To restore or to modify?

[McJim]

Hi all,

looking for a bit of advice from those who have been down this road before. The Duchess has taken a bit of a beating and the missus is very sore.

The bike is a 1997 Ducati 600ss - fully faired beastie. It has been for a slide and an abrupt stop into a concrete kerb.

Damage is as follows:
LH Fairing=broken
RH Fairing=slight scraches
Top fairing=smashed
Screen=smashed
LH footpeg and gear lever=Snapped
Rear brake lever=bent
Sub frame=bent and torn (I presume the sub rame is the flimsy array of metal that holds the instruments and top fairing)
Sidestand=snapped
Headlight-totally shattered

I have no choice but to buy a Ducati LH rearset and gear assembly and a sidestand.

But I can choose 2 courses of action after that.

1/ Streetfighter style: Headlight, bar end mirrors, aftermarket indicators and the job is done.
or
2/ I buy a new subframe, screen, top fairing, Ducati indicators and pay good money to have the side fairings repaired and resprayed.

I'd be grateful if any ideas could be backed up with supplier details too!

[Subike]

Street it, look around for all those little bling bits that others have put on similar rides over the past few years, sort out things that would be seen as being you. Even ones others have not yet used on a duke
There are so many ways you can do it, suttle or over the top.
But the end result will be Jims bike, not just another tidy Duke

[James Deuce]

Aww no!!

Restore.

Crazefox won't be able to T-Cut that but I bet he can repair it as good as new. PM him, and get some big boxes and a lot of bubble wrap.

[idb]

Hi all,

looking for a bit of advice from those who have been down this road before. The Duchess has taken a bit of a beating and the missus is very sore.

The bike is a 1997 Ducati 600ss - fully faired beastie. It has been for a slide and an abrupt stop into a concrete kerb.

Damage is as follows:
LH Fairing=broken
RH Fairing=slight scraches
Top fairing=smashed
Screen=smashed
LH footpeg and gear lever=Snapped
Rear brake lever=bent
Sub frame=bent and torn (I presume the sub rame is the flimsy array of metal that holds the instruments and top fairing)
Sidestand=snapped
Headlight-totally shattered

I have no choice but to buy a Ducati LH rearset and gear assembly and a sidestand.

But I can choose 2 courses of action after that.

1/ Streetfighter style: Headlight, bar end mirrors, aftermarket indicators and the job is done.
or
2/ I buy a new subframe, screen, top fairing, Ducati indicators and pay good money to have the side fairings repaired and resprayed.

I'd be grateful if any ideas could be backed up with supplier details too!

I'd go for 1/ Jim and maybe fix it up later when you can or want to afford it.
You might even decide you like it.

[Eurodave]

Just out of interest I make all the fibreglass bodywork for the 92 900SS & Superlight too. This includes both the half & full fairings,tinted windscreen,Superlight solo seat, the sidecovers & also the mudguards / huggers are available in carbon too.........:Punk:

just bear in mind that most bits are identical to yours but there are slight differences to your bikes full fairing sides,ie no little scoopy thingos on the sides by your knees

[MSTRS]

Insurance? Write off? If so, buy back and use your contacts to restore, and you will have change from the payout. Otherwise, use your contacts and do the best you can afford.

[jim.cox]

Stink McJim, thats a real bummer. Hope you was insured?

Me, I'd restore it.

While street fighters are fun, they aren't worth anything.

DucatiSpares in Dunedin should have most of what you need...

[Winston001]

Your bike was absolutely mint and even after the bin, doesn't actually look that bad. I know the Flat Red style looks mean and would work but you are a fastidious chappie and I reckon you can put it back to SS configuration with a bit of patience and help. As I said, its a project, celebrate the fun you'll have. :Punk:

However the first step is to get it running and to that extent the bare essentials are all that is needed.

[James Deuce]

Hey Chickadee, are you OK?

I'm with Winston. Get it going and send all the bits off for repair. I reckon you could get fibreglass replacements for stuff that is truly destroyed.

http://www.justfairings.co.nz/cms1/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14

$750 for the full front fairing.

Get decals from MSTRS, and get crazefox to paint them. Save up by selling kids or something.

[McJim]

I really need to find a straight sub-frame and new cluster. The fairings can be replaced (top fairing) and repiared (sides).

The problem with restoration is I need to go genuine Ducati for the sub frame, screen, top fairing, instrument cluster as well as the side stand and rearset. $$$$$$ :(

[James Deuce]

Do what you can do and don't obsess right now.

Send the front subframe off to a reputable frame straightening organisation for repair.

Instruments are one of those things you will readily find on Ebay and Trademe.

Try and turn it into a fun thing (I like spending) but take your time and never spend more than you want to. You can do it!

[slowpoke]

C'mon man, it's your golden opportunity: build something different. Let your imagination run riot.
I'm constantly disapointed by the lack of individuality displayed by most motorcyclists who's only thought is to buy a stock standard motorcycle or crash it and thnk only of returning to stock. God forbid it should even have non OEM paint (shock! Horror!).
I look around at some of the sublime Ducati "specials" (NCR, drool) and look at the opportunity you've got and think it's a no-brainer, but that's just me. Think "less is more" and start lopping off everything non-essential, peruse Ebay (UK and US) and buy a few trinkets and I reckon you could make something minimalist and amazing for not a lot of dosh.

[Winston001]

C'mon man, it's your golden opportunity: build something different. Let your imagination run riot.
I'm constantly disapointed by the lack of individuality displayed by most motorcyclists who's only thought is to buy a stock standard motorcycle or crash it and thnk only of returning to stock. God forbid it should even have non OEM paint (shock! Horror!).
I look around at some of the sublime Ducati "specials" (NCR, drool) and look at the opportunity you've got and think it's a no-brainer, but that's just me. Think "less is more" and start lopping off everything non-essential, peruse Ebay (UK and US) and buy a few trinkets and I reckon you could make something minimalist and amazing for not a lot of dosh.

You are singing McJim's song and here is the sort of thing which gets the blood flowing http://jvb-moto.com/rocknroll/?page_id=39

However McJim is one tidy fastidious guy and his 600 was absolutely showroom-floor mint. It was probably as valuable as it could be as a pristine example of the 600SS so IMHO he is a person who could restore it faithfully rather than take shortcuts.

That doesn't mean not trying something like the Flat Red in the short-term but stock Ducs in great condition always attract buyers in the longer term.

[Crisis management]

Bad Luck Jamie, I hope your wife is ok and her ego not too bruised.

Me, I would modify the bike rather than restore it accepting that I would lose on resale at some point but this can be argued back and forth when really you have to want to modify it.
If hot rodded Dukes don't turn your crank then restore it. (you don't need to do it all at once, get it rideable and do fairings etc as funds permit)

Anyway if you need anything from auckland found, scrounged or whatever send me a PM.

Cheers
Iain

[FROSTY]

Mate you know what you are going to do. you will restore it --simple.

Why not do BOTH.
Strip all the bent n busted bits off.
Talk to your fellow KBers and see what we can russle up to get it back on the road in fighter form for ya.
Realisticly ya need headlight,Indicators,headlight/indicator mounts Some sorta speedo and a mirror. -beside the repair you're gonna do anyways.
-I can donate a mirror -possibly a headlight.
The secret is that its a temporrarry solution so you dont butcher any brackets you will need for the restoration.

THEN--over time track down /fix the bits you need to make it mint again

[idb]

Mate you know what you are going to do. you will restore it --simple.

Why not do BOTH.
Strip all the bent n busted bits off.
Talk to your fellow KBers and see what we can russle up to get it back on the road in fighter form for ya.
Realisticly ya need headlight,Indicators,headlight/indicator mounts Some sorta speedo and a mirror. -beside the repair you're gonna do anyways.
-I can donate a mirror -possibly a headlight.

THEN--over time track down /fix the bits you need to make it mint again

That's what I said!

[slowpoke]

You are singing McJim's song and here is the sort of thing which gets the blood flowing http://jvb-moto.com/rocknroll/?page_id=39

However McJim is one tidy fastidious guy and his 600 was absolutely showroom-floor mint. It was probably as valuable as it could be as a pristine example of the 600SS so IMHO he is a person who could restore it faithfully rather than take shortcuts.

That doesn't mean not trying something like the Flat Red in the short-term but stock Ducs in great condition always attract buyers in the longer term.

Gagagag mmmphmblurdy hell! Sorry, that link is pure porn, I'm suprised my work PC nanny allowed my to go there!

I understand that he loves his bike, and likes them to be just so, yep, I completely understand that. With that in mind I wonder if it's worth the aggravation getting it to be exactly how it was before the bingle, maybe better re-incarnating it and creating new impressions rather than trying to recreate old ones?

Ducs in great nick will always attract buyers but he's gonna have to look peeps in the eye when they ask if it's been crashed. I wouldn't be overly worried after checking it out but lotsa peeps freak at the mere mention of a bike falling off it's side stand. And it is only a 600, a sweet bike to be sure, but it isn't going to command huge $$$.

Hence I reckon, keep it minimal, lose some flab to liven up straight line and twisty performance, create something special rather than run of the mill, and add to the overall ownership experience at little expense. But, if a stock 600SS is his/her dream bike then the decision is easy that way too.

[Daffyd]

Hey McJim, that's bad to hear! I think I saw you go past on Saturday.
I guess you had other things on your mind than calling in...(Jug was on too.)

Hope the Duchess is ok.

[McJim]

Hey McJim, that's bad to hear! I think I saw you go past on Saturday.
I guess you had other things on your mind than calling in...(Jug was on too.)

Hope the Duchess is ok.

I was late home and had promised Chickadee I would be back before 12:00....I wasn't.

[Daffyd]

I was late home and had promised Chickadee I would be back before 12:00....I wasn't.

No, you weren't, were you? Never mind, you're forgiven this time.

[McJim]

On the subject of Insurance we have been a bit daft and haven't yet got around to insuring Chickadee to ride the Ducati so although I have full cover to ride the 600 she has full cover to ride a 750 that got sold the day before. We were gonna sort it out today (if it hadn't been binned) when we cancel the 750 insurance - heigh ho. Shit happens and you just have to suck it up and learn from it eh?

[MSTRS]

Unless your insurance excludes un-named riders, then full licence with your permission should mean you are covered.
How's Ch feeling today? Apart from ashamed.

[gijoe1313]

Urgle, I guess from all the good points made here it looks like getting it streetfightered so you can ride whilst finding all the bits and getting it back to its original condition is the goer ...

Was sorry to hear about the whole saga and I hope Chickadee is able to bounce back quickly from the accident. I know ego and pride is involved, but never mind that, long as life and limb are okay!

Now ... I guess you better be saving the pennies to start the long, but glorious road to rebuild!

[NOMIS]

While street fighters are fun, they aren't worth anything.

...

Bollox!!!! i got offered $6000 cash for my bike just the other week , said no tho got to at least do my restricted on it first

[NOMIS]

Bollox!!!! i got offered $6000 cash for my bike just the other week , said no tho got to at least do my restricted on it first

oh and its at wild west honda getting fixed not even in the condtion it usually is

[Squiggles]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=174129617 for the headlight fairing... ill see what i can dig up for the rest

[Chickadee]

Thanks for the well wishers. I cried my eyes out when I realised I'd hit the deck and buggered the red duchess. I was more worried about the bike than myself. Shit I know how to crash a bike at low speed and totally munt it. Ended up in an Ambo as I couldn't manage to get up or move my legs without a lot of pain, think I mashed my right thumb too (least I'm a leafty).

I'm hobbling, tailbones not happy and as a consequence I can't walk very well at all. I feel sorry for the old folks that feel like this all the time. Bruises in many places, but mainly feeling really gutted about the bike.

What a plonker is all I can say when I was trying to be so careful getting her home safe in the drive and then totally messed it up.:cry:

[MSTRS]

Thanks for the well wishers. I cried my eyes out when I realised I'd hit the deck and buggered the red duchess. I was more worried about the bike than myself. Shit I know how to crash a bike at low speed and totally munt it. Ended up in an Ambo as I couldn't manage to get up or move my legs without a lot of pain, think I mashed my right thumb too (least I'm a leafty).

I'm hobbling, tailbones not happy and as a consequence I can't walk very well at all. I feel sorry for the old folks that feel like this all the time. Bruises in many places, but mainly feeling really gutted about the bike.

What a plonker is all I can say when I was trying to be so careful getting her home safe in the drive and then totally messed it up.:cry:

Here :hug: will help you feel better. But settle down with the 'old folks' insinuations...

[slowpoke]

Thanks for the well wishers. I cried my eyes out when I realised I'd hit the deck and buggered the red duchess. I was more worried about the bike than myself. Shit I know how to crash a bike at low speed and totally munt it. Ended up in an Ambo as I couldn't manage to get up or move my legs without a lot of pain, think I mashed my right thumb too (least I'm a leafty).

I'm hobbling, tailbones not happy and as a consequence I can't walk very well at all. I feel sorry for the old folks that feel like this all the time. Bruises in many places, but mainly feeling really gutted about the bike.

What a plonker is all I can say when I was trying to be so careful getting her home safe in the drive and then totally messed it up.:cry:

Oh, you poor chook, I feel gutted for you.
I can remember riding with my better half and she had a slow speed bingle. I can still remember seeing the look on her face when she pulled her helmet off after dropping her pride and joy on that shitty Western Australian pea gravel, my heart just broke for her. As I told her, so long as you are ok it's nothing that can't be put right.

[hayd3n]

plastic fabricator here!!!! can help with the welding side of it !! how bad is the top section?? is it all there ?if it is it can still be fixed , i managed to fix my friends cbr 400 with missing parts !!and its looks mint ,he still had to do the paint tho

[McJim]

plastic fabricator here!!!! can help with the welding side of it !! how bad is the top section?? is it all there ?if it is it can still be fixed , i managed to fix my friends cbr 400 with missing parts !!and its looks mint ,he still had to do the paint tho

Thanks for that - these fairings are fibreglass and I have a good 'glass guy down here - the top fairing has been shattered as it took most of the impact.

Kiwibike Insurance are looking into whether I have a claim or not and will get back to me tomorrow. That decision will affect which way I choose to go.

[Jez]

well im not much help with anything to do with the bike ... but i know how to make a mean as coffee ... if you need a hand mate you got my cell ;)

[AllanB]

Listen - just because you are a KBer I'll do you a favour and offer you $999 for the wreck - I know, I know I'm being a bit generous but I feel so bad for you.

I'll probably be able to patch it together and make something reasonable out of it.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:




Notice for the truly dim - this is a piss take - of course I recommend making a naked 600 out of it!

[avgas]

fighter it!!!!!!!

[McJim]

Well it might be the wrong decision given the lack of an insurance pay out (I was covered for the Ducati - Chickadee was insured for the Katana..which was sold so there was no cover) but I am starting to acquire bits to restore the bike as a fully faired 600ss.

A few bits from trademe, a few bits from ducatispares.co.nz, some glue and some TLC (not to mention some fibreglass repairs and a respray job) and she'll be right :yes:

Thanks for everyone's help.

Jamie

[Katman]

Make a garden ornament out of it.

[McJim]

Make a garden ornament out of it.

Garden ornament? I thought Finn was still in Auckland :rofl:

[McJim]

Well I feel like a smartarse. I went to see about getting the sidestand plate welded back together and then looked at it and had a thought.

Thought turned into action and drilled a hole through the plate, tapped an M8 thread into the hole put the broken bit back on, reassembled and rammed an M8 bolt through the lot.

That has saved me the cost of sourcing a sidestand :yes: Scottish ingenuity at it's best :2thumbsup:

[McJim]

So far so good. New top fairing arrived and is off to the spraypainters. LH fairing is in for fibreglass repairs and then some red paint. MSTRS has provided the most arse kicking decal for the top fairing - looks even better than the original - skill at work - we are not worthy.:banana:

Ducatispares have sent a LH rearset and gear shift assembly (all attached) a sub frame (attached) and a new headlight (attached).

All I need to do is work out a way to get the indicators on in the meantime and she is roadworthy....ugly...but roadworthy while I wait for the panels to be painted.

[gijoe1313]

Oots mon! Ye be fair wee crafty incha? Glad to hear the process is well along the way, got piccies? :msn-wink:

[Winston001]

Probably no help but I think I have some old Honda XR indicators if you simply want indicators to get around with, you are welcome to them.

[McJim]

Oots mon! Ye be fair wee crafty incha? Glad to hear the process is well along the way, got piccies? :msn-wink:


Probably no help but I think I have some old Honda XR indicators if you simply want indicators to get around with, you are welcome to them.

Piccies are now attached. Thanks for the offer Winston but I've managed to make the ones I've got fit.

[James Deuce]

Flipping well done mate!

That looks like it will work.

[xwhatsit]

Well I feel like a smartarse. I went to see about getting the sidestand plate welded back together and then looked at it and had a thought.

Thought turned into action and drilled a hole through the plate, tapped an M8 thread into the hole put the broken bit back on, reassembled and rammed an M8 bolt through the lot.

That has saved me the cost of sourcing a sidestand :yes: Scottish ingenuity at it's best :2thumbsup:
Any better in terms of sidestand-suicide-propensity now?

[nudemetalz]

Boootiful, McJ !!!!

Keep the Italian style going !!! :sunny:

[McJim]

Any better in terms of sidestand-suicide-propensity now?

Nah, the angle remains stylishly precarious! :rofl:

Screen arrived today. That's now fitted and I'm just going to suit up and take it for a test ride.

Wish me luck!

[McJim]

Flipping well done mate!

That looks like it will work.

And it did work too! She runs like a dream again.....woot!

[McJim]

Finally - not fantastic photos or anything but the bike is now all assembled. Thanks to Dave at Kiwibike Insurance and Swann Insurance the bike looks pretty much as it did before it got binned.

[JimO]

Finally - not fantastic photos or anything but the bike is now all assembled. Thanks to Dave at Kiwibike Insurance and Swann Insurance the bike looks pretty much as it did before it got binned.

good onya mate but watch out there is a dwarf trying to steal it in the 1st pic

[McJim]

good onya mate but watch out there is a dwarf trying to steal it in the 1st pic

Yep, sorry - didn't see you there :rofl:

[Subike]

Less than a month to repair and put back to sexy
Bloody heck, well done man! I Salute you.
You work faster than most panel beater, repair shops.
And you got all the parts right first time.

Good stuff:first::not::not:

[Chisanga]

Good to see you've got her looking her best again. There seems to be some horrible blue and white smudge on the front fender... you should clean that off :)

[James Deuce]

Blimey that was quick (and good!). I've never had an insurance job take less than three months and it never looks original.

[McJim]

And here's the streetfightered version too! :rofl:

[Bullitt]

Only just found this thread. Sorry to hear about the incident but glad to see its all been sorted.

For what its worth I think you made the right decision to. Im sure they exist but all the street fightered SS's Ive seen dont really work.

[imdying]

So, playing devil's advocate for a moment... you think you're happier now than you would've been if you'd gone down the modification route instead? I'm picking... yes?

[McJim]

So, playing devil's advocate for a moment... you think you're happier now than you would've been if you'd gone down the modification route instead? I'm picking... yes?

Ummmm.....yeah. To modify the bike properly would really end up costing a shitload and the engine isn't strong enough to be worth it.

It is what it is and I think it's a cute wee bike.

[Bute]

job well done IMO and you used some true Scottish ingenuity with the side stand , nice touch with the St.Andrews flag on the front might do something similar to mine :niceone:

[McJim]

job well done IMO and you used some true Scottish ingenuity with the side stand , nice touch with the St.Andrews flag on the front might do something similar to mine :niceone:

Can I take it you are from the Isle of Bute then?

[Bute]

yes indeed you can m8 , i left for the mainland when i was a grand old age of 8 , lived and worked all over Britain but mainly London and then brought my young family over to this fine country :)