Ducati race/setup costs

[lrrs313]

OK, it's that time of year, and I have way too much time to think about future possibilities........

So I keep hearing people say that setting up and racing a Ducati 848 is a lot more expensive than setting up and racing, say, an R6. Is there truth to this, and if so, what is needed to make the Duc competitive that isn't needed for the R6? And what is needed for additional maintenance?

I'm toying with the idea of picking up a bike next summer at some point, riding it on the street a little, and slowly building it into a race bike. Yes, I know it's a lot cheaper to buy one already set up; I like the idea of doing it myself and getting the bike exactly the way I want it. And I'm not talking about setting up an AMA SS level bike, I just want a setup competitive in AM and maybe into the EX field a little (I realize that to be competitive in the top of EX it's going to take more than the basics, I'll cross that bridge if/when I ever get to it).

[timmyho414]

I know you said you want to build it yourself but a friend of mine is selling a 848 that has everything minus the offset triple trees. $9,000. I can add up 3-4k of stuff it has off the top of my head. If you want his info let me know.

As for setting one up. Having a 748 and a 749r I think its more about cost of buying and maintaining the bike(t-belts every season and valve checks/adjusts every other). If you do your own work it's not an issue. Unless you want a Ducati I'd be inclined to go with a newer R6 based on the EX MW SBK class.

Having said that, I love my 749 and would not trade it for any other bike.

Stuff I know you will want right away on a 848 that you may not need on an R6
1.slipper clutch
2. off set triples, from what I hear.
then it's all the normal suspension stuff that I would think you'd have to do to any bike. springs, re-valve, shock etc.

[lrrs313]

Unfortunately I'm not in a position to buy right now, otherwise I would be very interested in your friend's bike. Yeah, I know the newer R6 seems to be the way to go, I was just wondering about the costs as I think the duc would be fun. Plus if I go through with this plan the bike would be a street bike for at least a year first, and I think the 848 would be far better for that.

[CEO]

The bike itself and parts are more money. What would be the benefit to you of doing that as opposed to doing the r6/gsxr route? I think that might be the better question.

[lrrs313]

The bike itself and parts are more money. What would be the benefit to you of doing that as opposed to doing the r6/gsxr route? I think that might be the better question.

No idea what the benefit would be other than not being just another R6/GSXR on the track, just tossing the idea around. Jap 600s are getting pretty damn close in price to the 848, and I was thinking it might be a street bike for the first year or so. I've had an R6, and honestly I thought it was the worst street bike I've ever owned; I figured an 848 would have to be better in that area. Honestly it was just an idea I had the other day and was trying to figure out why it wouldn't work.

[Awesome]

Ask Nazo what he's into his 848 for, I'd ballpark it at 2-3 setup 600's

[CEO]

No idea what the benefit would be other than not being just another R6/GSXR on the track, just tossing the idea around. Jap 600s are getting pretty damn close in price to the 848, and I was thinking it might be a street bike for the first year or so. I've had an R6, and honestly I thought it was the worst street bike I've ever owned; I figured an 848 would have to be better in that area. Honestly it was just an idea I had the other day and was trying to figure out why it wouldn't work.

If you're one of those guys that has the hardon for the duc panache or just likes the feel or the twin motor or something then go for it. But otherwise the jap bike is the obvious choice. It's good enough for Jeff Wood to do a 1:09.9...

BTW, an r6 being a bad streetbike correlates to it being a phenomenal race bike.

[Pittenger5]

Slightly off topic, but why is a Duc so much more than a Jap bike? rearsets, clipons, suspension, bodywork, all seems like they'd be similar?

[OreoGaborio]

Ask Nazo what he's into his 848 for, I'd ballpark it at 2-3 setup 600's

Yup. I wanna say the last number I heard come out of his mouth was north of the 20k mark.

[Manny]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_6 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8E200 Safari/6533.18.5)

Ask Nazo what he's into his 848 for, I'd ballpark it at 2-3 setup 600's

Yup. I wanna say the last number I heard come out of his mouth was north of the 20k mark.

Maybe 20 including the bike?

In addition to the rearsets, suspension etc I think the bike needs offset triples?? Maybe a slipper clutch as i dont think its standard?? That adds some cost but I am also curious why it needs more upgrades than a 600 to be competitive mid pack??

[Awesome]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_6 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8E200 Safari/6533.18.5)



Maybe 20 including the bike?

In addition to the rearsets, suspension etc I think the bike needs offset triples?? Maybe a slipper clutch as i dont think its standard?? That adds some cost but I am also curious why it needs more upgrades than a 600 to be competitive mid pack??

The bikes aren't built to race. Change all the geometries, exhaust, nemesis ECU, and a few tweaks and you're at 20k quick. Pretty sure he hasn't even put a slipper on it. And yes, that includes the bike.

[xsiliconkid]

If you're one of those guys that has the hardon for the duc panache or just likes the feel or the twin motor or something then go for it. But otherwise the jap bike is the obvious choice. It's good enough for Jeff Wood to do a 1:09.9...

BTW, an r6 being a bad streetbike correlates to it being a phenomenal race bike.

I could we wrong but I thought the lap record (outside of AMA) at NHMS was by Eric Wood, May 29/30 2010 on a Duc in Supertwins 1.10.49

[Woodcraft]

If you own the bike already, setting it up for the track is really not any different than setting up a Japanese 600. The exhaust systems and ECU's are a little more pricey, but after that all the peripheral stuff is exactly the same no matter what your brand is.

Stock bike to race bike...the Ducati might be $1000 more, tops. Buying a prepared race bike, no matter what the brand is...cheaper every time.

As someone who has raced both styles of bikes, you can go about the same pace on either the 848 or the R6, especially as an Amateur.....it's more a matter of what you like personally. Scotty and I went back and forth all year on an R6 and 848.....take your pick with either one, you'll be fine.

[CEO]

I could we wrong but I thought the lap record (outside of AMA) at NHMS was by Eric Wood, May 29/30 2010 on a Duc in Supertwins 1.10.49

Thought Jeff did a 109.9 in practice a couple years back.

Either way, the point was that the bikes are essentially the same in terms of potential so I would go jap unless you have a real pull towards the ducs.