Modifications, worth dumping the cash?

[DucS1k]

For those who've had a few bikes, can spending large amounts of cash on a bike be justified?

The reason i ask is because some ohlins, new 4pots, and some alloys are looking pretty attractive right now but im very reticent to blow 1098 money on a sport classic. I also decided to satisfy my curiosity last week and test rode a daytona 675 and was completely blown away by how good of a riding package its was, especially for only $9k.

So is it worth it to spend almost the same price of a very very good bike to try and make the one you love perfect? Or should one just leave it rough around the edges learn to love it like it is and put the cash down on the triumph next year?

[IainMac]

Chosing one bike over another is so much a personal thing that your post can only truely be answered by you. Others opinions are only valid in the context meant by the writer and wont be 100% accurate for you.
Strange things come into play that affect the love/hate/indifference relationship that can occur between owner and machine.
I've had a variety of bikes over the years and the one that floats my boat the most is a 24kmiler 900 superlight, its a bit rough around the edges but I perfer that over the 999 so much its going.
For me the best race track abiity (of the bike) is irrelevant as my own race track ability doesnt need it, therefore my bike choice is a more etheral (artistic?) side of the brain decision than a cold hard facts one.
You sound like the cold hard dollar still influences your purchase so u focus on top trumps specs (no offence meant by that its just a fleeting opinion summarisation of your post an could be off target)
Note if your heart isnt in it I doubt a decision made by your head/wallet will stand the test of time.
as will all things bike YMMV
cheers and good luck which ever way you flip the coin

[corks67]

a damn good question - i've owned a stack of bikes and most of them since 2000 - i get a bit bored with my current bike easily and tend to sell them on, plus i had a bit of bike riding crisis in 03 when one of my best mates got killed

having said that, im now at the point where most of the new jap bikes really dont do much for me and i like to think im gonna hang on to the ducati for a while - i must admitt i did um n ahh abit over whether to get a monster s2r1000, sc1000s or even a ps1000le now that local shop has got a brand new one in at the moment.

but really im liking the sc1000 its the bike i had hoped the thrxton would be , it looks cool and goes well and so im hoping to hang on to it for a while.

hence i have been doiing a few mods but mainly cosmetic,as at this time as im still waiting waiting on the bloody termi's which cost me $1850 to buy when i orded the bike $22355. The biggest mod ive done so far is to fit the showa forks $700 but well worth it. The next biggest mod is the STM slave cylinder $300 but again well worth it. when i finally get the termi's i might look at a lightened flywheel, but i careful of fiddling with the motor too much (cams, pistons) for the various reasons that have been discussed on the pages before.

But yeah the big mod of cazzeria(spelling) rims and brembo brakes is seriously yelling at me as i can pick the performance kit from the USA cheaper than i thought - but again that's big money $2500 which really could buy alot of things for the bike (engine mods, speedy moto stuff) and still not come to $2500 - but its tempting to do it because i like the sc1000 so much and from what what i can gather the rims make a world of difference.

but id settle'for getting decent pair of s/h ducati 5 spoke rims and brembo 4 spots and fitting them for the feeling of improvements without the big costs of going brand new or aftermarket.

I dont have second bike tho serious mod money would buy me one

phew what mouthful hoefully i havent waffled to much - in short i guess its up to you - would you really like the 675 that much and would you ride it enuff to justify having it in which case would you the have trouble justifying keeping the sc1000???

[kuantings]

I will spend the money on "what I really need" instead of "make it perfect".
For me, the sport only need two things:
Higher handle bar and better front forks.

BTW, I think there is no bike is perfect, when time goes by

[Nimi]

Modifying a bike is like drinking cheap tequila, you got to know when to stop. With that said, we can all recall a few nights of excess...

[BISHOP-BUCK]

It sounds like you have made up your mind already but need some support. We can't answer that question for you. I will say though that when I got my Sport I didn't think I would do much if any mods to it. It started with opening the clutch and has progressed to doing at least as much as anyone else if not more. Would I have thought last fall when I got my bike that I would have done this? No. Do I have any regrets? No, other than how expensive some parts are. I love my bike.

Don't spend your life savings trying to make this bike into something that isn't going to make you happy.

[flyhack72]

I feel your pain. I am on the verge of spending some $ on some mods and have read plenty on what makes these bikes really wake up. I would also really love to get my hands on a 675. I have wanted one for nearly two years now. However I have thought about just waiting until Ducati releases the 8xx. Being the cheap bastard that I am I would recommend performance mods that won't break the bank. I have heard nothing bad about changing the front sprocket to 14T or go full on 14/41/520 mod. That still wouldn't be too expensive for you. If you know that you would buy the suspension and exhaust I would pull the trigger on the race kit. That is a great deal. If not, you will need to update the pipes, airbox, and ECU. However some have just drilled out their airboxes which is the best price of all: 'free.89' I'm sure there are adjustments needed after that. Those who have done this can fill you in. I have also read that getting a steering dampener for your S1k is a need. Not too much $ for that.

Of course do what you want. However keeping money in mind the sprocket change and dampener will make your bike even more of a pleasure to ride and safer. After that get the termis or the race kit. That will make it nearly perfect. Forget the bling. It looks nice but you need the other stuff first.

Remember, if you get the 675 you will want to start with the mods as soon as you get it. And the the vicious cycle starts all over again...

Just my .17 cents!

[JuniorinTulsa]

The best buy in motorcycling is usually buying a 2-3 year old bike the previous owner has spent tons of money on and now has a new model in his sights and wants to unload his current ride.

Before you spend the bucks make sure you like the bike in stock form pretty well, because no matter what you do you can only improve the basic form 10 to 20 percent without spending double what the bike costs.

Sure, we nearly all do something with the exhaust because the manufacturers are trying to stay within government guidlines, but all the other modifications are either vanity or trying to turn the bike into something it was not intended to be.

I bought the GT1000 knowing I was going to keep it pretty much stock, I did put pipes on it and I am having the gearing changed but that is about it.

[CafeMoto]

Two thoughts (more or less):

1. Its usually cheaper to buy a bike than build a bike. In other words, as a previous poster pointed out, get a bike with low miles some other guy already plunked down the cash for on pipes, suspension etc. and you'll save a ton. A quick browse on Craigslist or Evilbay will confirm this.

2. On the other hand, my great uncle who was a motorhead and professional mechanic for his entire adult life often remarked "ride new or walk". My own experience in purchasing other people's problems has borne this out. I'm still shade tree mechanic to the '48 Plymouth I had in high school (1974), along with a bitsa Triumph and misc. dirt bikes. The important stuff I leave to the pros.

But its really all about your subjective evaluation and your expectations. I'm not ricky racer anymore, so numbers on the spec. sheet are not as important to me as aesthetic considerations. Thirty years or even twenty years ago it was a different story. I still like to ride fast but a Sport Classic is miles ahead (for me) of an R1 or a Hiwayabusa. Do I lust after the MV Agusta F1000R, sure I do; but I also lust after the 20 something barista at the local coffee shop. I can tell you that's not going anywhere.

Last rant. To me, spending money on modding the bike is like spending money buying baubles and bangles for the girlfriend. It may not make sense rationally, but if you're happy doing it, who cares.

[aviatorbdm]

Well said Cafemoto... to me modding is half the fun of having a bike. It reflects some of your individualism and is just plain fun. I think I would be bored with a bike that was absolutely perfect in stock form.