Decisions decisions decisions.

[Xsannz]

Add a little bit more and you can get an 848.
Riding position and handling is miles ahead of 748, and reliability is a lot better too.
Not to mention the power is a lot nicer with bigger engine and different technology.

It is more hassle than the Japanese bikes, but the riding enjoyment is divine.

Warning: may take quite a bit to get used to. Don't be surprised when you test ride it if you find the handling is "crap". It takes a very different approach to riding it, and once you know how it actually handles a lot better than the japs.
Expect to spend $500-$800 for normal service, and $1000 - $1200 for anything involving cam belt.
Also plan about $2000 for suspension revalve/respring. Definitely worth the money and totally changes how the bike handles/feels. At the very least, do it for Safety reasons.

Having owned both, I have to say Ducati is a lot more enjoyable than SP1, for commuting, backroad riding, and the track.

EDIT: ah, you have decided to buy an inline 4. Too bad. Oh well, maybe next year?

yeah 848 is better that sp1 and possibly sp2 but then the 848 is 6 years more advanced... at least, i was doing a more year for year and value for value comparison as the sp1 took on the 996

[Marmoot]

6 years more advanced, but not $6k more expensive than SP1.

[Xsannz]

6 years more advanced, but not $6k more expensive than SP1.

true and good feedback.

moot point now.. but he was looking at a 748 so i was only mentioning the other more maintainable twin of the time.. as the TL1000r was a joke,, compared to the duke and the honda

[Xsannz]

Picking it up next weekend

what Flight did ya get?

[Asher]

I plan on going to the airport on friday morning and trying to catch a standby flight.
Im meeting the seller in the afternoon, staying in Auckland overnight and heading to wellys in the morning.

[Edbear]

true and good feedback.

moot point now.. but he was looking at a 748 so i was only mentioning the other more maintainable twin of the time.. as the TL1000r was a joke,, compared to the duke and the honda

But the TL-R was easy to fix and could be made a really effective weapon with not a lot of trouble. A mate's son-in-law had one and tuned it into a very nice ride!

[silver_duck]

But the TL-R was easy to fix and could be made a really effective weapon with not a lot of trouble. A mate's son-in-law had one and tuned it into a very nice ride!

I'm curious (but not in THAT way), what did he do to "fix" it?
I mean besides the rotary rear shock, did he do anything else?

I used to have one... loved it, except when we had to go around corners

[ducatilover]

I'm curious (but not in THAT way), what did he do to "fix" it?
I mean besides the rotary rear shock, did he do anything else?

I used to have one... loved it, except when we had to go around corners

Easy, make it boom. Then nothing else matters
I thought the R was fine, but the early S was the scary one?

[Edbear]

I'm curious (but not in THAT way), what did he do to "fix" it?
I mean besides the rotary rear shock, did he do anything else?

I used to have one... loved it, except when we had to go around corners

Easy, make it boom. Then nothing else matters
I thought the R was fine, but the early S was the scary one?

Personally I think the boy is nuts! A likeable larriken who likes fast bikes and cars. He races a Civic in the Honda racing scene and not long ago sold his ZX10 because it was only getting 180hp at the wheel...

I'm not sure the full extent of his mods to the R but included suspension, pipes, dyno tuning and possibly gearing. He loved it but in the end it wasn't powerful enough... I

[Xsannz]

I plan on going to the airport on friday morning and trying to catch a standby flight.
Im meeting the seller in the afternoon, staying in Auckland overnight and heading to wellys in the morning.

So welly on friday... I am leaving auckland on friday headed for welly.

We might be able to catch up.

Pm me.

[Xsannz]

Personally I think the boy is nuts! A likeable larriken who likes fast bikes and cars. He races a Civic in the Honda racing scene and not long ago sold his ZX10 because it was only getting 180hp at the wheel...

I'm not sure the full extent of his mods to the R but included suspension, pipes, dyno tuning and possibly gearing. He loved it but in the end it wasn't powerful enough... I

They always had the power but tended to go straight in corners... They developed a bad rep after a journo killed himself test riding it and then they recalled and fitted a dampner.

But compared to the rc51 and the 996 they were heavy tanks that didnt corner.

At at stage susuki and kawasaki had more ponies and no handling they always went fo hp numbers.

Where as recently they have gone the othwr way with the exception of kawasaki who now handle like a dream and still have they highest hp numbers.

[Asher]

No no. I'm headed to welly on sat, im staying in Auckland Friday night

[Edbear]

They always had the power but tended to go straight in corners... They developed a bad rep after a journo killed himself test riding it and then they recalled and fitted a dampner.

But compared to the rc51 and the 996 they were heavy tanks that didnt corner.

At at stage susuki and kawasaki had more ponies and no handling they always went fo hp numbers.

Where as recently they have gone the othwr way with the exception of kawasaki who now handle like a dream and still have they highest hp numbers.

I haven't heard any other complaints about their cornering per se. The issue was with the rotary damper being inconsistent and locking up through lack of flow. Also the rake and trail was too quick and exacerbated the damper upsetting things. The accident was, if I recall an owner of an original 'S' who tankslapped himself off the road, and bike mags began universally panning the damper. The 'R' was intended to compete with Ducati in the race class but was deemed underpowered and too heavy, and they still hadn't fixed the issues with the damper enough.

As a road bike, though, they were fine once the rear damper was replaced with an Ohlins and the forks set up right. And they sounded sweet. Yes, still a bit heavy but not really an issue unless you were competing with GSX-R's and ZX10's, etc. And owners can always reduce weight if it is a problem.

[Xsannz]

I haven't heard any other complaints about their cornering per se. The issue was with the rotary damper being inconsistent and locking up through lack of flow. Also the rake and trail was too quick and exacerbated the damper upsetting things. The accident was, if I recall an owner of an original 'S' who tankslapped himself off the road, and bike mags began universally panning the damper. The 'R' was intended to compete with Ducati in the race class but was deemed underpowered and too heavy, and they still hadn't fixed the issues with the damper enough.

As a road bike, though, they were fine once the rear damper was replaced with an Ohlins and the forks set up right. And they sounded sweet. Yes, still a bit heavy but not really an issue unless you were competing with GSX-R's and ZX10's, etc. And owners can always reduce weight if it is a problem.

True.

Honda based the rc51 on the tlr and refined everything that wasnt working as the basis for the sp1 then revised the sp2 based on swigarm and throttle bodies from the racing season sp1 edwards rode.

The tlr was designed in 98 so honda did 2 years r&d till 2000 when the sp1 was released.

And most of that was around handling and suspension.

Even said the sp1 had rock hard suspension and had to be softened for the road.

[Xsannz]

No no. I'm headed to welly on sat, im staying in Auckland Friday night

What ferry are you grabbing on saturday?

I am on the 245pm blue bridge ferry.

Bluebridge are better imho than inter islander.

Are you heading to chch saturday nite or bunking in blenheim...

I am bunking in blenheim at a back packers and riding home sunday.