[SnS_12]

1k kms is finally done and dusted.

Did a small ride to Bandra and back as I had to drop the bike back to have the oil seal issue sorted and have the clutch slave fitted along with the Tappezzeria seat covers fitted.

Also, met up with another 848 EVO owner over breakfast for the first time and had some good conversations around bikes and our respective rides.

Some pictures:

[Shur'tugal]

Saw the two bikes this Sunday on my morning run to Bandstand. Thought it was Bianca, I definitely stopped and stared for a bit. The bike is beautiful!

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by Shur'tugal

Thought it was Bianca, I definitely stopped and stared for a bit. The bike is beautiful!

Thank you. Should have come in as well wouldn’t have been too difficult to identify us with our helmets

I was telling my friend this sight is so iconic as two rare Ducati’s are parked together just a few meters away from the spot where the old Ducati showroom once used to be.

[SnS_12]

Bianca is back home and finally all the issues have been resolved main ones being the left fork oil seal leaking after multiple replacements and the CNC clutch slave fitment.

For the fork issue the whole left fork was dismantled and hand buffed on the lathe machine as it had developed pitting with years of standing still. This method was a trial and a last resort as then the only issue would be to replace it with a new inner tube. The method seemed to have worked as I haven’t seen oil leak yet. Also, the front suspension oil was replaced for both legs and tuning was changed with reduced preload on the front which now helps absorb the road undulations better. The rear shock too was opened and cleaned thoroughly to remove the rust spots which had developed during storage and was greased up. Also, the rebound on the rear suspension was increased.

Further the rear and front tyres were taken out to clean and grease the wheel bearings and the brake callipers both front and back were opened and cleaned along with the brake oil change. The CNC clutch slave was fitted using a single 1mm shim and the oil was bled and replaced completely. Since, major working components were opened and cleaned the T cone set was opened and cleaned as well and new grease was applied.

Another change done was replacing the battery as the current exide battery base rating was not correct and it was replaced with a 9 Ah batery. Now, the cold start is faster and stronger and the grunt from the engine is also stronger with extra noticeable heat from the engine.

And finally the seat covers were fitted as well and now the list of parts that I had ordered have all been fitted on the bike. The steering damper can be repaired but will need to order the oil seals but since I have already ordered an aftermarket replacement will use the OE one as it is now. Also, have ordered the radiator guatd from CNC and front fork protectors from DUCABIKE.

Now, hopefully I can now enjoy the 140 hp without any new drama from Bianca

Some pictures…

Pitting marks on the left tube..













Bottom part of the plastic fuel tank.

[SnS_12]

Pictures continued…

[SnS_12]

Bianca has been adding kms and running flawlessly but all within city limits and would like to take her for a longer spin on the highway but with lot of travels and other family commitments it has been difficult in the last two months.

The following parts/accessories have now arrived and will be going on the bike once I am back from yet another trip and hopefully in early March.

a) DUCABIKE front axle protectors
b) CNC radiator guard
d) Matris SDR steering damper

All the above parts were sourced through my good friends at Lanesplit and after getting a feel of the quality and precision of the rear sets on one of their bikes that maybe next on my wish list.

For now though the above parts and Samco hoses will be going on Bianca next..

Also, on a recent trip to Singapore picked up a pair of riding boots from Dainese and looking forward to try these as well.

Some pictures…





























Those delicious looking rear sets on my friends 1299. Absolutely loved the feel of it. A set from Aella is next on the wish list for Bianca.

























Italians do make some of the finest parts.

[SnS_12]

Brought Bianca back home today after installing the last set of parts and now have to make a visit to OCD Detail Studio for its first detailing service tomorrow which has been long overdue.

Some pictures of the final set of goodies (hopefully) for Bianca:

[SnS_12]

Did a short city ride with a friend and then went to OCD to get the detailing service done. Being a Sunday traffic was sparse and got a few opportunities for some short high speed bursts and the mid range on this beauty is just phenomenal. Riding in the city does no justice to this bike but with concrete work ongoing on the highway route I take this is the best i can do.

Now, hopefully I can add some miles before monsoon’s arrive and can enjoy the bike to the fullest.

Some pictures…

[SnS_12]

Bianca makes it through another monsoon without any drama. Being an Italian I always approach it with a small prayer as I always have a fear when I crank it that it won’t crank or worst an unwanted light will glow on the dashboard. The other thing I keep an eye on is the left fork oil seal and the buffing work on the internal tube is doing its job and the pitting has been smoothened out just enough to prevent any further oil leaks. Every time I start up all the bikes once in 18-20 days I wait for the radiator fan to kick in twice and ensure I pull in the clutch a few times to get it lubricated and apply both front and rear brakes while ensuring the front forks are compressed a few times so they are well lubricated. These bikes are not designed to be left standing and rather work well when they are used. And Bianca has been standing for a good part of 13 years since she left the factory floor.

I took her out today after her monsoon hibernation and though i wanted to ride her on my birthday on Friday a late night plus rains in the morning made me cancel that plan. Did my usual town ride and met a few old friends too. On the way back got some traffic closer to home and that is one environment you don’t want to be on this bike as the hands go numb and even applying those powerful front brakes turns into a nightmare. You use this bike in the wrong conditions and the response is immediate and something you won’t enjoy.. But, when the conditions are perfect a truly phenomenal motorcycle to ride. Two of my friends rode it for the first time and one of them who used to own a 1098 said it rides better than his did and as if its just stepped out of the showroom. Now that is some compliment for a close to 13 year old motorcycle.


Some pictures…

More than the illiterate population the country’s biggest problem is the educated illiterate section of society. Repair work in the building premises to fix a water leakage issue and they dumb all this right in front of my bikes blocking them for good.



The amount of dust accumulated. Had to wipe them off with a Jopasu duster before taking the covers off to start them



The work was supposed to get done in two weeks but Indian timelines are different and it took two months to complete. April and May saw no road time for any of my bikes. But managed to squeeze in one last ride in early June around my locality.




The collection minus two back then and now minus four with the new additions. The day all bikes are together I will get one epic group picture.



TP during warm up sessions every 18-20 days



Top view. What a beautiful looking motorcycle



Saw this 848 on one of my trips to UK.



Air top up for its first run post monsoon



Odo reading before the ride



What a 30k paint job looks like on an Aerox. I don’t know between me and Parsi’s who are more cracked up in the head when it comes to spending and maintaining motorcycles



No decals all paint only



Old next to very old (Jawa)



Friend picked up a used CB 650



Beauty from every angle



Tank is a piece of art



Motorcycles are conversation starters



1st time on Bianca


Took permission to click some snaps at the iconic 80+ year old art deco pump “Karfule”





Finally hit 1500. 13 years young and still the running in is not completed

[pratik_terni]

Originally Posted by SnS_12

Friend picked up a used CB 650

Lovely pics SnS_12, and a very interesting line up....spoilt for choices on which bike to pick for the next ride

Off-topic but can you please suggest how your friend manage to get his hands on a used CB650?
I have been looking for it for a really long time and there have been barely any leads. 1-2 ads came up on olx and facebook and were sold before anything could be done.
Any pointers would help.

[Torq-D]

Ducati 848 was my first ever Superbike experience in 2012, when I got a short test ride at Chandigarh dealership.That short test ride got me hooked to world of Superbikes.

Even after 13 years ,it looks like a timeless beauty.Though Ducati designs have evolved a lot since then but 848 is keeper.@SnS_12 ,wish u thousands of cheerful kms with this beauty.

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by pratik_terni

Lovely pics SnS_12, and a very interesting line up....spoilt for choices on which bike to pick for the next ride

Off-topic but can you please suggest how your friend manage to get his hands on a used CB650?
I have been looking for it for a really long time and there have been barely any leads. 1-2 ads came up on olx and facebook and were sold before anything could be done.
Any pointers would help.

Thank you!

My friend bought it via OLX. They are rare to find and are being sold at a premium.

[crotonic]

Nice, post by the I thought you had a different tyre inflator.

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by crotonic

Nice, post by the I thought you had a different tyre inflator.

The GoodYear one I had finally went kaput so got this one.


Speaking of kaput the dash on Bianca also looks like it’s on its way out. The LCD display seems to be starting to fade slowly and I am not yet sure why that is happening. Will have to do some research if it can be fixed or else I will eventually have to get a new one and it’s not going to be cheap. Plus one has to program the key to the new dash it’s not a simple plug and play affair. The Italian I guess was not so happy that a Japanese (my RZ 350) was attracting such hight cost parts and decided to act up to get some attention as well.

It’s an issue which I will try to address next month when I have to get its annual service done and hopefully my running in would be completed by then (1,600 kms). For now my main focus is to get the RZ restoration completed but I am sure I will be looking for a new dash on Ebay simultaneously

Had been a while since I took out Bianca since my first ride post monsoon and did a short run to Bandra and back as I had to pick up some goodies that I had ordered. Bianca was definitely not the right choice to get those stuff but my space management skills have improved with so many bikes and I could get the stuff safely home.

Some pictures to explain better what I am talking about:

Km reading at the start of today’s ride



LCD fading issue



Slowly climbing towards 1,600 kms



First stop for the day to check all is ok..



Second stop at Reclamation where some kids came over to take some pictures



Soaking in the view and the Sun



Why I never really believed in PPF



Amount of yellowing in a year



When the Joker says WHY SO SERIOUS and you reply back because I own a Ducati



The other goodie



Baby steps towards fulfilling another dream





House full and a committed riding triangle of the 848 just what my back needed



Top quality stuff

[SnS_12]

13 years later Bianca’s heart is fully run in

Bianca is the third bike where I have finished the run in on a new engine from the factory. But, I doubt I will ever get an opportunity to buy an old bike with zero miles in India ever again.

With Bianca it’s still a learning cover even after almost two years and 1,600 kms of riding. Such an unforgiving motorcycle that I my alertness level always has to be 100% and I am always scanning the road in the city for undulations and especially the massive potholes. But, when I get the opportunity I thoroughly enjoy giving it the beans and now I am eagerly waiting to experience the performance after 8k rpms, which I will explore after I do the annual service. Also, lately the weather in Mumbai has been surprisingly pleasant and today even in city riding the temperature reading was 80 and below in the morning which makes me think I should only ride the Ducati for the next few months.Modern Ducati’s trap a lot of heat and Bianca even though runs hot but no way near unmanageable levels but its all because we ride it in the wrong weather as in India its a perfect winter motorcycle

Rode it to OCD for its half yearly NGC maintenance and it desperately needed a wash with all the dirt it had collected thanks to the repair work in my building just before monsoons.

Some pictures…

The two white and red combo in my garage



Km reading before starting the day



Date with OCD Detail Studio finally



For a change I got a slightly dirty looking bike for Sumant to do his magic



Areas where only a pressure wash can reach







A simple looking tool pouch but surely heavy on the pocket to replace





NGC’s water beading capability even after almost two years of application





Foam wash time



Before



After



Squeaky clean



Bianca looks like Night Fury





13 years young



All cleaned up





Like my chains clean too if you know



Menacing Pose





Finally the magic number. Engine internals are now ready for high rpm mental drama



Some more pics back home









Two shining machines



Back with its garage mates and the new member will be joining them very soon now🤞