Ducati Sporting Club UK > Sport > Race > Racing Ducati series

[twpd]

That's the series potentially ruined then. The 748 will be bang on the power:weight limit which no other bike is atm. I was gonna race my 800ss in the series but, I don't think I'll bother now. I'll go get an R instead and add some lead weight to it instead - irrespective of weight, the bike with the most power available at decent engine speed will be fastest down the straights.

I'd need to get my 800 down to 145Kg to be competitive - that just ain't gonna happen. 160kg - no problem but not 145!!

[domski]

Originally Posted by twpd

I'd need to get my 800 down to 145Kg to be competitive - that just ain't gonna happen. 160kg - no problem but not 145!!

...or lose 15kg from inside your leathers

[twpd]

Originally Posted by domski

...or lose 15kg from inside your leathers

Yeah but at 5ft 11 I am always gonna be heavier than some people.

Allowing the 748 in the series imo is not good. Anyway losing 15kg off me still has no bearing on the fact that the 748 will easily hit the power:weight ratio whereas other bikes won't. Can you seriously see how an SV650 is gonna compete with an R that has been weighed up to the limit? The SV's at best give 85bhp in 700-750cc form before reliability goes out of the window. They weigh about 360-370lbs and can't hit the power:weight ratio without serious money being spent on them.

[domski]

Originally Posted by twpd

Yeah but at 5ft 11 I am always gonna be heavier than some people.

Allowing the 748 in the series imo is not good. Anyway losing 15kg off me still has no bearing on the fact that the 748 will easily hit the power:weight ratio whereas other bikes won't. Can you seriously see how an SV650 is gonna compete with an R that has been weighed up to the limit? The SV's at best give 85bhp in 700-750cc form before reliability goes out of the window. They weigh about 360-370lbs and can't hit the power:weight ratio without serious money being spent on them.

I suppose it's either let them in or have tiny grids?

Are they struggling for bikes?

I don't really follow it, it's a bit too confusing to me - being a simple southerner and that

[twpd]

No. The grids are swelling with an excellent mixture of bikes: SS400's, Buell, SV's in various guises, a Laverda 650/668 (not sure which).

What I fear is that the grid will simply be swamped with 748's. In the USA, a similar series using similar rules has not suffered this and this is used as a justification by some with which to demonstrate that letting the 748 in is ok. However, the dynamics of that series are somewhat different and the resources available to people to allow other bikes to compete are somewhat greater and cheaper. In the UK it's not the same. The easiest route to getting bang on the power:weight ratio would be to buy a 748 - an SP, SPS or R.

[TP]

Originally Posted by twpd

No. The grids are swelling with an excellent mixture of bikes: SS400's, Buell, SV's in various guises, a Laverda 650/668 (not sure which).

What I fear is that the grid will simply be swamped with 748's. In the USA, a similar series using similar rules has not suffered this and this is used as a justification by some with which to demonstrate that letting the 748 in is ok. However, the dynamics of that series are somewhat different and the resources available to people to allow other bikes to compete are somewhat greater and cheaper. In the UK it's not the same. The easiest route to getting bang on the power:weight ratio would be to buy a 748 - an SP, SPS or R.

I reckon a light 1000SS would be a match, absolutely. It would be a hell of a lot more interesting too. Especially with a 1080 kit in it! It would make more torque than the 800/748 and make tuning a lot more flexible than the 800 engine. And if you started looking at reducing reciprocating mass weight ...

But, the 748 is a much cheaper option because of the price of buying a 1000SS (circa £5k, unless you luck out - I have no luck) and getting it tuned. There's more spares available for 748's and as variants of that shape have been racing for a number of years it's just a lot easier to keep it running etc. IMO.

They've allowed them now so it's happening. I'd race a 748 in that championship, I reckon it would be great. You might not be too popular initially but that will change. Bearing in mind as well that 748s were allowed after a meeting of current thunderbike riders and their organiser so they clearly see value in having them out there. There's some cool people racing in that championship it'd be a giggle

Skids, I reckon you've got the makings of the ultimate Thunderbike's racebike there. Get that R engine in one and get it out there!

[TP]

And if you had 16.5in carbon dymags running the latest in rubber porn ...



WOOHOO!!!

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by TP

Skids, I reckon you've got the makings of the ultimate Thunderbike's racebike there. Get that R engine in one and get it out there!

I even have most of the 748RS bits from my 998Hybrid conversion, but i'm not sure carbon Fibre front ECU /fairing Mounts and CF battery trays would help the situation with 748R power, you'd probbaly need to be adding weight

[twpd]

Originally Posted by TP

I reckon a light 1000SS would be a match, absolutely. It would be a hell of a lot more interesting too. Especially with a 1080 kit in it! It would make more torque than the 800/748 and make tuning a lot more flexible than the 800 engine. And if you started looking at reducing reciprocating mass weight ...

But, the 748 is a much cheaper option because of the price of buying a 1000SS (circa £5k, unless you luck out - I have no luck) and getting it tuned. There's more spares available for 748's and as variants of that shape have been racing for a number of years it's just a lot easier to keep it running etc. IMO.

I think you are right and for this reason no-one will bother with a 1000ss or an 800ss now. With the 748 you can get bang on the power:weight ratio without having to spend money basically - everybody else would be playing catch-up.

I can make my 800 competitive - at a cost. I wouldn't need to spend money on much tuning - as you intimate it would be reducing reciprocating weight which has many advantages...but it costs shed loads.

[phil_h]

Hmmm ... I suppose I wouldnt mind swapping my 748SPS for a 9x6 of some description