[theCalmRider]

Coming here from your two stroke threads is heavenly. What a lovely bike indeed! Cannot get enough of those pics!!

Originally Posted by SnS_12

Baby steps towards fulfilling another dream

Now that's something I look forward to, and because I can't resist asking, what in the world is your profession?

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by theCalmRider

Coming here from your two stroke threads is heavenly. What a lovely bike indeed! Cannot get enough of those pics!!

Now that's something I look forward to, and because I can't resist asking, what in the world is your profession?

Thank you and the collection is two stroke biased and I guess it would stay that way for sometime unless I add further project bikes, which I am avoiding for now as the current collection is a handful to maintain the way I wish too… On the work front I am a insurance broker by profession and I can understand why many people get curious on that front and its no surprise as even my promoter was surprised when I told him how many bikes I own

Annual Service

Had dropped off the bike with Tony’s for its annual service back on 26th January the same day I got the RZ home for a short duration before I had to take it back to get the oil leak fixed. For the annual service I had ordered the oil filter and air filter from Ducati, Mumbai. Now I have the Sprint filter on the bike just like the Busa, but I was not sure it it was letting in dirt and so as a backup I ordered the OE filter as a backup incase we needed to change it. The service work is now completed on the bike along with the clutch and brake cylinder fluid change. Only thing left to do now is fix the moisture issue that has cropped up in the dashboard and that will be worked upon next week. So, from next weekend onwards I have to get home one bike at a time starting with the RZ and then the RD 200 and finally the 848 and also drop off the RX and Hayabusa for their annual service. Busy days ahead…Phew!!!

Some pictures…

At Ducati service centre to collect the parts



Italian exotic parts which have exotic prices as well



Km reading before the service. Running in is now complete. Look at the colour of the brake fluid as attracted moisture and time to change



Meeting its new garage mate



Km reading post service. Moisture issue inside the dashboard has to be addressed next.



Sprint filter all clean and seems to be doing its job well







New brake fluid



New clutch lever fluid





Samco hoses up close

[thtechnician]

Originally Posted by SnS_12

Moisture issue inside the dashboard has to be addressed next.

Is there condensation inside your dash? To me it appears that the polarizer film on the LCD has become deformed with time and UV exposure, I have performed film replacements on older devices like GameBoys and PSPs that look similar. Should be easy and cheap to fix if the film is the only issue.

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by thtechnician

Is there condensation inside your dash? To me it appears that the polarizer film on the LCD has become deformed with time and UV exposure, I have performed film replacements on older devices like GameBoys and PSPs that look similar. Should be easy and cheap to fix if the film is the only issue.

Well, not exactly sure what led to this issue but the bike had spent considerable amount of time exposed to the sun in Delhi customs and maybe that could be one of the reasons for this. For now we have replaced the whole top glass but the new issue is that we have no reading visible on the screen anymore. The bike though starts up without any issues. So, now the bike will visit another workshop where the guy who worked on the dash can check it with bike motorcycle being around and hopefully we can fix this issue now. 🤞

The blank dash. When you’re busy rebuilding rare RD’s and the Italian wants to join the party and get some attention as well..



Looks like next visit to Sumant will happen sooner than planned

[SnS_12]

Speedometer display is readable once again

I was praying that this one doesn’t turn out to be a bigger financial damage as a new unit would have costed more than a lac and going the used part route wouldn’t be advisable as if the key cannot be programmed to the new meter for whatever reason the bike will just not start. Italian’s can be heavy on the pocket and a 12+ year old bike needs to be maintained with constant prayers .

This was not a easy fix as there are a lot of sensors below the screen and this is what made the process time consuming and when the repaired screen did not show any display it was corrected with a chip replacement and thankfully we had access to the right guys for such a technical job.

With the running in period being completed and fresh from its annual service it time to unleash the beast and explore its full potential that I can safely extract/explore on the streets…

Some pictures…

The old faded display



For the meter to be accessed the whole front fairing had to be taken off



Looks menacing





Top view with the magnesium bracket



Right fairing resting away



Meter mounting point



The connector which does all the heavy duty. A wiring loom change will definitely break the bank on this one



Collecting dust



The motor is dying to breath fire after years of hibernation and some more



The other side with the Samco hoses adding to the red drama



Meter returns and on the first try only the Christmas lights around the meter comes on and zero centre display. At least the bike cranked and had no errors or faults considering the number of sensors the meter itself has.



World of old Ducati bikes is not for the faint hearted definitely.



Even a standing Ducati can give you so much inspiration.



Ducati Red is the chosen paint shade for the RD 125



And then the D day finally arrives after weeks of waiting full set of Christmas lights comes on along with the main display



Sigh of relief!!! This one really gave me the nightmares and at a time when I have a few complex two strokes rebuild on hand already… But in the end I had to be patient and believe that we will find a solution and we did

[SnS_12]

Bianca in back home after 56 days..

Well, that is how long it took to sort out the speedometer but in the end I am glad we could find a solution. I rode the RZ today to Tony’s and on the return rode Bianca back home. I must have switched saddles in about 10 mins and the moment I let go off the clutch it just lunged forward very aggressively and I had to work on my muscle memory as unlike the RZ, the Domino quick throttle on Bianca is an absolute suicidal mode on this aggressive L twin Italian and it took me sometime to get used to it Also with all the testing and running of the bike the fuel had gone low so I head to visit the pump in peak Mumbai traffic which didn’t help either. To my surprise for the first time the Trip fuel meter also came on. With a small fuel tank and a engine which has a drinking habit not having a fuel gauge just adds up to the anxiety and on top of that with the low fuel light the fuel meter came on. At first I thought that it is going to show me distance to empty but upon checking the manual after the ride I found out that it actually shows the kms ridden on reserve fuel. Not very helpful when you’re riding in traffic with the engine on but then this motorcycle was never meant to be ridden in such environments in the first place…

Will take her for a longer spin sometime next week as now I have to get the RZ back home and drop the Busa for its annual service… Life with 8 Bikes is a level of complication where finding the time and right balance is something you can just dream off. Phew!!

Some pictures…

All set to ride Bianca back home. My RZ and RD 200 in the background..



But first need to fill up her hungry belly once again



Back home..Moving out bikes in such a tight overcrowded parking is the next struggle in life