DEGSY

[Doc]

It's funny everything you've said about harley riders is how most people would catagorize people that ride ducatis. Or at least I would catagorize most people that ride ducatis.

Ride a Ducati long enough and you will understand what he is saying.

"Wow, that must be an expensive bike" I.e. You must be rich and can just blow your money on a toy....

"How much do one of those cost!?" See above.

"I hear they are the Ferrari of motorcycles" I.E. you must be a snob...

[The Snowman]

well, some buy them off eBay...

[Degsy]

While I think it is a little disappointing that the 1098 does have the stalling/spluttering/dying issues, it's unfortunately a symptom of trying to make bikes with better and better performance in a world where environmental issues are fighting back against internal combustion.

10 years ago, a "big" performance V-twin (say 800cc or over) was expected to produce about 75-85hp. The top 1000cc inline fours were producing 120hp on a good day at the crank.

Enter 1997 or so and the Superhawk and the TL1000S/R. Big revolution, the Japanese entered the fray with a vengeance and these two bikes (the Suzuki in particular) were the "it" bikes of the time. Everybody wanted one. The TL was producing about 120hp (unheard of for a twin at the time, a 916 I believe was running 100 or so realistically). Honda was pissed off that Suzuki had the edge with the TL and went off to build a superbike for the street. In 2000 Honda announced that they were going to blow the other big three out of the water with several new sportsbikes that would dominate the street AND track. The RC51 was released that year to much pomp and fanfare. I bought one and loved it. 135 HP or so with a pipe and PC. WAY more than anyone had gotten out of a V-Twin sportsbike. Heavy as hell, but lotsa power. Trouble was brewing, however. In order to get that amount of HP and run big old jugs on a sportbike AND meet emmissions requirements, you had to mess with lots of stuff. The RC51 was really the first superbike with the whole host of EPA baggage. You had the evaporative system, the thin-nozzle injectors, the flapper valve, the leaned-out ECU settings, TPS, barometric pressure sensor, air temp sensor, etc etc. All of these really complicated the whole ignition and mixture process in order to not fail those all important EPA requirements and still produce the big grunt the consumer wanted. The result? Low down the bike performed like a cuckoo clock, lots of clicks, whirrs, bangs, sucking noises, pops and whistles. Problems were particularly prevalent when the bike was really hot or really cold. On overrun, coming to a stop, the bike attempted to lean everything out to avoid unburnt fuel in the exhaust and the bikes would cough and wheeze and stall. If the owner did all the right things (remove the evap system/spark arrestors/flapper valve) and loaded a good map with a quality exhaust, then the bike ran really well (as it was designed before the EPA got involved).

So, after that long ramble, what i'm trying to say is that:

1. There is really nothing wrong with all these 1098s that wasn't made wrong by epa requirements.
2. Pipe and ECU to match it will fix the issues. A modified ECU may make things better even without the pipe.

However, the melting battery terminal is a real problem. Either the wire wasn't connected tight enough and it was arcing or you have a bad ground somewhere on the bike. My bet is the dealer didn't put the wire on tight enough. The trouble is, with all that arcing there is a risk of damage to the ECU and your bike sounded VERY VERY sick pulling away from Seekonk.


Derek

[akira700]

Degs,

You sure its not just that wops can't make a bike like the japs can?

[naked-daytrader]

Degs,

You sure its not just that wops can't make a bike like the japs can?

Being an Italian, I'm now offended. We Italains have done some great things in this world, hell we discovered America for christ sakes (It was Amerigo Vespucci who really discovered America not columbus).
If we can make Hoffa disapear, kill kennedy,and bring pizza to America after DISCOVERING IT, I'm sure we can make a few scooters better than the Japs..............

[akira700]

Dude, I hope you are not really offended.
Being the token jap on the list I said this is partailly jest.
Hopefully there are not alot of 1098s out there with
all these problems ! Its is one nice looking bike.
Japan needs to hire some Italian designers to draft some new
looks going forward.

So before you all start ragging on Japan
remember Japan is the nation that
aside from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki also brought you:
Pokari Sweat (as a popular soft drink)
Pac Man Video Coffee Tables
and Hello Kitty !
So some serious respect is due !
;-)

[naked-daytrader]

not offended at all. Kidding........

[union]

By the way James:


When do you want to ride my Duke? When hell freezes over or when pigs start flying? Get back to me and let me know.............

Well Id be willing to let you try one of the better setup RC51s out there right now

[The Snowman]

Well Id be willing to let you try one of the better setup RC51s out there right now

You must be talking about Mike's, right?

[naked-daytrader]

Well Id be willing to let you try one of the better setup RC51s out there right now

It might take that and..................your first born child.

[The Snowman]

It might take that and..................your first born child.

Somehow the idea of James procreating sends chills up my spine. (like in horror movies)

[naked-daytrader]

Somehow the idea of James procreating sends chills up my spine. (like in horror movies)

Hahahahahaaa

[Awesome]

Well Id be willing to let you try one of the better setup RC51s out there right now

Does it push as smoothly as a 1098?

[naked-daytrader]

Does it push as smoothly as a 1098?

Now that's funny as hell.................nice one!

[Degsy]

Does it push as smoothly as a 1098?

ZING!

[Crash Dummy Denno]

Dude, I hope you are not really offended.
Being the token jap on the list I said this is partailly jest.
Hopefully there are not alot of 1098s out there with
all these problems ! Its is one nice looking bike.
Japan needs to hire some Italian designers to draft some new
looks going forward.

So before you all start ragging on Japan
remember Japan is the nation that
aside from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki also brought you:
Pokari Sweat (as a popular soft drink)
Pac Man Video Coffee Tables
and Hello Kitty !
So some serious respect is due !
;-)

akira is Japanese?

[union]

Does it push as smoothly as a 1098?

I dont know. I never got into a pushing match with it Typically a little twist of the throttle and it goes all by itself.