Superflow v GT Rossi - Rossi Wins ! - Ducati.ms

muzzmann · Jan 29th, 2012, 2:57 am

Ok it's been a busy 24hrs ! I had the distinct honor of being invited down to the US of A ( as in Ducati Seattle) to assist Rossi with prepping and tuning this unbelievably tidy build ( not that this talented man needs the help) probably cause I am the only other one out there who has ditched FI in favor of carbs (at least this side of the world) and am pretty handy with a broom. I arrived in Seattle Friday nite and checked into the Sheraton just blocks up the hill from the shop and hit the rack. After a well-needed 10 hr snooze, I grabbed an American sized (holy moly!) omlette an' I strolled into the shop at 12:55hrs today to find our boy pacing the floor and chomping at the bit to get his gem into the dyno room.

Pictures do not I repeat , do not ...do this ride justice ! This man's photo could be next to the word def: "minimalist" in the dictionary !! Weighing in at just 355lbs this well thought out and executed masterpiece sends me back to a simpler time when you could squat down next to a bike and see lots of scenary thru it ! When I comment on the overwhelmingly simplistic styling of this project from its tasteful and period correct bodywork to the trick electrics, ignition on\off & start rocker switches in the triple and one of the most creative , compact, well-built trick ss exhaust systems I have seen in awhile he muses ... "less is better" Thru carefully applied mechanics and fab work Rossi has accomplished a one-of-a-kind trophy bike. I have judged many a show and I can tell you this work of art has 1st place written all over it !

Onto the action....

We had previously discussed on the phone some issues he was having getting it dialed in . Today we went over everything in more detail and came up with a game plan .....he was somewhat concerned and understandably miffed that his stock ds with the sole mods being a MSD igniton (nicely set up and driven off the layshaft), FCR's and DP cams had only managed a paltry 58 or so hp on a previous run . I know what its like to roll a fresh build onto the dyno fingers crossed hoping for the big (in my case) 3 digit number and, case-in-point-me, managing a disappointing 63hp on the 1st pull ! In the face of such numbers after you have poured your heart , soul, ideas and sweat into a project of this magnitude such a result is, to say the least, anti-climatic & everything you know about tuning and patience tends to fly out the window in favor of a suicide attempt by way of jamming your head into the drum of the Superflow. Rossi was well aware of what I experiened in this regard as he was there. I had to remind him tho as he waited to get inside ...seemingly for another beating.... of the end result I had last August ...just under 98hp (that without cam or ignition timing, a slight miss and a bit more jetting to go which potentially = anywhere from 5 to 10 + additional hp). At this point I realized there was a method to Rossi's madness....I was to be his cheering section. Hmmmmm turned out later his indentured slave..do this ...do that... pass me this...naaww ..just kiddin.

I busted out my Keihin jets and we went to work. After getting the AFR in the ballpark (which netted Rossi 67+hp ) with limited time we went right on to ignition timing. Rossi managed to figure out the bizarro-world MSD timing map and between him, me and Marty the Ducati wizard operating the dyno and some colaberating \ trial and error we started picking up power in .6 to .8 hp increments until it managed a very respectable 81.8hp! Ol' Rossi was doin' a break dance on the dyno .

Remember ...he has yet to dial in the DP cams, and AFR and we reached the input limit of advance the software allows long before there was any indication of a "plateau" . Rossi is gonna make some mods to the ignition set up so's another 10deg of advance becomes available. IMHO this bike could easily realize 90hp at the end of the day and that is on an eddyflow dyno.

At the end of the day Rossi showed he is as good a man as Abraham Lincoln when he kicked me loose and bought me a big fat American burger as recognition for me getting under his feet all day and further was generous enuf to lighten my load back to Canada by freeing me of a bag full o' parts ! (take note of the trick cnc front sprocket cover he coveted)...last I saw of him he was peelin' out rattlin' all the windows on the quiet street where DucSea is located .....bag on his back lookin like Santa's sack....

Footnote: When about 25miles north on I-5 I gets a text from him...somethin bout his front wheel being off the ground the whole way home

Wonder if he actually stopped at his house or is somewhere south of Portland ,Or by now ????

Stephano

The Tour.MOV - YouTube

2nd Last Pull - YouTube

PS > Rossi ...Rossi...hmmmm ..Italian ??? Why didn't I catch that sooner and doesn't that just explain it all ?? !!

SM70 · Jan 29th, 2012, 3:37 am

Excellent result. Fine tinkering muzzman!

muzzmann · Jan 29th, 2012, 3:41 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by SM70

Excellent result. Fine tinkering muzzman!

I was the servant ...Rossi the master ...the credit is his ! Unless pushing his bike onto the dyno and passing him parts and tools counts ......

And Marty from DucSea is the Dyno operator extraordinaire !

Stephano

RudolphHart · Jan 29th, 2012, 5:57 am

Mrs H has expressed her interest in visiting Seattle during summer 2013 (nothing like thinking ahead!). The possibility of seeing this bike & meeting its creator is doing a lot to persuade me in favour of the trip.

Now, do we fly in to Vancouver (one of my favourite places) & take the Amtrak to Seattle or take one of the direct flights to Seattle?

Great work, thanks for sharing.

barfer · Jan 29th, 2012, 10:08 am

Super fun. Thanks for posting. 82 to the wheel is impressive for an air cooled twin. I would do very bad things on that bike.

LondonDutch · Jan 29th, 2012, 10:10 am

Great to see you two guys doing bike stuff together - and great results on that Dyno.

Geoff's bike is one of my all time favourite motorcycles on the planet - and it's fair to say I've seen one or two bikes.

arbakken · Jan 29th, 2012, 10:44 am

Freaking fantastic! I wish I was good enough at anything to get the opportunity to have my hand in something that contains that much awesome.

dietrichpfeifer · Jan 29th, 2012, 10:52 am

Sounds like a fun time with a great bike! Nice work guys!

LA-DUC · Jan 29th, 2012, 12:20 pm

Awesome. Really great read. I've been waiting to see what this thing can do on the dyno. That build is CLEAN. Love the speedo. Love the starter. Love the tail and tank. Just all so well thought out and executed. Cheers guys!!

muzzmann · Jan 29th, 2012, 12:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by RudolphHart

Mrs H has expressed her interest in visiting Seattle during summer 2013 (nothing like thinking ahead!). The possibility of seeing this bike & meeting its creator is doing a lot to persuade me in favour of the trip.

Now, do we fly in to Vancouver (one of my favourite places) & take the Amtrak to Seattle or take one of the direct flights to Seattle?

Great work, thanks for sharing.

RH > You and the missus would be sadly remiss to "skip " Vancouver ! She is obviously on the ball ! Where would you be without her... wandering aimlessly around Nottighamshire I would hazzard a guess ! If you have been here before you would understand why. The Amtrak leaving from downtown Vancouver is a great trip to our sister city Seattle which is also very unique. I would definitely recommend a trip half-way round the earth to see Rossi's creation !

You and the Missus are welcome at Chateau Stephano anytime ! (similar accomodation to Faulty Towers)

S.