Hi all....recently satisfied a 20 year ambition and I now own a Duke! I managed to find myself a lovely clean, low mileage, 1 owner, completely standard 848 in red (had to be red!) I want to avoid making it look like a tarts handbag, I've just fitted some Pipeworks cans which look great and sound epic with the DB killers out!!! I've ordered a carbon rear hugger, double bubble tinted screen (I'm 6ft 3!) and some carbon heel plates...my questions are, is there anything else that really goes well on these? is a quick shifter worth the investment? I like the white number boards, am I risking making it look like a Christmas tree? I know most of these things are personal but some opinions would be great!
QS is a defo worth the money, just for the grin alone! I personally like numberboards, but would probably need a grown up t put them on for me.
I think numberboards are quite good, just don't put numbers on them!!! as I think that does tend to spoil the look. Sensible mods are fine and can add to the bike, but bling stuff like gold anodised brake levers don't seem to fit quite so well.
I was under the impression that number boards were not permitted on road going vehicles as it leads to raod racing. This could just be an urban myth.
Volkswagen produced a number of limited edition Volkswagen Beetles in Herbie colours with the "racing" number 53 on the doors\bonnet and sold them as they were, I doubt if they would have done that if there was any infringement of the law. Number boards are certainly not illegal as far as i know as they would simply be part of a colour scheme and it could be argued that they were\are part of a scheme and have no refection on any association with racing. I used to race scooters many years ago and had a road going racing scooter with race numbers on it and the understanding there was that if a taped stripe was put across the numbers, even though they were clearly visible it would indicate no racing association, so that's what I did. I am sure there is a lot of urban myth (or rubbish!!) attached to much of the race number situation, but didn't Ducati make race replicas like the Bayliss etc. with actual numbers as part of the decal set. I was never stopped for displaying racing numbers ever, and now I have number boards on all my road bikes as it breaks up the Red in a way that suits me. Again I have never been pulled up for it.
When you say scooter racing do you mean Lambretta ?,a mate of mine used to race Lambretta's he was quite good,from memory he won the championship on at least one occasion,Mike Davis (Mike the bike),late 80's early 90's.
Id recommend these but I would cause I'm selling them http://ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/848-1098-1198-ohlins-cartridge-kit.38706/#post-681223
The best mod I fitted to the 1098 base model was junk the damper and fit an ohlins one. Also the foot pegs are crap and slippery, I fitted ones off a 1098r , much better. Most of all if you want help then spend your money on a professional suspension set up for your usage ( road or track etc) and then enjoy.
Yes, Several Classes in the mid 70's, 200cc, 150 Specials, 225's etc. by the 80's I had moved on to racing motorcycles and was racing TZ 250's during that period.
I think add things which make make it a better bike to ride. And try and get quality stuff that looks like its factory fitted rather than ostentatious, owner-statement bling. Avoid red anodised goodies because most of them go pink in the end and look like a dogs dick. On red, yellow or white bikes, small hits of carbon which set off the paintwork rather dominating it look best IMO. (Though OK to go heavy on the carbon with a black bike). Having said that I'm getting some BST carbon wheels but they're a functional performance addition so that doesn't count. Tail tidy and a demure and nearly legal 7X5 number plate are a must on any bike and I reckon Evotech make the best tidies. Just bought some large Oberon bar end weights. They're heavier than most purely cosmetic offerings and use metal collets rather than rubber bushes so they really do help reduce vibration. Oberon weight are very well made and I think the black ones look quite restrained and classy. Definitely fit rearsets or at least change the pegs. I favour Gilles. Good quality, good price. And when you buy performance up-grade parts - Ohlins suspenders, Brembo pads etc - please, please don't slap the free advertising stickers all over the bike.
A bike that starts quickly and easily is a huge bonus. Ducatis are known for lazy starting and that can translate into a knackered sprag clutch, which is something you really don't want. The cure is a starting circuit cable kit. The one I have fitted came from America at great expense but @Exige on here can supply one at much lower cost. Highly recommended!
I also fitted 1098R style pegs, 14th front sprocket, Oberon slave cylinder, got some bits anodised black, Easy Start cables and a fair bit of carbon! My already had a QS fitted.
Its your bike why not personalise it to the way you like it? Push comes to shove its your pride and joy so its not important what anyone else thinks. Be very boring life if we all had the same bikes with the same bits added go for it. Cheers, Faz.
I would use your money on mechanical parts, to keep her in tip top condition. I will endorse @Exige for the starting circuit. I only bought the earth cable and not complete kit from him off ebay and made a huge noticeable difference. Spare plugs, decent battery, etc along with learning basic mechanical maintenance skills relevant to that model see you right. Also this forum has a wealth of knowledgeable chaps who will bend over backwards to help troubleshoot any problems.
