Who would love to see the "R" be a track only bike?

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jmparton

jmparton

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I know there are only a few of us that solely use our bikes only as track or race bikes, but for those of us that do, wouldn't it be nice to have a bike straight from the factory that is already completely set up as such. I'm not talking about something like the HP4 Race that SBK spec, but something along the same price of current "R" bikes. Do away with all the extras that require it to be street legal and give us things like race fairings with a belly pan, quick change sprockets, rearsets, etc. I know it's unlikely it will ever happen because the market is probably not big enough, but it's a nice thought.
 
It is unlikely that they could sell enough track only motorcycles to homologate it for WSBK. Also, I think the rules still say that the WSBK bikes must be based on a street bike available to be purchased and registered.

I don’t know what is the big deal about converting a street bike to a race bike but it would be great if Ducati offered a complete conversion kit that you could order as an option or even ask to be delivered with it installed from the factory.
 
The thing is if they did offer an R but minus the road bits, it would be like a Porsche. ‘Here’s your bike it’s like this one but minus these bits, so that’s 10k more’.

I just want a track hack. Two problems. 1) I’m bingo funds. 2)can’t decide if I should get another 675 or go for a thou and risk death at cadwell due to lack of talent! But what a way to go!
 
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That would be nice, but it's not really something I could ever see them doing since the R is marketed as a race bike for the street.

Sherpa has a great idea though, a track package as a factory option. A possible problem with that though is whether you'd receive a street title, since the bike wouldn't be road legal.
 
HiSpeed48 said:
That would be nice, but it's not really something I could ever see them doing since the R is marketed as a race bike for the street.

Sherpa has a great idea though, a track package as a factory option. A possible problem with that though is whether you'd receive a street title, since the bike wouldn't be road legal.
Click to expand...

Well, I thought about that. I used to own a Ferrari Challenge car which is a race car based on a street car. The one I had came with a "Challenge Kit" which converted it to a full race car and also a title. The following year it was available as built from the factory as a race car in which case you received only a bill of sale and no title unless you opted to buy the Challenge package and take delivery of the kit in a box.
 
Didn’t KTM offer their big twin as a street bike version AND a version only as a race-only bike, as noted in the original post?
In previous statements made by KTM’s CEO, he stated that their V4, when it comes to market, will be in track-only form. Time will tell what they bring to market and in what form. Regardless, I would be interested in an R track-only bike, taking the money saved from all the road-related gear and government requirements (lights, noise and pollution testing and registration with various authorities) and spending it on better hardware and components.
 
Again, I think that this is kind of a moot point because as I mentioned, this is what it says in the current rule book (everyone went and checked out the rules, right?). The bold is my own emphasis.


2.1.1 Motorcycles for the Road Racing Superbike & Supersport World Championships must be motorcycles with a valid road homologation in one of the following areas: USA, EU or Japan.
These motorcycles must be available for sale to the public in the shops and the dealerships representing the manufacturer in at least one of the above areas before the third event of the current Championship to be allowed to be used in the remaining Championship events.
 
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Like others have noted, Ducati wouldn't sell enough track only models to justify the price. It's not a big deal converting the R into a dedicated race bike. Besides each national series has slightly different rules so making a kit 'one size fits all' wouldn't work.

You could always contact Ducati Corse and they'll build you a dedicated race bike.
 
That'd be nice... but so many people wouldn't be able to ride their Track only R to the local Coffee shop!!!


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maslov said:
That'd be nice... but so many people wouldn't be able to ride their Track only R to the local Coffee shop!!!


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Click to expand...

Those that own a R and ride to the coffee shop only are pure tossers. Get something else and leave the R's to the riders!!:eek:
 
Yes riders, the non-tossers!!!
Those that destroy tires every 1000 miles doing something they call riding!!:p;):D
 
It would be nice but Ducati still has to build the minimum streetlegal versions for WSBK homologation.
But Aprilia offers track only versions at good prices. There's a lot of savings when those street parts are removed.
$1000 headlights, $5000 street fairings etc.
I'd rather have those items replaced with exhausts, raceglass, rearsets etc.
 
I’m with you there 100%.
Not only do you pay for all that stuff that you are gonna take off and mothball, you
then pay more for bits to replace them.

They could even do cheaper line of carbon stuff for track, where the finish wasnt 100%
showroom quality. Would allow them to sell their “seconds” quite easily. No one would
give a toss about a couple of minor visual faults in track carbon if it was half price.
 
Honda does the race packages as well as Aprilia. It would be interesting to know what the actual sales figures on those bikes are. I believe that Jarel mentioned that production on the new V4 is incredibly time consuming, and that dealers would not be able to order as many as they wanted for quite a while. So that right there likely ends that discussion before it even starts.
 
I think folks are missing a big issue here. No insurance company is going to insure a track only machine. I'm sure a few people pay cash for an R but i certainly had to finance mine(requiring full coverage). I like the security of knowing that if i send it flipping into the kitty litter in pieces that i can claim it and start over. Lowsides you just pay out of pocket to fix. It's almost paid for and when it is I will need to re-evaluate if the $1200 a year in insurance is worth the cost. So far two years on track with the R and no issues. My last track bike was totalled but only from a woman who ran a red light and tried to make a sandwhich out of me with her suv. I don't ride on the streets at all anymore.


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Very valid point. I guess along those lines, warranties would also be a whole
different ball game.

I guess they will just have to produce track only bikes at realistic prices for a change.
That's that idea finished then.:rolleyes:
 
If I had to look into the crystal ball and with the way the new Euro 4 compliance is now a part of the picture.. I would say you are going to see more and more bikes come with a "track kit" that is sold separately and will convert your bike from the docile Euro 4 setup to a fire breathing track weapon.

It's really the only logical way they can get around the emissions/noise regulations. I'd even bet you will start to see "road specs" vs. "track kit" technical specifications being marketed from the manf. Honestly, I'd be on-board with this direction. They just wouldn't ever be able to sell enough track only models at a reasonable price point to justify making a run of them. And, it may turn into a fully warrantied piece of kit from the manf., which could be a win as well.
 
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