#46 Dan's 2008 DesmoDue Bike Preparation

[Dan]

Whoever said that entering DesmoDue could be done on 'limited' funds needs stringing-up!
I guess the word 'limited' is a bit subjective... however one thing is for sure, and that's getting all the paperwork completed for the first time definitely isn't the simplest of tasks!

So far in an effort to become a first time DesmoDue Class B Bike Racer I've had to do the following:
- Take an ACU (Auto-Cycle Union) Road Racing Training Course: £50
- Travel expenses to get to course: £50
- Eye Test: £20
- Passport Photos: £4
- Pay for a 2008 ACU Licence: £43
- Buy a Novice Jacket £7
- Join the New ERA Racing Club for a 2008 membership: £30
- Buy a bike £1200

Spend so far: £1404

Still to sort out
- Bike suspension needs upgrading: £???
- Brake pads and lines need changing: £???
- New Tyres: £???
- New Oil and Filter: £??
- New Air Filter: £??
- New Plugs: £??
- New Belts: £???
- Lockwire etc: £??
- New track fairings: £???
- DSC DesmoDue series entry deposit: £200
- Good set of one-peice leathers: £???

I wouldn't mind all this if it would just stop raining so I can work on the bike, but I haven't been able to get at it for the last three days...

So am I ****ed-off, have I lost heart, should I quit while I'm ahead... nah.... as long as the bank wants to offer the money I'll be happy to borrow it, and I've also got those lovely fairings to sell one day but not yet.

[Kenoir]

It'll all be worth it when that rush of adrenalin kicks in and you fighting your way through the field like Rossi.

Good luck with it Dan

[Gilps]

The first year is definitely the toughest financially. You are where I was at 1 year ago. I set out with a budget, than after about 3 months threw that out of the window and just spent what I needed. To hell with the cost.
No one said it was cheap, coz it certainly isn't. However, it is one of the cheapest ways to race in this country. Just think yourself lucky we don't run slicks. You can do a seaon on two sets of Diablos if you take it easy like I did.
I think there are two schools of thought on the cost. One is to do everything as cheap as poss, scouring ebay for bargains, doing all the work yourself. Then upgrade bits like shocks and leathers later on when you have the funds. That was my thinking initially.
Then I switched to option two. If you are going to spend money on the bike then spend it only once. I paid fairly big money comparativeley for my shock for example, but I now think it was money well spent and I don't worry about needing to change it.
My leathers were good quality, made to measure. After my first crash at Brands I was so pleased that I had spent the money and walked away from it. Some things are not worth scrimping on.
My advice is to get your kit sorted out, get the best suspension you can afford, and worry about fancy fairings, paintwork, and even engine BHP at a later date if funds are a little tight.
Stick with it though. It's a nice feeling at the end of the season when you can look at your bike and realise that you no longer have to throw another shed load of money at it.

[CK & AK]

Originally Posted by Gilps

If you are going to spend money on the bike then spend it only once. I paid fairly big money comparativeley for my shock for example, but I now think it was money well spent and I don't worry about needing to change it.

Exactly what we did.
Everyone took the pee in early 2005 when we sunk our only 'spare' funds into getting the showa forks redone by Maxton, and a rear Ohlins susp.
They have just completed their 3rd season - have been overhauled once in that time & are still very impressive to use. Cost then was under £400 to get the forks done - best investment we did.
Engine 'stuff' followed later as soon as we had saved the money on our credit cards, but AK & I tell anyone starting out: Put your investment into suspension, then trackdays - then dealing with getting any improvement from your engine

It's a nice feeling at the end of the season when you can look at your bike and realise that you no longer have to throw another shed load of money at it.

Certainly is Gilps

[XP]

I think they meant 'Limited Funds' as in 'Ltd Funds' because once you get started in the race game Dan....you'll need a the Funds that could run a 'Ltd' company.........

Bike looks cool BTW.........

[nogaromill999]

I couldnt agree more with Gilps and CK....spend the money making the bike handle and stop, and worry about going fast once you can deal with the power you have......things like lock wiring cost pennies, I did all mine yesterday, and as has been said, once you have spent the money thats it, its not like you have to fit a new shock every week......and when you have decent suspension you wont be gritting your teeth and hoping on a wing and a prayer that you'll make it round the bend.....

[Imola Duke]

Agree too...... My budget went out the window since riding at CP and before

But after chatting to riders in other class's it is a cheaper way of racing... CP cost me £230 regs 2 days.... £65 ish 1/2 test day..fuel £40 van..bike approx £20.
Beers ?? That's it i think ! Some class's spend £300 on one tyre for one race

Oh nearly forgot ...10 pairs of boxers 5 loo roll's

[Dan]

Okay, fairing is all off and put to one side for safe keeping and this morning had the forks out and took those up to Peak Performance in Exeter so Steve can do his thing.
- Linear K-Tech Springs plus seals and fork oil change: £ TBC
- Bought some Harris clip-ons from Mr.R: £65
- Bought some new Rearsets from Race Supplies Direct: £85
- Secondhand Undertray from Andy900ss on the DSC forum: £28



I want to keep the loom intact as I'd love the option of running the bike with a daylight MOT becuase the nearest track is Castle Combe and that's 120 miles away. So I've got the job of tidying up everything from behind the clocks whilst I wait for the forks to come back. No fancy bike stand for me, just a block of wood and some straps up to the top of the shed, works a treat.

Total spend so far: £1583

[Dan]

So things have moved on a little, with suspension being the main thing that I wanted to do to the bike before it gets back on the road/track. I greatly value the opinion of Steve Whitear at Peak Performance in Exeter so had a chat with him regarding suspension changes for my ss' change of use. He was all for putting the 'Nitron Race' shock on my bike, however I had to state that although I wanted to change the rear shock funds aren't unlimited, so a compromise between cost and performance was necessary, plus I wanted a rear shock that maybe I could adjust on test/practice days with a little tuition before hand and thus the high and low speed compression control was probably a tad more adjustment than my simple mind or budget can cope with.

So anyway, the 'Nitron Track' rear shock is now in place as are the forks with new oil, spacers and a revised air space, if this proves ineffective I'll add the linear springs at a later date, but for the moment have decided against it. I've eventually put the new Harris clip-ons on the bike but have yet to build up the handle bars as desired and add the new grips, I'll wait till I have the new braded front brake line and pads in place before I sort out the controls. I'm still waiting on a new K&N Air filter in the post, but once I have that I'll get on with an oil change and think about lock-wiring the Oil Filter and sump plug.

For those interested the continuing costs are listed below for reference, however I must say that although things are now getting expensive I'm really enjoying the development of my little SS so still consider it money well spent for the amount of enjoyment I'm getting in return, I just cant wait to ride it.

Front Forks: Oil Change and adjustment: £20
Rear Shock: Nitron Track: £417
Renthal Grips: £6
K&N Air Filter: £47

Total spend so far: £2073

Heading back to the shed tomorrow to try and tidy-up my wiring loom which now has all the road going parts hanging all over the place, and I'll also put on the new rearsets, which eventually arrived in the post today after a lengthy chat about price.

[nogaromill999]

Pictures Dan? All sounds good.......Must admit for the extra £30 I'd have gone for the Race unit though......

[Dan]

Hi Nogaromill, I called Scott at Nitron and the official price for the NTR Race is £475 + VAT, which he said equals £558 from Nitron's official supplier 'Bike Torque Racing'. I'll get you some pictures tomorrow if it's not raining although it still looks a bit of a state.

[nogaromill999]

On the link on your last post Dan there was £30 difference.....

[Dan]

My previous post 'What Rear Shock Upgrade for Ducati 600ss?' quotes:
- £425 - Nitron NTR Race NTBKD07R
- £395 - Nitron NTR Track NTBKD07T

But the prices on the Nitron site are incorrect, because after talking to Scott at Nitron he said they should be:
- NTR Race: £475 + VAT = £558
- NTR Track: £395 + VAT = £464

I was charged £355 for my shock but if I add 17.5% VAT I think that equals: £417 But as you've noticed before my maths isn't the best.

[Gilps]

That sounds about right. I remember the price difference being quite substantial between the two and opting for the Track version myself. It's a great shock and more than adequate for DD.

[zimbo]

As Gilps says Dan, the Nitron Track shock is really good and more than good enough!