Resurrecting the Dragon.

[WannaDucBad]

Hello everyone. ;D Well as many of you know my Mom you will be familar with the beginning of this story but for those who aren't a quick introduction.
After she bought a new Ducati this last summer and let me take it for a ride I decided I HAD to have a V-twin sport bike. I was leaning toward the SV simply due to affordablity. However as she neared the 10,000 mile mark (yes in one summer) the unthinkable happened. > A cager turned in front of her and totalled her beloved Dragon. :'( The buy back price was right and worst case scenerio, the parts that could be pulled from it for her new machine would make it worth it. After taking a look at it, and discussing it with Bonfy (Mom) we decided I would buy it from her for the buy back price and rebuild it.
So that is the back story. I thought it would be fun to post a thread showing the progress through the rebuild. That way those of you I have met in NM and those of you who know Bonfy could check and see the progress. Please feel free to comment with advise, helpful hints, or just moral support.
Picking up the Dragon from PJ's. I can't thank those guys enough for all they did to help my Mom through all this. Including picking the bike up from the scene and storing it at their shop, and dealing with insurance adjusters.
[img width=600 height=450]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/WannaDucBad/woundeddragon.jpg[/img]
Going over Raton Pass on the way to it's new home.

Finally in its new nest.

Damage pics.
[img width=600 height=450]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/WannaDucBad/10-27-2007004.jpg[/img]

[img width=600 height=450]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/WannaDucBad/10-27-2007003.jpg[/img]



[img width=600 height=450]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/WannaDucBad/10-27-2007001.jpg[/img]

[img width=600 height=450]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/WannaDucBad/10-27-2007005.jpg[/img]

The tear down begins.
These two Monkeys are my labor squad, I know they look scary but the price was right. Less than a six pack. Actually they are two of my brothers Zach and Kyle.
[img width=600 height=450]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/WannaDucBad/10-27-2007006.jpg[/img]
Airbox and most of the unfunctional bits off.
[img width=600 height=450]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/WannaDucBad/10-27-2007008.jpg[/img]
The frame seems torqued a little more than I thought. I'm thinking I will buy one from the parts section instead of repairing as originally thought.

Now comes the hard part. Got to get all this jammed together crap apart.
[img width=600 height=450]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/WannaDucBad/10-27-2007012.jpg[/img]
Can you tell it's cold in there? Oh that's Kyle and me trying to coax the top triple off.
Well that is progress as of 1/11/2008. I'm hoping to put the Dragon back together by the end of June. With my goals at work getting closer and a re-fi in the future hopefully freeing up some funds to speed up the rebuild. [clap] Well everyone I hope you enjoyed looking through this as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Stay tuned for more updates as I grind through this.

[Volksrod]

So, is this saying Gloria had a wreck?
If so we're very sorry to hear that and hope she is as ok as she looks in the photos.

[DucDucGooseMe]

Hey Volks!! Gloria was downed by some not so nice people....but she is ok and has a new bike!!

Hey wanna...holy shit that frame is way tweaked. damn. I saw one on ebay last week. I'll see if I can find it

[Volksrod]

That really stinks for her to have to wreck again.
I saw a thread here http://www.ducatimonster.org/smf/ind...topic=102118.0 which may or may not help with title issues as it probably now is a salvage title.

[WannaDucBad]

Yes she's fine, it's not again. I know that as I look at it I'm relieved and amazed that she's not seriously injured. She's had some stiffness and knee pain, I know of but no broken bones or worse.

[bonfy]

That was great! Made me a bit weepy. :'( :'( I can't wait to see it come together. BTW everyone, those two monkeys aren't my boys, but they are extremely coolah. WDB, did you try to start it before taking everything off

P.S. You spelled "resurrecting" wrong, you bonehead. You must have been writing with urgency. [cheeky] You are the resurrectionist. Thanks for referring me to the thread on steering dampers. I think I will add one and also an oil cooler when the temps warm up. I certainly don't need one now.

Hey Volksrod, miss you and Jolina! Yeah, I've only been down once on the Duc. Way back in 1988, I went down on gravel on a '74 GT550 Suzuki. I rode away from that one and walked away from this one. My new bike came in Dec. 21st, exactly the same except a 2008. The miles are going on it alot slower unfortunately thanks to the weather. Hope to ride with you guys this spring.

[dustykitska]

Well as I know absolutely nothing about Ducati's I can offer you only moral support. That is quite a task you have taken on and I look forward to watching the progress. You go boy!!! er, man! All I can say is: Ebay ROCKS!!! [thumbsup]

Also, I dig that kickstand plate. (As Mousey would say - spankin') [clap]

Originally Posted by bonfy

P.S. You spelled "resurrecting" wrong, you bonehead.

Spoken like a true mom [cheeky]

I look forward to riding with you all as well. Git 'er done WDB! ;D ;D

[bonfy]

LOL! I wondered if anyone else picked up on that kickin' kickstand plate. That rocks! About a size 10? [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

[dustykitska]

Very cool! I'll have to get me one of those. Is it custom? [laugh]

[bonfy]

I'm sure there's got to be another one just like it laying around someplace. I'll see if I can talk to him out of it next time I'm up there. 8)