Featured Customer Bike : Lester Hart's Ducati 996

Lester Hart's Ducati 996.

Lester brought his Ducati 996 in to us after it had been in storage for about ten years. TTRNO's Ducati Master Tech, Guy Hayes, brought this gem of Italian design back to life.

History of the 996

The 996 replaced the 916 in 1998 and quickly became a pride and joy of the Borgo Panigale factory. The 996 was successful in numerous championships and won the World Superbike Championship three times in a row! Many features of the 996 are the same as the 916; both had a Desmodromic double camshaft, L-twin cylinder engine and a Trellis frame. The new features of the 996 included lighter three-spoke wheels, an improved Brembo braking system. A special model sold in California also included Ohlins rear shock absorber and steering damper as well as Marchesini five-spoke wheels.

TTRNO's Work on the 996

Getting the 996 running required flushing all fluids, replacing most rubber & plastic components and rebuilding the forks and slave cylinder just to name a few things. While the bike was in for servicing Lester added an EVR slipper clutch and Marchesini Magnesum race wheels. The 996 was outfitted with a rare, World SBK spec full race, Termignoni Exhaust system.