Decision time- which bike should go??

[mossy1200]

I kinda knew anyone from the bucket community would say "keep the bucket", but trust me it doesn't cost anything like $300 a round to race the monster!

How can you say its cheeper than $300

I use $300 in tyres plus fuel, $100 entry plus transponder ,garage hire ,hotdogs, oil,filters and sundries.
This is just racing one class.

Is this the passion talking or the accountant?

[Dreama]

Doesn't sound like too many of the answers you've been getting are from Duc racers.
So yeah, I'm biased too .... keep the Monster. It's a no brainer ... and you know it but just need another Duc racer to justify the joys of racing Ducs.
Shit ... you even live in an area where BEARs is alive and strong and you can get plenty of racing on it. Just sacrifice quantity for quality ... the SOT is awesome and you guys down there even have your own BEARs winter series.
And you're right ... the money from selling the monster will be gone in a flash.

Anyway ... here is an extract from the Duc Racers Justification Bible :

We all know that the Ducs are a tad unreliable so there's the perfect excuse : because the Duc isnt always ready or going you actually SAVE money because you are'nt really racing .... you get to go to the race meetings, hang out and actually be a racer without even racing.
This has lots of merits .... it's the perfect excuse for getting beaten by your buddies on the rare occasions when you actually do race because we all know we need lots of track time to improve .... you save on tyre bills .... you save on crash repairs .... you minimise the chance of becoming a dribbling brain dead crash victim .... you become an extremely skilled mechanic and the guys in the local bike shop smile alot when they see you ... you're partner is happy because you're not really racing much and spending all the food money ......
Mate ....... it's so obvious I can't believe you need to even ask all those other wankers racing those high powered, super reliable, tyre munching cash gobbling jap things.

Keep the Monster bro,

[TonyB]

How can you say its cheeper than $300

I use $300 in tyres plus fuel, $100 entry plus transponder ,garage hire ,hotdogs, oil,filters and sundries.
This is just racing one class.

Is this the passion talking or the accountant?

Um, lets see. I use street tyres which at absolute worst last 6 months, I use pump gas, my entry fee including transponder is $55, I don't hire a garage. I'm doing this on a budget already. I calculate, based on 3 years experience riding this bike, that at worst it would cost on average $200 in total per round, including all maintenance and fuel to get to the track, which is 20 mins from my house. Thats based on not developing the bike any further and sticking with it as it is, and its based on the more expensive entry fee for a MCI round, but with the extra racing I get at a BEARS full track round.

Tony the choice is simple.

Get a live-in girlfriend who is earning good coin to help support your addiction.

There are many positives.

Your wife will have someone to go shopping with and you can stay at home and work on your bikes

You'll save on winter heating bills - go to bed early and snuggle up between the girls

You'll have your own personal pit crew and a choice of 2 brolly-girls - most excellent in freaking out the competition on the grid - "shit he must be good, he has a brolly-girl"

I could go on, but Mrs B is giving me the eye......

Brilliant plan! oh, and my MrsB wants your MrsB to kick you in the arse...dunno why...

[TonyB]

Righto, MrsB and I have had a bit of a think, and have come up with an interum plan. We both accept that up to $200 per round, once a month or more, is more than we can stand at the moment. We also both agree that time moves quickly so selling the Monster now, only to find that I can easily afford it in a year or two, would only lead to regret. I would also cry in my beer every time the SOT came around if I couldn't race in it.

So we're going to try the following: I will race the bucket only, but keep the Monster as long as finances allow. It will be pulled out for events like Nelson and the SOT, and hopefully within a couple of years we'll be in a position to race it more often. If this doesn't work, it gets sold.

I reserve the right to change my mind on this at any moment

[lostinflyz]

Righto, MrsB and I have had a bit of a think, and have come up with an interum plan. We both accept that up to $200 per round, once a month or more, is more than we can stand at the moment. We also both agree that time moves quickly so selling the Monster now, only to find that I can easily afford it in a year or two, would only lead to regret. I would also cry in my beer every time the SOT came around if I couldn't race in it.

So we're going to try the following: I will race the bucket only, but keep the Monster as long as finances allow. It will be pulled out for events like Nelson and the SOT, and hopefully within a couple of years we'll be in a position to race it more often. If this doesn't work, it gets sold.

I reserve the right to change my mind on this at any moment

Mr B.

dont stop racing the duke. Everytime i see you go past me it takes me about 3 sec to figure out what it is, then i think hey thats cool, then i realise i got past, i get sad, then i get pissed and try go faster.

sad story. but anyway i like the plan, its too nice a bike to sell for what youd get for it.

[WarrenW]

Ok as far as the clutch is concerned I would say you are best to import one, usually a darn sight cheaper.
Check this out...
http://www.starcycle-usa.com/servlet...8-99-00/Detail

I put one into my TL1000S and cured the slippage. Also (excuse my ignorance here) if it is a wet clutch then I have found that even some semi synth oils will cause it to slip and I ould really recommend against fully synth as they have lots of friction modifiers in htem and can cause lots of grief.

Just my 2c worth.

[piston broke]

fark the expense.
ride a real bike,go the bears
2'nd hand tyres from the big boys are a reasonable price.

edit... change your mind,
make the most of everything

[johan]

Hey bro, what part is worn on the Monster's clutch? I've got some spares here that might help you in the mean time.

I also have a Showa shock from a 996 sitting in the corner. I'm not sure it will fit or improve the monster, but I'm happy to send it down for you to play with. I don't need it.

cheers

[gav]

Here ya go, TonyB! F3, Clubmans, Pre89 for $2000-
http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=246713571

[scracha]

Doesn't sound like too many of the answers you've been getting are from Duc racers,

My tuppenceworth.....ignore all the "fuck the jappa's" or "ignore the expense" bad advice & sell the Ducati. Yes, they do give a super feeling when you're riding them but there's nothing more depressing than having a Ducati that you really can't afford to maintain. You'll just end up hating the bike.

SV650 or later (maybe 11 year old) 400.



Ducati spares...hmm....I must give the 748's new owner the hurry up.

[TonyB]

Hey bro, what part is worn on the Monster's clutch? I've got some spares here that might help you in the mean time.

I also have a Showa shock from a 996 sitting in the corner. I'm not sure it will fit or improve the monster, but I'm happy to send it down for you to play with. I don't need it.

cheers

Hi Johan, thanks for your offer! The M750 has a wet clutch- its the fibres that are wearing out. Got anything for one of those?

As for the shock, looking at the Ohlins site I really don't think it would work- the 996 shock is shorter, has different mounting points, and has stuff hanging off it all over the place. The 996 shock also has a much lower rate
http://www.ohlins.com/Our-products/M...rsport/DU-143/

http://www.ohlins.com/Our-products/Motorcycle/Products/Sport/DU-440/

But if you think its worth sending down I'll give it a look. Thanks.

[TonyB]

Ok as far as the clutch is concerned I would say you are best to import one, usually a darn sight cheaper.
Check this out...
http://www.starcycle-usa.com/servlet...8-99-00/Detail

I put one into my TL1000S and cured the slippage. Also (excuse my ignorance here) if it is a wet clutch then I have found that even some semi synth oils will cause it to slip and I ould really recommend against fully synth as they have lots of friction modifiers in htem and can cause lots of grief.

Just my 2c worth.

Thanks Warren- thats a bloody good find! I'll keep that in mind.

Funnily enough, when I think back....perhaps the slippage started when I started using Elf semi-syn. Will try the recommended Shell oil at the next change. My understanding is that so long as you use an oil intended for bikes, it shouldn't matter if you use semi- synthetic or full synthetic, and its the car oils that have the friction modifiers

[TonyB]

Mr B.

dont stop racing the duke. Everytime i see you go past me it takes me about 3 sec to figure out what it is, then i think hey thats cool, then i realise i got past, i get sad, then i get pissed and try go faster.

sad story. but anyway i like the plan, its too nice a bike to sell for what youd get for it.

lol I didn't realise I'd ever passed anyone

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

sounds like a good plan. If you cant afford it, you shouldnt do it, cos something will eventually give.

you can still have fun racing buckets. When things pick p financially for you you can get back to roadracing.

[johan]

Hi Johan, thanks for your offer! The M750 has a wet clutch- its the fibres that are wearing out. Got anything for one of those?

As for the shock, looking at the Ohlins site I really don't think it would work- the 996 shock is shorter, has different mounting points, and has stuff hanging off it all over the place. The 996 shock also has a much lower rate
http://www.ohlins.com/Our-products/M...rsport/DU-143/

http://www.ohlins.com/Our-products/Motorcycle/Products/Sport/DU-440/

But if you think its worth sending down I'll give it a look. Thanks.

I had a look at those links above and unfortunately I don't think the shock will work.

I'll do some research about the clutch. I think they are using the same 12 tooth clutch plates but I'll double check.

I have a new clutch pack on back order so as soon as I get the new one I'll send down my current one. It's about 10 months old should work just fine for the monster, it's light weight too.

I've got OEM stock plates sitting here too that might be an option.

cheers