Decided to fit one today wow what a difference!!, totally different bike sooooo manageable now, town / slow riding is a real treat no hunting or wondering which gear to choose just pulls away effortlessly. Not given it any real throttle yet weather not too good, wish i had done the job ages ago. Took me about 45 minutes but word of advise remove the foot peg hanger makes it a lot easier.
I've done this with every Ducati I've had and it makes them much more enjoyable as road bikes, I think I even asked for the SC to have this done before even riding it, the little you may lose off top speed is pretty irrelevant to most riders and though it always recommended that making the rear sprocket bigger is easier on the mechanical stresses, the simplicity and cheap fix of replacing the front initially is hard to fault. When it's all due for replacement then you can set it up with more sympathy to the output shaft.
Did it to the S4R and changed it back within a week, totally ruined the bike, you just need to learn to ride it like a big twin and not a multi and accept around town it's going to be first and second gear and that you knock it down one or two for fast over takes. You'll also wear the chain quicker as it'll have more bend in it. If you feel you need to do this change the rear end as it gives you more options, as one tooth on the front is roughly equal to three on the rear.
Actually i know how to ride big twins very well having owned a TL - TUONO - VARADERO and these were nowhere near as harsh as the ducati. I did a lot of research before deciding on the doing the front sprocket i would say the general consensus was 50/50 there are pro's and cons for both, cost of the rear change being a big issue for most. I got out on the bike today as the weather was ok and i can definitely say the change was well worth it. Riding in town was a breeze no need at all for first gear just pulled effortlessly in 2nd /3rd, including overtakes. I would highly recommend doing the front as Dave G has said he has done it on all his Ducatis much more enjoyable as road Bikes, and at the end of the day that's what we do it for. But its horses for courses ya pays yer money and takes ya choice.
So long as you know what you're getting into, I've owned a fair few Vee twins as well (SV1000, VTR, SP1, SP2, Buell, etc) and the harshness seems to be more of an Italian thing than Jap thing, Ducati's seem very raw when you ride them back to back with the Jap stuff I liken it more to riding an old Brit than a modern bike as my Goldie also feels harsh unless you take hold of it and ride it how it wants to be ridden. I have found letting the Duke's breath better makes them easier to live with, and opening the airbox up, and fitting a decat (if you have a cat) helps loads more than the 14 tooth.
