the "Tricolore" Kits and Stradas were both in 1988.
Bill

pkay

wgsvintage wroteHi Paul, From what early 851 history I can find there were eight 4-valve 851's built in 1987, one prototype and seven 851 Superbikes. Of those seven I'm guessing some were intended for show purposes. And then I'm really speculating here, some might have been distributed to their favored race teams around the world to get a jump on the 1988 race season. Those are the ones I'm most interested in finding out about. Is yours one of those first eight by any chance? If not, the production runs of the "Tricolore" Kits and Stradas were both in 1988. Bill

Very interesting Bill, let me go and do some digging and I'll get back to you.

griff851

Theres an article in a magazine i saw with old mate "Lucky" sitting on the first machine. Things held on with tape etc. Very dodgy looking and complete with green wire holding the Battery. I cant tell you the year, but by the looks of it, it was nearly race ready.

pkay

So I read the bit in my Ducati Story by Ian Falloon covering the 851 and he also states that there were 20 odd 851 pre-production/race/test mules built in 1987 with series production being 1988. Looks like my bike just got one year younger.

Problem with Ian's books is he always ventures silly opinions on the value of the bikes. To me it undoes what is otherwise a good read.

Foggy 888

I was offered for sale one of those first 1987 851's. It was painted a crazy red and yellow paint job and the fairings were made from hand hammered sheet metal (steel I think) instead of plastic/fiberglass. Boz Skaggs owned it and he wanted $10k USD at the time (1989).

BABA

This one ?

wgsvintage

Wow. That sure sounds like it might have been the prototype. Back in the later 80's, Ducati/Cagiva made a few goofy decisions. How could they have let that out the factory door?? Wouldn't that look good in their museum now...

brad black

i think colin from fastbikes rode one of them, or was it the american guy. either way, what a great bike to have.

Foggy 888

Yes, That looks like the bike. Couldn't come up with the cash at the time. Bought an F1b for $4500 instead. Still have the F1b.