I'm looking to get a 900SS or an SSie as a Sunday blast and trackday bike. So, apart from losing the road kit for track plastics (daytime MOT only) and a set of spendy wheels, what are the other options for weight saving? All ideas welcome!
Chop rear sub-frame after your seat and make a light alloy bracket for holding mono seat unit. While at it ditch stock seat and have single made. Lighter silencers, lighter flywheel my cheap ideas are dry.
Two sure fire ways to get round the track quicker >> eat less pies, drink less beer and buy some really sticky tires !
Alloy tank. Remove and junk all un required brackets. Cut down rear subframe. Drill out/lighten rear caliper bracket. Fit alloy swingarm (if it dont have). Race seat (foam). Got to a desmodue race meet and see what people have done to get bikes down to 154kg.
Ain't that the truth! I'm 11st 7ibs - realistically there is 7lb to loose It'll deffo get a single seat, track fairing, silencers. Are there any compatible wheels that aren't huge money? Any options for swingarm? In terms of getting round the track quicker the limitation absolutely not the bike, its purely down to my lack of talent A fun exercise nontheless
Good luck there. Ducati did for 1000SSie and last few 2002 900ssie. I just sold my swinger apparently they are rear as fuck. Anyhow loosing weight well does not mean you have to eat less pies, drink less beers. I did not and am down 14kg in about 4 months. Best option is to work on both end's gym for you chopping and drilling for bike.
Ooh, that sounds a bit radical, was kind of hoping to be able to return to standard (ish) at some point if required. Having said that, if I could find a tatty one, I'd do that. but there's nothing REALLY tatty out there. Current favourite is '95 yellow SS that looks in really good standard trim (though yet to see it in the flesh). Out of interest, to the older 900S clothes (track clothes in this case) fit the 900SS IE ?
Going to have a look at a really tidy '95 tomorrow. If its as described, I'll have it :smile: What about lighter wheels? Marchesini off the later 1000ss or is there anything else compatible out there I should keep an eye out for?
There's loads of weight in standard parts. Fairings, wheels, battery, tank, lights, pegs, exhaust. Replace or junk and you will remove a load of initial weight. After that comes the law of diminishing results; cost v benefit and unless your racing it, so you cut down frame, cut bolts in half, etc etc then I wouldn't bother.
there's always the (sometimes controversial) single front disc/caliper route which I would adopt in a heartbeat depending on power unit output of course. Standard on 1990 750SS and more than adequate.
Thats probably dead right, but as well as the aesthetics of twin discs, I do like the idea of two brakes up front, especially on track where I'm just beginning to explore proper hard braking. I reckon with track fairing and seat unit, lighter exhausts, rearsets, battery, clip ons etc and dumping anything not required (daytime MOT only - Can't remember if a brake light is required?) there is a good few kilos to wave goodbye to.
I got a set of 900ssie Marchesini I do not need and are for sale. Dirty for now so no photos till Sunday/Monday.
If that was over-riding objective my money would be better spent on some tuition. I'm crap, over 50 and only ventured into the inters group for first time last weekend I do like the idea of not hauling around weight that isn't required but don't enough talent for it really make that much difference!
You can cut off those little bits of tubing at the back of the frame - will lose at least 1kg - all adds up
Track prepping an SS ie does lose weight compared to stock but its not the only driver to get a decent track set up. When prepping for the track the following works; Barnett Clutch pack is pretty much essential, use with stock springs and spring caps. Whilst you have the clutch cover of, junking the rubber damping and internal cover plate loses a decent 600 grammes. Use an Oberon or similar slave cylinder - the stock item is nit enough for a tight 'n twisty track. I lost another 500g's ditching the pointless aftermarket alarm system. Its difficult to lose weight from the core of the bike as the engine is so heavy, so focus on the peripherals. Use an alloy race front sub frame, disconnect as much of the electrics as you can, not just lights but things like the side stand cut out switch. Fibreglass body work is a lot lighter than stock, pretty much any modern Ducati race fairing can be made to fit. A 9*6 and 1098 tail units can be grafted on pretty easily. The Marchesini 5 spokes are very heavy, I believe (but don't have proof) that the 3 spoke Brembo's are lighter. Suspension wise, pick up a 1000DS Ohlins shock, sorting the front end is much harder. I couldn't find decent springs so had to settle for thicker oil and revised air gaps. For brake pads I tried various, I settled on Bendix as the best mix of performance and value. I used MCR compound but these are track only, the MMR ? compound would be more suited to your use. Thats a 5 min brain dump, there is plenty more, feel free to ask.....
