Joining the 851 SP 'Club'

[DucatiRoss]

After reading an article on the 851/888 in the Ducati Owner's Club magazine, I've scratched on itch I've had for many years now (after reading Mark Forsythe rave about an 851 in Performance Bikes many years ago and watching early WSB races), and bought a 1990 851 SP2. This will replace my 1994 750 SS (unlike many of you guys, I can only have one bike at a time !)

I wondered if any of you knowledgable people have any tips for an SP2 Novice, and also, the bike has virtually no history, so I wonder if any of you know of it. It is no. 304, registration G959 SGF.

Attached is a photo.

Look forward to hearing from you

Matthew

[RightSaidFred]

Where's the photo Matthew??? :D:D:D

Nice one, it's the best Ducati, bar none is the T8.
Welcome to the virtual bar, err, bottle of Peroni, ta.

Now get some pics up! Someone on here's bound to know the history of your bike, they'll be along soon I bet.

[DucatiRoss]

I'm having problems attaching the JPG using the Attachement option - is this the right thing to use ?

[weeveetwin]

Welcome Matthew..

Here's a few tips on SP ownership:

1) Put on your helmet and gloves before you start it. It's best not to move off until it's ran for a minute or so, (to allow the oil to circulate) and you'll need your hands on the twistgrip to keep it running!

2) It's high-geared, so give it a decent handfull when moving off. Battery performance is marginal, and you can't afford to have it stall on you!

3) Keep it in a fairly low gear when creeping along 30 limit roads (@ 3000rpm maybe). The fuel pump is always running, and if the revs drop too low the battery won't be taking much of a charge. For the same reason, keep the fuel filter clear - if it's straining it'll also drain the battery.

4) Don't ride with your lights on all the time! (Same reason as above).

5) Fill up with fuel on the way home after a ride. This allows you - on the next ride - to put a good few miles on it before you need a top-up (and thus have to start it up again!) Moreover, filling the tank lessens the chances of condensation build-up when it's parked. (Leading to fuel filter problems again!)

6) Keep a check on tyre pressures. Steering is very sensitive to even a couple of lb deflation. (Fit Diablos when you need new tyres).

Finally - be prepared to be ignored by 70% of the bikers out there. They don't nod when you're riding one of these. (They hate to see you having so much fun..!)

Steve

[DucatiRoss]

Thanks for that Steve - it seems a lot of problems are fuel or battery related. I've got Pirelli Diablo's on the 750 SS and think they are good - A DOC member suggestion the Micheling Pilot (Power ?) but I've not tried those.

On the 'nodding' front, it seems that most bikers I pass won't nod 'til you do, so me, I'm like the Churchill's Dog on the parcel shelf of the car, head-banging anyone on 2 wheels, including Learners and scooterists (cos I've still got my Lambretta GP225 in the garage, desperately needing some TLC !)

Matthew

[weeveetwin]

Yep, I nod at everyone too - it's just that most of 'em blank me in return! I was even blanked by a guy riding a 749/999 today (his mates were all on UJMs, so I guess he had to play along).

Re. Battery/fuel: I've ridden my SP for over 6,000mls now without a single problem - so my tactics seem to work. However, the alternator light glowed today at tick-over (for the first time ever), so I suspect I've a blocked filter/dodgy regulator.

Ah well, it wouldn't be a Ducati if it didn't need attention once in a while...!

[DucatiRoss]

OK, trying to attach a photo for the last time tonight !

[mikesps]

Looks very nice Ross.

If you don't know when the belts were last changed, change them right away. Replace them with the later kevlar belts which have red writing rather than white.

Same goes for the fuel filter and the oil obviously.

Check the wiring from the alternator to the regulator and on to the battery. The wiring is too thin as standard and the connectors are poor. The connectors can overheat and melt the insulation off the wiring and short the regulator.

The rear suspension was pretty worn on mine. Needed new needle rollers and rose joints.

Apart from that it should be fine :D

Enloy it.

Mike

[Rob B]

Matthew,

Welcome on board, nice looking bike too. Re battery. I have swapped to a Pulsar gel battery on two of my bikes, no more problems, even after a few weeks of alarm discharge and multiple re starts.

Rgds, Rob

[Redsps]

welcome to board matthew, you have choosen the best section of the board , so full marks there;);)

really nice SP , hope you enjoy your stay on the board etc.

cheers
robin

[Nattyboy]

That looks lovely mate..and very rare. I can recommend the 'ducati desmoquattro superbikes' which gives a good account of early SP's..likewide the 851/888 performance portfolio is a pre requisite for any 851/888 owner !!!

Enjoy !

Nat

[beancounter]

Superb bike.

Congratulations.

[keith888]

Welcome! Nice looking bike. Where are you based?

The only obvious extra tip I would add is to be VERY careful in car parks. That steering lock (or lack of it) takes some getting used to!

Keith

[DucatiRoss]

Thanks for all your welcoming messages and comments on the bike. All the advice is very welcome and needed. The SP2 is 99.9% standard from what I can make out, with the exception being a Brembo racing master cylinder and front brake lever. I got it from a chap in Croyden, a bike/car dealer who said he'd had it for years in his garage in storage. It's done just over 10,000 miles and is a bit tatty in places, but will be sorted over the next few months. The fairing has cracked on the mounting bracket right lower side, the screen has a small crack, the rear light lens has broken, and the exhausts (standard but very loud!) have a few dents and scrapes, but this just seems to add to the authenticity. The paint is in very good nick, and mechanically it seems sound (and sounds amazing).

I haven't bought it to enter concours competitions - I want to give it a good thrashing and hope to take it on a track day in October at Donington. It's at Baines Racing currently being fully serviced, having the rear shock rebuilt (it was leaking stuff), the fairing fixed, some new grips and some bolts/nuts replaced. They said the valves/shims were spot on, so that's a relief.

Keith - interesting to see you've got an RG500 - one of only two Jap bikes I'd love to ride, if not own, the other being the RC30. What's it like ?

I'll attach a couple more pictures if I can figure it out !

Matthew

[DucatiRoss]

Keith - I'm based near Ross on Wye in Herefordshire. There seems to be a branch of the DOC GB near me but I've yet to make it to a meeting (poor show on my part).

Another photo below.

[sparkin]

Did it come from Blues Ross?

[DucatiRoss]

'Blues' was mentioned in the Ad I saw in Autotrader, but I don't know what that was. I went to the chap's house to see the bike - he had a Roller, a 911 convertible and a red E-Type under covers in there too !

Do you know this 'Blues' ? Is that his garage name ?

Matthew

[beancounter]

Matthew,

Baines also look after my bikes and I live about 10 miles away from Silverstone, feel free to drop by for a cuppa when you pick the SP2 up (unless they're delivering it for you...)

Mark

[Crunchy]

Welcome to the board.
When I first got my 851 it kept conking-out on me due to the battery being drained all the time. We fitted a 916 regulator and since then it's been fine.

Another good tip I was given, which ties in with the advice given by weeveetwin is don't stall it. If you do turn the key to off wait a second and then start it up again. The computer needs to reset itself. If you don't do this it could start backfiring and running like bag of S'!t.

Happy riding:burn:

[Jasper]

Nice bike,mate.Welcome to the "club".

[Screwy]

Nice bike and welcome to the forums :cool:

Paul

[851neil]

yup, she looks sweet - enjoy her...

[philthy]

Welcome

Dont forget, It's not called tatty, it's called ''patina''

When it breaks down it's ''character''

Steering lock? My first ride - turned right at narrow T junction......... Mate wet himself laughing at me on floor - pinned underneath bike.......
Good news was that nothing was broken or scratched ( Only me )

Hope you enjoy ownership Matthew:D

[sparkin]

No, I saw it advertised in Autotrader too and saw the word blues,originally it was advertised at £1250 :o:o so I gave them a call and they soon put me straight:lol::(