Tell Me About Ducati's
Discussion
So,
After getting rid of the B-King to buy a family mobilio i already have the itch for another bike.
I'm toying with the idea of getting a cheap MX bike as my parents have land i can mash it around on.
But i'm also looking at getting another road going fun bike.
I'm also thinking i need to sort out the Ducati itch i have & was thinking a 748/749 mainly as a weekend toy & fair weather riding.
I.E. No ice or torrential down-pours.
I'm thinking about getting one after about Xmas time so i don't pay spring prices & i'll have it ready for then.
So tell me what sort of budget should i be looking to pay & tell me why i should / should'nt be buying a 748/749.
Budget is as low as possible!
After getting rid of the B-King to buy a family mobilio i already have the itch for another bike.
I'm toying with the idea of getting a cheap MX bike as my parents have land i can mash it around on.
But i'm also looking at getting another road going fun bike.
I'm also thinking i need to sort out the Ducati itch i have & was thinking a 748/749 mainly as a weekend toy & fair weather riding.
I.E. No ice or torrential down-pours.
I'm thinking about getting one after about Xmas time so i don't pay spring prices & i'll have it ready for then.
So tell me what sort of budget should i be looking to pay & tell me why i should / should'nt be buying a 748/749.
Budget is as low as possible!
You might think i'm posting this as a bit of fun, banter, a little laugh.
But the points raised are frighteningly true. So read it, read it again and really decide if you want to scratch that itch.
Me, i'm addicted, but it's not too late for you to save yourself!!
10 things a non-Ducati owner should know before buying a Duke superbike
1 They are not cheap to run. Even those that don't have any issues will always be shouting for some new titanium/carbon or other expensive part to be fitted to suit the new owner.
2. Ducati Dry clutches make noise. Some make a lot of noise, some not so much. But ALL dry clutches make some noise. It is how they are. Whether you embrace the noise and open the cover up to share it with the world, or fight to make it quiet is solely down to the individual. If it really annoys you so much and you really must have a Ducati, then find one with a wet clutch. Note:- Only go the wet clutch route if you are prepared to sound like a japanese v twin on approach though. like it or not, the rattle and sching of a duke clutch is very distinctive. Clutch action is invariably heavier than any jap rider will expect and some clutches are more forgiving and controllable than others. For anyone in the older model early 90's ducati range, the 'select neutral before you come to a stand' technique is regularly used. Otherwise its the 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st neutral, not quite but nearly, 2nd, 1st oh the lights have changed lets go approach.
3. Ducati's are usually more expensive than the average Japanese bike of similar performance. Some are more desirable than others. bikes with an S, SPS or similar will hurt your wallet more than a less high spec model. For the majority who ride legally on UK roads, none of that matters. But if you want to be elitist, you go the extra mile. That said, there is an element of elitism in owning any Ducati, so the S just takes you to a 'wheels within wheels' scenario. When you get to desmosedici heights, you have to ask is it any better than the model you really want. Which is better in the car world? an Aston martin DB5 or an Aston martin DB9. Newer bigger better isnt necessarily always the case when it comes to buying what your heart tells you it wants.
4. Exhaust noise is usually loud on a Ducati. Mainly as the average owner wants it to sound and breathe like any Ducati should. This makes early morning riders especially obvious to all around them as the sound of a big v twin on open race pipes is ever so slightly louder than the twittering birds of the dawn chorus.
5. Comfort. Difficult one this. Some are comfortable. The Superbikes however are, on the whole, not so comfortable. With riding positions in virtual race stance and little padding in the seat. Many are one step away from a torture tool over long distances.
6. Town riding and stuck in traffic. Try to avoid this as much as possible. Ducatis were not designed to sit in traffic and most Ducati models will prove this to you in every way they can. Lousy steering lock, grumpy clutch action, a propensity to refuse any of the accepted legal speed limits as a place where the bike will be happy in one gear at constant revs. 30? forget it. 40? possibly, but still not nice. 50? just about the 1st place where none snatchiness can be achieved at a constant. A far better option is the slow down a little and speed up to where you want to be before letting the bike bellow on the overrun as it comes down in speed again. Handle Bar and peg positions often lead to wrist pain for many owners in slow riding. The only real cure being speed. Higher speed equates to less weight on the wrists.
7. Comments from people who dont know about Ducati's. Is it going to break down? and how much will it cost to fix that problem? are usually directly related to the dry clutch when an average Jap owner hears it.
8. Reliability. Do Ducatis have problems? yes. All bikes do. Honda were forgiven for the chocolate cams in their vfr750, kawasaki for their lousy cam chain adjusters.Suzuki for the killer handling of the TL range. Ducati dont seem to get that same forgiveness from the public though. Regulator rectifiers have a (deserved) reputation for going wrong. It is a genuine fault,easily cured (and avoided if you check the connectors and ensure they are good). Cam wear on 748 through 996 is always a gamble and can happen to any of them. But as long as the bike is used regularly, the majority are trouble free. They just don't like standing around doing nothing for months on end. Where a japanes four will start up after 6 weeks alone in a shed, the average duke will just sulk about the whole being left alone aspect and refuse to play. At least when it starts it will move and stop. Brembo brakes rarely suffer seized pistons. Unlike tokico stuff that seizes because it looked rainy 5 miles away. Although belts are a constant drain on a long term owners wallet, the instances of belt failure are almost unheard of. Certainly a lot less than cam belts on cars are known to fail.
9. Paintwork and finish. Difficult one this. Some models have good paintwork. Resilient to weather, good paint and generally spot on finish. Others don't. Those that don't have paint that is generally allergic to being attached to anything other than itself. Flaking engine paint, ultra thin paint on frames that rubs off if a wire harness even gets close enough to scare it. Fasteners rust if they are in a country that has more than 3 millimetres of rainfall in a year and you are daft enough to get them wet. Common sense says either fit stainless stuff or avoid the water and winter at all costs.
10. Why would anybody want one? Because they are something special. They look good wherever they are. Pull up at a pub and it stands out from the sea of Japanese road rockets. It announces itself in a cacaphony of noise and then sits there like the king of the world. Some models verge on being a form of art and all make you smile. A good ride really is a good ride and leaves you with a huge smile. A comparable litre Jap 4 will still get you there, but often without that same feel good factor. That said, a Ducati can also have a sulky day and make that same ride a nightmare. But when you park it up, it still sits there looking like a million dollars in a sea of blandness.
One last thing. Nobody knows where the tax disc should be mounted and no answer is ever likely to definitively answer it. Don't bother asking. Ever.
But the points raised are frighteningly true. So read it, read it again and really decide if you want to scratch that itch.
Me, i'm addicted, but it's not too late for you to save yourself!!
10 things a non-Ducati owner should know before buying a Duke superbike
1 They are not cheap to run. Even those that don't have any issues will always be shouting for some new titanium/carbon or other expensive part to be fitted to suit the new owner.
2. Ducati Dry clutches make noise. Some make a lot of noise, some not so much. But ALL dry clutches make some noise. It is how they are. Whether you embrace the noise and open the cover up to share it with the world, or fight to make it quiet is solely down to the individual. If it really annoys you so much and you really must have a Ducati, then find one with a wet clutch. Note:- Only go the wet clutch route if you are prepared to sound like a japanese v twin on approach though. like it or not, the rattle and sching of a duke clutch is very distinctive. Clutch action is invariably heavier than any jap rider will expect and some clutches are more forgiving and controllable than others. For anyone in the older model early 90's ducati range, the 'select neutral before you come to a stand' technique is regularly used. Otherwise its the 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st neutral, not quite but nearly, 2nd, 1st oh the lights have changed lets go approach.
3. Ducati's are usually more expensive than the average Japanese bike of similar performance. Some are more desirable than others. bikes with an S, SPS or similar will hurt your wallet more than a less high spec model. For the majority who ride legally on UK roads, none of that matters. But if you want to be elitist, you go the extra mile. That said, there is an element of elitism in owning any Ducati, so the S just takes you to a 'wheels within wheels' scenario. When you get to desmosedici heights, you have to ask is it any better than the model you really want. Which is better in the car world? an Aston martin DB5 or an Aston martin DB9. Newer bigger better isnt necessarily always the case when it comes to buying what your heart tells you it wants.
4. Exhaust noise is usually loud on a Ducati. Mainly as the average owner wants it to sound and breathe like any Ducati should. This makes early morning riders especially obvious to all around them as the sound of a big v twin on open race pipes is ever so slightly louder than the twittering birds of the dawn chorus.
5. Comfort. Difficult one this. Some are comfortable. The Superbikes however are, on the whole, not so comfortable. With riding positions in virtual race stance and little padding in the seat. Many are one step away from a torture tool over long distances.
6. Town riding and stuck in traffic. Try to avoid this as much as possible. Ducatis were not designed to sit in traffic and most Ducati models will prove this to you in every way they can. Lousy steering lock, grumpy clutch action, a propensity to refuse any of the accepted legal speed limits as a place where the bike will be happy in one gear at constant revs. 30? forget it. 40? possibly, but still not nice. 50? just about the 1st place where none snatchiness can be achieved at a constant. A far better option is the slow down a little and speed up to where you want to be before letting the bike bellow on the overrun as it comes down in speed again. Handle Bar and peg positions often lead to wrist pain for many owners in slow riding. The only real cure being speed. Higher speed equates to less weight on the wrists.
7. Comments from people who dont know about Ducati's. Is it going to break down? and how much will it cost to fix that problem? are usually directly related to the dry clutch when an average Jap owner hears it.
8. Reliability. Do Ducatis have problems? yes. All bikes do. Honda were forgiven for the chocolate cams in their vfr750, kawasaki for their lousy cam chain adjusters.Suzuki for the killer handling of the TL range. Ducati dont seem to get that same forgiveness from the public though. Regulator rectifiers have a (deserved) reputation for going wrong. It is a genuine fault,easily cured (and avoided if you check the connectors and ensure they are good). Cam wear on 748 through 996 is always a gamble and can happen to any of them. But as long as the bike is used regularly, the majority are trouble free. They just don't like standing around doing nothing for months on end. Where a japanes four will start up after 6 weeks alone in a shed, the average duke will just sulk about the whole being left alone aspect and refuse to play. At least when it starts it will move and stop. Brembo brakes rarely suffer seized pistons. Unlike tokico stuff that seizes because it looked rainy 5 miles away. Although belts are a constant drain on a long term owners wallet, the instances of belt failure are almost unheard of. Certainly a lot less than cam belts on cars are known to fail.
9. Paintwork and finish. Difficult one this. Some models have good paintwork. Resilient to weather, good paint and generally spot on finish. Others don't. Those that don't have paint that is generally allergic to being attached to anything other than itself. Flaking engine paint, ultra thin paint on frames that rubs off if a wire harness even gets close enough to scare it. Fasteners rust if they are in a country that has more than 3 millimetres of rainfall in a year and you are daft enough to get them wet. Common sense says either fit stainless stuff or avoid the water and winter at all costs.
10. Why would anybody want one? Because they are something special. They look good wherever they are. Pull up at a pub and it stands out from the sea of Japanese road rockets. It announces itself in a cacaphony of noise and then sits there like the king of the world. Some models verge on being a form of art and all make you smile. A good ride really is a good ride and leaves you with a huge smile. A comparable litre Jap 4 will still get you there, but often without that same feel good factor. That said, a Ducati can also have a sulky day and make that same ride a nightmare. But when you park it up, it still sits there looking like a million dollars in a sea of blandness.
One last thing. Nobody knows where the tax disc should be mounted and no answer is ever likely to definitively answer it. Don't bother asking. Ever.
Edited by bass gt3 on Friday 2nd July 10:49
bass gt3 said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
Well you've had a Suzuki so there's only One step further down the rung.
I'd rather eat worms than own a Ducati.
You have no soul man!! Shame on you...I'd rather eat worms than own a Ducati.
And i suspect the worms would rather you eat the ducati
I think "soul" covers the 10 points that you've posted rather well. I don't mind Ducati's, no really I don't, let everyone ride/own what they want.
I just happen to know they make useless road bikes where I live, they don't last long at all up here, maybe down South where people use their bikes to pose at the local bike shop or burger bar.
Having a pampered garage queen for a track bike doesn't make a good road bike, if I wanted all the "character" that Ducati's supposably possess I go and by a 1950's BSA.
Ahem...
I bought a tax disc thingie yesterday as my last one cracked off and is...who knows?
The one i got is a transparent plastic circle with a sticky back, so you put the disc in it, and slap it on the bike, window or whatever. It's flexible, so i'm puttin it on the back of the fork, in the 'cockpit'. This is the answer.
I bought a tax disc thingie yesterday as my last one cracked off and is...who knows?
The one i got is a transparent plastic circle with a sticky back, so you put the disc in it, and slap it on the bike, window or whatever. It's flexible, so i'm puttin it on the back of the fork, in the 'cockpit'. This is the answer.
749S is pretty good, 999 much much better. I never had any problems with either of my Ducatis really, had more problems with Japanese bikes truth be told.
748 I never got on with, not so good for lanky bloaters like me.
They're not the cheapest bikes to run, servicing and so on is a bit more pricey though not as ridiculous as some would have you believe, parts wise some can be megabucks, others surprisingly reasonable. I never had cause to buy many bits for mine though.
999R is one of the best bikes I've ever ridden, 749 was good fun too but in hindsight I'd have preferred the 999S for the extra power. I'd still take an Aprilia RSVR over any of them (other than the 999R).
748 I never got on with, not so good for lanky bloaters like me.
They're not the cheapest bikes to run, servicing and so on is a bit more pricey though not as ridiculous as some would have you believe, parts wise some can be megabucks, others surprisingly reasonable. I never had cause to buy many bits for mine though.
999R is one of the best bikes I've ever ridden, 749 was good fun too but in hindsight I'd have preferred the 999S for the extra power. I'd still take an Aprilia RSVR over any of them (other than the 999R).
Biker's Nemesis said:
bass gt3 said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
Well you've had a Suzuki so there's only One step further down the rung.
I'd rather eat worms than own a Ducati.
You have no soul man!! Shame on you...I'd rather eat worms than own a Ducati.
And i suspect the worms would rather you eat the ducati
I think "soul" covers the 10 points that you've posted rather well. I don't mind Ducati's, no really I don't, let everyone ride/own what they want.
I just happen to know they make useless road bikes where I live, they don't last long at all up here, maybe down South where people use their bikes to pose at the local bike shop or burger bar. Ouch!! Saucer of milk, table 9!!
Having a pampered garage queen for a track bike doesn't make a good road bike, if I wanted all the "character" that Ducati's supposably possess I go and by a 1950's BSA. fair point, well made
|Personally speaking, my track riding now is for fun, as you alluded to about being in any group and having a blast. And for me, the Duc just hit's the spot.
And if i'm honest, being a engineer, i love the constant tinkering with her. But i don't think i could actually encourage someone to buy an older model, not without their eyes WIDE open.
Oh, BTW.
backatcha!!Edited by bass gt3 on Friday 2nd July 11:29
I have owned a 900ssi two Monsters a 748 and I still have a Monster and another and they have all been reliable except once the 748 wouldn't start one day and it was a connection on the starter solenoid which could have happened on any bike.
They have been serviced by an independent, (Ducati John in Leeds) and he is reasonably priced and does an excellent conscientious job.
A 748/916 is a race bike so it will be uncomfortable, you just get used to it. I rode mine to Italy and back and so long as you learn to take the weight off your wrists at slow speeds you are fine.
There are quite a few threads on this subject, try the search facility.
They have been serviced by an independent, (Ducati John in Leeds) and he is reasonably priced and does an excellent conscientious job.
A 748/916 is a race bike so it will be uncomfortable, you just get used to it. I rode mine to Italy and back and so long as you learn to take the weight off your wrists at slow speeds you are fine.
There are quite a few threads on this subject, try the search facility.
I had a 749s last year, i loved the look and the sound (termigoni) it also handled lovely,
mine had a few italian electric gremlins, i didnt have the confidence to go too far on it for fear of breaking down.
I ended up selling it on here, i would have another one but it would have to be a newer model.
mine had a few italian electric gremlins, i didnt have the confidence to go too far on it for fear of breaking down.
I ended up selling it on here, i would have another one but it would have to be a newer model.
Kawasicki said:
I've never owned a Ducati, but is an early mid nineties 900ss that expensive to buy or run? They have nice handling, decent power, simple mechanical layout. What's not to like?
Owned a 900 Supersport for a couple of years and put 20k on it with never a problem. Think the aircooled stuff is reasonably sorted reliability wise. Early 748's are a bit tempremental.bass gt3 said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
bass gt3 said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
Well you've had a Suzuki so there's only One step further down the rung.
I'd rather eat worms than own a Ducati.
You have no soul man!! Shame on you...I'd rather eat worms than own a Ducati.
And i suspect the worms would rather you eat the ducati
I think "soul" covers the 10 points that you've posted rather well. I don't mind Ducati's, no really I don't, let everyone ride/own what they want.
I just happen to know they make useless road bikes where I live, they don't last long at all up here, maybe down South where people use their bikes to pose at the local bike shop or burger bar. Ouch!! Saucer of milk, table 9!!
Having a pampered garage queen for a track bike doesn't make a good road bike, if I wanted all the "character" that Ducati's supposably possess I go and by a 1950's BSA. fair point, well made
|Personally speaking, my track riding now is for fun, as you alluded to about being in any group and having a blast. And for me, the Duc just hit's the spot.
And if i'm honest, being a engineer, i love the constant tinkering with her. But i don't think i could actually encourage someone to buy an older model, not without their eyes WIDE open.
Oh, BTW.
backatcha!!Edited by bass gt3 on Friday 2nd July 11:29
First of all its styled like a cross between an early jellymould CBR600 on badly fitting race bodywork and one of those dumb seal-like animals that live in Florida (keep getting hit by boats - Manatees?).
Second - pointlessly noisey - like a neighbour near me that's fitted a Racefit Growler to his GSXR.
Thirdly - bet its no quicker, faster than a 5 year old Jap litre bike.
Annoys me that I "should" lust after one for some reason.
Something cafe racer style like an NCR or Pierobon F042 floats my boat until you get to the wallet bit!
http://www.ducaticoventry.com/jhp-projects.php?nid...
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