Back on the Street with my first Duc
 

Traded the GSXR Track Bike for my first Ducati yesterday. It's just a 748, but she brakes and handles amazing. I'm looking forward to getting to know her.

It's got he open clutch cover, so the rattle is in full effect. I love the sound!

That thing is NNNNNNNNASTY!!!!
congrats

Nice, I had a 2000 748.

Got a custom chip for it, removed the intake pre-filters, some throttle body tuning, super light fly wheel, Termi's, re-geared (two up in the rear if I remember right), spaced out the clutch cover, replaced the clutch slave, carbon bits here and there, Evans coolant... Very nice bike. So much fun in tight twisties and made so many great noises. I'm pretty sure everytime I was going at what I thought was ridiculous speed around corners the bike was whispering p$@sy to me :) It handled so nice.

Sorry for the hijack but can you email me Sean? I have a couple questions about road bicycles.

Either PM me or send me an email if you still have it.

Getting some funny error when I try to PM you, can you PM me your email address?

That thing is money! Great trade for sure

Totally the classic Ducati Super Bike. Can't wait to take it for a spin. :-)

Thanks for the post Sean. Why the clutch slave cylinder?

I already have a chip. No idea what it is, but I have the paperwork to find out. I think I'll try to remove the baffles in the stock pipes before buying the Termis.

Any time Ev. I need to get it over to Dave Moss first. The bike is set up for a 155 pound rider. Hopefully a few clicks can fix it. I have a feeling I'll be swapping fork springs though.

Easier clutch pull and better seals. At least on my 2000 the clutch fluid would turn color pretty quick. I think that I did the Yoyodyne replacement slave and not only did it make the pull easier it stopped the fluid from changing. I needed to bleed out my rear brake a few times a season too. It was so easy to do I never bothered to upgrade or replace anything.

The intake and exhaust mostly buy you sound (a good thing) re-gearing it and dropping a light weight fly wheel in mine made the biggest differences. You'll get many opinions on the flywheel, I really liked how fast up and down the motor rev'd with the light flywheel in it. I think that motor is more fun that way.

Nice bike! I really like Ducati's swing arms.

Have you ever ridden the Hypermotard? I want it soooo bad....but it's stupid expensive.
http://static.blogo.it/motoblog/scar...tard_796_1.jpg

I was very happy to hear you mentioned the clutch pull. I rode the bike yesterday and decided I would not be able to ride it as is. The clutch pull is retarded. I'm only willing to dedicate one finger for the clutch (dirtbiking thing) and the level is way too firm for this. I'm going to pursue the slave cylinder upgrade right away and some CRGs.

This weekend I picked up Dunlop Q2s, and yesterday I bought Leo Vince Slips-ons. After the clutch upgrade I'll do a 520 chain/sprocket and drop a tooth in the front. That will probably be it.

Thanks for the advice.

Ben, Isaac has the 1098 Hypermotard. I haven't ridden it, but he said it's insane.

Is there room to drop a tooth in the front? I don't remember what mine came with but I though it was pretty small to start with. I did the 520 chain but don't remember how many I went up in the rear.

I don't know what the current options for clutch slaves are, but my Yoyodyne one at the time was not a one finger pull deal with the stock lever.

Yup, I was just reading some threads. The yoyodyne sounds like it improves the pull slightly. I'm hoping to find something that makes a big difference. I don't understand why they have such a hard pull.

WOW!! Bike porn! Congrats!

Duc's are definately at the top of my list is I was ever to upgrade my ride. I hope to someday, and have looked at them quite a bit. Went to work the other day at the beach, and there were 4 Duc's all together in a parking space. I could not bring myself to park my bike near them. One of the guys I work with showed up the other day at work, and parked his friend's 1198 right next to my R6. Not nice. Almost made me sell mine right there.

I love my R6, but will have to replace it someday. Getting up on miles. Love the sportbike for many reasons, but would definately have fun with the Hypermotard. Have seen the 1100, but the 749 would be sick too.

Are you planning on tracking the new ride? Just curious. A friend has a monster, but he does not track it, and has a dedicated GSXR for that. Would not want to see that sweet bike on the ground.

Have a blast with the new ride. She's a beauty!

Thanks Buzz. I'm planing on tracking it soon. I'm not too worried about wrecking this one. A 1098 / 1198 would make me nervous.

Sean, I just ordered a 30.5 mm evoluzione clutch slave. Talked to the tech guy over there, he said it should reduce the pull by 25%. I'm hoping this and a crg lever do the trick.

Ahhhh, Evoluzione I was trying to remember them. Bought a lot of goodies from them when I had my 748.

What year and model is yours? Looking at it I can not tell and it looks like the frame and wheels don't match (color wise).

1997.

Great observation. I never thought about that. Do the wheels and frame typically match?

I think the wheels could be off of a newer bike. I think mine came with the 3 spoke. I actually like the 5 spoke Marchelini's better.

Wheels are definitely newer. Your bike should have 3 spokers that match the frame color. Not sure when they changed frame color. I think it was around '00. My Monster was a '97 also and had the gold frame.

My 2000 was that dark gold color, think the steel/grey was 2001 or later. You could get the 5 spoke wheels on the "S" versions.

So the next question is have the rockers been replaced or re-plated? My 2000 never had any issues, but some earlier models had the chrome coating on the rockers flake off. You'd see the flakes on the oil pan bolt's magnet when doing a change.

Yup, I'm familiar with that problem. I have all of the paperwork from Nicols, a respected shop in the area here. The rocker arms have been giving a clean bill of health, and the valves have been adjusted regularly. Last adjustment was 1000 miles ago.

Awesome bike!

Very nice,

I acquired all of southern Oregon into my territory a couple weeks ago. This means a few "off site team building days" with Ehler's Inc, at T-Hill has just become a very real possibility.;)

Awesome! I'm still getting the bike set up. Let me know when you are ready. Evan will go too.

Yup!!! I'm in.

Bolted on the Leo Vince's last night. Ahhhhh music to my ears. Rumble rumble. lol

Hell yeah..... Nothing sounds as good as a Duc with a open clutch cover and loud exhaust. They just sound mean. Sick!

Ducati's inspire confidence.....

I remember the first Ducati I had, and the second, and life is much better now without them. The closest dealer and mechanic that knew how to work on them was 2 hours away from me, and mine went in for service every 3,000 miles. It got valve adjustments, timing belts, and clutches. After hard backroad rides and trackdays, it was worn out....

Nice bike though, you'll enjoy it if you can work on it.

Kinda off topic, but I didn't want to start another thread just for a pic... this just popped up on my FB, screen grab from an 80 mph slide.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php...type=1&theater

Trace,

that pic reminds me of someone this past April. He's just missing the mud bath finally.;)

Cliff, you're a nut for doing track days in the rain. I'm sure that's one way to become a better rider though.

Check out these shots of Cory Call. He's a local badass.

Trace.... been there, done that. Have the thrashed leathers to prove it. LOL!!!