Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Bog Standard 998S - What mods first?

[B19PSK]

Dear All,

I've taken a bog standard 998S, 3000 miles and have done the following.

1. Termis
2. CPU chip
3. Removed bungs from inlet tubes and cleaned air filters
4. Carbon heal plates, clutch cover, sprocket cover, hugger, bottom fairing.
5. Double bubble screen.
6. Diablo course tyres
7. Single Seat conversion
8. Billet Showa pre-load adjusters.
9. Billet front brake and clutch reservoir covers.
10. Cleaned inside of headlamps – up-rated bulbs/fuses
11. Carbon number plate (small) and holder

I’m thinking of getting the suspension properly set up for my weight and size…any ideas on where to get this done?
London Heathrow

Next?
Slipper Clutch
Bar end weights to get rid of the vibration!!
Lowering the front cog - reduce number of teeth

What else do people do?

Cheers

Paul

[Totto]

Suspension work , Track day school ?

What are you looking for ?

To go faster or to have a faster bike ?

[B19PSK]

Originally posted by Totto
Suspension work , Track day school ?

What are you looking for ?

To go faster or to have a faster bike ?

Wow - The bike is tooooooo fast already. I think the suspension is too hard or needs adjusting my someone who knows. I use this bike nearly every day - thrash to work and home then play at weekends. Track day - most defiantly. Top speed is way too high for me to use – even on a track day. I love the Rockingham short circuit. I’m too big to get behind the screen at 145MPH it feels like two nightclub bouncers are trying to put me off the bike backwards. If I wanted top end speed I would have bought a big kwaka.
Bike feels awful at low speed turns – under 20Mph and this is spoiling my confidence. I keep checking the tyre pressures, I now run Diablo corsa, standard sizes and pressures.

Any ideas?

[MARTIN H]

I would get the suspension sorted. Raising the rear ride height a couple of turns from standard speeds the steering up no end. I always go for a 180 rear as well. Been out all afternoon on my 996r and I know what you mean about turning it. I spend a lot of time on my Multistrada which just kind of flops into turns so easily. When I get out on the 996 it feels such hard work. Still love it though!

[Nigel C]

A bigger wallet

[spinoli1]

Having done just about all of the usual mods to my 998, including slipper, cams, ECU, PC111, big pipe, l-w wheels blah, blah blah..... I recently put up a post to show what I figured was the most worthwhile place to throw your cash - copy below

Spin

There are so many options to absorb your hard earned for one of these bikes - that’s part of the enjoyment. You can upgrade them until your head explodes or you end up homeless.

So where to throw the cash? - pipes, brakes, slipper clutch, Ohlins steering damper, shock or forks, mag wheels, cams, chips, carbon wossnames, magnesium doodahs, titanium twiddlers - the list is endless.

Now I’m lucky enough to have had the spondoolies to do a lot of the above over the past 2 years. I’ve run out now and live entirely on baked beans (supermarket brand) eaten from an old boot. But I’ve had the chance to really judge what has made a difference to my riding experience.

So what made a difference, what was good value? I’m not going to say what was a waste of money, ‘cos opinions is opinions, and I don’t want to dis’ someone elses’ favourite shiny bit. What follows is just my own opinion, but at least it’s based on my personal experience.

My feeling is that if you are going to spend a few hundred quid on your pride and joy, nothing but nothing, will give you the satisfaction and improvement in your riding experience that you will get from getting your bike well serviced and set-up by a true Ducati specialist - someone who takes real pride in their work. Just about everything on a Ducati is adjustable - get it adjusted properly and you find out why a Ducati is truly superior to any Japanese bike.

The kind of work I mean is -

Getting the cams dialled in - find out how your motor was really meant to feel when it was designed. It is a sad fact that most Ducatis come from the factory with very generous tolerances on the cam degreeing (is that a word?) - sorting it works wonders. (Do this first!!)
Get the fueling set up on a dyno - various chip/ecu/power commander options - I went PC111, now very happy. Standard fueling is set to a recipe for making Italian lemonade and is not suitable for motorcycles.
Brakes stripped and serviced - do it yourself or get a grown up for real peace of mind. Good brakes left to deteriorate loose most of their power and all of their feel. The difference that an overhaul can make is amazing.
Suspension set-up - I used web site settings from a reputable source. - LougiMoto then did it properly, now corners are demolished with contempt. Doesn’t cost much - may astonish you.
If your shock/forks are shagged or maybe just weary, get them sorted. Well serviced standard kit can be very good.
Get the clutch set-up by an adult - I thought I knew what I was doing - Oh well…..
Chain and sprockets - obvious really if they’re tired, but are you running the best gearing? So many Ducs are way over geared for good road riding. New kit and more appropriate gearing gives you smooth gear changing, less vibes and optimum grunt. (Recommend 15/40 for 998)

Depending what you’re starting with, and where you go, the above can be done for cost of a set of pipes and some new tyres - but you will really feel the difference. And a lot of the set up work will last the life of the bike - cams, fuelling etc.

If you spend a lot of time at the track, and seconds matter to you, the trick bits may become more important to you. But if like me, you ride mainly on the road, and only spend a few days a year at the track, the above may help you prioritize your spending.

If I had to start again, I know where my first pennies would go. Then I would buy all the shiny bits again - ho hum.

[khushy]

for me - the two best mods would be . . .

1 - diet - less unsprung weight!!!!!!
2 - CSS

and the best mods to the bike would be . . .

1 - Slipper Clutch
2 - QuickShifter

Khushy

[weeksy2]

first and most economically viable has to be the front sprocket... surely? for the sake of £12 you're getting a hell of a lot....

What's my best upgrade ? damn i dunno.. over the last 5 years i've fitted about every modification possible to the bikes....

i'd say for me.. Brembo Radial Master Cylinder.

[ziggi]

Change your gearing via sprockets but go for the quick release rear sprocket carrier (various versions) and keep your 15T front.

Replace the biposto subframe for the aluminium monoposto subframe. It's about 7Kg lighter.

[Rattler]

Originally posted by spinoli1
Having done just about all of the usual mods to my 998, including slipper, cams, ECU, PC111, big pipe, l-w wheels blah, blah blah..... I recently put up a post to show what I figured was the most worthwhile place to throw your cash - copy below

Spin

There are so many options to absorb your hard earned for one of these bikes - that’s part of the enjoyment. You can upgrade them until your head explodes or you end up homeless.

So where to throw the cash? - pipes, brakes, slipper clutch, Ohlins steering damper, shock or forks, mag wheels, cams, chips, carbon wossnames, magnesium doodahs, titanium twiddlers - the list is endless.

Now I’m lucky enough to have had the spondoolies to do a lot of the above over the past 2 years. I’ve run out now and live entirely on baked beans (supermarket brand) eaten from an old boot. But I’ve had the chance to really judge what has made a difference to my riding experience.

So what made a difference, what was good value? I’m not going to say what was a waste of money, ‘cos opinions is opinions, and I don’t want to dis’ someone elses’ favourite shiny bit. What follows is just my own opinion, but at least it’s based on my personal experience.

My feeling is that if you are going to spend a few hundred quid on your pride and joy, nothing but nothing, will give you the satisfaction and improvement in your riding experience that you will get from getting your bike well serviced and set-up by a true Ducati specialist - someone who takes real pride in their work. Just about everything on a Ducati is adjustable - get it adjusted properly and you find out why a Ducati is truly superior to any Japanese bike.

The kind of work I mean is -

Getting the cams dialled in - find out how your motor was really meant to feel when it was designed. It is a sad fact that most Ducatis come from the factory with very generous tolerances on the cam degreeing (is that a word?) - sorting it works wonders. (Do this first!!)
Get the fueling set up on a dyno - various chip/ecu/power commander options - I went PC111, now very happy. Standard fueling is set to a recipe for making Italian lemonade and is not suitable for motorcycles.
Brakes stripped and serviced - do it yourself or get a grown up for real peace of mind. Good brakes left to deteriorate loose most of their power and all of their feel. The difference that an overhaul can make is amazing.
Suspension set-up - I used web site settings from a reputable source. - LougiMoto then did it properly, now corners are demolished with contempt. Doesn’t cost much - may astonish you.
If your shock/forks are shagged or maybe just weary, get them sorted. Well serviced standard kit can be very good.
Get the clutch set-up by an adult - I thought I knew what I was doing - Oh well…..
Chain and sprockets - obvious really if they’re tired, but are you running the best gearing? So many Ducs are way over geared for good road riding. New kit and more appropriate gearing gives you smooth gear changing, less vibes and optimum grunt. (Recommend 15/40 for 998)

Depending what you’re starting with, and where you go, the above can be done for cost of a set of pipes and some new tyres - but you will really feel the difference. And a lot of the set up work will last the life of the bike - cams, fuelling etc.

If you spend a lot of time at the track, and seconds matter to you, the trick bits may become more important to you. But if like me, you ride mainly on the road, and only spend a few days a year at the track, the above may help you prioritize your spending.

If I had to start again, I know where my first pennies would go. Then I would buy all the shiny bits again - ho hum.

Nice post Spin - thanks for sharing