| Author | Message | ||
     Benm2 |
Ducati will be producing a streetgoing version of their GP4 bike. No doubt that for those with the cash, you could leave every R1, ZX10, GSXR, or CBR1000 in the wake. When do we get a Buell version of the FX bike? 2005 MY? With the dual inlets & ram air? Please? | ||
| Imonabuss |
Yeah, the Duc will be a neat $40,000 collector toy for the DKNY types, until Honda releases the $12,000 street version of their bike that has crushed the Ducati on the track... | ||
| Court |
>>>>When do we get a Buell version of the FX bike? You won't. It would violate the "real bike, real world, real riders" concept of Buell. The (yes, I have the DKNY catalogs with previous Ducati's) GP4 "Collector Edition" will sell out instantly, that's quite normal for Ducati when they do those types of offerings. I can name 4 of the first four who will place orders. I, based on my PERSONAL tastes, prefer Erik Buell and staff focus their time and effort in maintaining my perpetual grin. They've done so well since 1987. The world is large enough to contain both the above simultaneously. The Duc is no threat to any Buell purchases, nor the Buell any threat to Duc purchases. Court | ||
| Buckinfubba |
Standing righ next to you on that one, Court. | ||
| M2cyclone00 |
Me three. Hey Bubba, JT as well as I are enjoying the Blast! A third Buell or maybe a Sportster will probably join our stable this summer. | ||
| Rocketman |
I agree too Court but there is and always has been several or more contenders for a superbike Buell. As one of those who 'petitioned' for a Super S1 I say we should not be ridiculed, not that we have been of course, by comments such as "collector toy for the DKNY types". There are real bikers amongst us with not much interest in DKNY but who would give their back teeth to own and ride a road version GP Ducati V4. I don't think Erik Buell would agree that Ducati's efforts in Moto GP had been crushed on the track by Honda. He's not that stupid to believe that anyone taking on Honda's might and winning a Moto GP against them in their first season could be seen as to be crushed by Honda. I bet Erik Buell is dead envious of Ducati's racing efforts.  Rocket edited by rocketman on May 25, 2004 | ||
| Paulinoz |
"anyone taking on Honda's might and winning a 500 GP against them in their first season" When did Duc ever race in 500 GP. I am shore what you refer to is Moto GP, its petty nit picking but then it was my old mate Rocket that wrote it so I need to keep him on his toes. | ||
| Smitty |
The cost according to the website is a little more than $40,000. 50,000.00 EUR about 60,155.22 USD and one built per day. Thats less than 260 per yr. Get in line there going fast. Im sure all will be sold. Darn I dont think I can afford the price to even look. Tim | ||
| Henrik |
Well, if I had that kind of $$ (not in this lifetime  ) I sure wouldn't mind a "built-to-the-max" Buell S1WL ... black of course - paint so deep you could dive in, high zoot suspension components, forged aluminum or Mag wheels, fancy monoblock stoppers, all the rider ergo and chassis geometry adjustments you could possibly think of ... That's be sweet  Henrik | ||
| Sportsman |
Speaking of fast liter bikes, anybody see in RRW the article about the stock R1 taking 11th at a AMA race. Pretty impresive. | ||
| Cu_chulann |
Ducati will probably only build 150 V4,s for Superbike homologation. A total engine rebuild after 2,000 miles. I dont think it is a riders bike unless you earn mega money and can afford a rebuild every 2 months. I am waiting till next year to see what the final spec,s are on the K.T.M. R.C.8 superbike. If I can not afford to buy it , it is probably the only bike I would trade my X1 in for part exchange on. Roll on 2005. | ||
| Benm2 |
Then why do the development work? There are Buell riders who are just as passionate as Ducati riders, and a fair number with enough resources to finance a $20,000 Buell. If Buell sold an FX-R "homologation special" that was based on the hardware of the existing chassis, what would be the issue with that? It would not interfere with their "real world" product, and would offer something extra to those looking for it. Do you believe that Buell couldn't sell 50-100 FX-R bikes per year? How many more racer wannabes would breeze into the Buell showroom to see a fully-faired Buell with carbon fiber cooling ducts & a solo seat? As we've seen on the FX bike, chassis modifications have been minimal, but the bike looks significantly different than the stockers. A display model with the airbox cover off & two machined aluminum stacks rising above the tank would be enough for me. Plus, if the "race kit" was clipping the blue wire and replacing the muffler..... Quotes in other areas of this board by "anonymous" have stated that extra money at Buell would go to racing, and have encouraged Buell riders to get to track to support it. That indicates to me that Buell has an interest in other things than just building the perfect streetbike. They want to race, they want us to watch & cheer! Putting some portion of that effort into something we can buy may put a little more bread on the Buell table. | ||
| Cu_chulann |
I,ll second that. Dont limit it to 150 a year though, we want some in Europe too and we do represent a significant portion of the worldwide market. | ||
| Kevyn |
I'm not sure that homologation race bikes and especially homolagation Buell's fit with the corporate and stock holder mentality of the mother ship. Thinking Ducti will use knowledge gained in MotoGP racing to refine their SBK's is an easy conclusion. While I've never had a 999 on the road, I can say that the ergonomics were very comfortable for a bike of it's diminutive size. (There is a distinct shortage of 999's on the used marketplace and the asking prices remain high...maybe the original owners really like them?) Same for the Multistrada and it is by no means compact! Same motor company, two distinctly different bikes. Throw in the ST3's and we have another distinct developmental path. 1000DS? Dare we call it a refined 'tractor' motor...that's a poke at the Sportster/XB motor critics! How about a tube/trellis framed XB powered Buell with Ohlin's suspenders!!!? That's easy enough. Call it a Retro S1W or do a limited run Retro S2(that body work would be a bit expensive yes?). Old Schoolers would be all over that stuff. 2005 should yield some interesting results for Buell motorcycles. Slight aside, I was at a friends house and someone said "hey, who wrote all over you tank?" A proud moment indeed, explaining that one! edited by kevyn on May 25, 2004 | ||
| Rocketman |
Yes Paul BUT - 500's have run in Moto GP <grin> Rocket | ||
| Oconnor |
Hey Benm2, whats the blue wire? probably should do a search... | ||
| Court |
>>>>Do you believe that Buell couldn't sell 50-100 FX-R bikes per year? EASILY ! I've invested well over $20,000 in 2 of my 9 Buells and would buy a $20,000 S-1 "Super Killer JackR/DanL/GaryS Signature Edition". I know what these folks can do. Fact is . . (and you are right, they LOVE to race) that resources are limited and Buell needs to maintain focus. They will (in my personal opinion) continue to SUPPORT extra-factory racing efforts with knowledge and sharing of some R&D info while maintaining corporate focus on QUALITY and RELIABILITY. Just a thought... Court | ||
| Benm2 |
The blue wire is a reference to the old Aprilia approach to restricting the RSV's. There was a rubber bung in the airbox entrance to restrict the flow into the box, and there was a single wire that could be cut that changed the engine's mapping. I think those two things took the RSV from under 100hp up to about 117hp. It was a neat trick. | ||
| Glitch |
I sure wouldn't mind a "built-to-the-max" Buell S1WL ... black of course - paint so deep you could dive in, high zoot suspension components, forged aluminum or Mag wheels, fancy monoblock stoppers, all the rider ergo and chassis geometry adjustments you could possibly think of ... There you go again. It's going to happen, I can just feel it.  | ||
| Henrik |
Glitch - cool picture. Don't know that it will, but it *could* happen  Henrik | ||
| Glitch |
Photoshop is our friend. She's still saying "no" I'm still just looking at her saying "What?" She's still asking "How many do you need" I'm still saying "What?" She's rolling her eyes and walking away a little sooner. I think I'm wearing her down... | ||
| Starter |
I'm wondering if this GP4 Ducati will be as close to the real deal as they are trying to make out. It will definately be a V4 just like the GP bike but remember the problem Harris had getting their bikes to the grid due to the fact some of the components were considered to be "production" based. Ducati producing 100 or more of these bike would surely turn their bike into a "production" bike. I suppose they would have already looked into this | ||
| Rocketman |
You are referring to the WCM Yamaha R1 based Moto GP bike. WCM's problems were centered around the crankcases. Despite the fact WCM had cast their own cases, which differed in about 16 ways from stock, they still looked the same as R1 cases which the FIM deemed illegal. As for the V4 Ducati road bike, it will not be the same as the Moto GP bike, thus it will not infringe the rules. Homologation is entirely different from making a road going 'replica' of a racer. In the case of homologation the racer has to follow very closely its road going counterpart. Working from the opposite end of the scale Ducati can afford to make the road version of its V4 anything but copy its racer, though of course they will not want to be far off for obvious reasons. Consider also, Ducati have a reputation of bringing racing bikes to the road, and they are successful at it. They will not want the V4 road bike to disappoint. Incidentally, the first one is already sold to an Englishman. Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
Then of course, there's the new MV F4 1000 which has just bettered the latest R1 in performance and handling. First test MCN UK last week. Pray they put that 1000cc in a Brutale and that might just be the goose that laid the golden egg for me! Rocket |
