What do you think is best for a track day bike: Duc 998 or Aprilia RSVR 2004 and up. Not crazy about the ducs since the 998/996/916. Think the Aprilia is cheaper to run?
What do you think is best for a track day bike: Duc 998 or Aprilia RSVR 2004 and up. Not crazy about the ducs since the 998/996/916. Think the Aprilia is cheaper to run?
None of those. I understand the appeal but having been there and done that I would not choose any of those for a track bike.
Keep in mind track bikes take a good beating especially as you get faster. Much more so than a street bike. Also you will go down at some point as you start to push, which you probably will. The best choice as a pure track bike is one of the Japanese 600's, a Suzuki GSXR 750 if you feel you need a bit more power. They are cheaper to purchase, run and maintain, much cheaper (I speak from years of experience). There are a lot of those bikes already set up used available. There are plenty of less expensive track parts new and used. When at the track a lot of riders run those bikes so in the event of a crash you can probably get going again if you need something you do not have. The 600/750 is plenty fast with out so much power so a rider can learn without scaring themselves silly. I know of a very fast racer who has put the Ducati 1098R aside to run a Yamaha R6 to further develop his riding skills. Those bikes allow a rider to grow into them while the rider keeps getting faster. Just my opinion based on my experience.
None of those. I understand the appeal but having been there and done that I would not choose any of those for a track bike.
Keep in mind track bikes take a good beating especially as you get faster. Much more so than a street bike. Also you will go down at some point as you start to push, which you probably will. The best choice as a pure track bike is one of the Japanese 600's, a Suzuki GSXR 750 if you feel you need a bit more power. They are cheaper to purchase, run and maintain, much cheaper (I speak from years of experience). There are a lot of those bikes already set up used available. There are plenty of less expensive track parts new and used. When at the track a lot of riders run those bikes so in the event of a crash you can probably get going again if you need something you do not have. The 600/750 is plenty fast with out so much power so a rider can learn without scaring themselves silly. I know of a very fast racer who has put the Ducati 1098R aside to run a Yamaha R6 to further develop his riding skills. Those bikes allow a rider to grow into them while the rider keeps getting faster. Just my opinion based on my experience.
You beat me to the punch.......EXACTLY what you say. Just get an R6 or CBR600RR or GSXR600.....tons of them out there already race-prepped and priced to sell. Get thousands of dollars of mods for peanuts.....spare parts are cheap and plentiful......need help at the track with something? No problem....someone there will have what you need or can fix your bike.
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What do you think is best for a track day bike: Duc 998 or Aprilia RSVR 2004 and up. Not crazy about the ducs since the 998/996/916. Think the Aprilia is cheaper to run?
the APE, miles cheaper to run and bullet proof
the APE's are grear bikes and so much is aavailable for them and cheaper too then the dukes
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The Aprilia is a far better track package than the STD 998, 999 or 999s (suspension too soft IMO too heavy) and ten times more reliable.
But for pure trackbike heaven 2006 on R6.
go grab a set up SV650 off the WERA board for pennies on the dollar
save your money for track time & tires
With one small change I now agree 100%!
Oh yes and between the Mille and the Duc (I have owned both since 1999), no question the Mille is far cheaper to own, has far better build quality, in terms of reliability it isn't even fair to compare and both are equally capable in the hands of 99.9% of the owners.
If you ain't racing and just having fun, why not buy something you enjoy riding. I see a lot of guys out there on older ducati's like 998s and 999's, just having a good time. If you wanna race, well... I agree with everyone else, just buy a good Japanese bike and be done with it. The only catch is, the inline 4 600's race in the "meat grinder" classes, so if you wanna have any hope you either gotta learn fast OR ride a different bike.
I'm a Ducatisti, so I ride a 749R race bike, which BTW is pretty quick and I enjoy every moment on it. I bought a bike to fit a class that wasn't very competitive, but would allow me to learn at my pace, instead of crashing every weekend.
I guess, the only reason to own a track Ducati is, if you're a huge Italian bike nut and wanna ride something unusual. Otherwise, don't bother... they're expensive to fix and costly to crash. Plus, they're slow in todays world...
I have an 800ss that I race. Wanted another twin with more motor for track days at different tracks. Bigger tracks. Did the gsxr thing years ago. Not interested and think its more likely to get into trouble with an inline 4 than a twin with the power delivery IMHO. I think you guys are right about the power and weight of the 998/999. Thinking more along the lines of 749 or RSV. Close comparo in power and weight.
If you want to race and want to race a twin, check out one of the million or so set up SV650's, super cheap to run and virtually bulletproof. Ride it for a season or two, and sell it for almost what ya paid for it.
-Rocky-
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ROCKYMT
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
Thinking more along the lines of 749 or RSV. Close comparo in power and weight.
749 & the RSV? No way!
The 749 doesn't produce near the power of either the 999 or the RSV.... to say nothing of the torque produced by the full liter twins... the 999 and the RSV are very comparable in power and weight and straight up I would still buy the Aprilia over the Duc...
Unless you mean the 749R, in which case I would take that over both the standard 999 or the standard RSV.
None of those. I understand the appeal but having been there and done that I would not choose any of those for a track bike.
Keep in mind track bikes take a good beating especially as you get faster. Much more so than a street bike. Also you will go down at some point as you start to push, which you probably will. The best choice as a pure track bike is one of the Japanese 600's, a Suzuki GSXR 750 if you feel you need a bit more power. They are cheaper to purchase, run and maintain, much cheaper (I speak from years of experience). There are a lot of those bikes already set up used available. There are plenty of less expensive track parts new and used. When at the track a lot of riders run those bikes so in the event of a crash you can probably get going again if you need something you do not have. The 600/750 is plenty fast with out so much power so a rider can learn without scaring themselves silly. I know of a very fast racer who has put the Ducati 1098R aside to run a Yamaha R6 to further develop his riding skills. Those bikes allow a rider to grow into them while the rider keeps getting faster. Just my opinion based on my experience.
How about just answering the original post rather then preaching.
What he said, was that he liked the early Ducs. A 748 would be cheap and fun, but what he's asking about is a twin litrebike. The Ape, (yea, I really used to want one) is a cool bike, and if you can find a factory with all the Ohlins bits, even better. But truth is, I spanked the hell out of one that had multiple upgrades with a more than capable rider, on my bone stock 996s at Cresson, and that was the first time I ever rode in the "A" group. Don't be scared to ride a Ducati, it's the best bike in the world. As far as the " maintenence" goes, it's cheaper to ride the shit out of it and do nothing, and just buy a low mileage spare motor off ebay. When it shits the bed, just exchange it with something newer, problem solved. Rock on with yer bad self!...
track bike choice
I started with a 748, another good choice because the HP is lower and you'd stay outta trouble, if it's your first track bike!!
and both are equally capable in the hands of 99.9% of the owners. 
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