Just got the replacement for the blade

Discussion in 'Other Bikes' started by Jamiestrada, Oct 29, 2012.

  1. Jamiestrada

    Jamiestrada JamieMultiTraitor

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    Messages:
    5,114
    Likes Received:
    2,497
    Not that imaginative Icarus, its jamie1098s if Ducati forum lol
     
  2. kpone

    kpone Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2011
    Messages:
    14,273
    Likes Received:
    7,893
    I copied this from Ducatisti several years ago and now I pass it onto you.

    10 things a non-Ducati owner should know before buying a Duke superbike

    1 They are not cheap to run. Even those that don't have any issues will always be shouting for some new titanium/carbon or other expensive part to be fitted to suit the new owner.

    2. Ducati Dry clutches make noise. Some make a lot of noise, some not so much. But ALL dry clutches make some noise. It is how they are. Whether you embrace the noise and open the cover up to share it with the world, or fight to make it quiet is solely down to the individual. If it really annoys you so much and you really must have a Ducati, then find one with a wet clutch. Note: - Only go the wet clutch route if you are prepared to sound like a Japanese v twin on approach though. Like it or not, the rattle and sching of a duke clutch is very distinctive. Clutch action is invariably heavier than any Jap rider will expect and some clutches are more forgiving and controllable than others. For anyone in the older model early 90's Ducati range, the 'select neutral before you come to a stand' technique is regularly used. Otherwise its the 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st neutral, not quite but nearly, 2nd, 1st oh the lights have changed lets go approach.

    3. Ducati's are usually more expensive than the average Japanese bike of similar performance. Some are more desirable than others. Bikes with an S, SPS or similar will hurt your wallet more than a less high spec model. For the majority who ride legally on UK roads, none of that matters. But if you want to be elitist, you go the extra mile. That said, there is an element of elitism in owning any Ducati, so the S just takes you to a 'wheels within wheels' scenario. When you get to desmosedici heights, you have to ask is it any better than the model you really want. Which is better in the car world? An Aston martin DB5 or an Aston martin DB9. Newer bigger better isn’t necessarily always the case when it comes to buying what your heart tells you it wants.

    4. Exhaust noise is usually loud on a Ducati. Mainly as the average owner wants it to sound and breathe like any Ducati should. This makes early morning riders especially obvious to all around them as the sound of a big v twin on open race pipes is ever so slightly louder than the twittering birds of the dawn chorus.

    5. Comfort. Difficult one this. Some are comfortable. The Superbikes however are, on the whole, not so comfortable. With riding positions in virtual race stance and little padding in the seat. Many are one step away from a torture tool over long distances.

    6. Town riding and stuck in traffic. Try to avoid this as much as possible. Ducatis were not designed to sit in traffic and most Ducati models will prove this to you in every way they can. Lousy steering lock, grumpy clutch action, a propensity to refuse any of the accepted legal speed limits as a place where the bike will be happy in one gear at constant revs. 30? Forget it. 40? Possibly, but still not nice. 50? Just about the 1st place where none snatchiness can be achieved at a constant. A far better option is the slow down a little and speed up to where you want to be before letting the bike bellow on the overrun as it comes down in speed again. Handle Bar and peg positions often lead to wrist pain for many owners in slow riding. The only real cure being speed. Higher speed equates to less weight on the wrists.

    7. Comments from people who don’t know about Ducati's. Is it going to break down? And how much will it cost to fix that problem? Are usually directly related to the dry clutch when an average Jap owner hears it.

    8. Reliability. Do Ducatis have problems? Yes. All bikes do. Honda was forgiven for the chocolate cams in their vfr750, Kawasaki for their lousy cam chain adjusters. Suzuki for the killer handling of the TL range. Ducati don’t seem to get that same forgiveness from the public though. Regulator rectifiers have a (deserved) reputation for going wrong. It is a genuine fault, easily cured (and avoided if you check the connectors and ensure they are good). Cam wear on 748 through 996 is always a gamble and can happen to any of them. But as long as the bike is used regularly, the majority are trouble free. They just don't like standing around doing nothing for months on end. Where a Japanese four will start up after 6 weeks alone in a shed, the average duke will just sulk about the whole being left alone aspect and refuse to play. At least when it starts it will move and stop. Brembo brakes rarely suffer seized pistons. Unlike tokico stuff that seizes because it looked rainy 5 miles away. Although belts are a constant drain on a long-term owners wallet, the instances of belt failure are almost unheard of. Certainly a lot less than cam belts on cars are known to fail.

    9. Paintwork and finish. Difficult one this. Some models have good paintwork. Resilient to weather, good paint and generally spot on finish. Others don't. Those that don't have paint that is generally allergic to being attached to anything other than itself. Flaking engine paint, ultra thin paint on frames that rubs off if a wire harness even gets close enough to scare it. Fasteners rust if they are in a country that has more than 3 millimetres of rainfall in a year and you are daft enough to get them wet. Common sense says either fit stainless stuff or avoid the water and winter at all costs.

    10. Why would anybody want one? Because they are something special. They look good wherever they are. Pull up at a pub and it stands out from the sea of Japanese road rockets. It announces itself in a cacophony of noise and then sits there like the king of the world. Some models verge on being a form of art and all make you smile. A good ride really is a good ride and leaves you with a huge smile. A comparable litre Jap 4 will still get you there, but often without that same feel good factor. That said, a Ducati could also have a sulky day and make that same ride a nightmare. But when you park it up, it still sits there looking like a million dollars in a sea of blandness.

    One last thing. Nobody knows where the tax disc should be mounted and no answer is ever likely to definitively answer it. Don't bother asking. Ever.
     
    • Like Like x 5
  3. Jamiestrada

    Jamiestrada JamieMultiTraitor

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    Messages:
    5,114
    Likes Received:
    2,497
    Excellent thanks Ken, that was a fantastic read, thanks for sharing :)
     
  4. stevebetts

    stevebetts Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2011
    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    681
    Still don't like it J. Hate V twins!!!!!!!!!
    Hehe.
     
  5. yorkshiregooner

    yorkshiregooner Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2012
    Messages:
    534
    Likes Received:
    210
  6. Honda1964

    Honda1964 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2011
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    164
  7. MIKE

    MIKE Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2012
    Messages:
    165
    Likes Received:
    105
    Lovely bike fella. I was tempted, very tempted, before I bought the blade. Very nice
     
  8. Blade1000man

    Blade1000man Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    29
    Top man!
    We don't all ride bikes just to get from A to B. We ride them because we love 'em. The Italians seem to get that more than the other manufacturers.

    Sod practicality, reliability and durability. They're way over rated!

    Enjoy!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. Jamiestrada

    Jamiestrada JamieMultiTraitor

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    Messages:
    5,114
    Likes Received:
    2,497
  10. Benn The Pig

    Benn The Pig Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2011
    Messages:
    2,794
    Likes Received:
    546
    Nice is that!!!
     
  11. dan.1moore1

    dan.1moore1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2011
    Messages:
    7,071
    Likes Received:
    1,009
    Stunning mate ! Gonna miss your fireblade thou . Hopefully it finds its way back here
     
  12. Blade1000man

    Blade1000man Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    29
    I know there's been talk of the Aprilia RSV4 reliability issues - but I still have to get one out of my system. Anyone had any experience (good or bad) with SP motorcycles?
    They take new bikes and spec them up (Akropovic can, paint job, etc) to sell as specials.

    The Biaggi replica looks the mutts nuts, but the dealership is the other end of the country for me, so I've never heard of them.
     
  13. Blade1000man

    Blade1000man Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    29
    So, Jamie, have you started checking out the Ducati merchandise yet?
    You've got to at least get one of the cool T-shirts now.

    I was at a Cadwell track day last year when 4 middle-aged Ducati riders turned up. Each sporting a Ducati tattoo, 2 with full 1098 bike tattoos and one with "D U C A T I" in massive letters across his back.
    Yes, it was all a bit "Wild Hogs" but there's no denying the brand loyalty there! :)

    Get the catalogue fella-it's got to be less painful than the tattoo! :D
     
  14. Jamiestrada

    Jamiestrada JamieMultiTraitor

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    Messages:
    5,114
    Likes Received:
    2,497
    Not even a t shirt yet !!

    Don't think I would go down the tattoo route, bit extreme, plus I might not like it yet lol
     
  15. Jamiestrada

    Jamiestrada JamieMultiTraitor

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    Messages:
    5,114
    Likes Received:
    2,497
    Ducati update :) for those who want to know ;)

    well its been a few weeks and I have had time to strip and clean/inspect the bike, it seems that the definition 'perfect condition' can mean so many things to so many different people but heres what I have done so far to get the bike to my 'perfect condition' :)

    The first thing was the clutch, which was juddering on take up, after stripping it the clutch it was clear the friction plates were very worn, so a Surflex clutch kit has been fitted along with new oberon springs so hopefully the judder has gone.

    Next was leaky coolant hoses :( the OE pipes were hardened and in poor condition so a set of Samco hoses in red have been fitted with some fresh castrol coolant, they look great and dont leak so all is good.

    The front pads were heavily worn and the caliper bolts a bit corroded so new Ferodo ST road pads and pro bolt stainless bolts fitted.

    The tyres on the bike were Qualifiers, I have never got on with these and have no confidence in them so have fitted Metzler interact K3's which are awesome IMO

    Arthur has been a star giving me advice and putting up with my constant questions, so thanks Arthur although he twisted my arm into buying another HM quickshifter off him lol so that should be delivered today and fitted this weekend.

    The bike needs the fairings back on then when the weather improves taking to Riders in bristol for the recall on the rectifier which should of been done in 08 but they have kindly organised with ducati to have done, new battery tray, heat sheild and rectifier.

    Here are a couple of pics of the hoses but will get some more up once the bike is all back together and polished up :)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 6
  16. bardo 1962

    bardo 1962 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Messages:
    247
    Likes Received:
    65
    How long have you had the bike Jamie?
     
  17. Jamiestrada

    Jamiestrada JamieMultiTraitor

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    Messages:
    5,114
    Likes Received:
    2,497
    About a month now, swapped with the blade as I have always fancied one, you have to try these things ;)

    If I regret it I will sell and buy another blade :)
     
  18. arthurbikemad

    arthurbikemad A very helpful Gent

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2011
    Messages:
    5,371
    Likes Received:
    3,579
    Looks good mate, I do like the red samco's! Your doing a nice job :)
     
  19. Jamiestrada

    Jamiestrada JamieMultiTraitor

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    Messages:
    5,114
    Likes Received:
    2,497
    Thanks that means a lot from someone with your experience :)
     
  20. arthurbikemad

    arthurbikemad A very helpful Gent

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2011
    Messages:
    5,371
    Likes Received:
    3,579
    Ha your kidding me... but thanks :)

    Your shifter should be with you today :)
     

Share This Page