Ducati 748 - good for a first bike??
Discussion
I am looking for a bike for a very occaisional toy. I like the 'idea' of the Ducati 748 as they just look and sound great. I see that early used bikes are around the £3.5k mark.
Not having ridden one, would I be off my trolley to get this sort of bike first off??
Just to re-iterate, I am not planning to use it for loads of miles or long rides - just the occaisional 25 mile trip here and there.
Not having ridden one, would I be off my trolley to get this sort of bike first off??
Just to re-iterate, I am not planning to use it for loads of miles or long rides - just the occaisional 25 mile trip here and there.
I assumed as much, but I don't see the point in getting something 'pleasant' for a bike I will ride once in a blue moon - if you know what I mean.
I did a quick search on the 748 and they appear to be not too heavy, handle well, expensive to maintain etc - just the sort of thing I want!
I did a quick search on the 748 and they appear to be not too heavy, handle well, expensive to maintain etc - just the sort of thing I want!
firstly its probably a bit powerful for your first bike in my opinion, but other people have thier own and will say different, secondly i havent owned a Ducati but i know people who have and they can either be great or a complete nightmare reliability wise, im sure a Ducati owner will be along shortly to tell you the various pit falls and what to look out for, but with a 748 i belive making sure the belts have been done is very important, the clutch doesnt last as long as a wet clutch so budget for this, and they have been known to throw up the odd eletrical problem, but for the most part as long as you keep on top of them maintenence wise it should be pretty trouble free.
It sounds like an expensive bike to cut your teeth on. Having no roadcraft experience, you will be prone to making mistakes, and on a bike like this, could turn out to be expensive in replacement plastics, levers, etc.
I may be making the wrong assumption, but I would guess you passed your test on a CB/ER 500. The 748 is not only more powerful and focussed, the power delivery of a twin is very different from the bike you have previously ridden.
They are a lovely bike though
I may be making the wrong assumption, but I would guess you passed your test on a CB/ER 500. The 748 is not only more powerful and focussed, the power delivery of a twin is very different from the bike you have previously ridden.
They are a lovely bike though
On top of all that, I imagine a 748 is a rather focussed sports bike, not designed for compromise. If you use it very occasionally, how long will it take for you to be comfortable and used to it, so that you actually enjoy the rides? It took about a week of near enough constant riding for me to really enjoy myself on my zx6r...
YamR1V64motion said:
secondly i havent owned a Ducati but i know people who have and they can either be great or a complete nightmare reliability wise, im sure a Ducati owner will be along shortly to tell you the various pit falls and what to look out for
- ding*
The best advice I can offer is to join http://www.ducatisti.co.uk and tap into the wealth of knowledge available there. From my (admittedly limited) experience the Monster is a great first bike. Makes the right noises, feels frisky without being too much and after being knocked off it I know it can take a fall without too much expense (nice wide bars and low exhaust cans stopp wholesale damage to expensive bits!). The good thing about the Monster is that it is nice and simple and air cooled. Not too much to go wrong (vigourously touches wood...oooerr missus.
). As the ST2 is probably a non runner for a while I'm taking the Monster to Bologna next week to visit the factory for a tour. 
Good luck in your search!
If the Monster idea appeals have a look at http://www.ukmonster.co.uk
Edited by johnnystorm on Tuesday 17th July 20:15
Oh, and while I will be shot by the Ducatisti Paramilitary Wing for saying this, have you considered a Suzuki SV650? My mate got the fully faired Sport one for £4k brand new with 3 years 0% finance. Sporty mid-sized V-Twin, fast enough to be fun, tame enough to not be a death trap and while Suzuki aren't cast iron build quality I bet it'd be less hassle than a 10 year old 748.
Maybe I'm old but:
Early 748's - either a money pit or a perfect example going for silly money.
Good idea as a first bike? - great for that immediate tarmac / hedge / other vehicle interface experience. Forgiving of imperfect rider input they are not.
Even the idea of a CBR600 as an ideal first bike scares me. More forgiving than the Duc but still a hell of a step-up for anyone going from 125 land.
Consider getting a bike where the limiting factor becoming the bike rather than the rider is a reasonable possibilty within a year or so. If you ride bikes that are so much more capable than your abilities allow, you don't really learn how bikes feel and react when near the limit.
I don't know what your abilities are so no offence intended at all - just my views,
Dave
Early 748's - either a money pit or a perfect example going for silly money.
Good idea as a first bike? - great for that immediate tarmac / hedge / other vehicle interface experience. Forgiving of imperfect rider input they are not.
Even the idea of a CBR600 as an ideal first bike scares me. More forgiving than the Duc but still a hell of a step-up for anyone going from 125 land.
Consider getting a bike where the limiting factor becoming the bike rather than the rider is a reasonable possibilty within a year or so. If you ride bikes that are so much more capable than your abilities allow, you don't really learn how bikes feel and react when near the limit.
I don't know what your abilities are so no offence intended at all - just my views,
Dave
I wrote this for the should I get a GSXR 750 or 600 question:
A 600 will go as fast as you want/need it to and will cost less on insurance and wear out tyres and chains at a slower rate. To be honest if you are new to biking most of the current 600-1000 race reps probably aren't that good you won't have the skill yet to get the most out of them but the riding position will be uncompromising and uncomfortable.
Something like a Fazer 600, Thundercat or an SV650S will be practically as quick as a race rep in a novices hands but will be more comfortable to ride on.
A 600 will go as fast as you want/need it to and will cost less on insurance and wear out tyres and chains at a slower rate. To be honest if you are new to biking most of the current 600-1000 race reps probably aren't that good you won't have the skill yet to get the most out of them but the riding position will be uncompromising and uncomfortable.
Something like a Fazer 600, Thundercat or an SV650S will be practically as quick as a race rep in a novices hands but will be more comfortable to ride on.
I've had 748's for 6 years and I love them to bits, but I wouldn't suggest them as a first bike.
They need riding hard to get the best out of them, anything less and they just don't feel as good as a "normal" bike.
Get something a little less focused (the power is not an issue as you have to wring its neck to get the most out of it, its unlikely to catch you unawares) an older 600 or Triumph maybe.
I still maintain that an SV650 is one of the ideal bikes to start on and build confidence, then after a few months and thousand miles, move to something a bit sharper. You won't regret it. Fun and plenty quick enough to start with, you'll be grinding the pegs and having a ball soon enough. Try that on a duke and you'll end up in casualty! Even after 15 years of riding I find myself giggling like a mad thing if I ride one as a loaner whn the duke is in for servicing. (An increasingly common occurance it seems at the moment!)
The Duke can make you feel like a wally if you just pootle, but when you have the nuts to cane it, it comes alive. A new rider really should step up to a machine that demands you push it, rather than just leaping on as you leav the test centre.
They need riding hard to get the best out of them, anything less and they just don't feel as good as a "normal" bike.
Get something a little less focused (the power is not an issue as you have to wring its neck to get the most out of it, its unlikely to catch you unawares) an older 600 or Triumph maybe.
I still maintain that an SV650 is one of the ideal bikes to start on and build confidence, then after a few months and thousand miles, move to something a bit sharper. You won't regret it. Fun and plenty quick enough to start with, you'll be grinding the pegs and having a ball soon enough. Try that on a duke and you'll end up in casualty! Even after 15 years of riding I find myself giggling like a mad thing if I ride one as a loaner whn the duke is in for servicing. (An increasingly common occurance it seems at the moment!)
The Duke can make you feel like a wally if you just pootle, but when you have the nuts to cane it, it comes alive. A new rider really should step up to a machine that demands you push it, rather than just leaping on as you leav the test centre.
Edited by IforB on Tuesday 17th July 23:53
Some good advice above me. If you want too pose, hell yea, go for the red thing, or if you want too have a long career on bikes, serve your apprenticeship on something that would better suite your skill level at the moment.
Don't forget too go out in jeans and trainers/sit outside your local dealers/travel to work in traffic for five years, and accumulate a few thousand miles then tell every one you know everything, because you've read it in Ride, MCN, etc etc.
All the best.
John.
Don't forget too go out in jeans and trainers/sit outside your local dealers/travel to work in traffic for five years, and accumulate a few thousand miles then tell every one you know everything, because you've read it in Ride, MCN, etc etc.
All the best.
John.
Just got back home. Thanks for all the advice - none of it is wasted. My head absolutely agrees with the majority of the 'cut your teeth on something more forgiving' advice. Similar rules apply to cars or snowboards or many other bits of machinery.
At the end of the day, I expect I wll 'grow out of' the Ducati thing - but it has been useful to get some opinions from more experienced bike riders.
At the end of the day, I expect I wll 'grow out of' the Ducati thing - but it has been useful to get some opinions from more experienced bike riders.
just a thought, and i know i always seem to sugest this to people wanting to get thier first sportsbike, but again i will say it, a VFR or RVF 400, its a proper sportsbike-flickable agile through the corners and plenty fast enough for your first bike, yes thier only about 60 BHP but im glad i had one for a while before i progressed onto bigger bikes, not only was it great fun overtaking bigger bikes on the twisty roads sometimes but they look and sound great too and you can get a well maintained one for sub £2k and it will drop hardly anything if you keep it for a year.
I would have to say no. They are horribly uncomfortable, the turning circle is similar to a cross-channel ferry, oh and the clutch is quite heavy and its got a long first gear so much clutch slipping is required to get it off the line. Plus the 748 doesn't have a rgeat reputation for reliability. IMHO the previously mentioned SV650 is a much better idea, much more newbie-friendly. The 748 will either form an unbreakable bond with you or it will turn out to be an annoying, hard to ride money pit. IMHO a definite no-no as a first bike.
748 as a first bike? maybe not the best choice but they are not so ferociously powerful (a la Gixxer 1000 etc) that they will 'spit' you off easily.
Downsides are; uncomfortable, especially at low speeds where there is too much weight on the wrists and the exhaust'll cook your thigh, your neck needs to twisted right back to see where you're going. They are 'garage whores' needing a (expensive) service at least once a year (or every 6000 miles but best to change the oil at 3000) which will include valve a clearance check at every service and belts every second service - do not skimp on valve checks and belts if the valve clearances are loose it will cause the (notoriously 'flakey') rocker arms to 'flake' even sooner - rockers cost around £100 each and there are 16 of them, it is likely that at least some will have been or need to be replaced. If the rocker to valve clearances are wrong the rockers will 'eat' the cams (more expense), if the cambelts break then the cost of repair will likely exceed the value of an older bike
Early (pre 2000) bikes have marginal electrical systems and regulators and associated wiring are prone to failure (especially if the fuel filter is blocked) headlight is crap.
On the plus side they are fairly tolerant of mechanical abuse, crash well
not too heavy on tyres and return good MPG, have a 'nice' power delivery, good brakes and great cornering ability and ground clearance (you will not scrape the footpegs without falling off) are fast enough for road use (150mph) and of course have that Ducati V-twin growl.
I have a 916 which is essentially the same bike but with a larger engine and it has been reliable with no major, unexpected issues but I have maintained and serviced it regardless of cost.
Servicing costs start at around £300 upwards (just paid £550 for full belts/cams service which included one new rocker).
You know it makes sense........
Downsides are; uncomfortable, especially at low speeds where there is too much weight on the wrists and the exhaust'll cook your thigh, your neck needs to twisted right back to see where you're going. They are 'garage whores' needing a (expensive) service at least once a year (or every 6000 miles but best to change the oil at 3000) which will include valve a clearance check at every service and belts every second service - do not skimp on valve checks and belts if the valve clearances are loose it will cause the (notoriously 'flakey') rocker arms to 'flake' even sooner - rockers cost around £100 each and there are 16 of them, it is likely that at least some will have been or need to be replaced. If the rocker to valve clearances are wrong the rockers will 'eat' the cams (more expense), if the cambelts break then the cost of repair will likely exceed the value of an older bike
Early (pre 2000) bikes have marginal electrical systems and regulators and associated wiring are prone to failure (especially if the fuel filter is blocked) headlight is crap.
On the plus side they are fairly tolerant of mechanical abuse, crash well
not too heavy on tyres and return good MPG, have a 'nice' power delivery, good brakes and great cornering ability and ground clearance (you will not scrape the footpegs without falling off) are fast enough for road use (150mph) and of course have that Ducati V-twin growl.I have a 916 which is essentially the same bike but with a larger engine and it has been reliable with no major, unexpected issues but I have maintained and serviced it regardless of cost.
Servicing costs start at around £300 upwards (just paid £550 for full belts/cams service which included one new rocker).
You know it makes sense........
I have no experience of a Ducati so can’t comment in the specific suitability of a 748. Others here with Ducati ownership experience have already commented on that.
What I would say though is that any bike will do as a first bike as long as you are completely honest with yourself as regards your lack of ability. If you only want a bike for an occasionally sunny Sunday afternoon pose then you must understand that you will never really learn how to ride and will always be under utilising the bikes capabilities (or putting yourself in serious danger if you attempt to use the bikes capabilities). If you are happy with those limitations then the capacity/bhp of a bike is pretty irrelevant. After all, it’s actually easier to close a throttle than it is to open it.
If you want to ride properly then you will need to practice – lots. Riding a smaller capacity bike will teach you more about how to make the most of a bikes abilities and a good road rider on almost any sports bikes of over about 500cc’s (and a lot of the 400’s) will be able to keep up with most litre bikes in road conditions. They do pretty well on the track too as a lot of red faced litre sports bike riders will tell you – if their honest!!
The down side of almost any sports bike is that generally they are pretty uncompromising and very focused when it comes to things like creature comforts. This is not a problem (even an advantage at times) if you are putting some effort into getting the bike to do what it does best, but it can be a real PTA (literally) as well as a pain in the wrists, neck, back and legs if you find you are not able make use of the bikes strong points. They are generally not good for slow speed posing.
I hope that helps with you choice.
What I would say though is that any bike will do as a first bike as long as you are completely honest with yourself as regards your lack of ability. If you only want a bike for an occasionally sunny Sunday afternoon pose then you must understand that you will never really learn how to ride and will always be under utilising the bikes capabilities (or putting yourself in serious danger if you attempt to use the bikes capabilities). If you are happy with those limitations then the capacity/bhp of a bike is pretty irrelevant. After all, it’s actually easier to close a throttle than it is to open it.
If you want to ride properly then you will need to practice – lots. Riding a smaller capacity bike will teach you more about how to make the most of a bikes abilities and a good road rider on almost any sports bikes of over about 500cc’s (and a lot of the 400’s) will be able to keep up with most litre bikes in road conditions. They do pretty well on the track too as a lot of red faced litre sports bike riders will tell you – if their honest!!
The down side of almost any sports bike is that generally they are pretty uncompromising and very focused when it comes to things like creature comforts. This is not a problem (even an advantage at times) if you are putting some effort into getting the bike to do what it does best, but it can be a real PTA (literally) as well as a pain in the wrists, neck, back and legs if you find you are not able make use of the bikes strong points. They are generally not good for slow speed posing.
I hope that helps with you choice.
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