[Ducati] 999 Zard Exhaust Upgrade and PCIII and Business Thoughts

[R P FEIGHTNER]

Listers,

I just installed Zard exhaust on my 999 and PJ's Triumph Ducati dyno'd the 
bike and installed and mapped a Power Commander III. And changed to 15/40 
gearing. HP went from 122.74 to 130.23.
Torque from 70.6 Ft/l;bs to 72.52. These gains are a little higher than the 
posted results from a similar install on a 05 999 by Section Eight Ducati.

http://www.section8superbike.com/05-06-999_03-06-999s.php

Ridewise, it is a different bike. No more clutch feathering and slipping in 
1st. The Zard exhaust has a good fit and the sound is of course sharper.  
Crusiing wise, it "settles in" about 10 mph higher than before on the same 
roadways.

Next work may be suspension.

On another topic, some have been discussing Hyosung and Chinese machines.

I am exploring a moving into the motorcycle business. I don't have enough 
capital for a Japanese franchise, and ALbuquerque has the Euro and Japanses 
world well covered.  I have been talking with a guy that is looking at a Big 
Dog store here in Albuquerque. There was a shop but it went out of business 
for reasons probably unrelated to the line of bike. This guy is well 
financed and I would come in as a minority shareholder.  But I will have to 
work on his time frame and he will have the bigger hand.

The other idea, one that a current succesful dealer in town recommends to 
me, is starting a small shop with Hyuosung and a Chinese line and riding 
those lines up as they take over japanese marketshare. I could handle this 
myself from an equity perspective but would need an experiendeced 
mechanic/service manager type to start out with.

Two questions for listers. You are all motorcycle people with divergent 
backgrounds and expertise that I respect.

1. Thoughts on starting up with Hyuosung and maybe Tymko (Chinese brand) in 
Albuquerque? IT will have to be in ABQ, however. My wide won't move.  
Advice, warnings, other ideas. All welcome. I would even listen to former 
Italian communists!

2. Do you know of any mechanics/service manager people that might be 
interested. Some equity might be nice, but not required. The right person is 
the most important thing.

Thanks for anything you can send my way.

Rob Feightner
505.797.4088
http://desertoftherealecononomicanalysis.blogspot.com/
desertoftherealeconomics at hotmail.com