Hellcats new bike

A bit of an unplanned arrival ....

A while back I was looking at the possibility of an SS400 .. but rare .
The lowering with its shock would be tricky and finding one ...

Anyway I brought Hector .. and have had the fun of getting him to fit!

After a year thats been crap to say the least and stressful and my health took a dive , my riding slowly got worse and now its pretty grim.
My confidence pretty shot to bits...job un secure and then the prospect of fighting the local PCT for treatment I was pretty stressed out.

Anyway.. the conversation came up that I could do with something else to ride as well or something to get my nerves back.
I spied something on the bay but sadly was out of my budget and typical came up at the wrong time so I wrote it off.

I said wow trust that to come up! But couldn't work out how to get the money in time so I just had to forget the idea.. and walk away.

Anyway had another look and it had gone....
phone call .. along the lines of you have a new bike go pick it up...

I was like errr what ??? shocked to say the least , panic as how .. and OMG!!!!
I think I was for once lost for words and couldn't quite grasp what had just been done for me. I will say it was the most trusting nice thing anyone has ever done for me.

Anyway I vowed I would settle up for this bike and didn't feel able to say its mine til I had.

Im coming to terms with poor forever now with the two of them!!
its going to be a slog as he needs sorting out as a few things wrong and very much wear and tear .. and also the fun of lowering him which I now have to a fine art but its not cheap!!!

Thank you to a big hearted soul who's on here for this opportunity ... im still a bit shocked.
Apparently it was this or id get an Indiana (noooooooooo!!!) I am not giving up get I just need to rehabilitate myself and my confidence.

Thanks to Andy for helping get him home... what a journey .. postal boxes on the road blah blah.

Its probably no surprise but I am the new owner of this little bike


My new project 1998 M400

He needs new reg rec as his is fried (hence battery acid stains on frame) frame is messy.
Chain and sprockets are shagged.. tyres contis all wear and tear really .
Oh he needs his belts doing..
Then my special lowering !! I am so so itching to ride it!!
Cans very tatty got to go.

Plans are just to fix wear and tear bits lower and keep it stock ... except the cans !!
I don't do those standard cans!!
Oh and to find a radial clutch as my hands are so bad.

What a result for you and its yellow, the best and true colour for a ducati

[jimz750]

Brill! I do remember seeing it. Sort so it's safe to ride and your confident and then ENJOY!

Nice one HC. I hope you get your confidence back and enjoy your new bike.
Great idea to keep it standard as not many 400s or standard monsters around.

I am really pleased for you and top job to your secret Santa (what a star)

[Stuart42]

Hi Melanie

Am glad you have a new toy, yellow too, excellent.

Enjoy and hope you feel better on him.

Cheers
Stuart

Is staying yellow! I like yellow
it needs a lot of new bits not been maintained well.
Brought him new belts, headlight fairing yellow of course !
Seats got to be sculpted! Needs reg rec, tyres , chain and sprocket,
hoop cutting and welding , shock shortening which is a big chunk of money.
His oils been changed as it was well yes!!

So got to save some pennys and put it back on the road where it belongs!
This will be the last perminant bike .
Sadly I had to part with one I didn't want to but had to keep bank manager happy and my overdraft there specially with two Dukes!!

I,m chuffed to bits for you H.C. looks like the silver lining from your crap year is beginning to shine through.

This week I have been given a tricky child to work with and I'm now doing work I hoped to do. It's hard juggling it all but rewarding.
Especially when they ask me to come back to work with them it's nice.

My PCT case was won .. I now get my surgery!
It means surgery every 9 months and a general every nine
months which is hard to grasp as for life now.
But I'm just so grateful as no surgery would have left me in a terrible state.

I'm hoping il start to feel better soon then they can sort my headaches out which rule my life and hands.
The clutch is a huge issue on this bike.

Also they sorted my meds out and the stupid amount of weight I piled on is coming down.going to be a hell of a slog but plans are starting to come together!!
Thank you !!!!
The lid is for him btw as his is duct taped!!

[utopia]

What excellent news.
Not just the new monster, which is brilliant enough on its own, but also the PCT result and the sorting of meds.
Excellent.
Spotted your post late last night...went to bed with a big grin.
Don't know much about the 400...don't suppose its any lower as std, is it ?
Are you really going to leave it yellow ? Somehow, I'm not entirely convinced. Not with spare cans of two-tone paint in your cupboard......

[Albie]

Mel thats a very nice story. I would also keep this little bike as standard as possible. Put it like this. If you take stuff off keep it so you can put it back as it was originally intended. A rare little engine and yellow does look good. You can core the cans to make a nicer sound.

Also very pleased your getting your treatment sorted. Take care of yourself hun and see you in a couple of weeks
x

Originally Posted by Mand

What a result for you and its yellow, the best and true colour for a ducati

Well Done my girl and I second Mand on the colour...

Well I wood, wooden I ?

Nice one will make a lovely wee bike, good luck with him...

Vince

[jimz750]

Echo all of above xXx

That's a great story Mel, I never even thought the Uk had any of these until very recently, looking forward to hearing about the progress and seeing pics along the way.

[Dukedesmo]

Nice one, hope you enjoy...