ripper996
Looked for ages for a set. The only pair I found in 18 months of searching were going to cost over $3500. Then finally this... a Ducati 900 Superlight that had 17mm axle 5 spoke marchesini's fitted but also came with the original OEM marvics. The bike cost seven grand. Some would call it stupid, but I call it 'to be'. I rode the bike up the Pacific Coast Highway on Friday from Ventura to San Francisco. Great ride. The bike never skipped a beat. It's probably a keeper. I'll post pics of the 5 spokes on my SP4 when it's done.
Phil911
ripper996 wroteLooked for ages for a set. The only pair I found in 18 months of searching were going to cost over $3500. Then finally this... a Ducati 900 Superlight that had 17mm axle 5 spoke marchesini's fitted but also came with the original OEM marvics. The bike cost seven grand. Some would call it stupid, but I call it 'to be'. I rode the bike up the Pacific Coast Highway on Friday from Ventura to San Francisco. Great ride. The bike never skipped a beat. It's probably a keeper. I'll post pics of the 5 spokes on my SP4 when it's done.
I'm still laughing !!!!!!
I love that life example !!!!
" My car ashtray is full mate, what do you suggest ??? Yep, change the car my friend !!!" 😁
I suppose the financial crisis is all around in US except between Ventura and S.F !!! 😁
I'm kidding mate !!!
Good deal with this 2V. From now you can share parts and enjoy both !!!!
You're an excellent trader ripper !!!
Phil911
loony888
nice work ripper, your sig. line says it all.😁
paul.
ripper996
Well your wheels were inspirational for me Paul. Those 5 spoke marchesini's are rarer than rocking horse shit. You cannot imagine how happy I am to find a set with the 17mm axle so I don't have to fabricate anything, and secondly, I get to add another gorgeous Ducati to my garage. Question for you mate - what's the best way to get rid of the white paint (or powder coating), seal and preserve the metal and paint 'em? I guessing you can't powder-coat magnesium?
loony888
ripper,
i wouldn't powder coat magnesium, 2 reasons, firstly, if there is any corrosion going on you can't see it because the powder coat is too thick and strong, it won't show the telltale squiggly lines. secondly, most powder coaters have little respect for anything, they handle things like fences and trailer gates, too much chance of irrepairable damage.
to strip them i used a soda blaster, a good operator can take the logo off a coke can and is just the ticket for removing all the coating and leaving a nice smooth mag wheel. don't use glass, beads, walnut etc, it's too harsh and will leave your wheel looking like polystyrene!!! also, don't strip them until you are ready to get the zinc di-chromate re coated, you need a specialist to do that and it is the ONLY way to protect them from corrosion. the corrosion comes from moisture and they will absorb moisture from the air so don't strip them till you're able to get them coated!
PM me if you need any help at all, i'm happy to help if i can.
cheers,
paul.
p.s, did your superlight come with the proper marvics as well? i have a set for sale if it didn't.
ripper996
Thanks for the advice Paul. I'll pass it on to my mate who owns an independant Duc shop here in San Francisco. Yep, the Superlight came with the original Marvic's. Lucked out.
carbonf4
Great looking Superlight Ripper and a good buy too - very impressive lineup. What year is she?
ripper996
1993 model year. The only year they came to the USA. Just about to put the stock Marvic's back on and get the Marchesini's painted. Also found a set of carbon termignoni cans which are going to be polished first then put on. Apparently, my missus says 'that's it! No more'. Yeah, right!
carbonf4
Did the '93 come out with Marvics & full floaters?
ripper996
carbonf4 wrote
Yes mate, it came with both.
Foggy 888
Check the bolts that secure the spokes to the rims on the Marvics. They tended to loosen up.
If they were ridden with the bolts loose, the bolt holes in the spokes and rims would oval, rendering the wheels to the scrap heap.
loony888
Foggy 888 wroteCheck the bolts that secure the spokes to the rims on the Marvics. They tended to loosen up.
If they were ridden with the bolts loose, the bolt holes in the spokes and rims would oval, rendering the wheels to the scrap heap.
very good advice there!
i have spares if you accidentally shear one.
paul.
carbonf4
For some reason, I thought the '92 Superlight was the only one to get the Marvics and the '93 was the only one not to get the full floaters. Rippers bike is obviously well sorted with the Marchesinis & the rattlers. Any other goodies? As for the composite Marvics, I always checked the torque settings regularly, having been warned about the problem described above, but cant remember what the settings were. I was also told that if the holes did "oval" it was possible to insert a sleeve to repair them, but fortunately I never had to find out more! They are a great bike the Superlight - very under-rated. What they lack in outright power they make up for in tractability - particularly exiting corners. Here's a pic of the one i wish i never sold:
stafford
Agree very nice bikes, wouldn't mind a Mk1 at all.
ripper996
carbonf4 wrote
That is a great looking bike CF4. Too bad you had to sell. I have seen on the UK M/C websites some nice looking SL's at reasonable prices. The weather this past week has been phenomenal here in Nor. Cal. I took the SL out a few mornings and it's been steller. You are so right about the positives of this bike: stable and trackable, which inspires confidence. As for Superlights in the US? '93 was the first and only year they came with the marvic wheels and full floaters. Usual Ducati sales gimmick for that time as the US couldn't get any SP3's, 4's SPS's or 5's. So they had to get something tasty in order to sell the brand.
Rock Store
Correct 1993 was USA slated only for the most gorgeous sort after Superlight, and yes the Marvic streamline modular wheel first showed its face sometime around 1985, used by some for f1's and such later in 1989 or 90 Marvic made a bold step and made the composite modular wheel with the same 3 spoke elliptical design ,the rim was carbon/kevlar Montedison ,it saw its way onto some 851,s production was limited,the 93 USA spec superlite got the alloy Akront withe the streamline 3 spke elliptical magnesium.The trick nut & bolts for the wheel were always an issue with the lossening,however Ducati through Marvic at one time did have sorta a better design ,avaiolable from ducat & marvic as well,the torque spec for the trick bolt & nuts is 50nm,or 37 ft lbs.... The superlight continued in Europe from the Mk1 to Mk1v or five I believe ,92 to 96..the later did came with 3 spoke brembo as did some Marvic streamline modular wheels later ones carried the Brembo rim in alloy instead of Akront. later...Dom
carbonf4
Nice one guys - good info. I have only recently familiarised myself with the spec of the SPO "Omologation" (love that word!) special for the US market. Interesting to know that they did something similar with Superlight. No wonder the '93 missed out on the trick bits everywhere else - they were all gone to the States! The Mk l '92 Superlight made a splash, but the '93 was more like a solo seat SS with carbon huggers, outside the US that is. Amazing that the US missed out on so many specials, SPs etc., but Ducati have obviously realised the potential of the US market in recent years...about time!
Ripper - it looks like you're gonna have to get them Marvics mate. Gotta have em!! 😉
ripper996
carbonf4 wroteRipper - it looks like you're gonna have to get them Marvics mate. Gotta have em!! 😉
I have them and the 5 spoke marchesini''s. I am simply swapping the 5 spoke onto my SP4 and putting the original marvic's back on the SL.
carbonf4
Better again Ripper! I look forward to seeing some pics when its done. Here was me thinking you were gonna have to buy a '92 to get the Marvics for the '93, then buy a...etc., etc. Best of luck with your current fleet anyway! 😁
