749/749S questions
Discussion
i may need to free up a bit of money and am considering downgrading to a 749, i fancy one it would be a change from japanese 4s, just wondering what thier power output figures are at the back wheel?, are they about the same in performance terms as a modern 600-e.g R6 or CBR600RR?, also what are the servicing costs like?
Hi
I can't help with service costs as I've had mine less than a year but as for performance I can.
I took my 749S round Snetterton 2 weeks ago and no 600 could pull away on the straight - Gixers, triumphs, R6s etc. In fact I got past a couple of older foxeye blades on the straights. On the corners it outperfomed them very well.....right up untill the point I binned it
but that was my fault not the bikes!
There's quite a good review here: www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/Ducati/749s/page1.htm
Mine has a full Termi system and a power commander so it's probably a bit more lively than a stock S but it's a world apart from the 748 if you've ever ridden one. More power, faster revving, smoother....all in all good.
Any questions, fire away
I can't help with service costs as I've had mine less than a year but as for performance I can.
I took my 749S round Snetterton 2 weeks ago and no 600 could pull away on the straight - Gixers, triumphs, R6s etc. In fact I got past a couple of older foxeye blades on the straights. On the corners it outperfomed them very well.....right up untill the point I binned it
but that was my fault not the bikes! There's quite a good review here: www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/Ducati/749s/page1.htm
Mine has a full Termi system and a power commander so it's probably a bit more lively than a stock S but it's a world apart from the 748 if you've ever ridden one. More power, faster revving, smoother....all in all good.
Any questions, fire away
Edited by carrera2 on Wednesday 14th June 21:18
ive ridden a 749 but it was very brief, the weaher was crap and it was over a year ago, in all honesty i found my 600RR a very good handling bike and the Fireblade surprisingly even more so, just have to watch your right wrist a bit more on it but the latest shape Ducatis really appeal to me, i love thier looks and the way they sound when thier going(the dry clutch when stationary is a little off putting) its not that im worried about running costs of a Ducati especially i just could do with a couple of £k to put towards a car and then spend £5500-£6000 ish on a bike instead of £8k, btw C2 do you ever go out for weekend rides about or are you mostly into trackdays only?, will be out this weekend on my bike as the weather looks good, was going to head up to box hill and maybe a few of the twisty roads around dorking, let me know if you fancy a ride out.
You won't save any money longterm with a Ducati, even if it's cheaper to buy as the servicing costs are very high and the bikes are quite service intensive. AIUI a 749 will make about 105 bhp, handling, however is top notch and so if you can ride it well then you'll beat 600s but on the straights the 600 is probably quicker, oh and did I say that servicing costs are high.
I've not ridden a 749 & I only have an 8 year old 916 (which produces similar HP but a bit more torque) and I wouldn't swap it for any Jap 4, even though they are faster etc. as the bike is so much more capable than I am so the only performance gain to be had is in a straight line. 'When' I've mastered the Ducati, I'll look for something with 50 more HP but IMHO it's so much 'nicer' than the Jap 4s I've tried, it has more 'character' and I just like it but the servicing costs are high..........
I've not ridden a 749 & I only have an 8 year old 916 (which produces similar HP but a bit more torque) and I wouldn't swap it for any Jap 4, even though they are faster etc. as the bike is so much more capable than I am so the only performance gain to be had is in a straight line. 'When' I've mastered the Ducati, I'll look for something with 50 more HP but IMHO it's so much 'nicer' than the Jap 4s I've tried, it has more 'character' and I just like it but the servicing costs are high..........
I had a 748SPS in 2000 which became an 853cc conversion - fantastic tool - did about 40,000 miles altogether - few probs really - just lots of oil changes and service bills.
After 40k it decided that enough was enough and the big end was evicted from the house!!!!
I now have a 999s (05) tricked up to the absolute max - done 7,000 trouble free miles - superb - but according to my wife - always in bits.
Cant argue against anything said here so far - a dream to RIDE (and you have to ride it to get the best out of it) loads of character - that V twin feeling - it a Ducati - good for the ego - looks great - big improvement over the previous model in terms of how its built - materials etc - hydraulic tapets would be nice - but hey . . .
Go for it!
Khushy
After 40k it decided that enough was enough and the big end was evicted from the house!!!!
I now have a 999s (05) tricked up to the absolute max - done 7,000 trouble free miles - superb - but according to my wife - always in bits.
Cant argue against anything said here so far - a dream to RIDE (and you have to ride it to get the best out of it) loads of character - that V twin feeling - it a Ducati - good for the ego - looks great - big improvement over the previous model in terms of how its built - materials etc - hydraulic tapets would be nice - but hey . . .
Go for it!
Khushy
YamR1V64motion said:
btw C2 do you ever go out for weekend rides about or are you mostly into trackdays only?, will be out this weekend on my bike as the weather looks good, was going to head up to box hill and maybe a few of the twisty roads around dorking, let me know if you fancy a ride out.
I mainly do do road riding to be honest, however, after the spill my bikes off the road for a couple of weeks otherwise I'd have been up for it. I'll let you know when it's all fixed
I've got a 748 SPS that I've had from new - so I've owned it 8 years now - unheard of for me : I used to have the latest and hottest back in early 90's and changed whenever something newer and better came out. But I bought the Duke as my dream bike and never regretted it. Don't think I'll ever sell it - a purchase from the heart rather than the head. Still gets more attention than the latest superbikes and plenty quick enough to raise a stupid grin, doubt I'll ever willingly part with it. Costs aren't excessive if you use independent specialists and look after the bike. My jury is still out on the looks of the 749/999, but if it lights your candle the I say go for it 
yellowvette said:
I've got a 748 SPS that I've had from new - so I've owned it 8 years now - unheard of for me : I used to have the latest and hottest back in early 90's and changed whenever something newer and better came out. But I bought the Duke as my dream bike and never regretted it. Don't think I'll ever sell it - a purchase from the heart rather than the head. Still gets more attention than the latest superbikes and plenty quick enough to raise a stupid grin, doubt I'll ever willingly part with it. Costs aren't excessive if you use independent specialists and look after the bike. My jury is still out on the looks of the 749/999, but if it lights your candle the I say go for it
I loved my old 748 till I rode the 749 - the difference is phenomenal - completely different bikes. It's not just different looks, pretty much everything has changed.
Carrera2 said:
YamR1V64motion said:
btw C2 do you ever go out for weekend rides about or are you mostly into trackdays only?, will be out this weekend on my bike as the weather looks good, was going to head up to box hill and maybe a few of the twisty roads around dorking, let me know if you fancy a ride out.
I mainly do do road riding to be honest, however, after the spill my bikes off the road for a couple of weeks otherwise I'd have been up for it. I'll let you know when it's all fixed
sorry to hear you came off it, was there much damage?
also the thing is i love the new Fireblade, its probably the most well balenced best handling bike ive owned and it has all that power too, if i have to give it up(which i may not need to, not sure yet) i dont want to give it up for anything less than an exotic piece of italian machinery.
. . . but the sound of a Ducati with Termi pipes - aaaah! My 996 costs a fair bit in servicing, even with an independent mechanic, but I've had it for 4 years and probably will never sell it. Balance that against the depreciation you'd suffer if you changed a Jap bike even every couple of years and it doesn't look so bad. The handling is great, I love the looks and it's just a great experience to own one.
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