[851tricolour]

This might have been covered in a previous thread but:-
What's your opinion of the yellow panel on the 1098 Tricoloure tank. What is it meant to represent? Are there any TC owners who have repainted the tank to get rid if this? If there are can you post some pix?

 

[desmolvr]

I was told that the original tricole race bike had a fuel window so they could see how much was in the tank. The strip on the new bike represents that window.

 

[Tricolore]

I was told that the original tricole race bike had a fuel window so they could see how much was in the tank. The strip on the new bike represents that window.

That's correct, it was a typical thing of the race bikes in general the '70's. A strip of acrylic was built into the tank to act as a fuel gauge.

 

[ckirkst2s]

The 1st Tricoloure for Ducati was the F1 series in '85. The '85 F1A had an aluminum tank while the subsequent F1B's & S's had (mostly) steel tanks. The tri color was carried on to the 851 in the late 80's. None of these had a translucent window in the tank like the 1098 Tri. However the translucent window was used as a readily seen fuel gauge on the fiberglass tanks of the 70's Bevel twins and can be seen most notably on Paul Smart's Imola race winner.

Why the 1098 Tri's have this faux fuel window detail is a question for Ducati as there is no real historical linkage with a past Ducati tri color model that I am aware of.


Chris

 

[ckirkst2s]

BUT ..... I guess that the Mike Hailwood's IoM race winner could count as as a tricoloure & it did have a fiberglass tank with a translucent window.

Chris

 

[Tricolore]

I think that you'll find that it has nothing to do with Tricolores.....it is merely a styling cue taken from the '70's racers.

 

[The Outlaw]

Desmolvr is right. When I was at the factory they told us that to save weight they got rid of a fuel gauge on just left a window in the fiberglass tank. And when you see it it looks gold/yellowish. And the marking in the tri are a cue from that.

 

[DucatiGuy]

Nevertheless, IMO... it's ugly. Everything on the bike "flows" well, but then you have that gold straight up stripe that throws everything off. Instead of trying to replicate the older tanks, they should have just made the gold stripe functional as it was used in the old race bikes. Now that would be trick and worthy of praise. Talk about conversation starter...

 

[CW AF 03]

That gold stripe looks nice and makes the tank "pop". Kinda unique and exclusive looking...

 

[duckster]

Nevertheless, IMO... it's ugly. Everything on the bike "flows" well, but then you have that gold straight up stripe that throws everything off. Instead of trying to replicate the older tanks, they should have just made the gold stripe functional as it was used in the old race bikes. Now that would be trick and worthy of praise. Talk about conversation starter...

ITs a conversation starter already. Not too many riders are old enough to remember the old ducatis with the clear panels in the tanks like I am. I recognized it for what it was the first time I saw a tricolore, and I like tellling the story to the unwashed and the semi-washed:laughing:

 

[yellow900]

In the f/glass tanks they tape of a section in the mould so that it remains clear resin rather then colored gel coat, the transparent window is yellow color of the resin and clear enough to see the fuel level.

it's heritage goes back to the Imola tanks and can also be found on some of the TT2 and TT1 fuel tanks

I have the same on one of my TT2 fuel tanks that is fitted to my slow built project TT2

 

[ms.tightywhitey]

like this '74 750ss green frame.....worth easy $70 thou aud...yep im old too

 

[duckster]

Yes exactly like that one. I think its great that Ducati values its heritage and incorporates historical cues like the tank panel into its commemorative editions. I can't imagine wanting to paint it over. (although I do have my lower fairing repainted green to match the mid fairing..
What's up with black anyway? its not a quattro-colore.

 

[La Rossa]

Yes exactly like that one. I think its great that Ducati values its heritage and incorporates historical cues like the tank panel into its commemorative editions. I can't imagine wanting to paint it over. (although I do have my lower fairing repainted green to match the mid fairing..
What's up with black anyway? its not a quattro-colore.

I did the same and added some white paint to the undertank panels, I think it flows nicely!

 

[duckster]

the white looks nice. Here's mine with the green lowers and the mirrors painted red to match the uppers.