Wot's the Ducati difference?

[imdying]

2. Ducati produce different types of bikes with different performance expectations. No-one complains about rebuilding high-performance two-smokes. Similarly bikes like the 748r are designed to high performance specs, not generous tolerances, and they can wear. By comparison the ST series are designed for longevity. I'd hazard a guess that the current Sport Classics such as the 900SS would go far as well.

I agree with that... the 999 makes about 50 gazillion more HP than my SV, I can accept it wouldn't truck along to a 100 thou without some work. Besides, most bikes hit something solid well before they get that far.

[johan]

I'm totally open to having my mind changed if a few Ducati owners pipe up at having clocked up 100,000 + kms without too much trouble on their later model bikes...???

There is one supersport being raced at the tracks. I talked to the owner at Manfeild and he told me he did 100,000km on the road before he decided to race it. He did a head rebuild and is now trashing it on the track. I though that was pretty neat.

I'm not saying Ducati engines are bullet proof. I've had an engine done only 15000km with internal problems costing me dear money to fix, just from road riding. I've also trashed my 998 at the tracks that I bought with no service record and unknown kms with great success and the engines is looking good last time it was looked at internally. I promise to update you all when it blows up.

Buying a superbike spec'ed engine I know pretty well what to expect and what to ask from the engine. I also know that the more exotic models such as RS, R have a lot more aggressive cams, light con rods etc, made for performance, not reliability, which requires a lot of attention. You might want to stay away from them unless you really need the extra HP.

The desmodromic design has a lot of moving parts grinding each other and we all know it's not the most maintenance free solution.
What is odd is one of the desmo design advantages is precise valve control at high revs opposed to floating valves back in the day when springs were hard to manufacture. When was the last time you saw a high revving Ducati? Sure the GP8 cuts out at what 20.000 rpms, but for the lazy twins we're cruise with, I'm not sure what the advantage is!?
Maybe it's the personality/character after all?

[mikeey01]

Buying a superbike spec'ed engine I know pretty well what to expect and what to ask from the engine.
The desmodromic design has a lot of moving parts grinding each other and we all know it's not the most maintenance free solution.
Maybe it's the personality/character after all?

I'm hearing ya brother, I'm hearing ya

55,000 k on my SB and still going just fine, gotta keep that maintenance up to em!

[AllanB]

.
Perhaps the Harley crowd is right...if you don't like it, you don't understand.

I like the Harley - but I don't understand the price premium!!!



I'm pretty sure they sell them on a per kilo system.........

[warewolf]

I like the Harley
...
I'm pretty sure they sell them on a per kilo system.........

This may be closer to the truth than you realise. One of the items from Triumph's market research was that any bike under 320kg was considered a lightweight, so that became the minimum weight target for the Rocket III.

[imdying]

Yikes! My bikes don't weigh that much between them!

[far queue]

I like the Harley - but I don't understand the price premium!!!



I'm pretty sure they sell them on a per kilo system.........

Yep, it's the scrap metal value

[Bullitt]

The desmodromic design has a lot of moving parts grinding each other and we all know it's not the most maintenance free solution.
What is odd is one of the desmo design advantages is precise valve control at high revs opposed to floating valves back in the day when springs were hard to manufacture. When was the last time you saw a high revving Ducati? Sure the GP8 cuts out at what 20.000 rpms, but for the lazy twins we're cruise with, I'm not sure what the advantage is!?
Maybe it's the personality/character after all?

Thats pretty much it as far as I can tell. Ducati stick with Desmodromic valves despite the fact they dont really provide any advantages anymore. An example of it can be found at:
http://www.sigmaperformance.com/748-853.html

Ducati had been given the budget to take on the Japanese by the company's new owners the Castiglioni's. With help from Cosworth, Inginiere Bordi updated the 4V Desmodromic treatise he had prepared as a student at Bologna University and set to work. The valves were quite small and, to get the Desmodromic mechanism in between the valves, the valve angle was not as flat as Cosworth would have liked (an included angle of 40 degrees rather than a sub 30-degree number that could have been achieved with valve springs). Ducati wanted to stick with their preferred Desmo system and decided the sacrifice was worth it.

[johan]

Thats pretty much it as far as I can tell. Ducati stick with Desmodromic valves despite the fact they dont really provide any advantages anymore. An example of it can be found at:
http://www.sigmaperformance.com/748-853.html

Thanks for that link!

I found this article where I can see the desmodromic stuff makes sense:
http://www.totalracingsolutions.com/215/

[limbimtimwim]

Ducatis are for wankers.

[imdying]

Ducati's are for wankers.

Nearly right... motorcycles are for wankers

[Dooly]

There is one supersport being raced at the tracks. I talked to the owner at Manfeild and he told me he did 100,000km on the road before he decided to race it. He did a head rebuild and is now trashing it on the track. I though that was pretty neat.

You sure it was'nt a ST2?
A mate of mine has one that has done over 100 I think, or damn near it and he's racing it, and has been for years, plus lots of road use.

[Voltaire]

Geez...Desmos get people wound up like springs...

[McJim]

Ducatis are for wankers.

Are you claiming that you have NEVER played with your willy?

[testastretta]

Ducatis are for wankers.

Here ya go limbimtimwimjism.Take a couple of viagra and spank away.If this dosnt do it for ya I'm sure some other Ducatisti will offer pics of their Ducs.