Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 851 / 888 > SP2 - Do you want the good news first ?

[DucatiRoss]

I collected my SP2 yesterday, after paying a £1900 bill to Baines, but it all was necessary and did include 2 new tyres. It didn't disappoint on the way home, and was everything I hoped for. Suspension was very firm but worked well in corners. I liked the riding position, although knees and wrists hurt at the end of 100 miles, and my clutch hand was shot ! It really was fabulous, and not intimidating at all, happy to potter at 3000 revs at 40, then effortlessly surge forward to 9000 or more. It didn't miss a beat and it felt every inch a race bike despite it being docile if needed. And it did a scarcely believable 55mpg as well ! Minor gripes are the brakes are nowhere near as strong as my 750SS despite new pads and braided hoses and it doesn't like to idle, but hell, so what ? I'm sure all the passers by enjoy hearing me blip the throttle at lights.

I spent this morning adjusting the morning adjusting a couple of things like dropping the clutch level as low as it will go, to smooth the action a bit, and then went out for a ride. I warmed it a little sitting in the drive, then moved off, and within 100 yards, it started to misfire a little, then cut out completely. I looked down, and white smoke was coming from the engine area, and then I saw a reflection of an something orange flickering in the crankcase. I jumped off, took my lid off, then looked up between the back wheel and the seat and the bloody thing had caught fire ! I couldn't believe it ! My beauty was going up in flames before my eyes ! I sucked in loads of air and blew as hard as I could, and luckily, the flames went out. I then pushed it home, and sat down, explained to my wife and kids what had happened and why I was so disappointed.

So first thing tomorrow will be a call to Baines, and then next Saturday, spend another day driving to and from Silverstone, this time with a trailer, to have her looked at.

Watch this space !

PS Is it normal for them to catch fire ?!

Jools - sorry you couldn't make it - let's hope there's a next time ?

Matthew