DUCATI 900SS Engine Repair - How much did it cost?

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Equipment I use for filming my videos;
Action Cameras - GoPro Hero 4 Silver
Interview and garage microphones - BOYA BY-WM6 Pro UHF Wireless Microphone System Lavalier

[Tom-kwkm]

Hey, Andy. I love the channel.

I'm afraid I gotcha beat in the spending category due to the fact I just didn't want not give up on it.

Several years ago I had brought back from the brink of oblivion a 1992 907IE basket case with 19, 145 miles on the clock. Every surface and component desperately needed attention.

After watching your video tonight I began browsing through my files of grouped photos that I took of each component repair. By the time I got the bike back onto the road I had accumulated about 60 folders of these grouped images. From the first day of the overall inspection/audit; assembling the battery (pouring the acid into the individual cells, sealing, and charging); swing arm weld repair; side stand mount fabrication and welding; purchasing all of those missing parts (i.e. the hard to find OEM mirrors with extra lenses); replacing table lamp wiring the previous owner poorly spliced in; repairing burnt wires; installing a new stator, new starter, new cush drives; replacing or repairing all foot and hand controls; building an updated computer module from a kit; and so forth.

Ahhh, but when Cricket was finally on the road... it liked to run. The sound it made when overtaking slower vehicles on those rare occasions was just awesome. Seeing the clear opportunity; drop into a lower gear; and letting the throttle rip! Accelerating from 60mph to 110mph in a flash was exhilarating. Then there is the low idle "loping" sound. Similar to an American Hemi engine. I thought to myself, "Good-gravy this is a hot rod on two wheels".

I just loved the bike and loved to ride. One year I even made the 45 minute plus highway commute, one way, for about a total of six months in various unfavorable weather conditions between Orange and Los Angeles counties. Lucky there only a few bad days during the rainy-winter season, sporadic early morning dense fog, or 90+ degree summer days. I really did love to ride that bike.

Right now Cricket has been quite for several years until I can tear it back down. I found several more feet of hidden burnt wires deep in the harness. At the end of last year began to recreate my own harness with better connectors and wire to hopefully get the little guy out and abuse air molecules again.

I don't think I'll ever try to calculate how much I've spent or will spend. I really don't care because this is about saving a cool bike. I feel VERY privileged to be this very motorcycle's caretaker. Its family now.

I apologize for the long story but I know you guys get it.

Hey guys stay safe out there and I hope to join you on the road soon.

[jordanbrandtner]

I recently bought a 99 900 ss and I listened to the previous owner saying belts were good they were not lesson learned.. snapped vertical cylinder belt less then 100miles into owning it so now I’m here watching your videos for motivation got a complete used head off eBay new belts and top end seal kit hopefully it will be running again this weekend.. thank you for making these videos being able to see everything visually over reading the manual is much easier for me to learn I’ve never touched a Ducati before in my life and your videos have made it much less of a intimidating task then I originally thought

[cbrblade]

To me its worth what ever it costs with my bikes, to keep me smiling, I can't put a price on it. and even more so now. she does look ace, and she's got a new heart now.

[stevesrepairs]

Thanks Andy for another great vlog, just imagine paying for just the labour of everything you've done and all the parts done at oem prices, the cost would've been immense. With your skills and the contacts you have supplying you with top parts etc I think you've saved a fortune to end up with a fantastic bike mate. Take care and all the best. Stevie

[Oilyhands]

Money well spent my friend, just look at it, then start it, no smokes, sounds sweet, haha your smiling, can't buy smiles 🤔
Oh you just did !

[kymtaylor]

When you have a passion, regardless of what it is, one will pour in whatever money it takes to keep it going. It shows that your passionate about your Ducati and rightfully so it's a beautiful example of a 900SS. A beautiful sunny day, open road the sound of the Duck purring away, the last thing on your mind will be the cost. Enjoy ya Duc she's a beauty.

[bikeaddictbp]

If you want to keep the bike, it costs whatever it costs. Parts and labour 3 grand. The experience, priceless. I've done something similar myself. Nice job, bike looks and sounds great. Thanks for sharing it with us ... at the moment you've got a worldwide audience with nothing to do but watch something like this!

[billymania]

It's wonderful you did a lot of the work yourself as that kind of makes it affordable regarding the engine rebuild. As you say, a lot of vehicles end up in the junk pile because it's not economical to repair and the shops charge an arm and a leg.

[AirwolfBMG]

You have got a beast of a bike, and you know now it’s smiles for miles. Not noise and smoke 💪💪👍🇬🇧

[Shinysideup]

I did a AUS $ conversion to uk £’s so not cheap at £1500 but worth every penny, bike looks Awesome. Nice job Andy.

[byjingobob]

You're a man after my own heart Andy, real worth is not counted in money. I don't keep receipts and count money spent on what I love either. Great to see you have the bike running in better condition than when you first bought it.

[bloodknottrevelian]

Brilliant series Andy. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[robotsnthat]

Worth the money if it's a keeper. And you know it's been done right - you have a datum point now with the bike. Even it you pass it on, it's been documented whats been done by your videos. Great result Andy, well done.

[gonzosk]

Totally understand about the "dont keep receipts" All I know about the cost of rebuilding my RC-51 is the amount of boxs I seem to be collecting.

[tomthompson]

dont ask what it cost, ask was it worth it.
thats the thing that really matters, and in the end its only about what makes you happy.
Its a great job, and knowing that its been done right is beyond cash value.

[paulprosser]

Great job Andy. You need a wife like mine. She would know every U.K pound I spent on the rebuild.😊

[enzo]

I think it’s a perfectly sound result. Not expensive in the scheme of things, plus you got to do all the stripping down and putting it back together. The learning process of doing this yourself is the reward, not a cost. And yes the Ducati is a keeper.

[troywee]

peace of mind and happiness does have a price but it is worth it - smiles per miles (priceless) is always a good trade i think mate! stay safe !

[speedfinder]

Thanks for posting and being so honest with the numbers! Without wanting to come across as a person with a poor, "money to sense 🤪🤪. I would point out that people who circuit race "Anything" will see these numbers as extremely reasonable. I came back to road bikes, from racing 4 cylinder, open wheel, single seat racing cars and think that the cost to fun ratio, is WAY better on a bike!

[gilbertreeves]

Andy, I will hold my tongue on this rebuild until you have her out on the road.She`s got alot of pleasing to do for the time/money spent
on her.Thankyou ...keep us in the loop....