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January 28, 2008
Stock vs. Mystery Exhaust
Admittedly, the "mystery" about the header pipe on the 750 Sport is in all likelihood one of three possibilities.
- The header that came on the 750 when I bought it is matched to the Fast By Ferracci cans.
- Ducati switched headers as they went along, meaning both headers are stock, only the larger diameter headers are later.
- The header that came on the Sport when I bought it is off of a later motorcycle (probably a 900 Supersport).
For reference sake, the stock header is 35mm diameter on the manifold side, and 40mm diameter on the silencer side. In comparison, the headers I am getting ceramic coated are estimated to be about 10mm larger in diameter. I'll measure them once I pick them up from the coater.
There are some other differences. The stock set (pictured) have a gusset where the exhaust diverges. The other have larger diameter pipes at the diverter and there is no gusset plate. I did not think to look for a part number on the pre-coating header before I handed it over, but I will look for one when I get it back.
Posted by Underblog at 12:11 PM | TrackBack
January 27, 2008
Exhaust Coating
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been planning to take the 750's exhaust in for ceramic coating. I asked the folks at PJ's who they used, and they could not think of anyone working in the area locally. I asked my welder-neighbor about who they used, and he recommended Southwest Plating, who in turn referred me to a person named "Robert" who picks up specialty stuff once a week and ships it off out the area to be coated. Robert then referred me to Team Synergy (in Albuquerque's Midway industrial park, just across the gravel yard and the North Diversion Channel). "Bobby" was out when I dropped off the header for an estimate, but I spoke for a while with his mom. While there, I picked up a couple of brochures, one for PJ's and one for my gearhead-neighbor across the street.
Mike at PJ's appeared to be glad for the info, though he most often appears to say whatever the customer wants him to say. Turns out my neighbor across the street had already used them for the header on his "Pink Panther" Challenger, which he sold last year. Evidently, a concours-restoration project was too much for him to carry forward. Exhaust headers get pretty hot and they tend to cook off their own paint (and subsequently rust). Moreover, the heat they radiate places additional strain on surrounding components.
But I digress.
Once the folks at PJ's removed the exhaust and the wrap, it became clear that the wrap was in fact concealing a fair bit of rust. The rust was not limited to the header (which I had planned to have coated) but the intake end of the mufflers as well.
I decided to bring the mufflers over to the coater to see whether the mufflers should be disassembled to have the ends coated. The process allows for masking off of parts of pieces but since the only part I was concerned with leaving original was the "Fast By Ferracci" emblem, I decided to have the cans coated as well. After all, they get hot too. The emblems will have their rivets drilled out and will be replaced once the cans are coated.
Having the cans as well as the header coated effectively doubles the cost of the transformation, but I hope the results will be worth it. I am tempted also to have the Morini's header and exhaust coated the next time those pieces are removed from the bike, should it turn out that Team Synergy knows its stuff.
Posted by Underblog at 7:52 AM | TrackBack
January 18, 2008
In For Service
For some reason, I take the Ducati's in for service, even though I perform my own maintenance on the Morini. I confess that setting the valves with shims is somewhat intimidating. One of these days, perhaps when I acquire some more shop space, I will give it a try. I am told that setting the valves is not nearly as difficult on the 2-valve machines as it is on the "desmoquattro's".
So I rode the 750 Sport over to PJ's. PJ was there and seemed excited about the 750, even though he had seen the 851 previously. He just picked up a 1993 888 which looks very very clean, and he suggested that we do an "old-timers" ride with the early 90's Ducati's.
So Chris and I are checking out the wrapped exhaust header on the Sport and comparing it to the stock one I was going to replace it with. It appears that the Sport has a complete Ferraci system, not just the slip-on's as I assumed. The reason we think that is that the stock header had a plate where the four pipes come together while the Sport's junction is entirely open.
The plan now is to do a bench test and the tuning work on the Sport, then remove the exhaust for plating / coating while the stainless braided lines, battery, and belts are being ordered. I think the PJ's folks like me because time is never the issue, since I have several other bikes to ride.
Posted by Underblog at 2:55 PM | TrackBack
January 13, 2008
Kiwis in Italy, 1989
It is not just I who thinks that Italy is motorcycling nirvana. On my 1989 trip, I spent a fair bit of time with a couple from New Zealand who were in the process of exporting several Italian bikes Down Under. I always thought this would make a nice sideline business, though I have never had either the capital or the ganas to pull off such a trip. Malcolm and Sue rode with us to Breganze to visit Oro Ricardo, and the next day joined us on a sightseeing visit to Venice.
That spring, this couple shipped back home in a small container two Morini's (a 500 and a 3½); a Guzzi V7 Sport; a Laverda RGS 1000; and a Guzzi Ercole three-wheel truck. Ducati's must have been too expensive at the time, because I knew Malcolm had them in Wellington. At least he had the t-shirt collection to represent. Now that I own a Ducati or two and have thought about doing what they did nearly 20 years ago, I wonder how the business worked out for them and what they are up to now.
Posted by Underblog at 8:21 AM | TrackBack
January 4, 2008
Why I Love New Mexico
My goal for the day was to get the 750 Sport registered. Before I went over there, I figured I had better remove the license plate (which had most recently adorned the Maicoletta 275) before the inspection. I quickly thought of bringing the plate along, since I was hoping to assign it to the 750. I ended up leaving the plate in the garage.
I rode the 750 over to the MVD, stood in line for five minutes and waited about 20 more for my number to be called. The woman at the window said it would be no trouble to transfer the plate, but that she needed the corpus delecti in order to complete the task. So back I went home. I like the DMV here because they will offer a "pass" so you can bypass the line once you've waited so long for your number to be called.
When I returned, I walked up to the next available clerk. Once we were outside standing next to the bike, he told me that the lack of a visible engine number was not a problem since he had two locations for the VIN on the frame. While the plate was being assigned to the 750, I said hi to Jane of the North Valley who scored me three sequential license plates and tried the dickens to get me a fourth (I cleaned her out that day). Regardless, I now have a sequence of license plates (P84419 through P84421) on my Italian "Red Fleet." Perfect for photographing. And now I have a Desmo and a spare, all legit and ready for a motorcycle-licensed friend to come riding.
Posted by Underblog at 6:18 PM | TrackBack
January 2, 2008
Motorcycle Parking in Albuquerque
One of the more popular searches that lands people at mayoreric.com is the page I created for motorcycle parking in DC. Tens of people each month check it, honest. Anyway, since it is so popular and since I have seen no motorcycle spots in Albuquerque, where I now live I called up the City Parking Department.
—Hello. I ride a motorcycle and am trying to figure out where motorcycles are supposed to park.
—Motorcycles can park free of charge between parking spaces, for the same time limit designated for cars.
—Between parking spaces? Usually one space ends and another begins right next to it.
—A motorcycle can park free in either metered parking spaces or in the areas with the pay stations, as long as they don't block the device.
—You mean, as long as I park in the end of a parking space rather than right in the middle, I will be OK?
—Yes, that is the City's policy.
So, there you have it. Free parking for motorcycles in Albuquerque. Let the mode-shift begin. I think if this policy were advertised, motorcycles would become so popular that the City would have to change it. Let's hope they don't.
I liked so much the idea of a permanent page on Albuquerque motorcycle parking page, that I made this.