98 916 Sps Refresh

i decided to give this 1998 916SPS a mild refresh given that over the years although it had been well maintained I felt it wasn’t in the condition it deserved to be in.

Wrong paint, wrong wheels, wrong exhaust guard (brackets welded on to fit the different guard).

Thought I’d keep a log here of some of the work and progress so far.

 

Stripped all panels off to make a start. Bike was very slow to start but does start and run nice. Found a tiny battery was fitted so swapped it out and replaced, plus a set of exactstart leads fitted. Bike generally dirty and fasteners a bit dull so a bit of a clean, replating bits as I go along and back to original spec with paint and wheels is the plan.

 

Started degreasing and re protecting the engine area. Will refresh with new clips etc. Dosing of sdoc100 and then covering with new lub and acf50. Looking rather sad next to my lovely R!

 

Cleaned up the pipes, came up nice!

 

Got the bike on stands and stripped back for all bits to be sent for zinc plating!

 

Plating looking good. Got new chain and sprockets to go on to, with Renthal carrier thanks @bettes

 

Yeh, the bike is all honest. Service history all checks out, mileage checks out and Ducati and nelly both confirm it’s a genuine bike. I was able to dig out most of its history too which goes nicely with the books and receipts I have with the bike. After a hell of a trail I also managed to find the first owner who bought it brand new as well, he traded an SP for it and then made it in to a foggy rep straight away (before they were released)

 

Original wheels to be fitted back to the bike!

 

Some numb nut drilled a hole for a grommet for an alarm LED so rather than replace I have taken in to a carbon fibre pushbike repair specialist to repair this hole. Not got it back yet, so will see how it looks when it comes back!

 

Yep! That’s being restored at the moment as well!

 

Thanks, I do like to do things right. Here is my other bike I have just finished. If you had seen the state this came to me in, you would think I was crazy even taking it on! Street fightered, Chopped frame to put a different swingarm in, modified tank, seat, warped crank cases, wrong wheels, wrong brakes and generally butchered to death! Such a tragedy.

 

Not suitable for people with a nervous disposition or sensitivity to butchery

 

Slightly better now tho. Was a chore and a half finding the right bits