hey all, I was wondering if anyone finds it a difficult bike to ride daily through all weathers, as I've always rode through the year, but this is the first Ducati, and find it awkward when it's raining, as I have to take corners a ltd's slower other wise it's really slippy. And the first gear always seems like it could go down a gear for city riding and turning into junctions, as I feel less control compared to being closer to 4K rpm. It's either a lot of power or no power :/ Or is it just my bike?:cry: I've only owned it for three or four months, and already considering changing to maybe a Panigale 899
Both my Ducatis have had their gearing reduced by adding two or three teeth to the rear sprocket. This means that Second (and Third) becomes a very usable gear at low revs and assists with managing the torque in the wet and cold. I prefer not to ride my 999 during the wet leaves phase of autumn/winter but my 750SSie is perfectly manageable this time of year. The only time both bikes don't leave the garage is during the snow/ice/road salt part of winter.
As Loz says you can drop the gearing on the sprockets to shorten first gear which will make town riding easier. Don't know if the 848 is the same but on the 1098 its best to do it by going down one at the front rather than upping the teeth at the back because there's not a lot of tyre clearance in the swinging arm to start with. Either 1098 or 848 will benefit from decatting and getting a custom remap. The low end fuelling will be much improved. Don't know about the 848 but the 1098 has pretty fierce brakes. I fitted Carbone Lorraine pads to mine recently and they are more progressive and have more feel than the OE Brembos. I'm not sure actually I don't prefer the eye-popping bite of the Brembos but mine is a dry weather bike. If you're riding in all weathers the CL pads might be better. Tyres too. I'm very impressed with the M7RRs. I don't ride in the rain unless caught short but when I have they have inspired plenty of confidence. A mate has put them on his Gixer K5 and he says they're a better wet road tyre than the PR3s he used before.
M7RRs are amazing in the wet. I have never had more confidence in a tyre when the weather has been the way it is now.
I spoke to some guys at the motorcycle live, and they admitted the sf848 does have throttle control issue which I explained it was either on hard or nothing, which is why it made riding in the wet a nightmare, as the rear would slip a lot due to the torque. It's just awkward a small roads with junctions and road a outs, cause while trying to smoothly open the throttle, you don't get any response then it comes on. I'm probably looking at something else soon anyway, cause I feel it's more of a fair weather bike or a 2nd bike. May see how the monster is
Get it remapped, it'll be a different bike. The cost of cans and mapping will be less than the depreciation when you sell it on.
Yep, it has pipes, get a custom remap. This generally turns off the o2 sensors etc and gives it a 'static' mapping table as such which is set for each cylinder. This doesn't compromise it, quite the opposite because the big problem with the standard set up is that at partial throttle openings the engine leans itself to be more economical and reduce emissions which can cause the hunting sensation at a constant speed in town. I had my 848 Evo done, it was much better after, the other must do is to drop the gearing as others have said and get a Oberon (or similar) clutch slave cylinder to make life easier, u will find then much less chug as u pull away from the new set up and should be easily able to cruise in 3rd gear in 30's without the chain slap etc. Sounds expensive but that lot will cost you £500 if u already have some pipes and is cheaper than changing bikes. Ultimately I still changed, I couldn't live with my 848 Evo on the commute but I'm sure your SF will be fine after these mods. The 899 is much easier to ride for sure, but I still feel it would benefit from lighter clutch action and shorter gearing and u can tell the ECU is doing lots of 'tweaking'
