998 Gearing whats best ?
 

My Hybrid is nearly ready so now that I am getting close to taking it for a blast.
Currently it has the 748RS gearing on it of 14/40 which I think may be a bit low geared even allowing for it having a BP engine fitted. Chain size is 520 and the rear carrier is a Renthal, easiest option is to change to a 36 or 37 rear sprocket which will probably have to be purchased.
I was wondering what other owners are running on their 998s

Is it for street of track?

Kev

standard gearing on my 996R (essentially same engine as the 998S) is 15/35. I now run 14/35 but will be changing that to 15/38 when new chain and sprockets required.

Cheers Shaun I've had a check of my sprockets and I have a 38 rear Renthal in 520 size, I also have a 15t but I need that on the SS for Castle Combe and Snetterton so I had better go and buy another.

Felix its mainly for road use and the odd trackday, although it would make a better race bike than the previous Ducati's that I have raced as it has the Mag arm, mag yokes, mag wheels etc. But after selling bikes like my Harris to allow me to go racing and having my Bimota stolen while I was Pembrey racing one weekend I thought it was time I had a nice road bike again.

Still a few things need doing before the BMF, then after that the Ohlins forks, Brembo radials, 54mm Ti termis, etc will be added.

[Edited on 16-5-2005 by skidlids]

looks good
not sure what gearing to run on my bike now,
think ill just leave it as it was with the 748 engine and see how it goes

And the view from the riders seat

Looks good Kev, although i've got a 'better' yellow tank than that and i'll do you a straight swop:lol::devil:

And cut the Grass :D:frog:

Grass Totto, you have better eyesight tham I do all I can see is the weeds, nettles etc, a bit of grass would be nice, but the two Staffy's demolished that along time ago.
Still who wants to be in their back garden of a Ex council terrace doing gardening when there are roads to be ridden.

Kev, I know the gearbox ratio's are a bit different etc but standard gearing on my 996 is 15/36, as soon as I bought it I changed it to 14/36 and rode it like that for 18 months. Around a month ago I changed it to 14/39 and I'm loving it.

It does make the front end 'a bit lively' under hard acceleration but it puts a smile on my face :D

Tony thats mainly why I asked the question, the nature of the Testastrtta engine is different to that of my 916 as is the power output so I was hoping a current 998 owner would steer me in the right direction.
I am going to try BDG's suggestion of 15/38 and see how that feels.
At some point I hope to have the 54mm half system fitted along with a fuel mapping device and then hopefully have a bit more power and a nice smooth curve and then I will try and pick gearing to suit.
At the moment I just need something that will make the bike enjoyable to ride and I suspect the 14/40 on it at the moment is to low.

Ok, no worries. I guess it just depends on what you want the bike to feel like and whether you're happy sacrificing the top end.

If it feels a bit too lively with the throttle cracked open then I'd go a bit taller. If you don't like the front end coming up like that then I'd go a bit taller. I like it like that, and I reckon mine accelerates like a more powerful bike on standard gearing (althought the lightened flywheel helps out there I'm sure).

If you're not enjoying it then I'd make some changes definitely. Hope you find something you like.

Tony I haven't ridden it yet so I have no idea what it feels like, since originally putting up the post I have found that the standard gearing is 15/36 the same as standard on a 916. I run my 916 normally with 14/36 but currently have 14/37 on it which makes it easier to get into 3rd gear on the back wheel. So now that I know the 998 starts life with the same as the 916 then I will try a ratio similar to what I run on the 916. So lets see what 15/38 is like which is nigh on the same as 14/35.
As for the front end coming up I think everbody that rides with me is use to that although the inch longer swingarm will calm it down a bit.

And I bet your not the only one thinking that :D

A 916 has a different primary gear ratio than a 998.

http://ducatisportingclub.com/xmb/vi...6156#pid142860

Skidlids

Where did you get the top yoke from?

Cheers Shazaam, looking at the table 15/38 is recommended so thats excellent news.

Rob the top yoke matches the massive bottom one, they are a pair of Marchessini Mag yokes with a differnt offset to standard to suit the lengthened swingarm.
ie. they have slightly more offset to give a reduced trail to help quicken the steering, this will soon be aided when I add my wider bars that give me that bit of extra leverage.

Lowering the gearing is more fun !

My 748s has gone from standard 14/38 to 14/41.

Top end is for staright line cruisers.
Acceleration, now that's where the fun is !

Delooney

The 14/40 on the 998 would be the equivalent of running 13/42 or 14/45 on your 748S.
Yes I want slightly lower gearing but not that low, I was reving the nuts off my 916 with its lowered gearing (14/37 where as standard is 15/36)when chasing that GSXR1000K5 on Sunday and dispite been all over him in the corners I kept loosing out to much down the straight bits.

After 7 years of racing and carrying to meetings at least 2 front sprockets and 3 rears I know how I want to gear my bike for the use at the time. But as I have never ridden a 998 I just want a sensible starting point, so as of this evening it now sports 15/38.
Just need to set the ride height to my prefered setting now which I will do tomorrow.

Kev

i'm looking forward to seeing it at the BMF and see what you think if you get a chance to ride it

Shaun the bike that will be at the BMF is a work in progress, not the finished item.

Still to Fit

Spondon Discs (lighter than any of my others)
Ohlins Forks
Billet adjustable offset Yokes
P4 callipers
Brembo Radials
FBF bars
JHP slipper clutch
54mm Ti Termi 1/2 system
Spa dash
DB tronics fueling trimmer

Bits still needing to be purchased

Billet Cluch Cover
White front number board (the Gel type)


Maybe the quickshifter
or I may save that for the 996 jack of all trades bike, which I will start on once the 998 is finished and use forks and yokes currently in the 998 along with a lengthend swingarm, Penske shock, mag wheels etc.
Then i still have another 4 bikes to sort out at some point.

All most there for now

And the all important sticker or twonow added

I've just bought a 998s that's already got a renthal quick release on it - thinking of going to 15/38

Would you recommend a slipper with is gearing?

I've had a 748sps for the past 4 years which is very forgiving as it doesn't have taht much torque & I'm a bit nervous about the impact of changing the gearing on down changes into for example the hairpin at mallory or druids at brands............

Thinking of the 4 July!!