Mmmm begining to wonder if....
 

Begining to think I have not got any idea what I have got myself into!
Just been looking at some of the posts, questions and answers.........I now realise that my knowledge of technical stuff is a bit limited. No let me be a bit more honest, if mechanical knowledge was water, I have not got enough to give a one legged flea a footbath!
Need some reassurance here; I have got bike (Oli Franklins oldun), sorted the linkage to race pattern, am having belts etc done (daren't do it my self), its already had throttle, and suspension sorted etc, getting new tyres, sprockets, chain and thats about it!
In my world, belt tension is something to do with beer and pie intake and good pressure is a long forgotten memory (these days it's just a case of keeping my feet out of the way).
Do I need to start a crash course (unfortunate terminology) in Zen in the art of motorcycle mechanics?

I raced for 2 years, and only once changed a rear sprocket.

Maintenance is highly overated!!

When I started I had never even taken a back wheel off, over the years loads of people helped me one time for different things and it stuck. Before you know it you will be showing some new puppy the ropes next year.
The DD group is one of the most helpful in the paddock.
There is a great shot of Bradders somewhere with his bike lying on its side at Mallory with all its guts out whilst Phil ( Ghost ) showed him how to change a pickup or the one I saw the other day where Pie Man swapped engines at Mallory in between races with his Mrs elbow thick in bike oil.

Craig

I think many have found the DD paddock a great Education and that includes me :)

You have a good bike in Ollies (ex 42) Ollie was no lightweight and it was always up at the sharp end.

You seem to have covered everything considering the bike hasn't run for a couple of years. So all you have to do is ride it. Good look and see you on the grid. :eek: :D

Just ride it. Loads have little or no mechanical knowledge and get by.

If you are going to do anything, make sure shyness isnt an affliction, if its get iver it, as you can always ask if you dont know :)

I came into the DD paddock at the back end of last season with no clue about the bike I was riding or how it handled/stopped/went.

I bought it and rode it and crashed it. (A lot)

The help from the paddock is fantastic, there's always someone to ask, someone to lend bits from, someone who's done that and knows a little trick to make the job easier.

Just enjoy it and be prepared to have the most fun you can have in leather. (Well, almost.) :lol:

The paddock is excellent. If you dont know what you are doing just ask somebody, they will always help. Apart from Ghost who is always £issed!

You mean someone changed it for you. ;)

Check your bike over and check it again but don't get paronoid.

Try and aquire a reasonable amount of spares.

Write a list of todo's

Read as much as possible about DD/Ducati/Racing

Do not be afraid to ask any questions

After 2 1/2 years in DD and a further year in the DD paddock I can say that no one is unapproachable or unwilling to help in what ever way they can.

Engine swop in the paddock no problem. It's usually the fiddly bits that take longer. :lol:

Perhaps you should try a drop Simon, he is always in front of you.

that's where i've been going wrong .. i'm always better at stuff when i'm drunk

i too am very new to Ducati's i should be ok with taking bits of and putting most of them back:lol: , although the internals of them there engines and what bits of other dukes fit where is a minefield at the moment.

for example what are the best wheels to have? as i am going to get a spare set to save hassle when changing tyres , i used to help my mate when he raced and we were always waiting on the tyre fitters, panicing we would not be ready when his race was called.

Every other time yes.

I did change a sprocket once. Just before I crashed at Cadwell.

Maybe thats where I went wrong??

I might this year. But just a half!

A set every other meeting, same tyres in wet, shouldn't take too much organising :rolleyes:

Good for you Trumpet, for having a go!

Invaluable Sites:

1) = DSC :D

2) = http://www.ducatisuite.com/home.html

Stay safe - Frank

Thanks for all good will.
 

To me, motorcycle mechanics is a bit like alchemy! My problem is not really the detail like torque settings, tensions, flow rates etc. I still can't get past the fact that the bike is basically made from stuff dug out of the ground, and is filled up with other stuff from the ground, it sticks to the ground with stuff bled from tree and falls over it's when not moving......what's not to understand!
Anyway whatever I am looking forward to it!

Are you referring to underpants?

2 sets of tyres lasted me all season, a 4 day shredding exercise in Spain and still got half my money back off them!