ducatipaso.org

I guess McTool will rather like to know more about that wife and girlfriend thing now

G.

No G, that's just me larking about.

You don't think I could afford: another Ducati, a wife, AND a girlfriend too - do you?

The bike is at my friend's house because I couldn't make it to Wales to take delivery - so it went to my friend's place. I'll move it as soon as I can.

that's a lovely bike Rhino - and a good price, I think i remember it coming up on the Bay.

Impressive storage location. Better get it fast before the rodents make a nest in the wiring

Rodents nesting?
Be happy if they do.
Another excuse to visit my friend . . .

Ducati 851 + girlfriend = great combo.
Above all if they have full toolkit!
Ciao

Trust me Francesco the girlfriend has all the optional extras!

You must remind me to post some pictures of the centrestands on my 851 and 916 . . .

Still have not managed to get home to see my 851 - I could bloody cry. Been too busy here in London.

Well the good news is that I am heading to Wales inside the next two weeks so I'll finally see it and hear it run. I wil of course put up somemore pictures if I can.

The observant amoung you may have noticed that the choke "lever" is missing from the handle bar so when she's started up she goes straight to fully open throttle!!
How no-one has blown it up yet is quite byond me.

Does anyone know if you can still obtain the choke "lever" assemblies for the 851 handle bars - (theyre probably the same as the 888)

Sorry cant answer your question but here is an 888 SPO Limited Edit. for sale, not mine but i know the seller and know the bike has been well taken care of.

http://www.finn.no/finn/mc/used/object? ... e=36572948

The observant amoung you may have noticed that the choke "lever" is missing from the handle bar so when she's started up she goes straight to fully open throttle!!
How no-one has blown it up yet is quite byond me.

Does anyone know if you can still obtain the choke "lever" assemblies for the 851 handle bars - (theyre probably the same as the 888)

Why would the engine go to full open throttle just because the choke lever is missing, that makes no sense. It may revv high if the choke or choke cable is stuck open but even that shouldn`t fully open throttle. If the choke lever and cable are missing the only noticable thing should be that the engine is harder to start and keep at idle when cold.
What model year is it - didn`t the early 851s have the brake & clutch pump like the 907ie with the square brake fluid reservoir ?
With the clutch pump you have the choke lever of a Monster/SS/Laverda Ghost/750S/Formula/Aprilia Mille etc should fit.

G.

Sorry G - can't say, I still haven't even seen it!!

It's registered with the UK authorities as '91 bike so it could be earlier and not registered 'till '91.
Thinking about it though you are quite right - it shouldn't just start screaming its head off because it's been started up. Very odd.

I will have her shipped to my local spanner-man to be fully serviced and made fit for the road so I will of course keep you all informed.

From the pictures it is a '91 Strada and as said above the fast idle lever is the same as the choke lever from the carbed SS and Monster models, it's also the same as the 907ie.
Something is preventing the throttle butterflies from fully closing, like the cable adjustment might be too tight, or maybe one of the blanking screws for the vacuum take-off is missing causing an air leak. It shouldn't be hard to put right.

Thanks Derek

I'm having her taken for a full servive - belts et al - at my local guy and I'm sure he'll catch that in the process.

so have you got to see her yet? - unbelievably one also fell into my lap about a month ago, funny how things happen. The bodywork is not as clean as yours and it's a single seat version from 1989. I read on some sites about choke levers but mine doesn't have one. I am wrestling with a leaking radiator at the moment but other than that i think it would MOT but wrong time of year to put on the road sadly. if I can't cure it with resin repair then looks like i'll have to adapt an ST2 one.