[SinghBHP]

Originally Posted by SnS_12

Thank you.



On this one the pillion is not going to enjoy the ride and probably can do a 30 min spin provided its on open road.

I believe this is an issue with almost all Superbikes or Wannabe Superbikes. They are not for pillion riders. The seats are merely an accessory for completeness.

[yatesh.92]

First of all, many congratulations acquiring an incredibly rare Italian exotic . A very well detailed write up with some really amazing pictures . The 999, 848, 1098 these were insane machines at that time. It's threads like these which sometimes ignite my itch to purchase a bike again. The last bike I owned was a Unicorn Dazzler which served me well for close to 8 years till I parted ways with it in 2019. The bike wasn't being ridden much ever since I took the delivery of my Ignis in 2018 and hence had to let the Dazzler go.

Reading threads like these sometimes wakes up the biker inside me. After all, someone has rightly quoted, "4 wheels move the body but 2 wheels move the soul"

[SnS_12]

Had a morning meeting today near my friends workshop so post the meeting decided to pay him a visit to check on the bike. The fairings have been taken off and the timing belt covers have been removed. Now the challenge with changing these belts is that there is a specialised tool that is required to lock the cams on both cylinders. Ducati, Mumbai had the correct tool for it but they had a doubt that it might not fit on the EVO and that is what we found out. On the regular 848 and the 1098 the same tool can be used but the EVO needs a different one and the best solution was to make one that will do the job.

Also, the other challenge is the access to the belts as the engine is on the bike and not taken off. Further, the vertical cylinder (the one which is tight on space) belt has to be changed first as that is the one on the inside of the pulley and post that the other one can be attended too. But my friend is confident that it might take extra time and effort but he will get it done. Post that the front fork seals and dust seals will be installed and hopefully the bike should be home by Sunday 🤞

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by yatesh.92

First of all, many congratulations acquiring an incredibly rare Italian exotic . A very well detailed write up with some really amazing pictures . The 999, 848, 1098 these were insane machines at that time.

Thank you

Most of these Italian exotics are lapped up in India by people who have a lot of money but won’t spend it on doing the right maintenance required for these bikes and will use them only for social media views and then there are a set of people who cannot afford the expensive original parts and service costs and cut corners. These are complex machines and need special care and should be handled by right and knowledgeable professionals. But, unfortunately most of them land in the wrong hands and see a early death.

I am glad I could save this one from going in the wrong hands and will preserve it mechanically and cosmetically to the best of my abilities.

Originally Posted by yatesh.92

Reading threads like these sometimes wakes up the biker inside me. After all, someone has rightly quoted, "4 wheels move the body but 2 wheels move the soul"

There is a time and age where you can enjoy these beauties to the fullest. Look at how many two strokes you see around on the streets now and people in NCR can just dream of riding one now in their state. So, don’t wait it out and go for the opportunity if it presents itself as one day age is going to catch up and one will be blessed to be physically fit to ride this 848 EVO post their 50’s as it really demanding on your body and if you have a weak lower back you can forget about it and our road conditions just add further to our misery as on uneven surfaces the bike just throws your body around and I just have to concentrate from not been thrown off the bike. So, enjoy the moments of owning a two wheeler while you can in India.

[Dippy]

Congratulations on the acquisition. The bike looks absolutely smashing. Super awesome to get your hands such a rare piece. I am not much of a bike geek but because my brother is one, Ive learnt two paise from him. He owns an MY19 Honda CB1000R. He went onto to make the "Initial D" tofu shop livery on it.

Oh btw, even I had taken an Italian to the same church on my birthday in 2021. Here's a couple of pics (off-topic)





Wish you miles of smiles with Bianca. Ride safe

P.S BTW which GT Spirit scale model did you pick up?

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by Dippy

Congratulations on the acquisition. The bike looks absolutely smashing. Super awesome to get your hands such a rare piece. I am not much of a bike geek but because my brother is one, Ive learnt two paise from him. He owns an MY19 Honda CB1000R. He went onto to make the "Initial D" tofu shop livery on it.

Thank you . Do share a pic of your CB. Would like to see the tofu shop livery.

Originally Posted by Dippy

Oh btw, even I had taken an Italian to the same church on my birthday in 2021. Here's a couple of pics (off-topic)

Lovely, the exquisite Roma turning some heads. I am sure it must have attracted a huge crowd. I just stayed on that spot for a few minutes before a crowd surrounded the bike.

Originally Posted by Dippy

P.S BTW which GT Spirit scale model did you pick up?

Its a Mercedes SLR McLaren MSO edition



I haven’t opened it and seen it yet and its still in the box. Will post pictures of it on my scale model thread when I get the time to click some proper pictures with the white background setup.

[Dippy]

Originally Posted by SnS_12

Thank you . Do share a pic of your CB. Would like to see the tofu shop livery.

Here you go







The model looks lovely. I picked up a GT Spirit Limited pieces Ferrari F355 Berlinetta a couple of months ago.

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by Dippy

Here you go

Sweet. I recollect seeing pictures of your bike now with this livery but can’t remember where. This generation of CB 1000 R is like a unicorn in Mumbai.

Originally Posted by Dippy

The model looks lovely. I picked up a GT Spirit Limited pieces Ferrari F355 Berlinetta a couple of months ago.

I love GT Spirit. The quality, finish and detailing is excellent for the price. I have quite a few of them. My latest purchase has been a Ignition model Top Secret Supra GT300 Gold with Smoky Nagata’s figurine and signature card, which I sourced from Singapore (Unusal43) and is currently with bhpian No_fear and waiting for him to hand carry it to Mumbai. The story behind the real car is as insane as the man (Smoky) himself. Would be a dream to get a car built by him to India.

[SnS_12]

So, after almost 25 days Bianca is back home. The reason it took so much time was that most of the guys working at my friends place went on leave and plus I was also traveling for work so couldn’t pick it up while the bike was ready.

The timing belts were changed first and then the fork seals and the dust seals were replaced. My friend also changed the spark plugs as considering the age of the bike he thought its better to replace it and avoid the situation where the plugs fouled.

I had asked him to paint the fuel cap to silver and change the light bulbs to LED. While the fuel cap was painted the LED bulbs couldn’t be fitted because of the design of the housing of the lights. The tank cap is going to be replaced with a quick release one from Ducabike, including R&G mirrors blocks as I don’t like the stock mirrors so will take them off also they don’t fold so putting the parking cover on them is a challenge. And finally to make the clutch operation a bit softer and easy on the left wrist will be changing the clutch slave to one from CNC.

All, these parts are ordered and minus the mirror blanks are already with bhpian no_fear and waiting for him to come to Mumbai to carry it with him. I will anyway will be fitting these parts only after monsoon so not in a hurry to get them.

My plan was to try and finish the running in (1k kms) by this month but with May almost over and monsoons a few days away don’t think it will happen now. So, have to wait it out for monsoons to get over and will try to put in some kms in short city rides. I haven’t taken it for a long spin as i want the engine to go with some heat cycles for a few 100 kms before I ride it for a longer period in one stretch. The first 100 is done and now another 900 to go before the real fun starts

Some pictures…

The special tool made to lock the cams.



The new belt going in





The old belt I took it back home to be kept as memory and a reference point



Thankfully the replacement sourced from Ducati, Mumbai was made in UK.



With Italian one can go crazy with aftermarket accessories. The quick release tank cap and clutch slave.





The OE air filter as I have replaced it with a Sprint one.





Old spark plugs replaced for good measure





Taking the bike for daily chores. On my way back took it to the bank as I had some cheques yo be deposited. Got a few eyeballs rolling.



Is it an EV??





The first milestone achieved



Back home









Back with its garage mates



Ordered a bigger Tarmac garage cover from Bachoo Motors in Mumbai. The previous one was a Large size but was still a bit short because of the height of the rear seat and mirrors not folding in so moved it on the Busa.











The second cover which is a Raida sourced from Amazon

[Jimmyjimmyaaja]

Wow this post was very satisfying to read. Almost like a fairy tale coming true, congrats on getting this bike and salute to your meticulous approach to refurbish the legendary 848. I like this bike all the more due to that iconic scene with trinity in the matrix. Although the one in the scene is 998 I think but nevertheless this looks so much similar.

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by Jimmyjimmyaaja

wow this post was very satisfying to read. almost like a fairy tale coming true, congrats on getting this bike and salute to your meticulous approach to refurbish the legendary 848.

Thank you. Considering the age of the bike there were a lot of stuff even though never used that needed replacement like the timing belt, fork seals and I am glad I could get this sorted as keeping the bike mechanically fit is always my top priority. Cosmetically only the fuel tank and the fuel cap needed to be painted. While I am not considering doing anything further on the fuel tank the fuel cap is already painted.

Coming to aftermarket accessories that is one area on Italian’s you can really go bonkers with. Have already ordered the following through Lanesplit and I am always on the lookout for something interesting to buy next for Bianca, which I never did on Bluebird (Busa).

However, the issue is that this is a decade+ old model and lot of companies have either stopped making accessories or have no stock left.

1) DUCABIKE Fuel Tank Cap
2) CNC Clutch Slave
3) R&G Mirror Blanks
4) Tappezzeria seat

Originally Posted by Jimmyjimmyaaja

I like this bike all the more due to that iconic scene with trinity in the matrix. Although the one in the scene is 998 I think but nevertheless this looks so much similar.

The one in the Matrix is the 996.

One day all the three sisters (Black, Red and White EVO’s) need to have a get together and click a group pic like this @no_fear

[Odeen12]

Congratulations!!! Really Really pretty looking motorcycle. Have fun, ride safe!

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by Odeen12

Congratulations!!! Really Really pretty looking motorcycle. Have fun, ride safe!

Thanks Odeen and congratulations on your Italian too

Was in London this week and decided to visit Ducati London in Vauxhall to see if I could pick up any parts or accessories for Bianca. As, its an older model getting parts and especially aftermarket accessories is a challenge as most of the manufacturers have stopped manufacturing it. Also, I visited the Dainese store a day before and the chap over there told me to do visit as next door is the MV Agusta dealership and that got me really excited as I had never been to one before.

Some pictures…











This sight reminded me how Mumbaikars travel hanging out of local train during peak hours..



Due to a change in safety standards all the helmets were on sale



This had a sticker price of £ 1,199 and had a 50% discount on it. Only, If I had space to store a few more helmets..





Bought a pair of gloves and a single balaclava. Costed a little over ₹16k for both..Post Brexit they have stopped charging VAT so the prices are cheaper compared to other European countries.











There were four brand showroom’s on the same street starting from Triumph, Ducati and MV Agusta and KTM under the same roof.



Skipped Triumph as after getting the 848 the Street and Speed triple were off from my bucket list







Thanks to bhpian no_fear there were some limited edition models I had already seen in flesh like the Troy Bayliss edition V2.



As the Ducati guys had nothing interesting to sell me which I could actually carry back home I moved on to MV Agusta. This place really created a lasting first impression on me and I couldn’t stop ogling at the pieces of motorcycle art parked inside





Seeing an MV Agusta and an F4 is rare and then you witness this creation an MV Agusta F4 1000 Tamburini one of only 300 build for the world

[SnS_12]

Pictures continued…

A few Superveloce were on display as well. This is the kind off artwork we understand…





The monstrous Rush edition. Seeing it in person was a surreal experience especially with the amount of detailing and bling it carried..















Sneek peek of what is lurking behind the regular Brutale



The Brutale Nurburgring edition.. If it was possible to ship these beauties to Mumbai then I would have walked out of the showroom a few 100£ lighter and another few at Mumbai customs



Imagine walking up to this view in your garage.





The F3 RC one of 235 out if a total of 500 ever produced





And now the holy grail from the world of Ducati parked in a MV shop. They ensured if its a Ducati it better be a very very special one..





Bianca has the same dash and the same crap mirrors to make it road legal

[SnS_12]

Thought would get an opportunity to squeeze in one final ride before the monsoons but weather played spoilsport again so just started her up and took a few rounds in the society complex. Also, while the bike was cooling down clicked a few pictures and videos and tried a few new angles.

Had ordered the Tappezzeria seats through Lanesplit and they arrived in record time in Singapore as I was expecting over a month for delivery. They should arrive in India end of this month and will go on the bike with the other accessories post monsoons.

Some pictures…

Ordered the one with white border instead of the red. This will require regular cleaning though in our dusty conditions.













One can see all the way through from the cockpit but the bike keeps you so engaged while riding that you can’t even dare to see the front suspension in motion. Will be a good angle to mount a GoPro though.





The painted fuel cap



12 year old lines. The brake lines are braided ones from factory so won’t need replacement but, will be changing the throttle cable and radiator hoses to the kit from Samco when I will be replacing the coolant next









The cutout in the lower fairing where the side stand rests when not in use is known to break as riders can’t see the side stand while seated on the bike and tend to rest their heel on the plastic portion instead the tip of the stand while pulling it down. Another reason not to let your friends ride your 848.