What does your fairing look like from the seat looking down on the left and right. My fairing fits much closer to the bike on the left than the right, but I can't comment on the straightness of any of the bracketry that holds the fairing, as it may have been crashed previously, or at least coerced. I would assume that the gap between the fairing and the frame should be basically the same left and right. Should I spend the afternoon bending brackets, or is this normal?

Cheers, Phil .

Hi Phil,

a quick look at mine shows both sides equidistant as far as I can tell with a Mk 1 eyeball...

Dan

Hi Ducinthebay,

I would say left and right gap should be more or less the same. Check the tank for position. if this is in the middle, the only thing is to correct the brackets.

Bertus

Yeah, thats what I figured. I guess I'll take the time to take it all apart and start rebending brackets.

Cheers,
Phil

Hi Phil,

maybe there are non-original brackets used in the past by the former owner. check for the lenght of the brackets. if they show signs of deformation, you'll know what happened. when you renew brackets and have to bend some rather hard aluminium, heat the aluminium until the rear side of a matchstick leaves a sooth mark when you rub it at the heated aluminium. then you can bend easily once it cooled down. after a few days it gains it originally hardness.
this trick works fine for me several times.

Bertus

There's a set of used brackets over here in the UK if you're stuck...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUCATI-900SS- ... 2a254b14b8

Thanks for the link to the e-bay site. That guy has lots of great parts for 90 900ss. Shame to part it out, but that's what they do.

The brackets on my bike have been bent back and forth many times, so I have no idea what the original shape was. They are certainly stock, but the anodize is cracked at the bends, inferring that they have been 'reshaped' in the past. I'll take them off, compare left and right and refit them so the fairing is straight. I'll start with the front fairing bracket.

Cheers,
Phil

Speaking of the fairings, does anyone else have tiny cracks in the paint about half way from the bracket upto the top of the fairing? I'm guessing its a flex point but its a pain in the arse. Really want to repair my fairing but don't want to repaint it lol.

Hi limited,

the only thing that can cause cracks in the middle of two supportings is a severe blow, like the bike has been falling or vibration. usealy cracks occur at screws.
If you repair that spot you can add a layer of kevlar woving and lay it up with polyester of epoxy resin.
there are shops where you buy small quantities of those.

Bertus

Paint cracks in your body work are like wrinkles on your face. They are earned through time and good living. While I want my bike to look good, some cracks in the paint and patina on parts show that the bike has been ridden during its long life. Wash, polish a bit, and wax it, and call it good.

Cheers, Phil

I think it is the vibrations, well there's nothing else that can cause it considering its barely been ridden and its on both sides. It is a very large gap between the two mounting points. Think I'm gunna stick some fibreglass behind it, eventually anyway cheers.

Hi limited,

just an other thought. if the outlining of holes in the brackets and the fairing doesn't match and the bolts are forced through this can happen. so watch this carefully while mounting the panel

Bertus

Yeah, don't overtighten fairing bolts. I add nylon washers between the fairing and the brackets to help distribute the load a bit and self locking nuts, or Loctite, and tighten only snug.

Cheers, Phil