Okay, so I’ve been wrenching on bikes for a while now, and the Ducati 1198S is one of those machines that just gets under your skin. It’s a beast, plain and simple. I finally got my hands on one that needed a little TLC, and figured I’d share my experience bringing it back to its former glory.
First thing I did was give it a good once-over. I mean, really look at everything. I checked the oil, which was surprisingly clean, but I changed it anyway. You never know, right? I also inspected the air filter – it was pretty gunked up, so I slapped a new one in there.
Next, I moved on to the brakes. The pads were worn down, so I replaced those. While I was at it, I bled the brake lines. Gotta have that firm lever feel, you know? It’s a safety thing, but it also just feels better when you’re riding hard.
- Checked and changed engine oil
- Inspected and replaced air filter
- Replaced brake pads
- Bled brake lines
The tires were pretty squared off from highway miles, so I spooned on a fresh set of sticky rubber. I’m a big fan of the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas, so that’s what I went with. Makes a huge difference in handling.
Getting into the Details
Now, the real fun began. The previous owner had installed a full Termignoni exhaust system, but the tuning was all off. It was running way too lean. I hooked up my laptop to play a better performance.
After a few hours of tinkering, I got the fueling dialed in. The difference was night and day. The throttle response was crisp, and the power delivery was smooth as butter. It was like a whole new bike!
Finally, I gave it a thorough cleaning and polish. I mean, it’s a Ducati, it has to look good, right? I spent a good few hours just detailing it, making sure every nook and cranny was spotless.
Taking it out for the first ride after all that work was amazing. All the effort I put in really paid off. It’s a raw, visceral machine, and I’m stoked to have it running and looking its best. Nothing beats the feeling of bringing a bike like this back to life.
