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lowering kits for ducatis??
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fullmoon
New User
| Posts: 2
| Joined: 05/05
Posted: 06/08/05
07:53 PM
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Hey, everyone. I was wondering if there's a lowering kit for ducati 749's or 999's. I know, I know, this is not what ya really should do with a sportbikes, but I'm short and I want a sportbike with a V-twin. Any comments will be appreciated. 
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enp83
Enthusiast
| Posts: 361
| Joined: 02/05
Posted: 06/08/05
09:12 PM
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I'm sure theres ways to lower them, I'd ask on a Ducati Superbike specific board to get some places to where you can guy the bits and pieces. What about a Ducati Monster, it's a sportbike with a V-twin...I would think the seat height would be a little bit lower than the superbikes. You could also look into finding a used Buell XB9SL, it comes slightly lowered from the factory and has a shorter seat so the seat hight is noticably lower. They also have a XB12Scg which is basically the same thing but with a 1203cc motor. Buells are obviously V-twin sportbikes, but unlike the Ducati on a Buell you won't need to adjust the valves every 6k miles...infact, you never need to adjust the valves on a newer Buell. Have you priced a 6,000 mile service with valve adjustment on a Ducati yet?
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TEvo
Enthusiast
| Posts: 322
| Joined: 10/02
Posted: 06/08/05
10:09 PM
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How much of a reduction do you need?
I've never been able to flatfoot any of the sportbikes I've owned. I usually consider myself lucky that I have the balls of my feet on the ground. For reference, I am 5'7" with ~30.5" of inseam.
All 999 and 749S & R models have a ride height adjuster in the form of a threaded tie-rod. Most 999/749 owners are interested in raising ride height for better handling... but, as enp83 suggests, you may be better served asking around on the various Ducati forums/mailing lists. There has got to be something out there to lower them.
www.ducati.net
http://speedzilla.zeroforum.com/
Good luck.
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TEvo
Enthusiast
| Posts: 322
| Joined: 10/02
Posted: 06/08/05
10:13 PM
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Quote:
Have you priced a 6,000 mile service with valve adjustment on a Ducati yet?
This is overstated by non-Ducati riders. 
You either accept it as part of the ownership experience or you don't.
Like the price of insurance on a sportbike by some early twenties newbie, the price of desmodromic maintenance is part of the TCO (total cost of ownership) of a Ducati.
A savvy rider needs to take this into consideration before making a purchasing decision.
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enp83
Enthusiast
| Posts: 361
| Joined: 02/05
Posted: 06/08/05
11:59 PM
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Quote:
A savvy rider needs to take this into consideration before making a purchasing decision.
Which is why I always mention it  I'm not good with a wrench nor do I have several hundred dollars burning a hole in my pocket every 6 months or so (I put about 10-12k miles on my bike per year). Yamaha sets the valve service intervals on their R6 (I believe R1 too) at something like 26k or 27k, and like I mentioned before you never need to adjust the valves on a Buell XB. Which is why I LOVE it when people (not TEvo, but we've all seen it from others before) piss on Buell's designs and then think desmodromic valve trains are some kind of great idea. 
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TEvo
Enthusiast
| Posts: 322
| Joined: 10/02
Posted: 06/09/05
07:47 PM
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Quote:
Which is why I LOVE it when people (not TEvo, but we've all seen it from others before) piss on Buell's designs and then think desmodromic valve trains are some kind of great idea.
Well... when redline is all of 7K rpm, hydraulic lifters in a pushrod design work.
There aren't many bikes out there I'd poo poo these days. I can't think of any bike that's truly a dog within their category. Just different.
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enp83
Enthusiast
| Posts: 361
| Joined: 02/05
Posted: 06/10/05
12:29 AM
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Quote:
Well... when redline is all of 7K rpm, hydraulic lifters in a pushrod design work.
Very true but but but, it's not like Monsters or Ducati's Supersports redline much higher. XB9s redline at 7,500, and for the most part their lower redline is attributed to their excessively long strokes compared to other v-twins found in other sportbikes. XB9's stroke 3.125", XB12's stroke 3.825", RC51/999/TLR/RSV's strokes are more around 2.5". And then with Ducati's superbikes, it's not like they redline any higher than Aprilia mille that has roughly the same displacement and 4valves per cylinder? I've read that desmodromic valvetrains allow for a "more agressive" cam profile with regards to the steepness of the slopes on the cam lobe, but I have no idea how the cam profiles differ between a 999/RSV/RC51/TLR...if they're very similar or just how much different they are.
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fullmoon
New User
| Posts: 2
| Joined: 05/05
Posted: 06/12/05
06:52 AM
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Hey, TEvo-
My current bike is CBR600RR.When stopped at the light, I have only 1 foot down and the ball of my foot reaches. Both feet down, I can only get the toes to touch the ground. I'm guessing about 27" inseam. Should I consider totally another brand? Folks at Duc. Dealer(S) don'like to lower them at all-only .5 inch they say. And I must say, I understand their reasons for reluctance.
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