Here is some info on how to properly install the tapered steering head bearings from SpeedyMoto. Available from us at desmoworks here: SpeedyMoto Ducati Tapered Steering Head Bearings

Though the stock roller bearings can be torqued to a specific setting, tapered bearings do not work like that. Because of their larger surface area, torquing down on tapered bearings can cause excessive tightness in the steering. Not tightening enough will lead to free play.

In either case, the correct tightness is so that no free play exists. Free play is hard to detect accurately while the bike is sitting on the ground but if the front end is off the ground and unsupported, one can get close. Just grab the lower fork legs (castings) from the front and pull towards yourself. If you still have the adjustment loose, then you can feel the play. Have your friend slowly tighten up the adjuster while you are checking the play. You may be able to get it really close, but don’t be discouraged if this doesn’t work for you. Highly experienced mechanics sometimes have trouble getting it exactly right the first time by this method.

A few tips: Load bearings with lots of grease before installation. Both triple clamps can’t be tightened down to the forks or you won’t be able to adjust the bearings. Un-attach any steering damper while you are setting the bearings.

Once the bike is together, you may roll it forward and back while gently applying the front brake. If you feel a tiny click or movement, that is the play. Free play will be noticed by a shimmy, or shudder, in the front end while applying the front brake. Extreme over-tightness will be noticed by the forks not swinging totally freely while the wheel is in the air. It will be similar to some tightening of a steering damper. There is some amount of tightness between perfect and the extreme. I can’t tell you how to detect that situation. It can be avoided by tightening only to “no free play” .

Double check your setting’s after 150 miles or so.