[Introduction] Noob Q&A

[xRANDOx]

How hard is it to take off the god awful mirrors?

[muskrat]

easy as hell

[caffeinejunkee]

One is reverse thread, if I recall (maybe the left?).

[andym]

Get a 696, they fall off.

[xRANDOx]

To get the mirrors off do you just slide the little rubber cover up and loosen that nut or what?

[xRANDOx]

The bike has 6,800 miles on it and the previous owner said it needed a new chain pretty quick... Doesn't look bad to me but I don't know much about chains.  Do you think it'll be ok on a 165 mile ride home back to the DFW? Where is the shop you guys use up there?

[muskrat]

yes

[muskrat]

The bike has 6,800 miles on it and the previous owner said it needed a new chain pretty quick... Doesn't look bad to me but I don't know much about chains.  Do you think it'll be ok on a 165 mile ride home back to the DFW? Where is the shop you guys use up there?

if the chain is rusted or has lots of slack you may be in for changing it before you leave, just about any bike shop can help with that...I think.
The shop most use below but call first to make sure someone's there to do the service you want:

 Advanced Motorsports Ducati Alvarado
11550 E. FM 917 Alvarado, TX 76009
Phone (817) 790-0200
Fax (817) 783-8883
 
Tuesday-Friday - 9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday - Closed
Sunday, Monday - Closed 
 
sales@advancedmotorsports.com
 
Advanced Motorsports Ducati Dallas
1318 N. Riverfront Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75207

Phone (214) 466-6540
Fax (214) 466-6545

Tuesday-Friday - 10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday - 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday, Monday - Closed
 
sales@advancedmotorsports.com

[xRANDOx]

How long does servicing them take?

[muskrat]

Depends what you need.  Call them

[hiero]

why not do the work yourself?  It's a good opportunity to learn about the bike and save yourself some good money

And to give you an idea of what's possible, here's what my bike started with and is now:

Before:


After:

[junior varsity]

+1. doing it yourself is part of the fun

before:


after:

[xRANDOx]

Hiero I really like how the back of your bike is plastic and not seat. Is that a whole new rear piece?

Also I'd LOVE to do it all on my own! I just need to know what I need/Best place to get the parts and how to do it.

[xRANDOx]

And as promised here are some pics!
First off:


Night I got her


Morning after (next to my roomie's Yamaha YZF600 I think  ):



And finally with the mirrors gone!

[muskrat]

Looks nice