Ducati Monster Forum

powered by:

December 23, 2024, 05:55:15 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: Tapatalk users...click me
 
   Home   Help Search Login Register  



Pages: [1] 2 3 4   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: What's more fun at the track? A monster or something else?  (Read 12687 times)
il d00d
something something something something
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1050



« on: January 12, 2010, 09:30:38 AM »

It looks like I will be divesting myself of my 620.  Kiddos and kiddo-related activities have more or less put my leisure riding on the back burner for the foreseeable future.  I will probably be bikeless for a period of time, but I will likely pick up something in an SS or similar spec for mostly event-specific riding.  I am planning on some of those events being track days.

I have never been to one, so you could say I am putting cart before horse, but I am pretty much committed to either having fun on short trips, group rides, or the track with the occasional street excursion or putting riding on hold for a few years.

So, what do you like?  Monster, other naked, SS, motard?
Logged
gm2
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 5097


« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2010, 09:45:47 AM »

I have never been to one, so you could say I am putting cart before horse, but I am pretty much committed to either having fun on short trips, group rides, or the track with the occasional street excursion or putting riding on hold for a few years.

assuming you are married to the idea of a twin, you just described the need for an SV650.
Logged

Like this is the racing, no?
desmoquattro
Smacking certain mods who change my profile upside the head with a...
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4088


It puts the billet aluminum on the motorcycle...


« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2010, 10:18:18 AM »

I'd say ditto on the SV. But if you really want a Duc, the 900/1000SS is a *fantastic* track bike. More torque than the SV, wheelies over the crests of hills, and they rock on rides. And like the SV, they don't have too much power to get you in trouble.
Logged

My Vices
'09 1198s,red, (Il Diavolo Rosso
'09 KTM 690 SMC (Thumpy)
'04 Yamaha FZ1, The Blue Cockroach
'01 900SS, custom yellow, (The Bumblebee)
'05 MS4R, blue
il d00d
something something something something
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1050



« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2010, 10:19:37 AM »

I am guessing you're right.  I put about 500 miles on a first gen SV and it was a fun 500 miles.  My only objection would be to the amount of work that would need to be put in extract maximum fun.  Gixxer forks,  minimally - the suspension on the one I rode was total mush.  Hard braking was not confidence-inspiring for the amount it nose dived.

I suppose it would help to give you an idea what I like and what I want - something that I can get on and ride comfortably a few hundred miles that has more power than the 620.  I like the GSXR 600s and 750s because the rider triangle fits me well - I also like 750s for being the middle ground between a stupid fast literbike and a manic 600.  I do like cheater bikes like the 636, and I have long lusted after the 675.  I have not ridden an 848, but it is on the list.  

Of course a faster monster is in the running, and this is really what the question comes down to - would you rather ride your monster at the track or some other bike, assuming you are compromising daily driver qualities for fun?

Logged
desmoquattro
Smacking certain mods who change my profile upside the head with a...
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4088


It puts the billet aluminum on the motorcycle...


« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2010, 10:23:44 AM »

Of course a faster monster is in the running, and this is really what the question comes down to - would you rather ride your monster at the track or some other bike, assuming you are compromising daily driver qualities for fun?

I would leave the Monster off the track. I've got an S4R and a 900SS, and for me the SS is the ideal compromise there: the ergos are nice for the track, the suspension is better than a stock SV, and I still get that shit-eating grin on my face from riding it. But if you can find an SV-S model with GSXR forks or upgraded internals, it'd be worth tracking...if you are comfortable with it for street duties as well.
Logged

My Vices
'09 1198s,red, (Il Diavolo Rosso
'09 KTM 690 SMC (Thumpy)
'04 Yamaha FZ1, The Blue Cockroach
'01 900SS, custom yellow, (The Bumblebee)
'05 MS4R, blue
gm2
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 5097


« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2010, 10:42:15 AM »

But if you can find an SV-S model with GSXR forks or upgraded internals

something there is usually a steady supply of
Logged

Like this is the racing, no?
desmoquattro
Smacking certain mods who change my profile upside the head with a...
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4088


It puts the billet aluminum on the motorcycle...


« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2010, 10:46:58 AM »

something there is usually a steady supply of

The ones I've seen around here are mostly track-only bikes being sold by racers though. Your mileage may vary.
Logged

My Vices
'09 1198s,red, (Il Diavolo Rosso
'09 KTM 690 SMC (Thumpy)
'04 Yamaha FZ1, The Blue Cockroach
'01 900SS, custom yellow, (The Bumblebee)
'05 MS4R, blue
gm2
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 5097


« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2010, 10:50:09 AM »

true.  but, depending on how much it's been mod'd, re-streeting a track bike is no big deal.

and gixxer front ends on SVs in general is not a rare thing to do.
Logged

Like this is the racing, no?
zooom
wishing I had some colorful enough tights for my
Post Whore
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 11905


when your gas is natural and has a name...


« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2010, 11:12:50 AM »

might I also suggest finding yourself a SuperHawk 996....they can be quite entertaining and meet your needs.
Logged

99 Cagiva Gran Canyon-"FOR SALE", PM for details.
98 Monster 900(trackpregnant dog-soon to be made my Fiancee's upgrade streetbike)
2010 KTM 990 SM-T
desmoquattro
Smacking certain mods who change my profile upside the head with a...
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4088


It puts the billet aluminum on the motorcycle...


« Reply #9 on: January 12, 2010, 11:15:18 AM »

might I also suggest finding yourself a SuperHawk 996....they can be quite entertaining and meet your needs.

Not a bad thought. They're cheap. Mine was a bit of a pig though, and it had crap suspension...even though it was revalved and resprung at RaceTech.
Logged

My Vices
'09 1198s,red, (Il Diavolo Rosso
'09 KTM 690 SMC (Thumpy)
'04 Yamaha FZ1, The Blue Cockroach
'01 900SS, custom yellow, (The Bumblebee)
'05 MS4R, blue
caperix
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 498


« Reply #10 on: January 12, 2010, 02:04:11 PM »

might I also suggest finding yourself a SuperHawk 996....they can be quite entertaining and meet your needs.

On the track the superhawk may have the same problem my rc51 has, it eats tires.  The heavy weight plus large torquey motor can distroy an expensive set of tire quickly.  I would sugest running a track day on your monster if you keep it.  It will give you a better idea of what you do and don't want in a track bike, there are always a few monsters at trackdays.  A SV650 is always a good choise for a track bike.
Logged
GregP
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 473



« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2010, 04:05:41 AM »

I have ridden the 620, 1000SS, SV1000S, R6 and the 675 at the track.  Without a doubt, the 675 was the most fun and easiest to get around a track quickly.  The big SV and the 1000ss are very similar in performance (sv has gsxr front and penske shock).  Both are a lot of fun and not powerful enough to get in trouble because of your right hand.

The 620, even with suspension upgrades, is not the best track tool you can find.  You have to do the same suspension upgrades on the little SV and you can find a kitted sv, depending on where you live, for $2-3K. When you fall down on the SV you can get replacement parts on the cheap.

I didn't do well with the R6 because I'm not used to spinning a bike up to 10k to get into the power band.  I can only assume, any Japanese 600 or 750 will be an excellent track choice and at the moment you can buy one for a song.

Personally, I'm not the touring type so anymore then a slab to the twisties and home is too much distance on any of these bikes.

There is always the 'Busa!!! Good luck. [moto]
Logged

Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.
desmoquattro
Smacking certain mods who change my profile upside the head with a...
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4088


It puts the billet aluminum on the motorcycle...


« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2010, 04:09:45 AM »

There is always the 'Busa!!! Good luck. [moto]

Turbo-Busa Grin

With an extended swingarm.
Logged

My Vices
'09 1198s,red, (Il Diavolo Rosso
'09 KTM 690 SMC (Thumpy)
'04 Yamaha FZ1, The Blue Cockroach
'01 900SS, custom yellow, (The Bumblebee)
'05 MS4R, blue
Cider
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 593


« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2010, 05:48:07 AM »

Once you get used to it, you can go surprisingly fast on a stock SV.  It encourages smoothness and corner speed as well--smoothness to deal with the bouncy suspension, and corner speed because if you lose momentum in a corner it takes forever to get back up to speed! 

GSXR forks are a popular upgrade, but even using better springs makes a big difference.  Traxxion offers a drop-in kit with modified dampers and emulators for around $300; they also offer a cartridge kit for around $1k.  Penske is a popular choice for the rear, but there are a lot of options there as well.

If you use the stock forks, you can get adapters for GSXR calipers, but the bike has a lot of engine braking, so you may be satisfied with the stock brakes.
Logged
duccarlos
Local Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 7994



WWW
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2010, 06:35:06 AM »

I'll take the practical approach. Get a bike wih farings for the track. Regardless of what it is. With that said, the 800SS is a great trackbike.
Logged

my keyboard just served me with paternity suit.
Pages: [1] 2 3 4   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  


Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
Simple Audio Video Embedder
Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
SimplePortal 2.1.1