Do I have to sell this Duc?

[bruce19]

It's a long story that I won't get into, but this season I sold off my '02 998 and bought an '02 998S Bayliss. As far as I can tell the biggest improvements on the Bayliss are full Ohlins suspension (incl. steering Dampner), better front brakes and CF fairing. The original owner put a full Silmotor (badged as a FbF) oversized exhaust system on the bike. It also has a Power Commander and rear sets with GP shifting. The thing is amazing to ride. A friend who races at Louden and VIR rode the bike and said, "You win. You have the best bike of anyone I know. It's basically a race bike." And, therein lies the problem. This bike is really narrowly focused. It wants to be at 120 mph all the time. I just took it on a 350 mi. round trip and I was lucky to get over 35 mpg on the interstate at 75 mph. I know, I know.... that's not what it was meant for. But, that's one of things I like to do on my Ducs and it's such an awesome bike I can't bear to see it go. If only I had some cash to buy a second Duc...but then I'd have three bikes (also have an FZ1 for 2-up) and the Bayliss would be more a "colletor's item." Not my thing. What the hell do I do now?

[Ben710]

CHange your attitude towards riding.

The problems sits on the bike.

I had the same thoughts as you do. Sold the Superbike, bought a Monster 900. Rode it on the street only. 1 foot in jail, other one in the grave. As I said, the problem sat on the bike.

[bruce19]

BEN710-

I hate to say this but I know you're right. Problem is when riding around here I barely get out of 3rd gear and have to run the hell out of it to enjoy it. Just another way of saying your point is well taken. I did think about a Monster actually. Maybe I'll just stop whining and ride the damned thing. Actually I think another part of the problem is the FZ1. I just can't get the ergos to suit me. Way too upright and it won't fit clip-ons. If I could find an SS1000DS AND my gf could be comfortable on the pillion, I lose the FZ in a hearbeat.

[neno]

I have a '99 996. When I go on extended trips its not unheard of to get +50mpg. I can't really believe that the 998 could be set up that different so that you couldn't get better than your 35mpg. I did my own fuel map and the locations around cruising speed I set the fuel to ~14.5afr. It will not have max power there, but will get closer to optimum efficiency on fuel. As for up further in the rpm range I go for optimum power. Just curious what mpg people get with there superbike. And if people have set up their fuel map this way?

[vij]

Not an answer to your question but would you sell you old 998 for the same reason? If yes sell the Bayliss as you dont like to ride a 998 on the road.

If would not sell your old 998 why would you sell your Bailyss?

It is not more race bike then a stock 998. It just has some higher specifications components that makes it a better bike. Not only for the track but for the road too. It is just a more bike refined then the stock bike and much nicer bike.

If it was my bike I would get the bike mapped by some one that knows the stuff. That will give you better range, improve drivability and it will give more power. When I say mapped I dont mean with the power commander. I would have some one map the ECU (U59 replacement ECU or remap the original one) to improve fuel and ignition maps.

Jocke............

[hubert]

Bruce,
I was recently in your position and rather than selling a bike, I ended up buying another one.
I've owned my 996 for 5 years now and it has 23,000 miles; when I first bought it, it had 6000 miles on the clock, so I have racked up a considerable amount of street miles. I comutted on it, took trips, putted around town, et cetera and my MPG are hovering in the high 40+ mpg range, I think your mapping is off.
However, I was getting to a point similar to the one you're in now; on the street the bike feels compromised and bored; it barely feels like it's moving at legal speeds and having any "fun" on it would surely constitute a serious fine and/or jail time.
So, instead of selling it (which if you don't need to, I wouldn't) I pulled the street bodywork and made it my dedicated track bike; I've already done 10+ trackdays on it, and it is truely in its element on the track.
I do have some lingering meloncholy about not being able to take it out every now and again for a quick blast, but to abate my withdrawls, I got a left over 2007 GT1000.
I looked at the S2R and Hypermotard, but both were a little too performance minded and I knew that I'd eventually end up tracking them too, and I"d be back to square one; what I really wanted was a comfortable street bike with adequate psg. accomodations.
Anyway, sorry for thelength, but my advice would be to use the 998 in the right context (the track) and find yourself a bike to ride on the street and 2up that suits your riding needs and accomodates you ergonomically (something the FZ isn't getting done) and enjoy each in their rightful setting.
If you sell the 998 you're going to take a bath on it, which is why I'm hanging onto my 996; it is fully depreciated and I own it free and clear, if I don't need the money, why sell?
I think you should dedicate the 998 to the track and enjoy it. A set of nice (Catalyst, Sharkskinz, et al) track bodywork with a quality track paint job will run you $1100 or less; less than a single OEM replacement panel or tailsection for your Bostrom!
My, very verbose, two cents worth.

PS:
Here's my 996 shortly after I bought it (I powdercoated the wheels and added the Braketech rotors):

Here she is now:

Not bad for a nearly 9 year old bike and a 15 year old design.

[TAftonomos]

It's funny you post this, I was thinking about the exact same thing this past week.

I've got a 999s thats done to the 9's, ready for the track. Everytime I think about tracking it, I question if I can take the loss should I wad it up.

I'm having trouble justifying keeping the triple 9. I keep wondering what I could do parting it (low end 12K in my pocket). I love the bike, don't get me wrong, but my s4rs monster does everything it does on the street just as well.

I'd appreciate any words of wisdom/advice you all might have.

[Ben710]

Racing a Monster is totally senseless if you ask me.
Having fun at the track and leaving your attitude at home, it should be a blast to ride at the track. The older Monsters didn´t have enough lean room, so they were being carved up by the tarmac. The newer ones do just fine I hear.

I friend of mine has been racing (not only tracking) his M1000 which is now a M999R. He´s getting his fun out of smoking the superbikers. To each his own I guess.

On the street, the Monster is super nice. I wouldn´t buy a big S4RS or S4R though I think...

Maybe you guys think about the route I am going now. Sell 1 expensive one and get two cheaper ones.

[Old Fart]

35 mpg? Man there must be a hole in your gas tank.

You have the same engine/setup as my standard 998. If I take it easy (yes, difficult to do) and just pooch along at 60-80 the thing will easily crack 50 mpg.
Normal riding with the occasional whack wheelie and some flog it on corner exit pops to 100 will give 46 ish mpg. Time for a remap for you. It's passing enough fuel to run a big block chevy.

[webman]

I'm with hubert on this one If you can keep your ego in check,the odds of crashing at the track are not THAT much greater then sport riding on roads. And the consequences of crash injury and damage is much less on the track. Of course just like they say most accidents happen the first few months of new street riders, the same holds true for trackdays.

[sburns2421]

Ditch the Yamaha and get a lightly used ST4s. Use that as your primary rider bike and keep the Bayliss for special Sunday mornings.

I do understand what you are saying though, and have thought the same thing about both my 999 and 851. I wouldn't want to track the 851 because it is basically irreplacable, and the 999 is too much for my skills (or lack thereof).

[bruce19]

Originally Posted by neno

I have a '99 996. When I go on extended trips its not unheard of to get +50mpg. I can't really believe that the 998 could be set up that different so that you couldn't get better than your 35mpg. ?

My stock 998 got 50+ mpg as well. But, this one is way off. I took it to my son (he's the service mgr. at the Yamaha/Suzuki dealer) and apparently the Power Commander is an older unit and the newer plug in and software don't work with it. But, I'm going to try to sort it out, even if I have to buy a new unit.

[bruce19]

I just spent the day riding my bike and it was pure joy. I think I have to get the whole fueling thing sorted. But, even if nothing changes I love this thing. The bike is not going to adjust so I guess I will. As for an ST4S, I hate to say it but I've ridden one extensively and it just isn't agile enough for me. Nice bike but quite frankly I liked my Triumph Sprint RS more. Now if only I hadn't thrown it down on the BRP last June.

[juicedstang999]

Originally Posted by bruce19

It's a long story that I won't get into, but this season I sold off my '02 998 and bought an '02 998S Bayliss. As far as I can tell the biggest improvements on the Bayliss are full Ohlins suspension (incl. steering Dampner), better front brakes and CF fairing. The original owner put a full Silmotor (badged as a FbF) oversized exhaust system on the bike. It also has a Power Commander and rear sets with GP shifting. The thing is amazing to ride. A friend who races at Louden and VIR rode the bike and said, "You win. You have the best bike of anyone I know. It's basically a race bike." And, therein lies the problem. This bike is really narrowly focused. It wants to be at 120 mph all the time. I just took it on a 350 mi. round trip and I was lucky to get over 35 mpg on the interstate at 75 mph. I know, I know.... that's not what it was meant for. But, that's one of things I like to do on my Ducs and it's such an awesome bike I can't bear to see it go. If only I had some cash to buy a second Duc...but then I'd have three bikes (also have an FZ1 for 2-up) and the Bayliss would be more a "colletor's item." Not my thing. What the hell do I do now?

Take it to the Dyno and get the power commander tuned by a professional... My 748 was really peaky in spots untill i got the tune changed. It broadened the power band alot plus helped the mileage quite a bit. Wanna talk about bad MPG???? My RC51 only gets about 25-30 on a GOOD day!!! My normal MPG is 22 around town!

[hubert]

Originally Posted by Ben710

Maybe you guys think about the route I am going now. Sell 1 expensive one and get two cheaper ones.

You sold the 999R?

What did you get?

[Ben710]

Parting it out hubert!

Still got all the parts, so if you need anything...

Getting a 748 or 916 for the street and a 2 stroke 250 motocross bike.

And I think for the leftover money I am going to buy 10 spoke marchesinis...

[ducxl]

This bike is really narrowly focused. It wants to be at 120 mph all the time.

My tuned 996 gets about 35MPG NOW. As far as wanting to be at 120mph all the time? occasionally(true) when i'm on the highway i make up time cruising around 100.Silly because i shift into 6th at about 100.Could cruise all day long at that speed.

But these bikes really shine on the isolated twistie backroads of northeast Connecticut.The ones posted as 30 where the Duc likes to run close to 60 in 3rd running near 6k

These are turning machines that don't generate chips

[DukeRdr]

Do I have to sell this Duc?

Rule #1: Never sell a Ducati....

Rule #2: See rule #1

.

[bruce19]

Originally Posted by DukeRdr

Rule #1: Never sell a Ducati....

Rule #2: See rule #1

.

Well, if I followed Rule #1 I'd have 4 Ducs now. Can we add to Rule #1 with "....unless it's being replaced with another Ducati." ? BTW, I took BEN710's advice and stopped trying to ride it the way I wanted to ride it. Now I ride it the way IT wants to be ridden. The stars are now aligned. All is well.

[john S.]

I recently jumped over the cliff. I couldn't see keeping two Superbikes and I wanted to do more long distance riding. So, I sold my 999S this week and I will be actively looking for an older (01) Gold Wing. Thats right, the bike the fat bellies ride. I figured I have the maxed out 916 in the garage, use it when I get in the mood while the Gold Wing is over the top in the other direction, a real tour bike. I wanted all the gizmos like CD, CB, Serious radio, Ipod and to cruise long distances in style and comfort. Actually, I'm looking forward to it.