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Is there such a thing as an 02 999?

1481 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by sfarson, Apr 26, 2006

jr49erfan1

Discussion Starter · Apr 25, 2006

I have been looking to upgrade my stock steering damper on my 02 998, and I came across this Ohlins unit on eBay. Problem is, is that this guy claims its off a 02 999 (I didnt think they dropped until 03). I emailed the seller thinking maybe it was a typo, and explained to him my belief that if it came off of an 02 SBK, that it must have come off of a 748 or a 998. His response is quoted below.

(His response) "Well this was a 999 and a 02 model so they must have been released in 02 cause i have another mate of mine which has a 999 which is as well as an 02 model.. What you see is what you get in the photos which mount straight on to the bike....Thanks for your interest."

First, could he be correct, and second, would a steering damper from a 999 fit a 998. Thanks for any insight, Jason.

Here's a link to the damper in question:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4633034771&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

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Chuckracer

· #2 · Apr 25, 2006

The manufacture date on the frame my be a late '02 date on an '03 model year bike. That's my best guess. Ask him for a picture of the bike in question maybe?

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ducati2242

· #3 · Apr 25, 2006

they were out in the u.k. in late 02

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RotoRooterGuy

· #4 · Apr 25, 2006 (Edited)

jr49erfan1 said:
I have been looking to upgrade my stock steering damper on my 02 998, and I came across this Ohlins unit on eBay. Problem is, is that this guy claims its off a 02 999 (I didn't think they dropped until 03). I emailed the seller thinking maybe it was a typo, and explained to him my belief that if it came off of an 02 SBK, that it must have come off of a 748 or a 998. His response is quoted below.

(His response) "Well this was a 999 and a 02 model so they must have been released in 02 cause i have another mate of mine which has a 999 which is as well as an 02 model.. What you see is what you get in the photos which mount straight on to the bike....Thanks for your interest."

First, could he be correct, and second, would a steering damper from a 999 fit a 998. Thanks for any insight, Jason.

Here's a link to the damper in question:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4633034771&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

As I recall, Europe and Asia [AU included] gets bikes sooner than the U.S., but I can't remember where I saw that. Seems to me Europe was reviewing the 999 in mid-2002 or somewhere around there.

July-August of 2002 is when it became available elsewhere. I don't know, however, if they released it as a 2002 elsewhere or if it was designated a 2003.

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RotoRooterGuy

· #5 · Apr 25, 2006

Some evidence that there was a "2002" 999.

Here is a 2002 999 for sale in the UK:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4634868275&category=9919

2002 999 1:12 Die-Cast for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEWRAY-1-12-2002-DUCATI-999-NEIL-HODGSON-100-SUPERBIKE_W0QQitemZ7024981377QQcategoryZ45348QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

From Ducati:

"I am pleased to report that on November 7th, Ducati swept the board at the UK-based Motorcycle News awards in Birmingham, winning three major prizes, including Manufacturer of the Year for the company deemed to have the best relationship with its customers. Our new 999 Testastretta Superbike was chosen as Overall Machine of the Year across all categories. And just yesterday, the 999 was voted overall winner of the 2002 Motorcycle Design Trophy by the members of the prestigious Motorcycle Design Association."

Here is a review of the 999 in UK, July 2002.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2002/07/30/emfduc20.xml

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jr49erfan1

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 25, 2006

Alright, so assuming there was such a thing as a 2002 999, and designated as such (not an 03 released in late 02), would the steering dampers be interchangable (again between the 998 and 999)?

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RotoRooterGuy

· #7 · Apr 25, 2006 (Edited)

In answer to your question, will a 999 Damper fit a 998? I do NOT think so, mainly because it is a matter of proper mounting hardware for your 998. The frame clamp may be different in size between the two models.

As pictured, that Ohlins damper appears to be just the damper itself, sometimes called a "universal damper." What is missing in the pic is the mounting hardware. But, that can be bought separately for the 998.

I think mounting hardware is fairly inexpensive, less than $75 or so. But don't hold me to that.

I'd look around for the 998 mounting kit and factor that price into the total price if you win the 999 damper. May be a good deal in the end since Ohlins dampers, new, go for a lot [$400 appx.].

http://www.parts411.com/acb/showprod.cfm?&DID=9&CATID=28.0&ObjectGroup_ID=1761

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DukeDesmo

· #8 · Apr 25, 2006

RotoRooterGuy said:
Some evidence that there was a "2002" 999.

Here are some pics I took at the Birmingham (UK) Bike Show in November 2002;

But to answer the question re Damper compatibility I think the dampers are different, having different strokes etc.

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RotoRooterGuy

· #9 · Apr 25, 2006

jr49erfan1 said:
Alright, so assuming there was such a thing as a 2002 999, and designated as such (not an 03 released in late 02), would the steering dampers be interchangable (again between the 998 and 999)?

By the way, you can research this stuff yourself rather than barking out commands to Duc-MS member from your armchair

In any event, note that NO ONE sells the Ohlins damper as "fits 998 and 999." So this tells you that the mountings are different.

http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Ohlins_Steering_Damper_Kit_Ducati_998--22-OHL-OLDINS-4.html

http://www.indysuperbike.com/customer/product.php?productid=114247&cat=26800&page=1

http://www.section8superbike.com/cgi-bin/section8/51.html

http://www.section8superbike.com/cgi-bin/section8/flypage.html?id=AoM9EFRi&mv_arg=149

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RotoRooterGuy

· #10 · Apr 25, 2006 (Edited)

DukeDesmo said:
Here are some pics I took at the Birmingham (UK) Bike Show in November 2002;

But to answer the question re Damper compatibility I think the dampers are different, having different strokes etc.

Back in 2002 I had a pic of that hen on the 999. Still have it. But not the one you posted. Yours is a much hotter pic.

Thanks for the diversion.

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DukeDesmo

· #11 · Apr 25, 2006

RotoRooterGuy said:
Back in 2002 I had a pic of that hen on the 999. Still have it. But not the one you posted. Yours is a much hotter pic.

Thanks for the diversion.

I resized it for the link, got a bigger version if you like..............

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