Excellent, looking forward to seeing it complete and out in the sun.
Were the plated components done in cadmium?
Were the plated components done in cadmium?
il Bastardo - Ducati Monster big traillie
- Thread starter The Other PaulG
- Start date
Next job - getting the headlight into the right position.
The new headlamp brackets I sourced are not up to the standard of other parts of the bike, so once they've been re-shaped (shortened) they'll be refinished too.
You acquire bits of wisdom when you do something like this for the first time. One thing I've realised is that when the project first starts to look like a bike, like something that might be almost finished, you're maybe 1/3rd the way through...
Something I am quite keen to do - once it's complete - is get down to a Ducati dealer, park it next to a new Scrambler and take some pics so we can see how the two compare. In theory, both bikes are aiming at the same end point so it'll be an interesting comparison.
P
The new headlamp brackets I sourced are not up to the standard of other parts of the bike, so once they've been re-shaped (shortened) they'll be refinished too.
You acquire bits of wisdom when you do something like this for the first time. One thing I've realised is that when the project first starts to look like a bike, like something that might be almost finished, you're maybe 1/3rd the way through...
Something I am quite keen to do - once it's complete - is get down to a Ducati dealer, park it next to a new Scrambler and take some pics so we can see how the two compare. In theory, both bikes are aiming at the same end point so it'll be an interesting comparison.
P
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From what I can see Paul, the DS looks like a kind of offroad style road bike that just wouldnt tolerate anything more than flat gravel if you stuck knoblies on..yours looks like an off roader from the outset and in IMHO better looking for it, the swing arm on the DS looks too road focused and pinched from a kwak er6.
The DS seems to generally put form over function, to cash in on the current retro scrambler trend.
If I may re-quote you from an earlier thread: "My pants just fell off!"
That is proper lovely Sir - a top job!
Got to second that opinion!
Cheers for the compliments guys!
To quote Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
"God is in the details"
If you add that tiny detail you mention above to the next tiny detail to the next tiny detail to the next ....... then they all add up to a sum greater than it's parts. I strive for this wherever possible.
With taller forks and wider bars, some of the original wires and hoses will no longer reach. That was one issue that I did anticipate, though, so it's not a surprise.
Throttle bodies, airbox, battery tray, ignition bits and pieces.... assembling a Monster has something of the Mary Shelley about it.
CT was absolutely right - once you start to add the plastic and the wiring, she'll never look quite as pretty as when she was just a frame, wheels, engine and handlebar.
Throttle bodies, airbox, battery tray, ignition bits and pieces.... assembling a Monster has something of the Mary Shelley about it.
CT was absolutely right - once you start to add the plastic and the wiring, she'll never look quite as pretty as when she was just a frame, wheels, engine and handlebar.
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Shep
Shep of the Dessert
Stunning looking bike!! Well done to all involved!
Gorgeous! Well done all involved, and please keep the pictures coming.
That looks great, Paul.
Are you going to bring it to Milemunchers one day?
Certainly - it won't be tonight, that's just a few days too soon but very probably next month.
P
She lives!!!
I know for a fact that the last time I was this excited, I was not even 10 years old and it was Christmas Eve....
This morning I set our early to complete the many-train journey across London to Maidstone.
CT has been burning the midnight oil completing all the little finishing jobs that are needed to really, properly, complete a build. It is staggering how many there are, how many little details, how many items need the tiniest of tweaks, then because you've tweaked them they need to go back to the platers or the powder coaters or wherever they've probably already been once....
Anyway,this morning the key was turned, the lights came on and she came kicking and screaming - in fact barking - back into life!
Specials are by definition always going to be subjective - some people will love them some will hate them, they're very personal But I could not be more pleased - I set out to create my dream bike and I am just chuffed to bits with the way it has turned out, way better than in my imagination.
I know for a fact that the last time I was this excited, I was not even 10 years old and it was Christmas Eve....
This morning I set our early to complete the many-train journey across London to Maidstone.
CT has been burning the midnight oil completing all the little finishing jobs that are needed to really, properly, complete a build. It is staggering how many there are, how many little details, how many items need the tiniest of tweaks, then because you've tweaked them they need to go back to the platers or the powder coaters or wherever they've probably already been once....
Anyway,this morning the key was turned, the lights came on and she came kicking and screaming - in fact barking - back into life!
Specials are by definition always going to be subjective - some people will love them some will hate them, they're very personal But I could not be more pleased - I set out to create my dream bike and I am just chuffed to bits with the way it has turned out, way better than in my imagination.
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The acid test
So then it was a 50 mile journey home.
An initial nervousness turning into slow roundabouts has been sorted by dropping the front tyre pressure a smidge - now she feels a lot more natural.
On the M25 she dealt well with the overbanding, cats eyes etc, but on the A and B roads she really came into her own.
The chassis is a bit longer than a standard Monster and she tracks into long bends absolutely beautifully - really solid. The supoension's a bit too stiff at the moment, I may need to soften the front fork springs (which are aftermarket stiffer items) and replacing the rear shock with something softer is also on the phase 2 list.
However........ right now it's the weekend, the sun is shining and I'm off, cheers!
So then it was a 50 mile journey home.
An initial nervousness turning into slow roundabouts has been sorted by dropping the front tyre pressure a smidge - now she feels a lot more natural.
On the M25 she dealt well with the overbanding, cats eyes etc, but on the A and B roads she really came into her own.
The chassis is a bit longer than a standard Monster and she tracks into long bends absolutely beautifully - really solid. The supoension's a bit too stiff at the moment, I may need to soften the front fork springs (which are aftermarket stiffer items) and replacing the rear shock with something softer is also on the phase 2 list.
However........ right now it's the weekend, the sun is shining and I'm off, cheers!
Signing out
Knobblies indeed...
OK, this is the end of this thread.
The build...well phase 1 of the build... has finished and to continue while I'm so thoroughly chuffed with the bike will risk this becoming some kind of self flagellation thread and we don't want that.
So.....
Phase 1 is complete. Is that the end of the story? - Absolutely not - as CT once said "once you build a special, you never really stop" and that's absolutely the case. I completely get that.
And if you've built anything out of the ordinary, you'll get it too.
Immediately, I can start a list: sort out the too-short side stand / figure out the poltergeist Italian clocks so they at least look like they're working / and as above, yes absolutely, add knobblies!
However, for today, we're at a point where phase 1 is finished, she's riding like a flippin' dream and so I'll cease here.
The next time you see this bike, it might be right here with the phase 2 modifications, it might be up the Tizzen Iza pass on a Morocco trip (do we still do those now the A-Rabs have become a bit tricky?) or it may be at Bakerman's pig-fest on the plains. It might even be at 09h00 in Bracknell on a Tuesday morning because this isn't a show pony, it's my bike and I need it for my transport, 3-4 days a week. Whatever, it's time to ride it.
So, while she's still beautiful and looking like something off a showroom floor, here are one or two pics of the finer details of the build:
Knobblies indeed...
OK, this is the end of this thread.
The build...well phase 1 of the build... has finished and to continue while I'm so thoroughly chuffed with the bike will risk this becoming some kind of self flagellation thread and we don't want that.
So.....
Phase 1 is complete. Is that the end of the story? - Absolutely not - as CT once said "once you build a special, you never really stop" and that's absolutely the case. I completely get that.
And if you've built anything out of the ordinary, you'll get it too.
Immediately, I can start a list: sort out the too-short side stand / figure out the poltergeist Italian clocks so they at least look like they're working / and as above, yes absolutely, add knobblies!
However, for today, we're at a point where phase 1 is finished, she's riding like a flippin' dream and so I'll cease here.
The next time you see this bike, it might be right here with the phase 2 modifications, it might be up the Tizzen Iza pass on a Morocco trip (do we still do those now the A-Rabs have become a bit tricky?) or it may be at Bakerman's pig-fest on the plains. It might even be at 09h00 in Bracknell on a Tuesday morning because this isn't a show pony, it's my bike and I need it for my transport, 3-4 days a week. Whatever, it's time to ride it.
So, while she's still beautiful and looking like something off a showroom floor, here are one or two pics of the finer details of the build:
Attachments
