Hello from the Isle of Man

Hongkongphooey

Hi all,

Just joined up as I'm looking to buy an 851/888 or even an SP, so will probably be needing advice haha.

Owned lots of bikes over the years, but never a Duc, should be fun 😉

Cheers

lakeman

hello!!
from isle of man...really????WOW 😎

Hongkongphooey

lakeman wrotehello!! from isle of man...really????WOW 😎

Yep, nice roads, but then so does Italy 😁

Thanks!

stafford

There's an 851 for sale in Ramsey IIRC on eBay at the moment, welcome.

Mr.R

I usually don't answer posts from people intending to buy one, as more often than not it goes no farther than wanting one...
But I love the IOM so welcome chap! 😎
I'll be over for the Classic TT/MGP again this year stopping in Port Erin, but this time I'll be riding my '79 900SS Bevel.
I'm bringing my daughter (12) over with me and my 851 doesn't have a duel seat and pillion footrests.
Well actually neither does my Bevel 900SS, but I can fit them for the trip. 😏
Where abouts are you on the Island and are you Manx? If not where are you from originally?

Steve R

Hongkongphooey

stafford wroteThere's an 851 for sale in Ramsey IIRC on eBay at the moment, welcome.

Hi there,

Yep on my watch list, but as I'm no Ducati expert I've not done anything about it just yet, it seems to have quite a modified engine and is quite scruffy. Nothing that can't be fixed, but things cost a lot more over here 😄

But thanks, I'm actually on my way home now, so might just Bob up and have a look!

Hongkongphooey

Mr.R wroteI usually don't answer posts from people intending to buy one, as more often than not it goes no farther than wanting one... But I love the IOM so welcome chap! 😎 I'll be over for the Classic TT/MGP again this year stopping in Port Erin, but this time I'll be riding my '79 900SS Bevel. I'm bringing my daughter (12) over with me and my 851 doesn't have a duel seat and pillion footrests. Well actually neither does my Bevel 900SS, but I can fit them for the trip. 😏 Where abouts are you on the Island and are you Manx? If not where are you from originally? Steve R

Haha, don't blame you, I'm a regular on a few forums and see the same myself. Do intend to buy one, however nearly weakened and bought the 1199 Panigale on the Ducati UK forum last night. Thankfully he'd just taken a deposit.

I've called a few folk up and am awaiting some calls back. However I do have a lovely 888 in mind.

I'm in Douglas, just a few hundred yards up from the QB, which strangely closed down about a month ago! I run past it most days. Nope not a manxie, but one of my sons is, only been here since 08. Another 30-40'years and I'll almost be accepted 😁

Please keep in touch as it's always great meeting up with folk that actually get over these parts.

Cheers

Jay.

ducati dad

I've just had a phone call from a mate who tells me that ProTwins in surrey, have just acquired a Mint SP5 [ approx. 1000 miles only] which will be going up for sale soon. I've no connection with them except to buy spares...

http://www.protwins.co.uk/

I couldn't help my self and so, as I needed some relays for the project, I nipped along to see it for myself. No 344 and bloody lovely. Don't what it will be priced at but I think I'll buy a lottery ticket this week.

ducati dad

This is the one I saw....😯
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-888-SP5-/262306824440?hash=item3d12b480f8:g:A-gAAOSwQYZWzu2r

RWG

Go in wold offer 15k, see what happens. Them again they are probably watching Ducati forums to get a feel what's out their, nice bike though and you would be able to but a good few miles on her, like a run to 2016 WDW

Hongkongphooey

RWG wroteGo in wold offer 15k, see what happens. Them again they are probably watching Ducati forums to get a feel what's out their, nice bike though and you would be able to but a good few miles on her, like a run to 2016 WDW

Hi, I've had a few replies from the wanted ad and am going to see one next week and a few others in stand by, so hopefully get sorted soon.

Cheers gents!

Hongkongphooey

Evening gents, well thought I'd update this post for anyone interested.

I was offered a few bikes from forum members and narrowed it down to two, but couldn't decide between them, so I bought both. Money's no good in the bank now anyway.

The 888 will by my road bike, not sure what to do with the 851 just yet. I'd like to turn it into a classic racer, but it's so so nice I'm not sure I can do that to it, so maybe an SP3 rep.

Anyway, lots of options, will enjoy tinkering. The 888 is going through the Manx test Friday, so fingers crossed!

Cheers.

Tony888sp5

Hongkongphooey wroteEvening gents, well thought I'd update this post for anyone interested. I was offered a few bikes from forum members and narrowed it down to two, but couldn't decide between them, so I bought both. Money's no good in the bank now anyway. The 888 will by my road bike, not sure what to do with the 851 just yet. I'd like to turn it into a classic racer, but it's so so nice I'm not sure I can do that to it, so maybe an SP3 rep. Anyway, lots of options, will enjoy tinkering. The 888 is going through the Manx test Friday, so fingers crossed! Cheers.

Mmmmmm Gold Marchesini's look better than my Black one's....might be getting mine powder coated when i get back!! 😎

italian888

Very tasty, what is your rear disc?
Rob

Hongkongphooey

Hey Rob, not sure, I'll have a check, but I can tell you it's very light! I'm guessing it's a racing item, or it's been machined thinner.

The guy I bought the bike off was actually a forum member here and has done a lot of work to the bike, and has taken about 20kg in weight off from the standard Strada it was. Plus a few power upgrades. I can't take a single bit of credit for the state it's in!

Only thing I've done so far is swap out the thermo control switch in the rad to a lower activating one to keeps things a little cooler.

What a lovely road bike these things are, really looking forward to summer. (That's about 3 weeks in its entirety in the IOM 😉)

Hongkongphooey

Tony888sp5 wroteMmmmmm Gold Marchesini's look better than my Black one's....might be getting mine powder coated when i get back!! 😎

They look lovely don't they, but they're painted 😄

adie851

Hi,
The bikes look lovely,like the gold marchesinins...cool. So what spec is the bike.....?

Cheers, adie851

NCR900

888

adie851 wroteHi, The bikes look lovely,like the gold marchesinins...cool. So what spec is the bike.....? Cheers, adie851

I thought I'd better reply to this as I built the 888. It's an SP5 'lookalike' from a late 888 Strada base, and the wheels are modified ST4S Marchesini's - better looks and lighter than standard. The rear disc is a modified standard one, similar to the race 3 bolt discs used on 888's in period (and also TZ250's) - it's much lighter and should easily be up to fast road use. Front discs are Brembo from an Aprilia Mille, much lighter than standard, and I wanted black discs to contrast with the gold wheels. The single seat uses an alloy subframe from Steve B (massive weight savings there). The engine is standard, but the bike has 45mm downpipes from an ST4S with Termignoni exhausts and link pipes from Steve B on this forum. The Airbox has a Ducati Performance air filter, open top cover, and a suitable JHP (Ducati Conventry) ECU chip to match. Re. Brad's (thebikeboy) research, it's intended to optiomise the standard engine, allow a few more revs and horses by uncorking the top-end, but without hurting engine reliability or flexibility. The engine is a real peach, untempremental, but pulling cleanly to the redline with real punch. The idea was less weight, better looks, a little faster, but standard reliability. It's the same bike as my avatar picture above.

Hongkongphooey

What he said 😁

Tony IOM

Perhaps I sold my SP4 too soon - I could have had a riding buddy!

Ducati 888and851 BBQ meet at my house in TT week one year. Quite a motley collection of bikes (and owners) 😉