[Ducati] Hello and my introduction

[John M. Carruth]

I am brand new to the Ducati experience and want to learn more about them, 
having just traded a 1981 BMW R100 (155k miles) for a 1997 Ducati 900 CR 
with less than 4500 original miles on it. I had to have a sportbike and the 
PO needed something he could commute to college on, with bags and a 
fairing - a very nice, but old, Hannigan fairing. The CR was in storage for 
years, but the kid who owned it was a VW mechanic and got it running just 
fine. You can see it here:
http://www.putfile.com/jcarruth

The previous owner had to buy a new set of tires for it before I would trade 
as the ORIGINAL Dunlops were still on the bike, DOT numbers said the 
manufacturing date was 2/97! I insisted on a set of MEZ6s, probably a 
mistake, but they feel good on the street. Of course, being a novice with 
Ducatis, when my friend and I mounted the tires and put the front wheel back 
on, we did not place the speedo drive in the exact horozontal position, and 
the cable broke later. So I need a speedo cable.


My buddies both have two Ducatis, each, but they are about 150 miles away. I 
hate to bug them about technical issues, but they are good at wrenching on 2 
valve, air cooled Ducs. They both race 750s in WERA, and can change engines, 
etc. without much hassle. I have helped one of them tear down engines and 
put the bikes back together, but I still have a lot to learn.

I have been riding bikes most of my life, started out by wrecking my 
neighbor's Vespa in 1966, my buddies CB100 in 1971, my brother's CB125 in 
1971, rode (didn't wreck) various friend's and relatives Honda 350s, etc. 
Then, like so many boomers, I gave it up until 1987 and then bought a very 
used '81 Suzuki 450 for $250, rode it for about six months, and since then 
have been through many bikes. Currently I own a 2003 Honda ST1300 ABS, a 
2002 VFR800 A2, and the 1997 Ducati900ss CR. I love them all and do my best 
to do all work on the bikes myself as I live far away from any dealers with 
any competence, especially when it comes to the Ducati. I also mount and 
balance all of my tires and those of many of my friends.

I have a few questions:

1. Being an ex-Airhead, I learned to substitute lots of common auto parts 
with OEM BMW parts; mostly electrical componets like relays, bulbs, pressure 
switches, etc. I don't think that is going to happen with the Ducati, but, 
am I wrong? Is there a list somewhere that cross references parts?

2. Some common automotive spin on oil filters will fit my Hondas. What kind 
of luck will I have with this with my Ducati? Are there any substitutes out 
there?

3. Where on the net is the best, least expensive, user friendly dealer to 
buy OEM parts or improved substitutes? If someone has a list of URLs you 
could send me off the mailing list I would certainly appreciate it. I for 
SURE need some cam belts, valve cover gaskets, an oil filter, some little 
rubber bits, crush washers, etc. And a speedo cable! BTW, will a speedo 
cable from a 916 fit my bike? They look the same.

 I have already discovered L.T. Snyder's site.

And, all of the fluids were changed tonight except for the fork oil.

Any other advice from you long term owners would be appreciated. I bought 
this bike for back roads and track days.

TIA,
John Carruth
Medina, TN