Ignition / Electrical

Major update! The Ducati factory changed the ignition modules used to drive the coils at some point near 1995. Previous units had a midnight blue potting (or expoxy or filler). These units have black potting. The ignition modules with the black potting are not compatible with Nology Pro Fire coils. The "Blue" boxes were of high quality using a Dwell type of excitation. The newer ones I believe are simpler transistor type that run the primary current through the coil at higher values. This causes the Nology coil to get very hot then begin to break down. Continued running will melt out the red potting of the coil and the ignition module will soon follow! It is possible that the factory went back to the blue boxes around 1997 or 1998.

• Dyna coils kit Upon the discovery of the black boxes behavior, I started testing the Dyna coils and found that they will work, but also are not an easy bolt on to the Ducati mounting bracket. I have prepared a bolt on kit. Information is here.

• I started with the Nology Hot Wires in and threw those on with the Nology ProFire coils that I got a while ago. Pretty interesting... the kit says to run a non-resistor type of spark plug, so I threw in some NGK DP8EA-9's vice the DPR8EV-9's and they leaned out the carburetion so I had to go up a size on the main jets. Apparently, the spark got a bit stronger with the non-R plug. I mounted the grounding straps to the camshaft holders (that say "DUCATI" on them), using a spacer and a longer bolt. Basically if you see how Ducati mounted those wire pieces that hold the battery vent hose on the right hand side of the motor, that's how I did the grounding straps.

  As far as the Nology wires, they're too much of a pain in the ass to deal with. First they sell you a pulse coil to get a really high voltage, narrow spark and then they sell you capacitive wires to install with a 1k Ohm resistor. What gives? Why put a RC network on the output of the pulse coil? That, and I didn't like having to fiddle with my timing. A Ducati is not a Honda -- you can't just pull off a cover and move a plate a few degrees.

  The Nology coils I had to install one over the other in between the igniter modules with the writing facing out. ( Picture ) I modified/bent the plate that held the stock coils and had to put new connectors on the wiring harness to attach to the coils, too. Installing the coils and wires took a bit of mechanical inclination and common sense, so I'd recommend that for the more ingenuitive and resourceful home mechanics for a clean install.

• Installed NGK racing wires and I'm just impressed with their quality. They are silicon wires with molded end caps that are available to fit perfectly on bare spark plugs or those with terminal nuts and 90 degree or straight caps.

  I tried Accel plug wires, which are supposed to be cool with the 8.8mm core and silicon, but the end caps were just plain cheap. They're not molded, instead are cheap, foldable, stamped metal. I broke them trying to bend them into 90s. Suck.

  Summary - I think the stock ignition system on the the Supersports is pretty weak. I noticed great improvements with the Nology or Dyna coils and NGK wires.

• Electrex voltage regulator and Yuasa YTX7 maintenance free battery will cure any charging woes your older SS has. The YTX7, 9, or 12 will drop in nicely on the SS once you remove the rubber stuff in the battery box, while the regulator will need extra wiring if you choose to keep it in the stock location. With the smaller and lighter YTX battery, there is room to mount the regulator next to the battery.

  Update: The Electrex RR51 regulator fits perfectly for the Superbikes, but the leads are about a foot too short for the SS. I offer a wires upgrade kit that allows a stock installation.