So, I’ve been tinkering around with this Ducati 998 lately, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the ride. I grabbed this thing because, well, I’ve always wanted to get my hands on a classic Ducati sports bike. This one, it’s the 998 model, which they made from around 2002 to 2004 I believe. It’s the one that came after the 996 and before the, uh, the next one, whatever that is. Anyway, I finally found one in decent shape and decided to go for it.
First off, getting it into my garage was a bit of a workout. This thing weighs something like 436 pounds, so yeah, not exactly a feather. I had to enlist the help of a buddy to get it up the driveway and parked. Once it was in there, though, the real fun began. I started by just giving it a good once-over, checking out all the bits and pieces. It’s a pretty good-looking bike, all sleek and sporty.
One thing I noticed right away was the seat height. It’s about 31 inches, which is adjustable, thankfully. I’m not the tallest guy, so I messed around with that a bit to get it comfortable. There were apparently 981 of these bikes made. 419 biposto and 562 monoposto versions. Mine was a biposto. This one has a new engine, it was an entirely new engine according to the previous owner.
Next, I dove into the engine. Now, I’m no expert mechanic, but I’ve done my fair share of wrenching. From what I gather, Ducati did some kind of bigger-bore, shorter-stroke thing to get more power out of this one. Whatever they did, it sounds pretty mean when you fire it up. I spent a good few hours just taking things apart, cleaning them up, and putting them back together. It’s kind of therapeutic, you know? Just getting lost in the process.
- Engine Check: Spent a good chunk of time just listening to it purr and checking for anything obviously wrong.
- Cleaning: Gave it a proper bath, inside and out. Years of grime had built up in some spots.
- Fluids: Topped up the oil, checked the coolant, the usual stuff.
- Test Ride: Took it for a spin around the block a few times. Felt great, handled like a dream.
I even took it for a little test ride around the neighborhood. Nothing crazy, just wanted to see how it felt. Let me tell you, this thing moves. It’s definitely got some kick to it. I can see why people love these bikes. After a few laps around the block, I pulled it back into the garage, feeling pretty good about the whole thing.
So yeah, that’s where I’m at with the Ducati 998. It’s been a fun project so far, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with it. Maybe I’ll take it out on a longer ride soon, see what it can really do. I’ll keep you all posted on how it goes.
