998 engine mods - recommendations???

[JerryXt]

So, Lucrezia. 2006 S4Rs with full termis and open airbox. Engine completely standard.

It looks like she's going to be coming apart over the winter and I was talking to a helpful Ducati UK guy at Brands on Tuesday who mentioned some mods to get a few more smiles out of the rear wheel. Not that it needs any more power but hey...

998, 999 guys, the S4Rs motor is essentially a 998S/999S lump - same cams, valves, but with maybe a heavier crank (no-one seems to know) and steel rods rather than ti.

What are your recommendations for making the engine a little more fun?

I've got a lightened flywheel lined up, so that's a given. I may have squish set, bottom end balanced, cams dialled in. Should I be looking at different cams? Heads ported? DUK guy mention 999R cams as something that could be fun??? Ti rods will help it spin but they're soooo expensive.

The engine is really only going to be run on the road. Maybe on the track occasionally, but the main focus should be rideability.

Let's get creative

[andy.fletcher]

The engine should already be putting out loads of power. Instead of throwing money away on expensive stuff the best way would be to re-gear the bike.

[nogaromill999]

Jerry, I had Pankl Ti rods ( expensive but oh so worth every penny, even just in pub talk ! ) in my 888SP2 after the crank broke.....makes as much difference AGAIN as a lightweight flywheel......I'd also go for Surflex alloy clutch plates as they reduce the rotating mass by a substantial amount, plus the cams of course.....

[998gsb]

Fastphil might be worth a chat with - he's just had a load engine work done on his 998.....

[CJS ducati]

Originally Posted by JerryXt

So, Lucrezia. 2006 S4Rs with full termis and open airbox. Engine completely standard.

It looks like she's going to be coming apart over the winter and I was talking to a helpful Ducati UK guy at Brands on Tuesday who mentioned some mods to get a few more smiles out of the rear wheel. Not that it needs any more power but hey...

998, 999 guys, the S4Rs motor is essentially a 998S/999S lump - same cams, valves, but with maybe a heavier crank (no-one seems to know) and steel rods rather than ti.

What are your recommendations for making the engine a little more fun?

I've got a lightened flywheel lined up, so that's a given. I may have squish set, bottom end balanced, cams dialled in. Should I be looking at different cams? Heads ported? DUK guy mention 999R cams as something that could be fun??? Ti rods will help it spin but they're soooo expensive.

The engine is really only going to be run on the road. Maybe on the track occasionally, but the main focus should be rideability.

Let's get creative

If you want 145hp on stock pistons go for my stage 1 port and skim with cam timing set to non stock spec.

999r cams wont fit without modifications and different rockers wich are 110 quid each on top the cams and you need 8. I have done this 2wice now and its only worth doing if the heads are perfectly ported, reason being stock 998 heads stop flowing air at 11.5mm of lift so a higher lifting cam just looses the bike power. Dont think cleaning up the ports will gain anything the port has to be totally re-worked with different seat angles ect. If your having porting always ask for flow and velocity data. There are many out there charging 600 quid to do a bit of mirror port polishing and nothing else.

Im in the process of doing another 1038. fast phills made 156 this new one with 999r cams will be well into the 160s.


I know of some 998 big valve heads here for sale too (on behalf of a customer) complete with cams ready to bolt on.

If the bottom end is coming apart crank/flywheel balancing is a must do. The company i use are superb and you will feel a difference.

[TP#12]

Jesus Jerry, calm down!

[JerryXt]

TP, well, you know, if it has to come apart... Plus, do you think I'd be able to run it in DD?

Chris, I think the heads on the S4Rs are lightly different to the standard 998 - the rear is supposed to be a little narrower than the 998 to fit the frame - a bit like the ST4 I believe. It may be that they don't flow as well as 998 heads - same cams and valves tho. It might be worth looking at the flow, but thanks for the information - I wouldn't like to go to the expense of a port and get a pollish.

£880 for rockers... Maybe not 999R cams then

1038? That sounds interesting.

Nog, S4Rs already has ally clutch plates - you're in the quality forum here! Ti rods are just silly money . But if anyone knows anyone...

It's all good stuff - keep it coming!

[998gsb]

The S4R / S is definitely a softer motor than the 998.....having ridden both - so there must be scope for some tweeking

[CJS ducati]

Originally Posted by JerryXt

TP, well, you know, if it has to come apart... Plus, do you think I'd be able to run it in DD?

Chris, I think the heads on the S4Rs are lightly different to the standard 998 - the rear is supposed to be a little narrower than the 998 to fit the frame - a bit like the ST4 I believe. It may be that they don't flow as well as 998 heads - same cams and valves tho. It might be worth looking at the flow, but thanks for the information - I wouldn't like to go to the expense of a port and get a pollish.

£880 for rockers... Maybe not 999R cams then

1038? That sounds interesting.

Nog, S4Rs already has ally clutch plates - you're in the quality forum here! Ti rods are just silly money . But if anyone knows anyone...

It's all good stuff - keep it coming!

Your correct about the different rods and heavier crank but it will not effect total power. The heads are identical to the 998 and pull the same air. The main power restriction compaired to the 998 is the exhaust and smaller throttle bodies.

[hughdg]

Jerry,
by all means get every last ounce of power out of the engine and enjoy it but the best mod. you can make is getting the suspension and handling sorted out,
this has been proven time and again to be "the" best value modification on any bike and in the long run will give you the best return and enjoyment from your hard earned cash.

[Tiny30]

What do you have to do to get the suspension and handling sorted, have a stock S4R 2007?

Will have a set of termis ( Full Race) and 14t front sprocket on it soon.

[JerryXt]

Hugh, Tiny, I've had the suspension set by ProTwins, but I'm finding the front still too soft (common on the S4Rs apparently), so Mike @ MD Racing is progressively adding more fork oil to increase the damping effect. Normally Rob @ PvT does my suspension, but they're an hour away, whereas Mike is just down the road from me. Both are excellent guys.

Tiny, have a think about how the bike responds to you: does it throw you out of your seat when you hit a bump? Do the bars waggle on accelleration on a smooth road? Do the forks bottom out on normal rides? Slow to turn in? 'Drops' into the corner quicky? If you close the throttle in a corner, does the bike start to run wide? All these things are 'feedback' for the person doing your suspension and will help him/her set it correctly. Mike is currently very high on the DD leaderboard, if not actually leading. He has completely standard, non-adjustable monster front suspension (aka sh*te) that has been made competitive by setting the air gap in the forks correctly for Mikes riding style.

BTW, I've got a full termi system from my S4Rs that I'll be selling soon.

[corse_ducati]

Hello,

Here is my dyno graph from my (old) 998.
The heads were ported and the cams timed, also fitted a compl. 50mm exhaust line.
132 hp at the rear wheel for a standard 998

Now I own a 998S Bostrom very nice and a hugh difference than the standard 998.

Gr, Nick
Netherlands

[Tiny30]

Aha, why you selling the termis then?

Is it the 50mm full race system with the chip and filter?

PM me when you get round to it with a price. I may well be interested.

Rich.

[corse_ducati]

Because I got me a 998S Bostrom.....
Sold the old 998 without the exhaust.

Also available beside's the 50mm, a complete RS 54mm For 998 Basic, 998S, 998R.

Email for info.

Gr, Nick