First time posting in the Ducati forum-wow!, so this it what it's like in here...
I'm adding a new bike to the stable this winter and am looking for any sage advice you guys might have to offer. I got bit by the vtwin bug early this season (no Harley jokes please ;-) and it really got incurable after getting the chance to rack up some miles on both an ST4 and a Monster. Since my riding is almost always just a day sortie or a rare track day I decided on the 996 and have found 2 real nice bikes within driving distance. I started the research process a few months ago (figuring I'd buy in the off season to save a few bucks) and think I have a fair handle on the common issues. One of the bikes I'm looking at is just after the 6k service and one just before. I've pretty much decided I'll pull the top end down and do the rocker arms as a pre-emptive strike (those cams are eyewatering expensive aren't they). I'm planning on logging a thousand miles or so first to get a handle on anything else I might want to address at the same time. Other than that my intentions are only minor mods like the flywheel, clutch, and wheels. I'm wondering what popular opinion is on preferred shims/collets, and how many guys are using the belt tension gauge from ca cycle. I know a guy who purchased one, but he hasn't done the 12k yet. Internet forums and posts are great to read about reliability issues and failures, but not much on successes and trouble free miles. Also, does anybody offer rocker arm sets on a pre exchange basis? I read Lt. Snyder's book. Any other noteworthy sources besides the factory manual? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I'm adding a new bike to the stable this winter and am looking for any sage advice you guys might have to offer. I got bit by the vtwin bug early this season (no Harley jokes please ;-) and it really got incurable after getting the chance to rack up some miles on both an ST4 and a Monster. Since my riding is almost always just a day sortie or a rare track day I decided on the 996 and have found 2 real nice bikes within driving distance. I started the research process a few months ago (figuring I'd buy in the off season to save a few bucks) and think I have a fair handle on the common issues. One of the bikes I'm looking at is just after the 6k service and one just before. I've pretty much decided I'll pull the top end down and do the rocker arms as a pre-emptive strike (those cams are eyewatering expensive aren't they). I'm planning on logging a thousand miles or so first to get a handle on anything else I might want to address at the same time. Other than that my intentions are only minor mods like the flywheel, clutch, and wheels. I'm wondering what popular opinion is on preferred shims/collets, and how many guys are using the belt tension gauge from ca cycle. I know a guy who purchased one, but he hasn't done the 12k yet. Internet forums and posts are great to read about reliability issues and failures, but not much on successes and trouble free miles. Also, does anybody offer rocker arm sets on a pre exchange basis? I read Lt. Snyder's book. Any other noteworthy sources besides the factory manual? Any input would be greatly appreciated.