916 Varese Bikes - I Just Don't Get It - But I'm Coming Around

That why I got mixed up , I had heard there were no '94 916 Bips also and a quick Google didn't find mention of a single one

 

My '96 M900 had elephants and a yellow hoop (apparently only on Varese bikes but still there in '96) parts bin specials

 

The part cost would be fixed on yearly projections - but initial runs back before JIT would probably be 25% of the 1st year projected volume for pipe line and show room fill for launch and adjusted for ongoing demand. The issue with such factories back in the day was no FIFO with parts remaining at the back of a shelf sometimes for years while a flow of newer parts come in and out in front of them as in your seat unit example.

 

I've no idea either how many parts they order in for a batch of 916 production. From what I understand Ducati didn't have a clue how popular and successful the 916 was going to be, and probably ordered batch quantities similar to a model like the 851 production needs to begin with 1993/4.

 

I have gone through your list just out of interest. I didn't have my bike from new so it's possible some parts are not original.

1 Vin number ZDM916S*003195*
2 Sticker under seat not present
3 ECU is 1.6M
4 con rods, don't know
5 fairing rivets, no I have bolts
6 screen rivets, no, bolts with wellnuts
7 steering damper rubbing, yes
8 chain guard, don't know
9 blue anodised fittings, no
10 Ducati racing on wheel, yes
11 Cagiva logo on a lot of parts, yes
12 petrol tank, don't know
13 non adjustable levers No, mine are adjustable
14 single bolt clip one, yes
15 40mm brake caliper, yes
16 mirrors, mine are red
17 airbox without bumps, don't know
18 Airtubes, first type with wellnuts

My headlight bucket is date marked 93!

 

These photos should help establish these -

This is the early short chain guard -


With the petrol tanks I found the easy way to tell the difference is to measure across the flat area from the crease under the decal to the start of the radius on the outside edge of the tank, this is a later petrol tank -

And this is the earlier tank (I don't know when they changed it) -



And a direct comparison between the early and later 916 tanks -


Hope that helps, it's interesting that yours doesn't have the blue oil cooler fittings though, and the Workshop Manual info I posted earlier should help you establish if you have the correct levers (Edit - Looking at the Workshop Manual you should have the fixed clutch and front brake control levers).

Dec 2020 - Just adding the fairing and windscreen rivet and clip sizes -

 

Thank you for that, I don't have the original chain guard. The tank is the wider type as you suggested it should be. I posted this info more for everybody else than trying to find out for myself. I'm really not that fussed. I have no plans of selling the bike and the parts I have are what they are. I only paid £2700 for the bike so when I eventually sell it I should get my money back with some interest. Although my 9 year old daughter wants it so hopefully it stays in the family.

 

That's a brilliant attitude and what a bargain too, you've got an appreciating asset there, enjoy it!
Also is your current chain guard an OEM Ducati one, i. E. the later and longer type ?

 

No I have a hugger on there and don't have the original chain guard.

 

so my 916 is ZDM916S005901 , so what the buggery does that make it ? yours terminally confused DS.....

 

I’ve got many Ducati books and not seen a picture of a 916 with the elefant logo on the screen or rivets around the screen ( fairing rivets are well documented ) but werevobviously used as shown in my last post.

I also read somewhere bikes were coming out of Varese with adjustable and non adjustable levers, probably what they had lying around. My rivets were glued from the back and fairings dated June 1994.

Reading this does it suggest very very early 916’s were produced in Bologna before the fire ?

 

ZDM = Manufacturer
916 = Model
S = Superbike
005901 = Frame number
If you email Ducati direct with your bike info, proof of ownership and some ID they tell you what they know.

 

That makes yours a 916 Biposto with aftermarket hugger and very nice too

 

Just co add to the confusion. I have yellow clocks.

 

I thought yellow clocks were original on early 916 but you have a 'later' Ducati decal on your rev counter?

 

You know more than I do!