Ducati 748s or ducati 899 panigale?

[LoonR1]

Esceptico said:

Loon, I admire the persistence of your one-man campaign against Ducati but you don't seem to be persuading too many that they aren't "special". "Specialness" is like "beauty" in that it is in the eye of the beholder and often circumvents logic.

I do think you are being a bit hard on the 748 though. Ducati have changed over the past twenty years and the 899 is much more of a mass produced bike than the 748. At the time the 748 was launched they were almost twice the price of a Jap 600 and sold in far fewer numbers so were relatively rare, the shape is iconic and for some (me included) one of the best looking motorbikes ever. Around a track they were slower than the Jap supersports but the riding experience could not have been more different. That clearly doesn't float your boat but for some that difference is special.

I don't mind Ducatis as a whole, although the rattly clutches do bug me. What I find frustrating is the obsession with the brand. They are revered as if they are made of gold and out of the reaches of mere mortals. Whilst they are undoubtedly pretty bikes, what they aren't is a Ferrari. If people stopped banging on about them like that, then I'd be less harsh.

If the OP wants a 748 then he should buy one, but comparing it to the 899 is about as close as my earlier suggestion. I like the 748 / 916 type bikes. My neighbour had one around the time that I decided to learn to ride (although it took me another five years to actually do it).

But they're not Ferraris.

[ZX10R NIN]

The 748 is a good bike get the SP if you can the older ones feel a bit more special to me but an 899 is a better bike, they're both good bikes.

I use my MV F4 more than my S1000RR because although it's not as fast from A-B & isn't as sharp but it is more fun plus there's the noise Oh the noise what has been a surprise is how quiet the BM is even with an exhaust on in comparison to the MV.

I personally think Ducati's feel a bit more special than the run of the mill stuff because they get how to tap into the emotional side to.

I also have to say the Ferrari comparison is more than fair.

1) Will it breakdown for no reason & start when the recovery arrives CHECK
2) Do parts cost a fortune CHECK
3) Visually good looking CHECK
4) Great noise CHECK
5) Owners think the bike is unsurpassed CHECK

I'd say the comparison is fair.

The ones I had were great fun & had bags of character I enjoyed everyone of them

[Esceptico]

S

LoonR1 said:

I don't mind Ducatis as a whole, although the rattly clutches do bug me. What I find frustrating is the obsession with the brand. They are revered as if they are made of gold and out of the reaches of mere mortals. Whilst they are undoubtedly pretty bikes, what they aren't is a Ferrari. If people stopped banging on about them like that, then I'd be less harsh.

If the OP wants a 748 then he should buy one, but comparing it to the 899 is about as close as my earlier suggestion. I like the 748 / 916 type bikes. My neighbour had one around the time that I decided to learn to ride (although it took me another five years to actually do it).

But they're not Ferraris.

Ducati is not Ferrari but back in the 90s they fulfilled a similar if not identical position in the biking world as they were relatively rare, much more expensive than the competition, full of character and also full of foibles. Ironically since being taken over by the Germans the quality has gone up, the price has come down but they no longer seem quite as special. Lamborghini seem to going in the same direction as the Huryan is objectively as fast as the competition but subjectively criticised for being a bit bland (for a Lamborghini).

I remember the first time I saw a 916 in the flesh. I was gobsmacked and just stood there like a fool drooling over it. I didn't have a bike licence either. Made me want to get one though!