Ducati Sporting Club UK > Sport > Race > Decisions, decisions, decisions

[twpd]

What with the 748 being allowed into Thunderbikes I've come to the realisation that my 800ss minitwin (no matter how light and grunty it is) is outclassed by the 748.

My main aim was to run the 800 in MRO Minitwinss with quite a few forays into Thunderbikes as I see that as "the class" of 2007 - it holds lots of promise. I had also thought about a 1000ss as much of what I've learnt with the 800 can be applied to it (same chassis etc.). However, without spending loads on either the 800 or the 1000 the 748 is still going to be several steps on.

In short...I'm toying with the idea of getting rid of the 8 and buying a 748 SP or SPS to go Thunderbikes. It will be bang on the power:weight ratio of 1.84kg/bhp and competitive right out of the box. There's shed loads of parts and knowledge out there, bodywork is easy to come by and therefore the development curve will be relatively short & sweet compared to either the 800 or 1000. As a comparison - to get my 800 to where it is now has cost me £9000. 1000's more is probably needed to get it further on. A used low mileage SPS will cost about £3500 at most...add another £1500 or so and you have a potentially race-winning weapon. No tuning is required and therefore reliability is not unduly affected. Financially it is no contest.

What do you reckon?

[Jools]

No contest. It has to be the 748 route.

Shame though. I would love to see a race series for big grunty 2-valvers. Hmmmm....Super DD anyone?

[twpd]

The 749 is not allowed. DOn't see why not though - it's not really any more powerful.

[twpd]

Originally Posted by Jools

No contest. It has to be the 748 route.

Shame though. I would love to see a race series for big grunty 2-valvers. Hmmmm....Super DD anyone?

Well there is such a series. It's Thunderbikes but, as I intimated in a previous post, for an 800 to be competitive with a 748 it's gonna have to weigh about 150kg and a 1000 about 160kg. Getting to 150kg means serious money - lightened internals and titanium everywhere. Atm my 800 is 162kg. Arguably 150kg 800 will stop better and handle better than a 190kg 100bhp 748 but, down the straights horsepower always wins and the 748 has a more advanced chassis.

Tuning the 800 to deliver 85-90bhp is realisable but, given it is air-cooled there will problems with heat and consistency of performance. Reliability is bound to suffer.

Anyone want to buy a lovely well-sorted 800 for Minitwins?

[twpd]

Well DD is cheap racing. Thunderbikes is not - make no mistake. Thunderbikes is likely to cost you iro £10k minimum for the season or about £800-1000 per meeting. Big difference.

[Scooter916]

Originally Posted by Dseered

Lmao, mind made up, well if it happens it will be a 583 !

Nice one mister.........
Glyn