I'm curious what all was done too: 25+hp is a TON of gain for a bike. Especially for an old carburated 500cc one.

 

exhaust, coils, removed rev limiter, modded the airbox. and tweaked the carbs. V4 is just more effecient than Inline 4 guys especialy when you spen a few k rpms more revving to 13 now.

 

Modern bikes also have a ton more into them from the factory than my bike. Ive seen reports of rvf400's in the uk that make damn near 100 hp in race trim. Hell look at motogp those ***** make 120 or so whp out of a 2 stroke 250 cc motor. Comparing the mods of my bike to the mods of a modern sport bike is like comparing the mods done on a new z06 vs a 76 where you just yanked all the emmisions **** and went to town on it with a summit catalog.

Most sport bikes in the 1k cc range now adays have titanium valves filled with sodium, nice efi systems and free flowing exhausts not to mention better designed airboxes and anything esle you could want vs an 80's bike. Honda made my bike well but they left alot on the table with the v4s esp in the early years.

 

I am cross posting this from the ramble on thread. Where do I find one of these? What is a forum that I can learn more about them? I know absolutely nothing about bikes, and looking through all the pictures in this thread, next to none moved me in any way. But god damn does that Ducati give me a boner. I seriously want to learn to ride just so I can get one. So please give me more info about them, and start a list of who gets the bike when I kill myself.

 

looks like a ducati monster i cant tell what year just yet but they all have that naked look to them, nvm on more looking it si a 2006 sport 1000
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/94-atlan...low-miles.html but if that grabs you the monster shouldalso fit the bill. prices for all ducatis are jacked up though so gl to ya.

 

Ducati Sport Classic 1000 is it's name. I am now doing some research about them on the forum link you posted. Who wants to help me rob a bank and then teach me how to ride?

 

imo get your feet wet with something less capable so you dont end up turning the bike into a hunk of metal and you into a ball of meat on the side of the raod. If i was in SC i would teach you. As far as robbing a bank you are on your own for that one.

 

Really? that bike looks awesome to you? hmm, different strokes for different folks I suppose.

I'd get a newer monster over that any day.

 

Don't really have pictures (best I could do are some scanned copies of old style ones) but here is my stable:

1984 Honda VF750F Interceptor (bought new)
1985 Honda VF500F Interceptor (bought used, raced for a bit)
1985 Yamaha RZ500 (bought used, four cylinder two stroke)
1987 Honda CBR1000F Hurricane (bought new)

To the guy who posted about his 500 Magna, I would highly recommend not revving the engine that high. The valve train wasn't that great when new and after all these years it won't be any better. I had a keeper split on me on the racebike, valve dropped into the engine, stem broke off and disappeared (never found any of it) and the valve head was hammered into the head upside down. I still have the piston that was holed (think I still have the head as well). If you go over to the VFR forum you can read a lot about Honda VF/VFRs. Some guys think the first gens had too many problems, but personally I love them. Just don't get to ride them as much as I like (I'm gone about half the year with work).

 

Honestly I will probably pick up a ninja 250 to learn to ride on, simply because I know they are cheap and I will not loose to much when I resale it.

The Ducati is looking to go between 7k and 10k which is well more then I want to spend right now. I also need to learn how to work on a bike, because I know I won't want to pay a dealership for that. I figure if I can rebuild a miata motor, I can work on a bike.

I don't know why that bike looks good to me. Just something about it I love. I have never liked Harley's or cruiser type bikes. Sport bikes have always looked decent, but nothing I actually "really want". That bike just kind of speaks to me in a strange way.

 

It's a modern cafe racer if you want to look more into them. Or cafe fighter if you want to be specific. Modern sports bikes turned naked become street fighters, and if you add some classic looks it becomes a cafe fighter.

There's three ducati classics:




My favorite one is the yellow one. I think the one you posted is new though, and more expensive. These three came out a couple years ago.

 

I am well aware of the diminutive valve adjustment assembly i replaced mine already with new ones, after one stripped out during a valve adjustment. And as for the oiling issues i havent seen to many, most of those are attributed to the 750's and there soft metal cams eroding. Still its nice to see another Vf500 on the forum Besides your racing probably equals alot more abuse than my hooligan antics do on the street.
Do you run the dougherty racing top end oiler, or the f2 wheel swap?

 

This one is a torture rack. A very long reach to the bars and very uncomfortable on the street. The monster on the other hand is very comfortable.

 

I was actually talking about the valve spring issue. I don't have top-end oiling kits on either of mine and have had no problems. The 500 has a complete CBR600F2 front end as well as a rear wheel on it. Guy I met racing down in GA had his set up that way. The front is a direct bolt-on, had to have some machining done on the sprocket carrier and caliper bracket for the rear to fit. Daugherty is very knowledgeable but when I posted what I had he said it wouldn't work, there wasn't enough room between the front wheel and the radiator under fork compression. I brake hard on the track and I have no indication of impact on my front fender. Works for me.

 

Lars, I took the motorcycle riding course at NOVA for $150. After 2 days, I was able to get the upgraded license (about another $48?). The riding course is so good b/c of the classroom instruction, then the hands on step-by-step learning. After lunch on the 1st day, you'll be so stoked that it's relatively easy and intuitive. Of course, most folks typically have something that's hard to do. Just need to keep doing it over and over. I think in our class, several folks had issues with the figure-8 in a rectangular box.

I sold my Ninja 250 (2001) a couple months ago...too bad! If you check craigslist often (like every other day) then you should be able to find a steal. I sold mine for $1200 with 14k miles. The Ninja 250 is something you won't care about low-speed drops like U-turns or pulling into a driveway (while initially learning). A BMW or Ducati, you'll care about those scuffs and dings.

Heck, me and 3 other newbs dropped my Ninja while doing U-turns or pulling into the driveway. I almost dropped Dan's Harley when pulling into a driveway b/c I looked down at his feet so I wouldn't run over them. You'll learn that the bike goes where your eyes look. Moreso than driving a car.

 

if you can ride a moped you can ride a 250.
only down side (if you're anything like me) you'll get bored of it in about a week. even if you're a complete noob to bikes.

only people I see riding them for long periods of time are far commuters that like to save on gas (gotta love 70mpg).

 

+1 on the great mpg. I was getting 65 mpg in our area. In the twisties and country roads, the Ninja 250 was a blast! The HD VROD I have is a lot of fun on the open road.

 

I plan on signing up for a motorcycle course sometime this spring. Everyone who has taken them have only had some positive things to say about them.

I would love to find an old Ninja like yours for really cheap to learn on. I know I will probably drop it a few times and I know a slow cheap bike is the way to go.

 

As a long-time Miata owner, the Ninja 250 is the Miata of the bike world: comfy, not fast but a momentum bike, fun to ride, and cheap.

 

That is why I have always considered it. I am not getting a bike because I want to go extremely fast or track it. I have my miata for that. I want a bike to just go out and enjoy.