[Tobytyke]

Hi guys and gals, been ligging about for a bit and thought I should add my 998 experience, gonna ramble on a bit but hopefully you’ll find it entertaining just hope the photos get attached or you really will think I’ve gone mad.
Like many before and after I had lusted for a Duc for years always thinking I would never be able to afford one, then in February 2004 I saw her! Sitting in the breakers not 6 months old, less than 1K on the mangled clock! At a snip of the original price, she was mine, my better half thought I’d gone doolally when she saw it being delivered but I knew it was gonna be worth sorting. “Oh it only needs a few bits and pieces” I told her, well it did, just a few more than it needed to get running but just enough to turn it into what I wanted! First thing get a proper workshop manual call the guys at Daytona sorted, dive in there, mmmm dented front rim ship it off straightened good as new, except for the paint. My friend the powder coater had used the blue on the wheels of a previous “project” of mine and I’d always loved the colour so blue it was. That was what triggered the Bostrom look. So none of the plastics are any good including the airbox damn. Ah well QB Carbon it is, always admired they’re work luvly jubbly race jobby with full bellypan, QB put me in touch with Terry at Racepaint UK, what a star gave him a stack of images and he did a beautiful job and I still have both arms and legs! wouldn’t go anywhere else now. Duc performance carbon airbox, rearsets, heatshields, 55mm pipes, power commander, headlight housing, race screen a few original Duc parts ( always check the new prices, at that time second hand mirrors & clocks were fetching more on ebay than the cost of new dealer parts!!) and a few home brew bits and pieces. At last time to give her a spin, wow the tractor really can move, can’t stop smiling, brother thinks I’ve gone mental! mmmm feels like that rears gonna lock up though and can’t get used to this gearing, so more bits needed. Yoyodyne slipper clutch & performance carbon cover one tooth off the front cog and two on the rear! Right then she’s either gonna just wheelie like a loon everywhere or just go like stink, guess what she goes like stink! OK she might want to raise her head a bit now and then but most of the time she’s perfect, any gear any speed just wind it on and whooooooa!
Like any exotic Italian lady she has been a bit temperamental at times, nothing too serious just the “odd electrical problem”, but near to where I live I found myself a guru, Paul at DTS has probably forgotten more about Ducs than most engineers know! He used to build WSB engines and has a passion for racing bevels, he’s got a beauty. He’s supposed to be semi retired now, whatever that means, but if he likes you or more importantly your Italian motor he will work his magic on it. He stuck my baby on his dyno tinkered a bit, mapped her, tinkered a bit more and with a knowing smile said she was probably one of the most powerful road engines he’d sorted (I know bear in mind that was 4 years ago). I was well chuffed. So was he we tested out his latest Italian acquisition, a proper cappuccino machine!
So that’s been it for the last 4 years I did spend more than I originally intended but the little devil in my head won over the sensible one and I’m really glad he did, I still can't stop smiling every time I ride her and have never once felt the urge to stray from her even though the 1098’s a very tempting young thing I’m gonna be faithful for at least another year or so!