Well, it turns over :bouncy:

It runs!

The bike is now running, but the y-piece joiner for the breather and fuel feed lines that goes into the carb has a small leak around the join, so I need a couple more petrol hose clamps and that should be it sorted. The Ducati OEM clamps on there must fatigue over time as they crimp on, rather than being the screw-tight ones, so this is probably all it is.

I've been making progress with everything else in the mean time. The exhausts were polished up - actually that's a lie as they were run over with a bit of sandpaper to remove most of the rust. The remaining (rear) bracket for the rear of the seat has been made and the holes all drilled to mount up the Dzus fastener brackets. I couldn't rivet it on as the only ones I had were too big for the holes in the brackets. The chain has now been put on, thanks to Nelly at Cornerspeed who dropped the spare bike off at mine. He also delivered the catch tray and a fitting kit, and also a nice piece of thick black self-adhesive foam to make a seat too. Cheers fella, much appreciated.

I was checking the instruments but it looks like the brake master cylinder will rub against them, because of the clip-ons, so I've taken the tacho out and will mount it up in it's own housing (probably carbon fibre if I have time) along with a couple of idiot lights for the neutral and oil warning lights (and not a constantly lit "idiot" light, thank-you) to save hacking those about too. I tried to find a yellow light for the fuel warning too, but didn't want to go mad as they were 79p each from a local car accessories place and they only had green and red in stock anyway.

The belly pan was nice and easy to fit with Nelly's kit, and also using the other bike as a reference. I had to find a spacer for one of the engine bolts, which I robbed from something else, but it was in the "don't know what bits these are from" box so it's a bit too late if I need it now as I've cut it in half. The belly pan is quite slim, so it looks like the fairing sides will go right over the top of it rather than fit into it. The top fairing and screen went on fine though, and look rather good even in white.

So at this point I'm ready to ride and will be booking a trackday for next week, hopefully at Snetterton. I've got some holes to drill to mount the side fairings on the Dzus fasteners, fit the rearsets when they arrive as Nigel is putting them in the post for me, get a high-level link pipe and race exhaust made up and finish off the instrument pod for the tacho and we're there!

Oh, and get the fairings painted (being done by my sponsor!), get some numbers made up, fit a catch tank for all the breathers and everything else I've forgotten to do...

Nice one Ant, sounds like you've got everything under control.

:D

Nice.............PICCIES PLEASE :D

Nice update Antony.
In case anyone missed the most important part of the post, I have highlighted below.

Note though that you do need to be a member of the super-ultra-clique gang to understand. ;)

It's not really the spare bike, but actually my wet bike.

Having watched the MotoGP yesterday I thought it would be a good idea to have one ready to go in case of rain, and also as a backup bike in the event of an off in the first race.

Or something ;)

I will, I will!

I've got some pics on my phone but I've been spending every night out in the garage at the moment, until the small hours, getting the fricking thing sorted! I'm absolutely knackered as I'm not getting hardly any sleep either.

I need to get out there with the digital camera and take some proper pics as well.

Roll on next sunday as I might be able to get some rest after that!

Heh, there's nothing like grabbing the bull by the horns and holding on for dear life.

I'm booking Snetterton for monday, you fancy it? Stay over at mine on sunday, early drive monday? £79 with Focused Events if anyone else want to go.

he'll probably still be picking the gravel out of his fairing from cadwell on saturday! ;)

I don't have any fairings ;)

Snett is no go for me Ant, although I'd like to.

Cadwell on Sat is enough for me between now and race day.