DivideOverflow wrote:
TechTMW especially, I would like your opinion on the 4V motor in the 749, if you don't mind. Is it that much harder to work on? Should that even be a deciding factor for me? Any word on the reliability of those bikes? I've heard people have had issues with the clutches burning up.
Anyone have any experience with either bike (or both?
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I haven't had the opportunity to mess w/ the s2r bikes, but a 2v duc engine is a 2v duc engine. The biggest difference is that the smaller cc bikes (Like the 620 and the 800cc s2r both have a conventional wet clutch setup. The bigger 2v bikes (Like the s2r 1000 ) have a normal Ducati dry clutch setup.
The dry clutch is just like a wet clutch on a normal bike - drive plates between driven plates. But of course, it's dry.
Normal maintenance on a 2v bike is pretty easy. The toughest part is stripping the bike of the bits that get in the way. This isn't so tough on the monster, because many of the big bits are designed with a valve adjustment in mind. For example, the fuel tank unlatches near the seat and hinges up with a prop, like a car hood, to keep it out of your way while you work.
The 749 has the small version of Ducati's Testastretta engine. It's a big improvement over the old desmoquattro 4v (like the 748) The testastretta makes valve adjustments Very Easy because the size of the valve access plate has been changed to accomodate the mechanic. Basically on the newer engine, you have full access to the valves, whereas on the old engine, space was limited. What's going to kill you on the 749, however is prepping the bike to DO the valve job. There's alot of crap you have to pull off to get to those valves (as it is on any fully-faired and water cooled bike)
All testastretta engines use a dry-clutch. I prefer the dry clutch for the obvious ease of maintenance. A dry clutch will fail before a wet clutch if abused. (Massive clutch drops, etc) Consider, however that cars all use dry clutches on standard vehicles. They are reliable and long-lived under normal conditions. Plus, they sound great!
Ducatis use a Cam Belt instead of a chain, also like most modern automobiles. Not a big issue, but something that does require you to look at it every other valve adjustment, just to make sure that the tension is proper and there aren't any cracks, etc. This is easy, because on both the testastretta and the 2v, the belts have simple coverings that only require a few bolts to remove.
In other words, there are a few things about Ducs that set them apart from Japanese (and other Italian!) contemporaries. Nothing to worry about. A desmo valve system is no more difficult to check than any other bike out there.
I think your only real problem with these bikes will be deciding which one to get...
“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”
- Soren Kierkegaard (19th century Danish philosopher)
I'm so torn! That, and I still don't know if I should get rid of the VFR for a duke.. but it is so tempting.
