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[MightyDuc Racing]

I knew I would need to adjust the valves a lot.  The guy that sold me the bike is Butch Verdecchia.  He's been a huge help to me so far.  I even gave him a little bio page on the website.  He still wrenches on it with me and comes to the races to watch and cheer for me.  I almost have him talked into coming to Jennings and riding his 748 in F40 and Supertwins.  I have a video and book on the valve adjustments, and now I know exactly how to take the bike apart ( ;D), so I'll start doing the valves after each race weekend.  The original owner of the bike (Russ Mattson) has a full shim set that he will swap with me when I do the adjustments.  He lives right around the corner.  And you are right, I could buy a 99 SV for the same as this repair will cost.  However, this bike has been raced a BUNCH over the past several years and has generally been very reliable.  I just caught a bad break this past weekend when the new pistons in it were defective.  Shit happens, I guess.  Are you an expert or AM?  I'm looking forward to showing you just how fast this little Duc is in the Supertwins or if you race GT lights or LW Gp with the SV. ;D  Be sure to look me up in the pits if you go in May!!!  Good luck with the Duc too..hopefully you'll have fun in Supertwins with it.  Admit it, it's loads more fun to ride than that SV. ;)  Cya there!

[chris_chops]

I would have to agree with duc955, your bike is going to kill your budget this year. I own 3 ducatis( 750F1, ST2, 853, as well as my race SV650 and the bike you have is a tempermental little bike. It sounds just like my F1. I would suggest at the least learning to check the valves and doing as much maintance yourself. Your bike probally has very high lift cams and thoses are very hard on the valve shims. That means very frequent valve adjustments and if you dont do it yourself, well you know $$$ ;) Also the big cams are very hard on the closer shim half rings, this could lead to a dropped valve if not checked often, very bad. I hope the guy who sold you the bike told you all this, he should have, if he didnt be warned. :( The newer superbikes 748/9xx series are much more reliable if you replace the rockers with megacycle rockers, keep an eye on the belts and some other little things, otherwise they are pretty solid and I plan on racing my 853 in the supertwins class this year.  If I had to guess you could almost buy a nice SV650 to race in the LW GP, SS and Superbike class for what its going to cost to rebuild your bike, and you can win on the SV. I hope Im not sounding negitive as I love Ducatis too, but the bike you have just doesnt make sense to race on a regular basis. This is how Im going about it this year. SV650 in 2 classes, trying for a champingship in AM LW SS and superbike.  I love my 853 Ducati and want to race it as well, but I know if I crash or the motor breaks Im in for bunches of money. So im only going to race it in one class and my goal is just to stay out of trouble on it and have fun. Im using the SV as the race workhorse, you just put gas in them and go. I dont mean to discourage you, just trying to help open the eyes of a fellow racer. Im planning on being at Jennings in May and I will look you up. James AM #961

What's up james?
I was just wondering how well those megacycle rockers are holding up?  How many miles do they last in the race bikes you have seen? Have you seen any megacycles re-rockers go bad?  How do they go bad if they did? I've been working on and racing four-valvers for four years and none of the duc racers around chicago wanted to
try the megacycles, incuding me.  I put them in a couple street bikes, but those dudes aren't around so I never had a look at them with some miles.  I've read all the Roadracing World articles and have heard many opinions and testimonies on this subject.  Just curious what you have seen.  Thanks.
      Mightyduc,
  Sorry about your misfortune.  Does that bike have a detonation counter?  The website rocks!

Matt

[duc995@aol.com]

Hey Chops

Everything I have researched on the Megadyne rockers has been very positive.  Everyone on the Ducati Index that has used them says they are the only way to go.

[james-redsv]

 Chops, The Vance+hines team used them when they had Ben B. and Anthony G. a few years back, they started using them because the stock ones kept failing. :o They had no more problems with the ones from megacycle. The megacycle rockers arent plated, they are welded up from somekind of hardened steel so they dont flake. 8) Mine has tons of track days, the last two years worth and they look brand new. On a side note i just did the openers, the stock closers seem to do much better because the cams dont slam into them like the openers, but I still look at them from time to time. Mightyduc im an am too, so if we both make it to Jennings I will be in a race or two with you. I race the souteast schedule, Roebling and VIR too:P ;D If you have never been to VIR it would be worth the trip even for you way down in south Fla, its a great track. :D James

[MightyDuc Racing]

I've been thinking about VIR, as well as Barber.  The budget is pretty much whacked now for extras, though.  I definitely plan to shoot up there some time either late this season or next.

[chris_chops]

Hey Chops

Everything I have researched on the Megadyne rockers has been very positive.  Everyone on the Ducati Index that has used them says they are the only way to go.

Thanks for the input Robert and James.

Matt