Mucky Roads

[Duccout]

By some miracle it was not raining this morning, and I was itching to road test some mods made over the New Year on the 350, so I chanced a quick ride. It is pretty horrible out there with flooded bends, mud and leaves everywhere and a low sun blinding everyone, so I was glad to get back in one piece.

I have just fitted an Electrex World ignition and new chain and sprockets, changing the gearing to 18/42 after experience with the 250 which feels undergeared on 18/47 (both with the same primary gears) but I may have overdone it. I can't tell much with the roads the way they are, but I might have to go to a 17t gearbox sprocket or a 44 on the rear.


Colin

[Wolf]

...despite the conditions you described it sounds like fun. It is mild here too - I'm also tempted to use my 450...

regards

Wolf

[Bevel bob]

My 250 Mark3 ( Mach 1 imposter!) has the full set of UK Mach1 sprockets fitted. Apparently at max revs/power it would be doing 115 mph down a steep enough hill. 5th gear is only usefull for eaking out the fuel and traffic is a chore with constant use of 2nd and 3rd. Any gradient on a motorway will have you dropping back to 4th. I am about to fit much lower gearing more suited to UK roads.

[Duccout]

My overall gearing is only slightly higher than Sebring gearing - 5.10 as opposed to 5.275, if I went up 1 tooth on the rear it would give me 5.23.

It is funny, but I have two bikes that are identical except for the engine capacity - 250 Strada and 350 Forza, yet the 250 feels like a toy and the 350 feels like a big bike. Anyone else find this when they sell between Ducati Singles?

[blethermaskite]

Colin, I have the 350mk3 (riding position set up as a desmo) and my 250 desmo disc, apart from the obvious power difference I would have to say they feel pretty much the same to ride.......maybe just me?
Cheers,
George

[Duccout]

Hi George,

It is obviously psychological; my 350 has higher hearing and 'thumps' more, so appears to be a bigger bike. Funnily enough it is heavier to move around than the 250, but it can't be..... I reckon it is the dragging of the twin discs that make it seem heavier.

I had a dry run out on the 350 today!

Colin

[blethermaskite]

You might have a point there on the disc brakes.....on reflection the 250 desmo is a little harder to move about than the 350 with a drum....maybe?
Cheers,
George