Been reading a few threads recently re preparing ones bike for track etc. Appears that to make these buggers fit for track one has to spend a shed load of time and loot on improvements. Longer swingers, re-spung forks, offset this and that, the list goes on! Whilst I appreciate the manufacturer has to make a bike almost as a 'compromise' for the average rider/road user. Was there/is there a Ducati that is/was best for track out the box? Is this an issue with other manufactures? Is a blade or R1 for example a much better prospect (geometry wise) from the get go?
Seriously? I reckon there's a bit of waffling going on in said threads. Just take the bits off that are not required for the track, saves a bit of cash when you crash. Mirrors etc. Ride the thing. The average rider will not need anything special to ride around at a fair pace on a track day. I've used a stock KTM RC8 for the last three years to race on and even that took minimal work and cost to get it to club race scrutineering spec. Fibre glass fairings, some sticky numbers and a bit of lock wire. When I eventually ride my babyR on the track then I will do nothing to it except make sure the tyre pressures are correct for track riding. That is it. I'll not even take the mirrors off because if I crash it then a mirror will be the least of my worries.
Been riding my Pani round tracks in almost complete road gear for the last year. No issues whatsoever with it, ran like a dream! Though I've just bought and fitted a set of DP race fairings to save the more expensive ones in the event of an off. Don't think the Pani really needs that much doing tbh, guess it depends what you are after and what you want. Should you be Rossi I'm sure you do need all the crazy extras, for us mere mortals it's more in the head I think!
I dont buy any of this for the average track goer. For cars admittedly they are heavy machines and not designed to be thrashed on track but any half decent sportsbike by it's very nature is perfect for it even in road trim. High end racebikes might be uncompromised high maintenance beasts but that's certainly not needed for 99% of track riders and I'd imagine most club racers.
almost any bike can be ridden on track as it is. most people mod their bikes to suit the way they ride and because it is fun. the faster you ride the more these mods make sense. sometimes making a change in one area can then highlight a need to change something else and so it goes on.
It is fair to say that most bikes out of the box will give you a thrill. Simple set up changes to preload, compression and rebound make that thrill more fun. As your ability begins to improve further simple changes like tyres and brake pads give a little more margin. As your ability continues to improve further the stock bike at this stage and I'm not including homologation bikes in this statement, begin to lack a certain edge. Lighter wheels, engine mapping and such like now start to make sense as you strive for that extra tenth of a second. I'm 61 next birthday and I've ridden bikes since I was 13, I'm single having never been married, worked full time for 42 years, paid off my mortgage when my parents died and try to enjoy life to the full. I've built a race replica bike, well as near as, because I can not because I aspire to greatness, I'd have to be 45 years younger and 8 stone lighter for that. Call me what you like but I love my 748 and I would say to anyone who can, put whatever you like on your bike to make the bike yours. Alternatively spend it on beer . Andy
Track bikes are just like any other hobby. You can play with the basics and faffing about with it isnt going to make much difference till you get good. If you started to play golf, you could start with a basic set of beginner clubs and some cheap gear. Those clubs will do you fine till you get to about a 15 handicap...then you might benefit from some better clubs. Till then you're getting your swing sorted and learning how to play. It doenst stop people who hit 100 round their local course dropping 500 notes on a new set of bats and the best shoes you can buy though as it makes them feel good and this stuff is well marketed. They'd be much better off spending their money on golf lessons and getting out there and playing. Its the same tinkering with bikes. Theres endless things you can do to make them better but really its just another part of the hobby....messing about in the garage. I take the view that my bike is better than me.....much better. So the best improvement I can make is to me as a rider. I'm hoping to do some track training next year!
I think the Ducati parts market has simply created itself better. Maybe due to the type of owner. Mad unobtainable parts are made for all modern sports bikes, they just very rarely make it to the street to achieve that mythical must have best mod status and then become more common.
I'm probably one of the worst bloody garage denizens out there! Really enjoy looking for the next mod and trying to workout/understand how it all works etc. I as really looking for comparisons past and present/other bikes. I often hear that the 675 is a great track bike from the get go, but may be a bit wobbly for the road.
The Daytona 675 is an amazing bike, only reason I don't own one is because Ducatis are sexier. If you want something that turns you into a hero the moment you get on it then the 675 is a great choice. I rode a new one but from what I can gather the older ones are almost as good. I'd probably still get an 899 but still.....
putting the rider ability aside early Ducati sports bikes are so adjustable you can make it how you want it.....or loads of bits fit other bits you can again use more modern later stuff to build it how you want it... There are a standard ( and by that i mean accepted by those in the know) set of numbers (and by that i mean geometry) that you can put a ducati to, to have a very good base set up ( and by that i mean track set up) There are also a lot of things you can do that in isolation can have a very detrimental effect to a ducatis handling, for example the adjustable headstock.......there will be the uneducated that will adjust the head to 23.5 and say .."thats the race set up!" when in reality it is detrimental to trail when done in isolation, which is where offset yokes come in to replace the trail that the steeper head angle has removed, hence you need one bit to compliment the other... yada yada....
I feel like a hero on my 675 track bike.....but I think I could be more heroerer with training. I should also point out that since I got my 675 in June I've done 4 track days. I've also changed the oil and filter as well as brake pads, put in a new MWR air filter, fitted rearsets, slipper clutch and HM quickshifter and tarted up the bodywork a bit. Theres new grips and a new steering damper and a whole load of blue Loctite so don't let me tell you you're doing the wrong thing......I just understand what I should be doing
