Hi Guys, So, for the last 30 years I’ve been riding bikes. Mainly MX and a few stints of having bikes I can ride on a CBT Partially because I’ve never found the time/money or just down to sheer laziness! But what I have done is built a few bikes that I can tinker away with as and when I’ve had the time. Now, I after selling up my M3 in July, I was dead set on another Ducati! Then the 748R came up on eBay with a few bits needing doing, so as soon as the car sold, I struck up a deal and had it delivered. As soon as it was home, it was straight in the man cave and stripped of its fairing to have a look what lies beneath. For the 50% that will beat me down, it needed to be red So, the plan was to sell the top and seat fairings, tuck the sides away in the loft and buy a full set of red slab sided fairings, top fairing, seat fairing etc for superbikebodywork and get my test done in the next couple of months. The fairings sold, all was good, went to order the new fairings, only to see that he’s not taking any orders until October! Now the bike is in this state, I’ve gone over it with a fine tooth comb to sort out a few issues and considering it sat in a garage doing nothing for 6 years, it’s not too shabby. I’ll try and keep this updated as much as poss. If you’ve read all of this without nodding off, thanks!
This is now an option, but I’ve got to replace the top and seat fairing I stupidly sold for a stupidly low price From when i owned my 916 a couple of years back, I hadn’t realised just how hard it is to come across genuine panels now! Especially in the UK!
There are original panels available on eBay.....but you are right.....at a cost!!!! I used to have a 2000MY 748R which I sold, best bike I ever had and a joy on track, made me look a half decent rider.
I have a pair of full genuine side panels I'll be selling, they are red, with just 'ducati' written on the side.
I’ve got the airbox covered as it’s a 2 piece unit and my current tank needs painting anyway as it’s shedding paint into the tank after some crappy work in the past. I’ll give you a shout if mine ends up being an issue, but (fingers crossed) it comes out ok. Now waiting on a list of gaskets, o rings and bits to generally tidy the bike up.
The original fairings are tucked away in the loft in case I ever want to change back. It’s hard enough to get hold of replacements now, hate to think what it would be like in another 10 years time!
Personally, I would junk that enormous wet battery and replace it with a smaller but punchier Yuasa AGM maintenance free one that you can get for a little over 50 quid with your forum Halfords discount card. Team it up with a forum-discounted, starting-circuit high-capacity cable kit from @Exige on here and you'll have a bike that starts first touch, which will preserve your sprag clutch as well as starting first time, every time.
If you mean what battery to replace it with, I would be inclined to go with the one specced for the 998, which is smaller, so won't fit snugly in the battery box. I believe the 998 uses the same battery box but with packing spacers, which may be available from dealers. If not, it shouldn't be hard to make some up, maybe from polystyrene.
I think the battery must have been used for ballast! It's a fair size! Been looking online and found Yuasa AGM one, thanks @Old rider ! The Trade card has been really handy and almost paid for itself after 2 purchases @Martin D originals are in the loft, the yellow top and seat fairing I had were sold on.
