Every time that someone asks about this, it reminds me of my first racing school at which something very similar happened. Rather that using their own bikes, two guys from Montreal arrived with their pristine, track prepped Ducatis on a trailer. I think that they were 900SS/SP, but I'm not sure. They were certainly brand new. The day went something like this.

8:30am-9:30am - class
9:30am-10:30am - follow the leader with the instructors
10:30am-10:40am - open lapping begins and the two Ducatis are cartwheeling into the weeds, within 3 laps
10:40am-5:00pm - the rest of the on-track class

It certainly made for an interesting first on-track experience.

i rather wad up a beater SV that cost me a couple of grand then a nice brand new bike. Sure you can still damage your nice pasta rocket on the road, but i would think if you are on the track enough you are not pushing the limits on the street. and if it tips over, its a matter of replacing a lever or a turn signal, not anything major. Now if you are just riding around on the street, i wouldn't go nuts on suspension mods (if i was ever heavy enough to notice anyway)

You're too light for most suspensions, so um yeah you'd be spending money anyways :lmao:

I've had to re-spring a couple bikes because the shock was too stiff for anyone lighter than 180-200. The manufacturers keep putting these gonzo rear springs on........I guess they figure they want to be on the safe side in case someone rides with a passenger. Either that or they want it to feel super-stiff and track-like so that magazine writers call it the best bike. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Strange thing is that the FRONT suspension on a SV650 is about right for a 120 pound rider. I took one out on the track and it had to be the soggiest thing that I'd ever ridden, next to a 250 Ninja.

Go to Inside Pass track days and you won't have that problem.

That's an easy question to answer. It all comes down to your bank account. If you can afford to ride a Ducati you will. If however it is your dream bike and you save every penny to get it, knowing you can't repair it if it goes down, you're going to treat it like a trophy. Nothing wrong with having a nice ride to show off on the streets with. The suspension upgrades would be questionable. Why make something less "ridable" streetwise, and not track it. Usually those guys go more for the carbon fiber and exhaust type changes. Make it loud and flashy so everyone hears and sees you.
I have a friend who buys a new porsche every couple years. The cars never see the road. They go straight to the race shop for prep then sit in his garage only to be used on track days. Why because he can afford it, my other friends who drive nice cars on the road drive rats on the track. Cheap and easy to fix when the time comes.

I guess it's all in the mentality. I've never worshipped any piece of equipment that I own. Even when I was a dirt poor soldier or dirt poor college boy, I put my shits to the task without batting an eye.

True, but they are a LONG ways away. AND if I went to them, I wouldn't be riding MY buell ;)

The way I see it, if you are gonna have the money to spend on a Ducatti, and you ride track days .. you should at least have the balls to take it to the track. I mean seriously, that's as bad as the old guy who buys a ferrari and doesn't take it over 55 .. what a fuckin waste.

Why the hell wouldn't you? You only get 2 sessions maximum on their bikes. So unless you wanna sit out the rest of the day you'd better bring yours.