First generation Desmoquattro

[Schadenfreude]

Year: 1991
Model: 851 Strada
Eng size: 888
Pipes: Ferracci
Seat: Corbin
Wheels: Stock
Accessories: 2 tooth bigger rear sprocket, carbon front fender, rear hugger, gauge panel, front sprocket cover, braided steel clutch and brake lines, custom fender eliminator, re-ordered clutch pack, 888cc high compression pistons and big valve heads.

And the story: If your Ducati has 4 valve Desmo heads and liquid cooling, then you should tip your hat to the 8 series bikes. My 91 851 is the first year that the 851 came with inverted forks (Showa), the last year that an Ohlins shock was standard, and the last year that both the frame and wheels were white. While I am the third owner, I bought my 851 with only 819 miles on the clock. The first owner bought it and put it in his indoor collection with only 8 miles on the odometer before selling it to the guy who had the motor work down at Reno Leoni's shop while Reno was in the US. My 851 was my first sportbike and my first Ducati. Back in 1993, Motorcyclist ran a story called "The Outlaw" about a 1991 851 SP3 that someone had imported illegally as a streetbike and from the moment I saw those pictures, I had to have an 851. I am naturally biased but pictures don't do my bike justice. Whenever I stop for gas, no one can believe that it is about to turn 20 years old. In 2009, my 851 won a Judge's Choice award at a Ducati Owner's Group bike show in NY. In the Spring my plan is to pick up an 1198 so that I'll have Ducati Superbike bookends, exactly 20 years apart.

[jcasella]

Sweeeet

[dezzzmomike]

I remember looking at these bikes when they were new in the small motorcycle shop in Oceano, Ca and have always liked the white trellis frame and wheels. Thanks for sharing the pictures...very nice!

[kwakanut]

Beauty! That's the one that sucked me in to Ducatiland.

[SP3]

The first iteration and still the best. Not that I'm biased or anything.

[Schadenfreude]

They're great bikes. Having recently ridden an 848 at a demo day, you really get a sense for how mechanical the older bikes feel. The 848 felt amazing but not nearly as raw (not that the refinement is a bad thing of course, just a different feel). The biggest surprise to me was how much more comfortable the 848 was than my 851. Not that I find my 851 uncomfortable but the 848 seemed much roomier and more upright than my 851. Great machines, all of them.

[jay.tampa]

Sweet Bike, I just recently joined the 851 Club!!

[Schadenfreude]

Originally Posted by jay.tampa

Sweet Bike, I just recently joined the 851 Club!!

Congratulations. They're great bikes but a little labor intensive. The good thing is that as complicated as they seem, they're still not too hard to wrench on, if you're so inclined. If you haven't already found it http://www.ducati851and888.com/ is a really good source of information. Enjoy your bike! - Rob

[SP3]

Originally Posted by jay.tampa

Sweet Bike, I just recently joined the 851 Club!!

Congrats!!! Nothing like them. Enjoy.

Originally Posted by Schadenfreude

Congratulations. They're great bikes but a little labor intensive. The good thing is that as complicated as they seem, they're still not too hard to wrench on, if you're so inclined. If you haven't already found it http://www.ducati851and888.com/ is a really good source of information. Enjoy your bike! - Rob

I don't find the older bikes all that labor intensive myself. As for the linked site, I spend more time there (Lawson SP3) than any other as the 8bikes are nearly forgotten (in serious discussion anyway) here and most other sites. Join up, learn, share.

The Yahoo group was good many years ago but turned into a shitfight so I bailed. Don't know if anything useful is posted there now but you can always join and if it sucks just unsubscribe.

[Schadenfreude]

Originally Posted by SP3

Congrats!!! Nothing like them. Enjoy.



I don't find the older bikes all that labor intensive myself. As for the linked site, I spend more time there (Lawson SP3) than any other as the 8bikes are nearly forgotten (in serious discussion anyway) here and most other sites. Join up, learn, share.

The Yahoo group was good many years ago but turned into a shitfight so I bailed. Don't know if anything useful is posted there now but you can always join and if it sucks just unsubscribe.

I do a lot of preventative maintenance and take my bike apart fairly regularly just to look things over. Certainly more labor intensive than the newer bikes but that is to be expected. I remember the Yahoo group well. I've had my 851 for 13 years now and I watched the Yahoo group slowly implode. The 851and888 seems to be the best source of info these days for sure.