Ducati Sporting Club UK
 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 28-Jul-2005, 15:58
Tim Hall Tim Hall is offline
Registered Forum User
 
Posts: 17
Join Date: Apr 2005
Advice on 851s

I'm looking for any advice on buying an 851. e.g. what to look for , what to look out for, do's and don'ts, pro's and con's. What are spares like to get ? What money to pay etc
Any advice welcome really. thanks

Tim
Quote+Reply
  #2  
Old 28-Jul-2005, 21:29
Jasper's Avatar
Jasper Jasper is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Corse
 
Posts: 3,707
Join Date: Jun 2002
get a 888 or 851SP1,2 or 3!I have had 851's and 888's and you really notice the difference those 37cc's make.Any particular model you looking at?
Quote+Reply
  #3  
Old 28-Jul-2005, 22:27
Tim Hall Tim Hall is offline
Registered Forum User
 
Posts: 17
Join Date: Apr 2005

Hi Jasper - I want a useable, affordable model that I can use on the road and track - which do you recommend?

Tim
Quote+Reply
  #4  
Old 28-Jul-2005, 22:33
Jasper's Avatar
Jasper Jasper is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Corse
 
Posts: 3,707
Join Date: Jun 2002
What do you consider to be affordable?It depends if you are Bill Gates,an MD or Joe Bloggs with wife and two kids(like me!).This will certainly affect your choice as will whether you want a more exclusive version or not.
Quote+Reply
  #5  
Old 28-Jul-2005, 22:41
Tim Hall Tim Hall is offline
Registered Forum User
 
Posts: 17
Join Date: Apr 2005
I'm thinking in the region of 5 to £6k. I'm more road than track biassed and typicaly do 6k miles a year - so anything that is not going to break the bank ( I'm not Bill Gates).
Quote+Reply
  #6  
Old 28-Jul-2005, 22:57
Nattyboy's Avatar
Nattyboy Nattyboy is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati in my Blood
 
Posts: 4,181
Join Date: Dec 2003
Mood: Back down to 3 :>(
Blimey Tim..that will buy you a very tidy motor !

To be different you could go for a tidy 851SP3 (thats assuming you can find one - think Forza Italia might still have one), but if your ridings road biased why not look around for a tidy 888 strada and spend a couple of grand doing some saucy mods to it ?

Good luck
Nat
Quote+Reply
  #7  
Old 28-Jul-2005, 23:23
Redsps's Avatar
Redsps Redsps is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Meccanica
 
Posts: 2,572
Join Date: Jun 2003
Having had several of the 851/888 flavour bikes, and still with a T8 ,I think your're best bet would be to go for an 888 strada in as best original condition as possible, 851 strada's are good, but the T8's have some refined items.
Decent SP's versions of either model wil be a tad more expensive, and prices are not dropping either.


ta ta
robin

[Edited on 28-7-2005 by Red SPS]
Quote+Reply
  #8  
Old 29-Jul-2005, 01:31
weeveetwin's Avatar
weeveetwin weeveetwin is offline
Registered Forum User
500SD
 
Posts: 779
Join Date: Apr 2004
Hi Tim

Go for the 888 Strada if you're going to be doing mainly road riding. The SP is a fantastic riding experience, but not as practical a bike. The engine/gearing combination is more suited to the track really - it needs much more clutch slip to move off from a standstill, and its top gear is actually lower than the Strada's, so its engine feels more hurried on the motorway. Moreover, the mid range grunt of the Strada (with race cans fitted) makes for a more relaxing ride. So too does the slow steering and relative stability. (Its cold start 'choke' device is a bonus too!)

The SP is always snarling and wanting to race through the revs, and it's extremely quick steering by comparison. It feels a much lighter, more 'flighty' bike, and it's much less civilised.

Steve
Quote+Reply
  #9  
Old 29-Jul-2005, 03:31
Douglas851 Douglas851 is offline
Registered Forum User
Mille
 
Posts: 145
Join Date: Feb 2005
What makes an SP feel noticably lighter and more flighty than a Strada? I have always thought that an SP is basically a Strada with better suspension and a higher spec motor, and not a lot more.
Quote+Reply
  #10  
Old 29-Jul-2005, 12:17
Jasper's Avatar
Jasper Jasper is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Corse
 
Posts: 3,707
Join Date: Jun 2002
The character of the engines makes a big difference.My SP5 is really a pig below 3000,happier above 6000 and prefers to be in the 8000+range.This alters the whole riding experience.The Sp's are not as "relaxed" as the stradas.Depends what you want,but i wouldn't swap mine for the world.
Quote+Reply
Reply
  
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes
Postbit Selector
Switch to Vertical postbit Use Vertical Postbit

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Recent Posts - Contact Us - DSC Home - Archive - Top
Powered by vBulletin 3.5.4 - Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. - © Ducati Sporting Club UK - All times are GMT +1. The time now is 21:26.