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You might say that I have caught a severe case of Ducatisti. Ducati is not just the brand of my motorcycle. It has become my lifestyle. My whole life has become a Ducati catalog. When I am not working on the 748, I’m dreaming about working on the 748. I wear only Ducati clothing, I take my morning coffee in a Ducati mug, and I even travel with Ducati luggage!

Well, I’m proud to say that I am done! I am also broke. Dead broke. But I think I have one of the sweetest 748’s in the country. Anyways, on to the changes!

As I mentioned before, I wanted o turn this 748 from a biposto to a monoposto. So, first I sourced a SPS mono tail from eBay along with a carbon fiber undertail oil breather box. It looks mighty fine now! Next, I installed a pair of titanium Termignoni slip-ons to finish up the rear end.

To reduce some unsprung weight, I replaced the stock wheels with a set of five spoke aluminum Marchesini wheels. I also added an Ohlins steering damper, and reworked the stock Showa forks with Ohlin’s internals. The fresh oil, springs, and revalve really stiffened up the suspension.

To add a bit of oomph to the performance of the engine, I installed 748R cams and some DP Carbon Fiber velocity stacks. A DP air filter and air runners were put in to allow for better air flow. To compliment the Termi’s, a FIM Chip was put it as well.

For added braking power, I put in a pair of four pad Brembo cast calipers (65mm axial) up front. Also installed were Fren Tubo Kevlar brake lines, along with Brembo GP radial brake master cylinder (19×20). Some STM Free Floating brake rotor buttons finished up nicely.  

I also went a bit crazy on the carbon fiber. I installed a DP front fender, a Corse Clutch Cover, and some Corse Heel guards. Other bits include a Corse Heat Shield, a Swingarm Guard, and a Radiator Fairing.

Some miscellaneous parts include some STM frame plugs, a STM Oil Breather, a pair of STM preload adjuster, and Corse adjustable rearsets. And finally, a Clear Double Bubble Screen and LED integrated brake lights finish the 748 transformation!

I was in the market for a new bike, and after riding a two valve Ducati for about three years, there was only one thing on my mind: Desmoquattro! I had ridden a few before but never had a chance to test a 748. I am a big fan of Tamburini’s design, and after seeing Foggy win four WSB titles on a Ducati, I became a fan for life.

The few Ducatis that I had ridden before were the 996 and 998 series. With a lot more ponies and a hell of a lot more torque than the younger sibling, I did not know what to expect from the 748.

I found a low mileage 2002 model on Craigslist and made an appointment to see it. The seller agreed to ride it to my place, so I waited patiently in my garage. Then, I heard it down the street. The 748 was here. I must say, it was love at first sight.

She was a real beauty! With the price being as low as it was, I decided to take it for a spin to see how it was running. Wow, it ran like a champ and the FBF exhaust was music to my ears.

The 748, although low in power, gave me more control over the higher capacity 996/998. The engine screamed as the revs flew up faster than its bigger bore siblings. Going through the gears was just about the most fun I had, other than getting my knee down for the first time. After finding out that the seller had worked at the local Ducati dealer and had all service records up to date, I was pretty much sold. I gave him the money and the bike rolled into my garage.

To sum up the 748, it has fuel injection, liquid cooling and computer engine management combined with an over-square 88mm bore and 61.5mm stroke engine. This ensured a broad power band that put enough power to the ground, and a crisp throttle response no matter what the conditions. It makes 97 hp at 11,000 rpm and 52.8 ft lbs of torque at 9,000 rpm. However, what is listed on paper is never the case on the road. And at 432 lbs dry, it was quite on the heavy side.

On the bright side, I was happy with the Brembo four piston caliper setup and the fully adjustable front and rear suspension. But above all else, the sound of Ducati’s signature multiple hydraulic dry clutch overshadowed any minor disappointments I may have had.

After a few days of riding, the itch to start modifying was getting unbearable. The first things to go were the wheels. The crappy three-spoke OEM wheels were outdated and heavy. Nothing a pair of Marchesinis couldn’t fix.

I am going to transform the 748 into a factory Ducati Corse race bike replica; or come as close as possible.

If money was not an issue, I would be done in no time. However, seeing as we live in a capitalistic country, it looks like I will be taking my sweet time. Ducati Corse parts don’t come cheap. So I decided that parts for the 748 did not have to be new or perfect. Just useable.

Next issue, I will get into modifications that will bring the 748 biposto to its full potential. I’ll also show you how to scavenge the internet for quality cheap parts.

Stay tuned!

Original article: http://www.inlineperformancemag.com/issue.php?issue=04&gotopage=05