I have just done a track day on my 748e and after having the suspension professionally set up it really came into its own, as I was hoping for. In the corners and under braking it’s really stable and I was amazed at how much I was closing up on people in the corners and especially at the bottom of craner curves, even on people with fully sorted track bikes. But anywhere else on the track I hit a major problem, power or lack of power. It’s so frustrating to pass people in the corners only to be passed right back half way down the strait by the same bikes and get held up all over again. This made me think about selling up and going back to a jap inline 4 but I would prefer to stick with the sweet handling duke but somehow get more power out of it. So far I have came up with two options, fit a big bore kit to the 748 as I like the free revving engine of the smaller 748 motor. If I do this can I buy just the pistons and rods and have the original barrels bored out and balance the bottom end or do I need to buy the complete bore kit,pistons and barrels? My second option that I have been thinking about I fear alot of you won’t like, and that is to put a TL 1000 engine into it. I know alot of the purists wont like the idea but on paper the TL engine does look very tempting with almost double the torque and better reliability. But the flip side is it’s a lot of work. I’m just after people thoughts on both ideas, anybody that has done either of the conversion or road any. What were they like compared to a standard 748 are they worth spending the time and money on or should I just sell up and go back something jap? Oh and before people say sell up and buy a 996 one I don’t really have that sort of money and two this will be done over the winter and I feel like I need a new project.
I've got a set of 748 cylinders in the workshop if you want to get them bored while you still use the bike?
What are the right cams to use in this scenario then? - I'm loosely toying with this idea as well - or the 1098 way of the force?
R cams if you can find em. There is a stroked deep sump testarretta motor on ebay with a damaged valve, was reputedly good for 145 ish bhp before valve went.......... no bids yesterday £500
ducati 748/916/998 engine | eBay testastretta factory sand cast deep sump cases from 04 gp bike ( possibly james toslands? ) stroked to 1036, with ballenced crank, gas flowed heads, 5 angle valve seats, s cams, was putting out 148 hp at rear wheel with re mapped ecu, on shower injectors. and 54 mm sytem, all available. suspected bent valve? but have not taken apart yet to look, if intersted, contact me for details, will post more when i get chance to check out further? this was all fitted to a 748 frame, with a modified air box also available, just bolt in once fixed runs off a 748 loom, uses original ecu, re mapped on dyno, injectors and throtttle boddies have extra part of loom wiich plugs atraight into 748 loom also. was running the 54mm system also for sale on here, cases are stamped F104 this sale includes engine, throttle boddies, shower injectors only, amd the wiring from injectors to plug, no clutch I would be intersted myself but I need to move on a 748sp motor first.
Separate sale mate??? Ambiguous??? ducati 748/916/998 exhaust full system termignoli | eBay Apologies for hi-jacking, I'll bugger off ........
So am I right in thinking that I can source some 94mm pistons, bore the barrels and maybe some new rods I should be good to go? If so can anyone recommend any aftermarket piston and rods?
JE Pistons are readily available but it will be cheaper to pop a bigger engine in........any, up to and including the 1098, will fit.
I went the route of big boring a 748R motor after my 748sp went bang. R motor, new pistal 853R pistons, 916 barrels and dyno set up came to around £2000. Since then I have continued to mod the motor with RS flowed heads, modified twin injector throttle bodies, 5bar fuel system etc etc amd spent another £2000 including blueprinting and crank balancing. So my pervers little project has produced good power but at considerable expense/ The 999 or 1098 route should be easier and cheaper. Throw 1098 motor in , modified airbox to suit shower injectors, modded exhaust system to marry 1098 to 916 type, ECU mount and electrical system marrying, dyno etc etc. I wouldnt want to get a cost for doing this work from a specialist (I know one who hase dne 2 or 3 in the last few months though) I fear it may be a big bill. It all depends on your capabilities...............
So if it’s cheaper to fit another engine instead of a bore kit, what is the biggest engine that would fit with the minimal amount of wiring needed? I.e. will a 916/996 engine fit and hook up to the original wiring?
916/996. Decently set up 996 120+rwbhp. Adds some R heads and SP/R cams (maybe £500 quid) and 130 ish
before you go spending big money might be worth trying bigger rear sprocket , made the word of difference on my 749. jumps out of corner much better now. and for £30 od its worth a try
No Hugh, if you read the start of the post the whole point is that its top speed he needs....going up a tooth or three will give acceleration, but at the cost of top speed......
