Aloha from Haw... No wait... Utah.... =/

[nightster.lp]

Tony
Ogden, Utah
Harley Davidson Sporty (So sue me!)  , 01 M900S Added to the garage last week
Been riding 6 years. Aprx. 45k two wheel miles across 3 bikes.
Been wrenching on my Harley for 3 years. Been eyeing Monsters for several years. I love their sound, nudity, Ducati's history. Looking to make "Gabriella" a beauty all my own in the coming years. Right now I'm just in the planning stages. But as for paint I'm thinking white with two 2" racing strips down the middle, red "Ducati" emblem to replace the grey, and paint the frame the same Ducati red?

[herm]

welcome to the board. a red frame is always good..

[Slide Panda]

Welcome - a slew of folks picking up 'older' 900s recently. So I'll just paste my comments from another into to you 

So now for the older monster speech
Buying an older bike, especially a duc there's some stuff to check on.
The Cam belts are a two year/12k miles service life item. If you don't know how old the belts are think hard about replacing them
Valves should have been checked at 6k - any notion of that was done?
Fluids should be replaced. This is oils (fork included) and hydraulics.
Any notion of how old the tires are? Most manufacturers recommend a service life of about 5 years on moto tires. They do get stiff over time and loose their grip and ability to flex.
Some techron in the gas tank wouldn't hurt anything either.

The 900 is the tank of the Duc engines. The next service on mine is the 36k and it doesn't miss a beat. Perhaps not as smooth as some of the others, but it'll run a long time.

Of the stuff I mentioned up top all can be accomplished by the competent amateur mechanic. Some can be fussy - like valves, but it's not hard. Try and run down the ducati factory manual. Between that and some other resources out there you'll have all the info you'll need.

And of course if you have questions, we have answers.

Your paint idea sounds a bit like one of the versions of the 695. That was black tank w/ red letters on a red frame - very sharp.

[nightster.lp]

Thanks Sad Panda. Those are some great tips, and many things I hadn't thought of. "Gabriella" (I name my bikes....) only has 9.3k on her. So she hasn't been ridden much the past 11 years. (all the more reason to check everything) But it seems the previous two owners kept her in immaculate condition. The seller stated the oil change was done less than 200 miles before the sale, and he also said HE did the valve adjustment himself. He seemed brilliant, but hearing about self mechanic jobs always makes me nervous. I suppose it would be wise to check them anyways. I rebuilt my Harley down to the cylinder studs, so I am confident with a wrench. I hope that with a service manual, and tips from my new friends here  I will be ok. Messing with cams always makes me nervous. How rought is a belt replacement?

[Slide Panda]

if you've stripped the sporty that far the belts shouldn't hold any fear

You'll need some way to turn the engine -crank turning tool:
http://www.motomfg.com/Crank_shaft_turning_tool_for_Ducati_s_p/et-1.htm
Or you can turn the engine via the rear wheel - but you'll need the wheel off the ground of course.

Otherwise it's pretty much just hand tools for there on. There's a video tutorial on Youtube
Ducatitech.com "HowTo" Ducati Timing Belt Change

Pretty simple over all. Only PITA part is that roller on the vertical cam. With the marks lined up it's right on the nose of the cam and the helper springs will put if over if you look at it too hard.

[Buckethead]

Plus, you know, belts.

http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/tb900

But yeah, pretty straight forward.

Also, welcome! 

[Thermite]

Well, Aloha from Hawaii to you.  Too bad for the sporty, it's doomed!

[nightster.lp]

Plus, you know, belts.

http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/tb900

But yeah, pretty straight forward.

Also, welcome! 

Thanks! I just ordered em. Hopefully I can get em in before the trackday comin up. =)

[nightster.lp]

Well, Aloha from Hawaii to you.  Too bad for the sporty, it's doomed!

I take it you've never owned a Harley? I know it doesn't make sense, and I don't expect anyone to understand, but for reasons hard to explain, I could NEVER sell my sporty. Ill take it to the grave with me. =\ And it still gets more attention than the monster. (Please forgive me)

[Thermite]

You'd take it wrong.  Two so far, sporty and a fat bob.  Both came to me via a distress situation and neither stayed very long.  I just find the imbalanced engine cycle to be wrong on every level I can imagine.  It insults my sense of order.

That said if I had the opportunity to jump on a bagger and head out for a three-day ride across country on a HD I would have a smile on my face.

I have read that of owners who have two different brands in their stable HD and Ducati is the popular choice.

I will probably own another HD at some point in my life, most likely the day I have to switch from tennis to badminton.

[nightster.lp]

You'd take it wrong.  Two so far, sporty and a fat bob.  Both came to me via a distress situation and neither stayed very long.  I just find the imbalanced engine cycle to be wrong on every level I can imagine.  It insults my sense of order.

That said if I had the opportunity to jump on a bagger and head out for a three-day ride across country on a HD I would have a smile on my face.

I have read that of owners who have two different brands in their stable HD and Ducati is the popular choice.

I will probably own another HD at some point in my life, most likely the day I have to switch from tennis to badminton.

Good! Having owned a couple validates your opinion. I respect that. =) I'm not the kinda guy that thinks everyone should ride the same bike, my bike. The fact that we all have different preferences, opinions, just gives each of us more character. I like my Harley because it has allowed me to express myself in a way that I can't with other mediums, and in a way I never expected. I like my Ducati because Ducati has class, and I can hit the canyons harder.

[Thermite]

I'm not a hater.  HP/weight ratio is a draw for me so I prefer the ducs.  The sporty was fairly good in that aspect but the ducs are much smoother in the delivery.  I've also owned jap I4's and consider one of them the best bike I will ever own.  That's mostly because I put 130k miles on it with very little drama.  Sold it running as well as it ever did to a very happy buyer.

[nightster.lp]

Excellent. I tend to shy away from Asian manufacturers, Just because I don't wanna have something everyone has. (thats my excuse anyways) I understand where your coming from. One of the biggest reasons I like the sporty is cause its raucous. She shakes, rattles, and rolls. My Ducati is a more perfect machine, Perfectly balanced, power on cue, predictable. But the sporty feels more... Organic, alive, less predicable, and loads of fun. =)