Project 1704

Will be launching a brand new project in 2017. For more info click here:

Project 1704

not that shit again -

sorry, i thought it was from Ducati - read it again and figured it was from you - in that case - cool stuff!

Phl said:

not that shit again -

sorry, i thought it was from Ducati - read it again and figured it was from you - in that case - cool stuff!

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Yes, me again!

honestly, i thought ducati was gonna launch another secret project... and i was like WTF?

you rock man!

So at last a big leap forward in terms of progress as the airbox, subframe and ancilliary parts are FINALLY back from the Cerakoting company. They spent a LONG time getting the colour matched exactly to the magnesium parts on the bike and they look awesome. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Cerakoting, it's usually used on firearms as it is extremely hard wearing and has the added advantage of only being a few microns thick, does not scratch and is highy resistant to corrosion, fuel and heat. I am collecting them later today, having dropped them off at the local Ducati specialist (Carl Harrison Motorycle Services - Welcome) who are fitting the head races and bearings back in. I'll post up pictures later.

In the meantime I've been busy re-assembling the cooling system. I had both radiators TLTD (Thermal Dispersant Ceramic Coating) coated by Camcoat (Camcoat Performance Coatings) then sprayed them with a satin radiator paint. I made up some custom grilles which were then powder coated black and fixed them through the matrix using nuts/screws and "Snap-Caps" to hide the screw head and nuts. I have done this on many bikes before and as long as you don't damage the horizontal water channels, you just need to displace a few fins to pass a bolt/screw through. Much like Ducati did on the Monster S4RS. Samco hoses then went on with stainless steel jubilee clips and I am just now waiting on some aluminium brackets to fit to the bottom of the upper radiator which will support the wiring loom for the rapid bike race module as it crosses the bike. I also mounted the RB module (Snap-Caps, screws and nuts again) and relocated the Ohlins suspension module. I had to sand down the original locating lugs for the Ohlins module and then masked off and plastic painted the area, to neaten it up.

Here are some pics of the various parts and assembly. Other parts I am waiting on include the rear light and undertail carbon fibre panel, which are having a 'Ventureshield' paint protection film applied to prevent stone chips damaging them. I also had new exact copies of the VIN frame stickers made up, to replace those removed from the airbox and front subframe whilst they were Cerakoted.

More pics of the completed cooling system assembly. Right now the bike is just an engine on it's dedicated stand. The throttle bodies are back on, having changed the inter-cylinder hoses for Samco items, with stainless steel jubilee clips in place of the cheap and nasty 'Norma' clamps. Changed out many of the bolts for Pro-Bolt polished stainless steel items and the front and rear Akrapovic exhaust headers have been fitted, but that is it. The bike was delivered on the 5th Dec with PDI mileage (3 miles) and has yet to be ridden. I am a patient man! With the completion of the airbox, swing arm and ancilliary parts, (after a false start in January where my original plan to straight paint them went wrong, the delay between then and now and me deciding to Cerakote them, cost me a 6 week delay), I hope to have a rolling chassis in a week. Just waiting on delivery of the new Oz Gass RA wheels.

This is where I am at right now! Took this pic back in December. (You'll notice the radiators had yet to be coated) Many think I am mad for tearing down a brand new bike but I want it built to my own spec and standards so no way round it. I will try and post up pics of the CDT carbon bodywork that was delivered recently as well, which is due to go off to the paint shop next week to be transformed into a unique design. All will be revealed on the website, when I can finally get around to finish coding it! I picked up the airbox and swingarm from the specialist a few hours ago. All the new bearings and head races now back in, so ready for the build to at last move forward after an agonising six week wait. I will wait until daylight and take some pics before posting them up tomorrow.

I'm guessing no more new bike warranty without having ridden her ? Cool project though.

Twistedracer said:

I'm guessing no more new bike warranty without having ridden her ? Cool project though.

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Nah. Warranty went out the window as soon as I tore it down. TBH I'm more comfortable knowing it will be built properly rather than left to the devices of several bored factory employees, one of whom might unwittingly overlook something. Not saying I don't trust them, but a workshop manual and the right tools are enough to build one of these bikes to a perfectly acceptable safe standard and if I doubted my own abilities to do it, I wouldn't be confident to ride it, knowing it's potential and speed. I check everything twice and document what I need to along the way, so it goes back together again exactly as it would have left the factory in Bologna.

It's arguably just a big jigsaw puzzle, that requires time and some money to get right. Where I am out of my depth, I entrust the work to professionals, such as re-fitting new bearings into the swing arm, but beyond that, I am happy to tackle the rest myself. Oddly though, unlike previous Ducatis I have built, the Panigale does require that you assemble the bike in a specific sequence owing to it's frameless design. However, it's more a case of re-tracing your steps to ensure things run smoothly. There is no question that without the special Ducati engine stand, the project would be impossible to complete, so that is one of the first tools I invested in.

Yes I noticed your stand. Most likely an indispensable lifesaver. I keep that shop manual at hand to go over and make sure I'm not forgetting anything. I don't mind taking my time and making sure everything is just right.

Great project.

Your def going to want to fit all the CDT pieces before you paint them because your going to be doing some fitting. Better to get it fitted and fixed before you have to do it after you paint. Your going to be swearing a lot.

endodoc said:

Your def going to want to fit all the CDT pieces before you paint them because your going to be doing some fitting. Better to get it fitted and fixed before you have to do it after you paint. Your going to be swearing a lot.

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Yes, that's the plan. I've bought a lot of their stuff before and almost all of it needed some minor tweaking.

Twistedracer said:

Yes I noticed your stand. Most likely an indispensable lifesaver. I keep that shop manual at hand to go over and make sure I'm not forgetting anything. I don't mind taking my time and making sure everything is just right.

Great project.

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It is definitely a huge help and makes the build much much easier. I've pretty much been staring at the engine for six weeks now while the whole airbox and swingarm saga carried on. Wish I'd gone down the Cerakoting route sooner, would have saved me weeks of waiting. It's not a cheap process but the end result is worth it. Pictures to follow.

Bit of a temporary setback yesterday as managed to shear off one of the shouldered bolts that holds the rigid sections of the front brake lines to the airbox. Front end and forks all had to come off again, as well as the airbox. Took it to a local Ducati specialist this morning and he had the bolt out by lunchtime. Airbox will now go back on tomorrow, as I am waiting on a set of the special toothed washers that are used under the nuts, to retain it to the heads. These cannot be used more than once, hence the delay. At least I am back on track and very relieved the bolt came out with no damage sustained. I had set the low range mini torque wrench to the correct figure and it is difficult to over-tighten these bolts, as the shoulder will contact the airbox before you bottom out the thread, so bemused as to why it sheared. I had also run a tap through all the holes as well. Could be a faulty or weak bolt but this time I will just use some Loctite 243 on a new bolt and tighten it by hand until it feels snug.

Managed to make quite a bit of progress this week as I've had a few days off work. Coming along nicely now. Fitted swing arm, hydraulics lines and calipers, ABS system, airbox, front forks, front mudguard, top yoke, handlebars, switchgear, bar end signals, steering damper, front and rear sub-frames, exhaust system, rearsets plus a bunch of other stuff. Still along way to go yet and tomorrow, hoping to complete the hydraulics before moving on to the electronics and wiring by the weekend. Here is where I am at so far. This picture also shows the colour matched Cerakoted airbox and swingarm well.

Absolutely unreal! Can't wait to see more progress pics.

That's a lot of progress.

Grinder said:

Absolutely unreal! Can't wait to see more progress pics.

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There's a bunch more on the Facebook page, which gets updated more often.

That is all but unrecognizable as a "motorcycle" nice work.

Had a local sheet metal company make up these brackets I drew up, in stainless steel, which will bolt to the back of the upper radiator to support the wiring loom for the Rapid Bike racing module, as it crosses the bike. The tiny 3mm holes are for zip ties to hold the loom in place. I got the idea from another forum member on here as it seemed like the neatest solution. The wiring on this bike is by far and away the most time consuming job and the OCD in me means it will have to be spot on.