Ducati 996 servicing
1999 to 2001 · 996cc Desmoquattro V-twin (996 R: 998cc Testastretta) · Greenwich, London
Ray Petty Meccanica services and repairs the Ducati 996, from the Biposto and 996 S to the SPS and the 2001 996 R, at its independent Ducati workshop in Greenwich, London. The R uses the first Testastretta engine while the rest of the range runs the big-bore Desmoquattro, and RPM works on both.
About the 996
The 996 took over from the 916 for 1999. It kept Tamburini's trellis frame, single-sided swingarm and under-seat exhausts but took the bigger-bore engine first used in the 916 SPS: a liquid-cooled Desmoquattro V-twin of 98 x 66mm and 996cc, with four desmodromic valves per cylinder and two injectors per cylinder. The standard bike came as a Biposto or Monoposto, the 996 S added Öhlins suspension, and the SPS was a homologation model with titanium and carbon parts and more power. The 2001 996 R was a different engine underneath: a 998cc Testastretta with a wider bore, shorter stroke and narrower valve angle. Ducati built 500 to homologate it for World Superbike. The 998 replaced the range in 2002.
Servicing your 996
Every 996 has toothed cam belts, and a belt that fails can mean taking off at least one head or a full rebuild, so the date of the last belt change is the first thing to find in the history. The Desmo service follows Ducati's schedule for the model, and RPM will tell you what's due. Other items reported across this generation are fork seals weeping on both Showa and Öhlins legs, an alternator nut that can work loose and lock the engine, and rear cush drives that break up and chew the hub. Plenty of Biposto bikes have also been fitted with SP parts. RPM works through the bike from one end to the other and calls you to agree any extra work before it's done.
Book your 996 in
Tell us the mileage and what's due, and we'll arrange a date.
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Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday and Monday: closed