GSXR vs 848

[Kitt]

hey guys,

I've always been a suzuki guy, and feel fairly proficient as a 'zuk mechanic. This means I can keep a GSXR running on the cheap (know-how and part availability). I hope to be placing in suzuki contingency spots (1-10) next season (2010), and had planned on moving to a (salvaged) 2010 GSXR for eligibility.

Now, I can't find info currently (because we're in between seasons I think) on Ducati contingency, and not even sure the bike I could afford (salvaged 2008) would be eligible. I know there's a higher cost of owning a ducati, but I could get into the bike for not much more than the GSXR.

opinions? anybody here with 848 race experience? keep in mind this wouldn't be my first time on a twin, but my first time flogging one to a race pace (learning curve for sure).

[Awesome]

Think Nazo just got an exhaust for his....he got a 'deal' if you want to call it that, the MSRP was well over $3000.

[Kitt]

Think Nazo just got an exhaust for his....he got a 'deal' if you want to call it that, the MSRP was well over $3000.

I get a good deal on exhaust... if I'm racing, im not looking for the fancy Carbon Fiber NOSSSS special imported from venus crap.

Hindle offers an 848 exhaust, I plan to stick with him as long as he supports the team.

[Awesome]

I get a good deal on exhaust... if I'm racing, im not looking for the fancy Carbon Fiber NOSSSS special imported from venus crap.

Hindle offers an 848 exhaust, I plan to stick with him as long as he supports the team.

It's his racebike.

[Pigman]

Unless your ready to shell some serious Coin $$$$$ I would stick with the GSXR.....

Do you think it would hold up to the abuse?????

[BCT748]

I don't think any aftermarket suppliers have came out with the belts for the 848 yet, hell they still don't have them for the xx9 bikes, so you're looking at dealer prices on those. Besides that the only thing that is going to cost you a considerable amount of money more to maintain it would be the valve adjustments. Obviously it's cheaper if you do it yourself but even at that those shims aren't exactly cheap either if you plan on keeping a range of them on hand.

Do you think it would hold up to the abuse?????

Why wouldn't it?

[Kitt]

It's his racebike.

I know it is. Explain what that has to do with what I would be putting on my racebike.

I don't think any aftermarket suppliers have came out with the belts for the 848 yet, hell they still don't have them for the xx9 bikes, so you're looking at dealer prices on those.

thanks for the info - this is what I'm looking for for info... I dont mind doing the valves. What's the lifetime on belts?

[Pigman]

I don't think any aftermarket suppliers have came out with the belts for the 848 yet, hell they still don't have them for the xx9 bikes, so you're looking at dealer prices on those. Besides that the only thing that is going to cost you a considerable amount of money more to maintain it would be the valve adjustments. Obviously it's cheaper if you do it yourself but even at that those shims aren't exactly cheap either if you plan on keeping a range of them on hand.



Why wouldn't it?

I don't know??? seems that they tend to be a bit brittle and on the High end side... may cost a few penny's if it dumps. GSXR's are a bit cheaper to fix and service so that's why ??????? I was asking Never owned one but they are a work of art!!!

[Awesome]

I know it is. Explain what that has to do with what I would be putting on my racebike.

It sounded to me like you were insinuating that the more expensive stuff is just for show. I was giving you a comparison estimate for parts. The price tag on the suspension work and replacement parts is just as comprable. Looking on hindles site, they make an elbo joint and then you pick out one of their standardized slip ons.

[BCT748]

thanks for the info - this is what I'm looking for for info... I dont mind doing the valves. What's the lifetime on belts?

Ducati recommends that you check the belt tension every 7,500 miles and replace them every 15,000. Most club level racers I've talked to just replace them at the end of every season to be on the safe side. The valves are supposed to be checked/adjusted every 7,500 miles but just like the belts most club racers do it at the end of every season. I'm not sure what dealers are charging for the 848 belts but the xx9 belts were somewhere around $100 each last time I checked. Of course the 748 belts are half that because there are aftermarket ones but you're supposed to replace them more often so I guess it isn't all bad

[Crash Dummy Denno]

thanks for the info - this is what I'm looking for for info... I dont mind doing the valves. What's the lifetime on belts?

if I'm not mistaken you need to make a serious investment in special tools to adjust valves on ducatis, no?

[BCT748]

I don't know??? seems that they tend to be a bit brittle and on the High end side... may cost a few penny's if it dumps. GSXR's are a bit cheaper to fix and service so that's why ??????? I was asking Never owned one but they are a work of art!!!

Ever since Ducati moved to the Testastrada they have had very few engine problems, not saying they had a lot before but they are better designed now. I'm not really sure how the transmission is on the 848 is just because most Ducati transmissions/clutches are dry and are pretty much the same in all their other bikes. I haven't heard of anyone having any problems with them yet so they can't be that bad. He's going to be in track trim so if he dumps it the parts are going to be about the same as a GSX-R, unless he goes used then he might run into some problems finding good used parts because the bike is only 2 years old. I think they'll run pretty close to the same price at the end of the year, a few hundred more for the Duc for the maintenance, but it'll come down to who offers the better contingency.

[Manny]

If you want real costs on racing the bike then hit some of the ducati specific sites where you will find 100's of people doing this specific stuff rather than maybe 1 or 2.

Try ducati.ms and ducati-superbikes.com for starters.

[BCT748]

if I'm not mistaken you need to make a serious investment in special tools to adjust valves on ducatis, no?

Unless I'm forgetting something the tools come out under $200 for the cam gear holder, rocker depressor and a set of metric feeler gauges.

[Kitt]

if I'm not mistaken you need to make a serious investment in special tools to adjust valves on ducatis, no?

I wouldn't doubt that - fortunately I have 2 local friends who maintain their Ducs who could probably loan some tools.


I am leaning towards the GSXR, I'm just wondering about the 848.

[a13x]

I've spent enough time flogging 848's around racetracks to know it's a damn nice bike. That said, I don't think I'd want to race one unless I was rolling in the dough. Great bikes, but upkeep, parts, everything is way more than a 'dime a dozen' GSXR.