New member

**Hostile Duty** · 11 Aug 08, 06:23 PM

Greetings,

My name is Wayne and I live in Vancouver, Washington in the Pacific NW of the USA. My main ride is a 2000 996 Biposto. My previous bike before this was a 2004 S4R (996). My main experience prior to this is mainly with off-road 2 stroke 125cc Suzuki RM series bikes, Yamaha RZ350 cafe racer, and Kawasaki KZ1000.

It was not until I rode a Ducati with the 996 4 valve motor and dry clutch that I found the raw, gritty and cantankerous feel of the old 2 stroke cafe racers that I thought I would never find again. One thing I learned real quick on my S4R was that I could not just jam down on the gears in a corner like I did with the 2 strokes to moderate my speed... after locking up my rear wheel a few times and sliding out of the corners I now watch my rpm's very closely and try to set myself up before the corner. Other than that, it was pretty easy to transition.

Anyway, I decided to join this UK forum as it seems to be one of the best as it has specific areas for the various models. I hope to learn some new things and hopefully contribute as well.

Best regards,

Wayne

**Herb** · 11 Aug 08, 06:29 PM

Is it sunny there? You could contribute by inviting us all over to yours for a few months so we can get out of the rain!

I know its a Ducati forum, but I still have a soft spot for big old Kwaks. I used to have a (k)z900. Ducati's and old Kwaks - You obviously have style.

Welcome to the forum.

**Hostile Duty** · 11 Aug 08, 06:38 PM

Hi Herb,

Yes it is sunny here and we have had a very hot and sunny summer overall. Yeah, come on over! The sun is out, the water is warm and the fridge is full!

**Lucazade 749s** · 11 Aug 08, 06:58 PM

Hi mate and welcome. Good choice of bikes I was going to get a Kwak before Ducati but just could not resist

Soul over mind. Never looked back.

One advice regarding changing gears in mid bend, try blipping the throttle before downshifting but I am quite certain you already know that.

Some pictures please?

Oh yes do not mind the crazy ones here, most of us are a bit off

**nogaromill999** · 11 Aug 08, 09:07 PM

Lucas, I do believe you are beginning to sound English !

**Lucazade 749s** · 11 Aug 08, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogaromill999

Lucas, I do believe you are beginning to sound English !

David which part do you refer to?

shock:

**749red** · 11 Aug 08, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile Duty

Hi Herb,

Yes it is sunny here and we have had a very hot and sunny summer overall. Yeah, come on over! The sun is out, the water is warm and the fridge is full!

'Worlds biggest Ducatisti Rideout claimed as 2000 bikes are spotted heading towards Canada'

**Hostile Duty** · 12 Aug 08, 03:24 AM

Here are some photos of my former Ducati 2004 S4R and my current 2000 996 Biposto.

I have put on about 3500 miles in 6 months and now have a good feel for the bike and feel comfortable about which modifications I want to add.

My no. 1 priority is to get the stability and handling ironed out as the bike just does not feel "just right", as it is a little "twitchy" in the corners. I have new Pirelli Diablo Corsa III tires and I closely monitor the air pressure. I suspect that the springs are not right for my weight.

I am having a local shop set the sag and check the springs to see if they are right for my weight. If I still have issues I am going to add an Ohlins shock in the rear and do the drop in Ohlins rebuild/replacement for the front forks.

Oh yeah, yesterday I popped my second coolant expansion tank in 6 months! Gotta love the 996 quirks. It is kind of like a high maintenance girlfriend... a royal pain in the ass, too damn expensive, but did I tell you how pretty she is? Seriously though, even with the quirks, I would rather have no other bike but a Ducati as my primary rider!

**Lucazade 749s** · 12 Aug 08, 07:33 AM

I did hear stories about those expansion tanks!! Was wondering if you guys could order a custom made light alloy or CF one? That would not crack!!

**nogaromill999** · 12 Aug 08, 07:38 AM

Gav ( 998gsb ) has popped 7 expansion tanks on his 998.....Ducati have finally taken interest and agreed to have a look....the suspect seems to potentially be a failing head gasket pressurising the coolant........

**David.Hicks** · 12 Aug 08, 07:45 AM

Hi Wayne

Lovely looking bike you have there.

I have added a link to this thread in the Ducati 996 Bike Reviews (Owners Register) so please add more words and pics here telling us all about it.

Cheers

**Hostile Duty** · 12 Aug 08, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogaromill999

Gav ( 998gsb ) has popped 7 expansion tanks on his 998.....Ducati have finally taken interest and agreed to have a look....the suspect seems to potentially be a failing head gasket pressurising the coolant........

Now this is really interesting. I know of a bunch of others with the same problem. I guess I could pm Gav to see how I could contact Ducati to show just how serious and widespread this problem is.

One thing I do remember is that both times I have ruptured the tank I was running my bike very hard. On Sunday I did a 200+ mile ride with a bunch of my fellow Ducati types up to Mt. St. Helens and I was hitting 9-10 k rpm at some points doing well over the ton in the straights. The roads were very high incline at various points and very twisty and I was doing my best to keep the rpm's up to maintain better control via engine compression braking vs heavy brake use. So a failing head gasket is something that sounds more likely than all of the other ideas about this problem I have heard.

**Hostile Duty** · 12 Aug 08, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David.Hicks

Hi Wayne

Lovely looking bike you have there.

I have added a link to this thread in the Ducati 996 Bike Reviews (Owners Register) so please add more words and pics here telling us all about it.

Cheers

Hi David,

I will indeed try to write up a user review sometime over the next few days.

Thanks for the kind words! I see that you ride an SPS, what an awesome bike. I had the chance to get one about a year ago but I did not seriously pursue it. Now I regret it. My plan now is to eventually modify my Biposto motor into an SPS. Maybe we can start a thread about how to do this sometime, or cover recommendations from everyone?

By the way, did you ever find the source of your power delivery issue with your bike? (I read about this in one of the threads.)

Best wishes!

**Hostile Duty** · 12 Aug 08, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucazade 749s

I did hear stories about those expansion tanks!! Was wondering if you guys could order a custom made light alloy or CF one? That would not crack!!

You know, this is a great idea. I only have to find a manufacturer. I talked to a local shop yesturday and the head mechanic seems to think that there are alternative tanks available. I will inquire about this and pass on the info after I talk with him today.

I am on my damn vacation and must get my bike back into service as soon as possible! I am having dry clutch withdrawals!!! Must... get... my fix.... must ride... SOON!

I have an after market 2 year warranty (thank god) that I purchased from the local dealer when I got the bike in March. (I am so glad I convinved my wife accept this!!! She was very resistant to this "unnecessary" expense!) However I think I am going to just buy a tank and install it myself so I don't lose my bike for my whole vacation. If it goes to the dealer it will be in the shop for at least a week for this 35 minute job.

The moral of this story: ALWAYS get the extended warranty with the Ducati if you can. One major repair and it WILL pay for itself.

**David.Hicks** · 12 Aug 08, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile Duty

By the way, did you ever find the source of your power delivery issue with your bike? (I read about this in one of the threads.)

No not yet!

What with work, holidays, foul weather, my DD bike project, the potential cost of repair and my mechanic's busy schedule, it just hasn't been a priority ... on the rare occassions I have been out for a blast over the last few months it has been on my SuperDuke

I'll let everyone know when I finally get around to it