RIDERS VIEW'S  by S. Roll. 

• Date 13-March-2000
• 98. 916
• Mileage 15,313

    Well after owning the 916 since Oct. 99. I finally got to ride the bike due to the brilliant weather on Sunday March 12th. On Saturday we decided we  were going to go fishing on the Sunday but the weather was good so decided to go out on the bikes instead, uncovered the bike where it had been stored over the winter to my amazement it started first time.  I gave it a quick check over  left the house at 8.30am. to meet two friends at the Stewpony pub, Nr. Kinver one with a 916 and the other with a 748 SP. Decide to go to the Ponderosa cafe at the Horseshoe pass near Llangollen, Wales. Got as far as Bridgenorth and the rear wheel decides to step out in a island, stopped and checked the tyres the front tyre had worn in a *V* shape, so now more trying to get knee down till the tyres get changed. The next stop was for fuel about 40 miles further, the only problem was aching wrists, especially the left. Got to the Ponderosa had breakfast left there to go to Betws y Coed, to Dills diner, bike's handling great but not pushing to hard due to the tyres. Compared to my blade it feels so safe and positive in the bends and easier to throw about, ( changes direction a lot quicker ). The seat feels like something of a push bike its so hard and uncomfortable after about 110 miles, wrists still aching (all three of us now aching). Decided to turn right out of Betws y Coed somehow ended up at  small welsh village which I have not got a clue how to pronounce, went through Portmadoc, then headed towards Dolgellau. Stopped three or four more times due to aching wrist and cramp, left hand feels worst due to keep pulling the clutch in even though I was short shifting up the box ( the blade was never this uncomfortable even though the blade had rear-sets and clip-ons ). 

    The 916 feels so small compared to any other bike I have ridden, the riding position is great when your above 60 mph but when you slow down after riding for a while to around 30 mph its murder on your wrists. Brakes feel about the same as a blade but do not need to be used as much due to the amount of engine braking. The power delivery is totally different to any other bike as well especially out of bends you can get the power on a lot quicker. Suspension felt hard but that probably needs setting up properly. Last stop was at Bridgnorth about 20 miles from home by this time we had covered nearly 320 miles, we were all shattered, wrist ache, back ache, neck ache and arse ache. First impressions were, apart from all the aches  were I enjoyed it, cannot wait to get new tyres then have a proper ride ( Dragon 180 rear and corsa front) at the moment it has a Dragon 190 rear, which a few people I have spoken to do not recommend. 

    So after 320 mile or 960 miles between us not one of us broke down (surprised or what !) The only minor problem was we noticed two of the rubber bushes  in the rear sprocket had come loose and worn away the rear wheel adjuster ( any one else had this problem ), prior to me buying the bike a  new chain and sprockets had been fitted so the warranty probably will not cover it. All three bikes suffered major stone chips on the fairings and one on the side of my tank, caused by so much grit on the road and riding too close. Cannot wait till the weather gets even better and new tyres are fitted :-)

     Throughout the day we only saw about 4 police, one in a plain blue Volvo on the A5. Nr. Shrewsbury ( had stopped a Audi, probably for speeding). The next were in a farm entrance at the end of a long straight setting up radar equipment, the other two were just driving the opposite way.  This was typed on Tuesday 14th. March ( still aching ). If you have a 748/916 send in a article and I will put it on uncensored whether its good or bad, the more there is the more people can read before they decide to buy one.

    DON'T rely on the neutral light !!!! its caught me out once.

Reply's I had after putting a posting about the problem with the rear bushes on the  Ducati Online Website for more information go to  http://www.ducati.net  To subscribe: ducati@ducati.net  or visit http://www.ducati.net/join.cfm

Steve its much more common than it should be, I've done 5 in total then
changed to a different type of carrier which is machined so the bush cannot
come through and stuff the adjuster. I bought it in Melbourne but its made
in the UK. Unfortunately they haven't stamped their name on it so I don't know
who made it.

The problem was so common with 98 model bikes in Australia that they ran out
of spare bushes and hubs for several months.

Regards
Jon
98 SENNA

Steve,
This is a common problem with the 748/916/996.  It has happened to our US bikes twice and damaged the adjustment eccentric both times.  We redesigned the cush units so that the inner lug, outer ring and elastomer are positively locked into place. They can't move in any direction.  This really is the only proper fix to the problem.  They are also made of titanium and save
0.5 lb of rotating, unsprung weight.

Anyway, check the recent posts to the list.  We posted a pretty detailed description of the Ti cush lugs...and they are available.  Let me know if you need more detail and maybe some .jpg's of them.
--Bill

• Q. Would I advise anyone to buy one?
• A. Yes apart from all the aches it was GREAT (should soon get used to it). Even when you not riding the bike you still get pleasure just looking at it.