Chapter 3 ST2
Yes.........I know......it's late...........don't blame me ...blame the 888 fant....we were having too much fun and things just got out of hand!
So... we started, hiding in bushes and mugging fireblades....and ...well ...once you get started...you know that something has to suffer. .........and this time it was the ST2.....however.......
IT IS FINISHED........................The ST2 engined fant is complete.
The last major mods are as follows....
The rear mudguard section under the seat unit had to be rotated through 180 degrees and bolted back in....upside down!!
The resulting new found space, now houses the battery and all other kinds of important electricial toot!
The German gel filled battery ...as sourced by Alex F....is a technological breakthrough of size over form.
........could now be housed in the space originally intented for the meagre tool kit supplied with the bike!
A section of decking...very popular in the Southeast of England....has been fabricated from 8mm foamex and houses the relays ....fuses...and other delicate things.
This decking is mounted on some anti-vibration bolts and bolted through the up turned mudguard.
The 16M ECU is now sited in the old battery position and is held in place by some ...hoover belts...please don't ask.......let's just say the house was a little dirtier for a week or so. After that...... it was the pump and filter assembly.....no need to buy expensive fuel pumps from Ducati..remembering that... the ST2 has a pump in tank unit.
Use a Renault 19 and Subaru pump...these can be had for under £40.
All the snap connectors on the loom all match....as in Ducati into Cagiva....so this wiring conversion is fairly straight forward..BUT..as I fried 3 P8 ECU's whilst building the 888...I have taken the precaution of having the wiring checked out on a diagnostic machine PRIOR to attemting any VROOM VROOM noises closely followed by crackling and hissing noises!
The ST2 uses the 16M ecu and the chips can be changed quite simply.
So ....although all is complete...I cannot tell you what it sounds' like..... now that it has ...as my mate calls it..........An Orange County Chopper exhaust!!
It did look strange without the rear tanks... but once they were on.. the new exhaust is better looking...a bit like........... a hat hides a big nose!!
The radiators were another story............
I started out with Cagiva SuperCity twin rads...but the thought of overheating in a tunnel in Austria...put the fear of GOD into me....next up...a Race 996 Ducati rad..
.. turned through 180 degrees and facing backwards...so to speak...and all outlets moved and welded up accordingly. Cagiva did this very same mod on the Planet and I think, the 1000cc Raptor...anyway..if it is TOO cool...I will retro fit the Planet radiator...we shall see.
But at least an period Cagiva temp gauge should point the way forward.
The radiator fits where it touches and some cosmetic infill panels had to be made to cover the gaps in the frame and to protect the wiring at the front of the bike....where the regulator USED to sit on the fants.
Other than that....all has gone, okay...
I COMMEND THIS CONVERSION TO THE HOUSE!!
It really is an easy piece of engineering and once you get over the fear of cutting the engine mounted swinging arm bushes off....the rest is fairly straight forward....
I started at Xmas 05 and by Easter 06 all the major stuff was done....after that .....it was just changing and modding things to suit me....this took us through till summer...but still alot quicker than the 888 build.
The main area being that of cosmetics and brakes....check out the BIG single disc.
I have been using this big disc set up since 2000 and now a new batch of discs have been made by Stealth (Trade Direct...Sheffield)......
this one is the original prototype, but the new thinner disc is now fitted.
the new discs use a better material and are plated
...so no painting or rust!
I recommend this set up, as it utilizes standard Brembo P8/P7 components....the standard >93 BMW fitment caliper
....£75 of the queens finest if you order from MotoBins in Lincolnshire
.....just make sure you get the right or the left hand...I've forgotton.
So a big disc costs just over £60....and the caliper is £75.
...spend your money and say.....
"Hello" to Jesus at the next set of bends!
If your E750 or 900 is getting a bit long in the tooth...then... try this engine conversion for size......
A Ducati factory authorized and tested 944 cc big bore, fuel injected, high compession, 500 watt alternator, water cooled.... tried and tested touring machine...it even has a clock and a trip computer!
Plug in your heated vest....your MP3 player...your SatNav....your mobile phone....fill another bowl on the pipe... with some hand rubbed shag...and savour the experience..
You don't have to smoke a pipe to enjoy the ST2 engine...
.....STICK IT IN AN ELEFANT!!
BIG THANKYOU's go to:
Alex Fischer....a Germanic representative of the Fant field...great contacts.
Tony the Paint......NO PINK...NO CRACKS...just honest paint.
MotoWilli...another Germanic fant fanatic ...a good source of used spares.
Mitch at Moto Tec...Romford, Essex...for always being able to fit the bikes in.
The Shepshed Brothers.....for reshaping, refoaming and recovering that seat!
Gibson Exhausts...Essex....for making children cry and dogs go deaf!
Venhill Engineering...cables-throttle, speedo, tacho, clutch...all custom made.
Paul and Ronelle K...for NOT buying it..the ST2 that is.....I never really wanted to sell it...and although any bike is for sale..the 888 included....it was easier to track down another ST2 engine, for Pauls conversion.
Dave G Bigelow.....an American fant owner who reminded me, what it was like... to keep pushing the envelope.
Andy C....for buying all the left over project bits, from me, and finding out, that he had enough .....for his own ST2 conversion!
Stealth Products...for agreeing to make a batch of 355mm discs....sorry!
And finally ....to Karen Brown...for agreeing NOT to out with me...when I was 15.....
I'll get my coat!!
HHMMMmmmm!! Just when I yhought it was over I made some other changes!
Sorry .....but there IS another chapter...well ...more of an update!
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Chapter Index
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