Ducati 996

Any Ducati 996 ownership experiences to share guys?

Asking for a friend …

I have the 998 variant. Whats he need to know ? Biggest issue with the 996 was flaking rockers. Documented somewhere with the affected serial #’s from that model run.

speirmoor said:

I have the 998 variant. Whats he need to know ? Biggest issue with the 996 was flaking rockers. Documented somewhere with the affected serial #’s from that model run.

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I’d heard about that on the 748 but didn’t know it also applied to the 996.

The bike under consideration is a 2000 model year SPS, would this be effected do you know?

Any other general things to look out for on them? What do they ride like? How long have had the 998? Got any pics to post?

Ducat.ms is great for all Ducati related . I’ll take a look for that serial range for you. This was when I first got it. Added some CF bits, Kerbacher seat and color matched mirrors. I’ll see if I can get a current pic later this week. It rides like a dream very comfortable. Feels like you’re in the bike more than on it giving a really confident ride. The power is immediate and it’s a really fast machine. That said it doesn’t like to be in slow stop/go traffic and will over heat earlier that most bikes. Some guys add a switch to turn on the radiator fans manually. I added a thermostat that turns the fans on at a lower temp than stock. Crank sensor went once but other than that I’ve had no problems with it . Could never sell it. Oh don’t wait for the summer to order anything Ducati or accessory related to the brand as Italy disappears in the summer

I bought a 1996 996S new and had it for 8 years. Next step up was a SPS. The S came with some carbon fiber pieces and an Ohlins rear shock. It was lighter weight than a standard biposto 996. I put Ohlins on the front which was hundreds of times better than that Showa front end. Put a Nichols clutch and Nichols flywheel in it. Added Termignoni race exhaust, played with the smarts box a little and did some other tuning stuff. Also changed out the stock rotors for EBC rotors. Definitely the best handling and sounding bike I've ever ridden, but it was my last go fast bike. Boo Hoo I'm sure there are much better handling bikes out there today with similar suspension.



A 2000 SPS is very nice. Never rode one, but they have a much lighter rotating mass and more cam. I would imagine they are very quick. Also they are mostly sold to racers so some work might be required unless this is a pristine show piece to mount above the fireplace.

Have a 996, Aggressive riding style. You need to stand back and look at the little things, drilled bolts, adjustable steering' Super sound. I know about rocker problems, 10,500 miles no problems. I would be interested in serial number range

mean gene said:

Have a 996, Aggressive riding style. You need to stand back and look at the little things, drilled bolts, adjustable steering' Super sound. I know about rocker problems, 10,500 miles no problems. I would be interested in serial number range

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I never found any chrome flakes in the oil. That said I did not have to abuse that motor much to go fast enough to enjoy it. I did let a friend ride it and that was a huge mistake. He was a Yamaha R1 owner and didn't understand why the power fell off at 11000 RPM. Never said much about it, but also never forgave the guy for being a dumb shit.

I had a Ducati tech in Brisbane say that the quality improved after 2001 when “Aprilia” (I think ?) owned Ducati and sorted the bad bits.

Graeme

speirmoor said:

Ducat.ms is great for all Ducati related . I’ll take a look for that serial range for you. This was when I first got it. Added some CF bits, Kerbacher seat and color matched mirrors. I’ll see if I can get a current pic later this week. It rides like a dream very comfortable. Feels like you’re in the bike more than on it giving a really confident ride. The power is immediate and it’s a really fast machine. That said it doesn’t like to be in slow stop/go traffic and will over heat earlier that most bikes. Some guys add a switch to turn on the radiator fans manually. I added a thermostat that turns the fans on at a lower temp than stock. Crank case sensor went once but other than that I’ve had no problems with it . Could never sell it. Oh don’t wait for the summer to order anything Ducati or accessory related to the brand as Italy disappears in the summer View attachment 115666

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A true classic…

Schwany said:

I bought a 1996 996S new and had it for 8 years. Next step up was a SPS. The S came with some carbon fiber pieces and an Ohlins rear shock. It was lighter weight than a standard biposto 996. I put Ohlins on the front which was hundreds of times better than that Showa front end. Put a Nichols clutch and Nichols flywheel in it. Added Termignoni race exhaust, played with the smarts box a little and did some other tuning stuff. Also changed out the stock rotors for EBC rotors. Definitely the best handling and sounding bike I've ever ridden, but it was my last go fast bike. Boo Hoo I'm sure there are much better handling bikes out there today with similar suspension.

A 2000 SPS is very nice. Never rode one, but they have a much lighter rotating mass and more cam. I would imagine they are very quick. Also they are mostly sold to racers so some work might be required unless this is a pristine show piece to mount above the fireplace.

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That’s interesting Schwany, I have often wondered if the Ohlins was actually any better in reality or was more for marketing purposes ?

Has anyone here actually had the chrome on their rockers fail?

What’s the fix for flaking rockers then chaps ?

A brief Google revealed Newman Cams here in England, and Megacycle in the US, both do a fix by machining the rocker pad away and building it up with Stelite. Stelite acting on a heat treated lobe seems like robust fix to me. Anyone done this?

The extent of my ownership experience is just how nickable they are! Bought spanking new, Christmas 2002 (Germany), stolen by easter!!!

Had it just long enough to fit Termi exhausts, white single seat unit and WSB number board…….. money well spent!!

POW’s originally laid those cobble stones upside down in order to damage German vehicle tyres. Didn’t do much for the Ohlins either!!

Only place I’ve read of rocker issue is on Ducatims as well … the 3 Ducati I have owned have all been bullet proof , I did do belts every 5 yrs and measure valve clearances … the rest of upkeep no different than any other bike … there were a couple or more 996 in our local Club owned by fast riders that always have fastest and newest , think all ride V-4 Dukes now …. I don’t recall the rocker issue cropping up in a Club bike , it was a known issue ….

Don't think there is a definitive range of serial #'s of those with the rocker issue it seems like all 996 models '96-00 could be a candidate. Some owners have had it some don't. There's 23 pages on the subject on Ducati.ms but it seems most have been at least checked or replaced so I wouldn't let that deter your interest.

Fast Eddie said:

That’s interesting Schwany, I have often wondered if the Ohlins was actually any better in reality or was more for marketing purposes ?

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Unflappable going through rough surface turns and over bumps of all types. The Showa forks were miserable regardless of setup without changing springs or getting them revalued. I'd had a so-called professional setup suspension on other bikes before and decided it made more sense to get the Ohlins front end kit for the Ducati 996. I don't think they are available for the 996 anymore though. They came with a lower yoke, triple tree, or whatever you want to call it, a stem, and maybe an axle. I'm fairly confident a real SPS would have Ohlins on front. If it doesn't the Ohlins was probably taken off and replaced, or bent in a wreck and replaced. I also think an SPS would have a build number tag on the top yoke. My S was number 145.

You'll only know after you try Ohlins on both ends if they work as well as almost everyone says they do. That said, I let one other guy ride my 996S before I decided I'd never do another bike swap during a small group ride, and he said he had never ridden anything like it. He also said now I know why you are so quick. I don't like saying that, because it is no longer true, sounds like BS, and just reliving glory days which are gone in the blink of a young girl's eye.

I bought these followers cheap on fleabay so I had a set to send to Megacam for refurbishing if needed Proof it does happen! At 71 I should be thinking of selling it if anyone is interested.

Yep, I contacted Newman cams and they do indeed do the stelite pad mod at £60 per rocker.

Reckon I’d see that as a good investment if I had one of these that I used hard.

Web cams wants $148 each

My son wants to sell his '04 Fogarty Replica 1200, cheap.

I'm still goofing with the fuel pump/leaks to get it running again... the windscreen is off the bike, and it includes the original (dented) steel tank. PM if interested...