Ducati 1299 SL Build. The details and the list.

Hmmm. Ok well that's not what I was implying at all. What I was implying is that Ducati is way over priced. It's pretty simple and the new SL will be another glaring example. You have basically implied that because of some "skill sets" that I am somewhat immune to having to give play their game and am able to build what I want without accepting what they are giving. To prove my point I started the "how much have you spent on aftermarket parts" thread and a lot of those builds are not cheap. They changes some pretty expensive items because the factory didn't give them what they wanted. My whole entire point to the thread was, what could I build my version of an SL for with what in my mind were better parts without a garage full of "take offs" and in the end be under the cost of what Ducati sells me massively inflated OEM stuff and I did that. On the build itself, I purposely listed the vendors and people associated with my project. Guess what? Northrop Grumman is pretty decent at making things. Ben Fox might know a thing or two. Richard Boyd ran the Ducati Race program, CP Carrillo/Pankl might know a few things about Ducati parts and assemble. Your reference to "throw a bunch of parts together" is not insulting to me but it should have been directed to Ducati because that's exactly what they delivered to the masses and many people on this board who got one of the "Friday" bikes. You have also basically implied on an assumption that I personally have zero expertise in building and powerplant assemble and that all of the excellent engine builders on the planet are a "back seat" to the assembly line monkeys that glue these things together. There are guys blowing up these Stock motors all the time. Some of them on this board. There are rows of these things stacked up outside Ducati service centers built by the Ducati "master technicians". You are very much entitled to your opinion and have voiced it but I think you missed the bulk of my point which was, it's rather unfortunate to be forced to accept what is given rather than what is wanted and that I was not going to be a part of that. Is this bike raced? Nope but neither are 99.9% of the rest of the 1199/1299s it does have 8000 pretty thrashed test miles on it. Has this motor been on the Dyno? Not yet but I look forward to it. Do I like the Panigale platform? Yes. It's a great platform. Do I like the bike? From an engineering and a quality perspective no. I think the factory built bikes are over priced and sub par. Beautiful looking but not well made and the materials are cheap. That's my opinion. I am not at all fond of Ducati as a business or from a customer service perspective. To me they are an overblown bunch of pompous ..... who think their .... doesn't stink. That's why my particular bikes are void of any reference to the brand in fact my Honda's are the same way. I have loyalty to friends, family and my military brothers but not to some recreational vehicle company. And I'm out.

Sorry my auto correct has injected "assemble" in place of "assembly". And RD16 its nice to see you back. When I saw you post and the verbiage "pull the pin on a grenade" I had hopes but alas, it was in reference to something motorcycle related. Carry on.

Completely understand. You perhaps need to come out to Newport and get some sun. We could build some bikes. My guest of course. The cold and sub Vitamin D levels can leave on a bit cranky. I do like and have flown quite a bit in the Adirondack area. Summer only.

RD16RR Dude you and the smily faces. Im really beginning to wonder about you? Do you even own a bike? (besides the 1/16 scale on your hope chest). Can anyone vouch for this young ....?

I did didn't I. Ok well folks RD16RR is coming to visit. We're going to go to Califfornia Speedway and he is going to teach me how to ride the bike and I'm going to show him how to build one. We'll take pics.