a/c Ducs vs. built SV in lightweight

[H-man]

Build an H2.

Would that be some sort of bionic H-man?  ;D

Or maybe you're suggesting a Hummer for Don to run... er... I mean swap paint with K3  8)

[Super Dave]

Well, this is the R version, which woudn't be legal for a street bike class, but you'll get the idea.

It predates those pesky little SUV's...

[N8Kern]

Its great jumping bike to bike if you do well, it helps make you marketable and adaptable.  I went from the R1100S BMW Boxer Cup at 500lbs. to the ZX10 back to back and put them both in 2nd.  You should really look at the riding style you have adapted.  Longer wheel base bikes may be your style where the Buell is rather (understatement0 short in wb.  There were some prettyy strong running Ducs that were great in the fast stuff, but the Buells were better in the tight stuff.  

DUDE, get a BMW!  You wont need a GYM membership!

N8! Kern
CCS MA #1
CCS SE #1

[Super Dave]

Nate, what do you have going on for 2006?

[tshort]

Hey Don - I was thinking about the ducs, too, back in the day.  Apart from Palmer kicking everyone's bee hind on one, I don't have a lot of other data points for you.  Except that Penguin uses them in their school, and you could go try one there if you wanted: http://www.penguinracing.com/pages/27_motorcycles.cfm

Just tell the wife you need to do some research..  ;D ;)

[SVbadguy]

Nate, what do you have going on for 2006?

I think this is it.  

Looks awesome Nate!

[dylanfan53]

Thanks for the comments.

You know how it starts...Paul James passes you on a Buell...Gary Palmer on a Duc...you're thinking, "I wonder what I could do with one of those?"

I do think I could benefit from the Duc's torque though.  900ss @ 56 ft/lb stock is tempting and must get the power to the ground better than the SV's 46.ft/lbs.

[PJ]

"I wonder what I could do with one of those?"

I think the same thing when Ed Key runs away and hides on his 300-lb SV.  ;)

The grass is always greener...?

In the LWSS race at ROC, it was Key on his SV, Kern on his Beemer, me on my XB and Dave White on his Duck DS 1000. 4 different brands in the top 4.

Would the results have been the same if we traded bikes around? Probably. I'd need some lessons from Nate on that big BMW tho...

[PJ]

I don't know we would've needed some judges to compare the two after autobahn last year.  ;D

Yep. That was a one wild ride. Reminder to self: Do not smash brake lever into tailsection of fellow Buell racer at high speed. Bad things happen after that.

[lbk]

Yep. That was a one wild ride. Reminder to self: Do not smash brake lever into tailsection of fellow Buell racer at high speed. Bad things happen after that.

You're telling me, I'm still piecing that bike back together. Of course the longest part was me budgeting the money to buy the parts. Shouldn't be too bad now.

I was looking at the Duc option too, but I really wanted inverted fully adjustable forks which don't come into play I don't think until the 1000

[chris_chops]

Well, that's a good question.

Think about a Buell vs SV and torque.  Might be some merit.  Matt Carr did well on his air cooled Ducati.  You know much about their reliability?

Reliability issues are a thing of the past, 2 and 4 valve.  I have been working on Ducatis for almost 10 years the only thing that differs from the Jap bikes is the shorter service intervals.  The chassis' are unbelievable and there is plenty of set-up info available from those that have raced them seriously.
    I would suggest the 1000DS to anyone who is interested in kicking some butt in lightweight.  Although they are still getting around to it, I believe Ducati might be offering contingencey for the 1000DS in lightweight and supertwins as well as offering money up to race the 749 and 999 series  bikes.
    While were on the subject, I have torn down a 749R and a 999S, each with 2 full seasons and they look beautiful inside.  NO problems whatsoever.  Indeed, the old desmoquattro motors would most likely not be so lucky.  The 2 valvers have ALWAYS been reliable workhorses and they are even better now with the addition of plain bearing cams and dual sparkplugs, not to mention 1000cc to start with.
    Back to the air-cooled Ducs, I would be more than happy to answer/discuss anything about the bikes.  They will more than handle an SV, gauranteed.  I was on the phone with Brian Lacy a few weeks ago.  I wonder what he is racing next year?

[chris_chops]

I have raced two and 4 valve Ducarly's in the past and anyone that raced in the mid-west then will tell you I had nothing but problems with them. If you leave it stock you can get away with some reliability. But the second you modify it, you run into many reliability issues.  Valves, rockers, rectifier, p/u coil, just to name a few known problems.  They are fun to ride but I think they are just not reliable enough to race.

I think you were unlucky and I remember one of your suppliers was well known for supplying crappy worn-out bikes.  With that said, you rode them well.  Peace.