Transcript
1 Is it the right bike for you? – marriage guidance
Tall and short riders
Generally, Italian bikes are designed for Italians, and suit shorter riders. The 916 family has quite an aggressive riding position, with low bars and relatively high footpegs. Anyone over six feet tall will find the sporting bikes quite uncomfortable, and even the Monsters suffer from a low seat and high pegs. Only the Sport Touring series is more suitable for taller riders.
Running costs
Can be heavy on tyres, chains and brakes if you’re a hard rider, and new spares are expensive. On the other hand, there’s a good choice of secondhand spares available. Fuel consumption is around 40mpg: the 748 being the most economical.
Maintenance
These are all high maintenance bikes that require careful looking after. When the 851 was first released, the service intervals were 3000 miles: today, Ducati recommends 7500 miles for the same service. At that service, you were supposed to check the valves, belt adjustment, and oil and filter. The cambelts must be changed every two years. This is all time-consuming, and thus expensive. Depending on the type of use, tyres and chains must be checked regularly with these powerful bikes.
The 916 has an extreme riding position, with low bars and relatively high footpegs. 6
3 Living with a Desmoquattro – will you get along together?
Although Ducatis have a reputation as expensive, demanding and finicky machines, the Desmoquattro series is surprisingly easy to live with. The 851/888 may be 25 years old, but these are very light and responsive motorcycles, with excellent handling. In some respects the 916/996 is more demanding, as the riding position is very uncompromising. The Monster S4, Sport Touring ST4 and 4S may not share the sporting bike’s exoticism, but they provide considerably improved rider comfort with a similar high level of performance. Whether it is a sportster, naked, or sport-tourer, it’s the magnificent Desmoquattro engine that binds these motorcycles together. Before this engine was released, no twin could match the Japanese fours for horsepower: the Desmoquattro simply rewrote the rulebook. In all forms, from 748 to 996, the Desmoquattro engine is a gem. Torquey and relaxed down low, the engine is supremely smooth and winds through to the redline with ease. Even today there are few motorcycle engines as intoxicating. Although the 748 doesn’t share the torque of the larger engines, it also lacks the seamless freneticism of equivalent Japanese fours. The Desmoquattro is an engine with character. All versions are powerful enough to be entertaining but not scary, and the total package encourages spirited riding. This is an engine that really puts a smile on your face after a hard ride. If you are after a Desmoquattro – and who could fail to want one after a test ride – there will be a bike in the range that suits. Apart from the Sport Touring and Monster S4, none of these bikes is really comfortable over a long distance. Born on the race track, and ostensibly street legal race bikes, comfort isn’t their primary concern, but, despite this, many have been used for high speed intercontinental touring with minimal luggage. None of the Desmoquattros is physically large or heavy, and their primary focus is sporting street riding. As an older design, 851s and 888s are more comfortable on the street, as the seat is lower and the handlebars higher. The 851/888 riding position was very sporting in the late 1980s, but is almost Sport Touring by modern standards. The 748/916/996s are much more modern in riding position, and The 748 is a budget alternative to the larger bikes.
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The limited edition Senna first appeared in 1995, after Ayrton Senna’s death. The 996 SPS was updated slightly for 1998, and this year there were no tank decals.
sold as limited edition models with special paint, underneath they were standard 916 Monoposto Stradas. They are interesting for a collector, but the SP series was the deal; a wolf in sheep’s clothing. 916 SP 200% 916 SPS 210% 916 Senna 180%
996 SPS, Fogarty Replica
The 996 SPS and Fogarty Replica were primarily limited edition homologation specials, but, after 1999, were upgraded to elevate them above the standard 996. The first series of Fogarty Replicas appeared in 1998 and was The 1999 996 SPS didn’t benefit from an Öhlins front fork. 16
Check the position of the fork tubes in the top triple clamp. If the tubes are raised, this will quicken the steering at the expense of high-speed stability. But if more than three to four lines on the tubes are showing, the front wheel can contact the cylinder head during heavy braking. Don’t be too concerned if the amount of fork tube protruding from the triple clamp differs from left to right. It’s more important the fork legs line up at the bottom so that the axle doesn’t bind.
Rear suspension
4 3 2 1 All Desmoquattros have a linkage monoshock rear suspension, but the linkage differs between the single- and double-sided swingarm models. The type of shock absorber also varies, with the more highly specified versions featuring an Öhlins shock, while others can have a Marzocchi, Showa, or Sachs. The Marzocchi shock on pre-91 851s loses air pressure and rebound damping. As the rear shock is exposed An Öhlins rear shock absorber was fitted to road debris and grime, check the as standard to many Desmoquattros. condition of the shock piston. On post 1991 models the stock shock absorbers are perfectly adequate and don’t require periodic maintenance, but may benefit from a rebuild if they have covered a high mileage. The rear linkage arm has chrome ball pivot fittings that should be lubricated every 3000 miles. These also tend to rust and wear if water is allowed to collect. These are difficult to lubricate as grease must be forced into the pivot points. Ask the owner when the linkages were last lubricated. Get down on the ground and have a look at them; do they look clean and well lubed, or caked in mud and neglected? On the test ride, seek out the odd manhole cover or pothole: if the suspension feels overly soft and bouncy, the rear shock may need replacing. The rear suspension has a myriad of settings and if they are set without care the bike can become almost unrideable. In addition to spring preload (easy to adjust on the ST4S with its remote knob), ride height is adjustable, as is compression and rebound damping. Ask the owner if any suspension settings other than stock have been used, and if they were written down. Single-sided swingarms were fitted to all of the 916 family, and some of the later Monsters. 37
15 Problems due to lack of use – just like their owners, Desmoquattros need exercise!
Like any piece of engineering, Desmoquattro Ducatis deteriorate if they sit doing nothing for long periods. It’s better to buy a properly maintained, higher mileage bike, as these motorcycles can suffer all sorts of problems if left sitting with old fuel. Fuel filters clog, fuel lines deteriorate, coolant leaks can occur, and batteries go bad. All of which means a lot of work for a prospective new owner.
Rust
If a bike is put away wet and/or stored in a damp garage, the paint, metal and brightwork will suffer. Ensure the machine is completely dry and clean before going into storage, and, if you can afford it, invest in a dehumidifier to keep the garage atmosphere dry. Exhaust gas contains a high water content, so exhaust systems corrode very quickly from the inside when the bike is not used. Steel fuel tanks can rust and filters clog if stale fuel is left for a long period.
Check for corrosion.
Seized components
Brake calipers can seize. 54
Brake fluid absorbs water from the atmosphere and should be renewed every two years. Old fluid with a high water content can cause corrosion and pistons/calipers to seize (freeze), and can cause brake failure when the water turns to vapour near hot braking components. Cables are vulnerable to seizure, too. They should be thoroughly lubed beforehand and levers operated regularly.
