Newbie

First off I have to say that :twfrox: I have been reading around for about a month now and haven't posted, so I thought I'd say Hey. I am new to the site but not to riding. I have been riding for about 7-8 years now with my first bike being a 1989 Suzuki Katana. I now have two bikes a 97 Ducati 748s and a 06 GSXR 600. The Suzuki is just a track bike/racebike. I am getting started into track riding and hopefully will soon try racing, so any tips, hints, or advice is very welcome. Currently I am a member of NESBA and Team Pro Motion, and will be attending the Team Hammer trackday on Oct. 19th @ Daytona during bike week (SO SIGN UP). Anyways, this site is awesome and its helps to ge me through the day when Im at work. David

:welcome: I wanna see pics of that sweet Duc!!!!!

:welcome: Hiya! And welcome!

:idk: How do I attach an image if the image is not on another site?

:idk: How do I attach an image if the image is not on another site? Try photobucket... It's free... www.photobucket.com

:welcome: :noob: :lol: :sorry: I just like using smilies.:twfrox: I'm sure you've been in the track forum. I definately agree with killing time at work on this site.:dthumb: :luck:

Try photobucket... It's free... www.photobucket.com You can upload upto 3/day on this forum. Or you can upload and host them on a site like photobucket and copy the image tag for unlimited photos. If you upload them here I can approve them right away. I'm only here for another 10 minutes or so though.

Yeah, I've been pokin around the track forum. Here is the ducati: http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n47/timmy422/Bike/mybike.jpg

:drool: Damn thats a pretty bike.:dthumb:

:drool: Damn thats a pretty bike.:dthumb: :iagree: Puuuurrrr.......

All I think of when I see that bike.... is Stephen Lynch... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCCb87vvK_U&mode=related&search=

:welcome: I'm jealous of your bikes, I gotta wait at least 6 years before I can have a Duc. Keep the pics coming and we're big fans of tank cams/riding videos on here too!

MMMMM Ducati... AAAAAARRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH:drool: :drool: :drool: Homer Simpson style... BTW :welcome: :twfrox: and :luck: wit the racing, hopefully ill start the track day/ racing part soon enough.

Yeah, I've been pokin around the track forum. Here is the ducati: http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n47/timmy422/Bike/mybike.jpg Sick bike. SO sick, I had to quote it!:dthumb:

:welcome: :twfrox:

Yeah, I've been pokin around the track forum. Here is the ducati: http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n47/timmy422/Bike/mybike.jpg Sweet ride :welcome:

:welcome:

Welcome!!!!!!!!! The bike is amazing like it a lot!!!!!!!!!!! :dthumb:

:welcome: great lookin bike:dthumb:

GORGEOUS Ducati. Me like very much. those bikes are the sexiest machines EVER BUILT.

Thanks for the coments....I love the bike...but they are very high maintenance.:dthumb:

Thanks for the coments....I love the bike...but they are very high maintenance.:dthumb: Explain!:tt:

Valves need to be checked / adjusted every 4 - 6K and the timing belts every 10K. To get your valves checked at a dealer it is $400 and plus $150 to adjust them. I personaly have had my water pump go out about 2 years ago...which it cost $560 for the labor, new pump, and new bearings in the motor. Six months after I got my bike out of the shop, I was driving the bike up to the dealer to trade it in on a new 749...and my valves fell out. My timing belt broke..threw my piston up into my valves and bent them. So I go ahead and take the bike up that day and instead of trading it in I had them tell me (2 months later) that they needed to replace one of the heads, and in order to do the work...I needed to pay them $525 for the labor they have already done to find the bent valves. Then I ask about how much is this going to cost to fix after I pay you the $525...and they said aprox..$600 more to put the valves back in it. I paid the 525...said @#$% you and your 600 dollars...picked the bike up and bought a new motor and put it in myself. I have to stay that I haven't had any problems since then. Thats why she's been high maintenance for me. sorry so long David

Damn thats alot of :bs: Is this kind of junk common on Ducs?

Really couldn't say for sure....I might have just got one of the bad eggs.

I want a Duc someday....I dont know a whole lot about their reliability compared to the near bullet proof Jap's.

Hard to beat a Jap. bike for pounding laps at the track…Ducati’s are awesome bikes, and you can’t beat how the V-twin sounds, but parts are high…labor is high… and finding a good dealer that is close enough to work on it. I personal have my work done at a dealer down in North Carolina. It’s worth the drive because I can trust them and they know a lot about Ducati’s. I didn’t have very much luck with some of the dealers in PA. Which Pittsburg is around 2 ½ hours away. I’ve been debating for awhile now about selling mine…I haven’t rode it in months…because when I do take some time out to go riding I’m at the track. David

I'm going to a Duc/Kawi/Suzuki dealer after work to try on helmets. They are decent guys. Much better than the other Zook dealer in the area.

I haven't owned a Ducati, but I've been a fan for a while. I can imagine the parts are real expensive. The always sound like something is loose on them when there running too. I'd probably still get one though. I like old Harley's too like the knucle/pan/shovelhead era's, but there known to breakdown every time you go for a ride, but I don't care, just something about them, you know?:cheers:

sdog... the sound you are hearing on the duc is a dry clutch system... its suppose to sound like that!

sdog... the sound you are hearing on the duc is a dry clutch system... its suppose to sound like that! Well I figured as much since you hear it on all of them, just sayin':lol: