[Ducati] Hello and my introduction

[Ronald Betts]

John, the best advice I could give you is Enjoy the Sickness.....!


Peace...Ron"Desmohead"Betts 95 900 SP
I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it!





>From: "John M. Carruth" <jcarruth at charter.net>
>Reply-To: Ducati Owners Group <ducati at ducati.net>
>To: "Ducati Mailing List" <ducati at ducati.net>
>Subject: [Ducati] Hello and my introduction
>Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 23:00:46 -0500
>
>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
>
>
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>
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