I am doing my pre-resto planning and knowledge building. Many consumable parts (I will not be particularly fixated on original items like fork seals, bearings and such) seem to start at 1986 not 1985. Were there many changes between the years? For example head stem bearings (which vary from $50 to $110) and fork seals and dust covers?
Cheers
P

I would recommend Falloon's book "DUCATI Belt-Drive Two-Valve Twins" for an overview of the many differences between your 1985 F1A and the 1986-on Bs. You have 38mm forks, not the 40mm of later. Steering head bearings probably the same. MikeV

Thanks Mike. I have a copy of the book, heavy reading but essential all the same.

I am keen not to be a victim of the "Ducati Parts Price Premium" where you slap Ducati on the same pattern part as anything else and add 500% to the price.

Might be worth keeping the micrometer and tape measure handy to check such things as fork diameter cause you never know who has done what on a 30+ year old motorcycle. Also with such a low volume bike I suspect I will be relying on the aftermarket anyway. Having said That I do recall when I bought this bike (it came with an 851 as part of the deal) that there were boxes of parts for both bikes that I have put somewhere...........