Jap 600 vs Ducati 748/916/996 etc
Discussion
Sorry Vigil may have caught the topic at a late stage but my old 748 with Termis and cans made 96bhp at the back wheel, it was an 748S so did not have the titanium con-rods etc like the R (same engine as 748E) and the 916 makes around 100bhp to 110bhp, on the road with a friend (on a 916)there was nothing in it at all.
The 916 had a bit more grunt but when I rode I did't enjoy it as much as my 748. I would have thought as a first bike to go 748, also I don't know if you'd agree but the Senna does not do it for me anywhere near as much as a mint 748 with Termis and single seat unit etc, although 4.5k for a Senna seems very good.............test ride is important for you on both.
The 916 had a bit more grunt but when I rode I did't enjoy it as much as my 748. I would have thought as a first bike to go 748, also I don't know if you'd agree but the Senna does not do it for me anywhere near as much as a mint 748 with Termis and single seat unit etc, although 4.5k for a Senna seems very good.............test ride is important for you on both.
996 sps said:
If you go PH Bike Sales Ducati (not advanced enough in my IT skills to do a link ha ha) there is a mint 748R, kept in kitchen as an ornament, worth looking at!!!!!!! I'd love it......
Very nice looking bike. Excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between 916, 996 and a 748 fairing...
Didn't realise the 748 made that close power to a 916....hmmmm
virgil said:
Very nice looking bike. Excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between 916, 996 and a 748 fairing...
Didn't realise the 748 made that close power to a 916....hmmmm
748, 916 & 996 all had the same side fairings (decals aside) but the 998 fairing has no large vents, Ducati reckoned the vents were not needed for cooling the 998 (hotter?) engine so closed them for better aerodynamics (funny how they've 'opened' them again on the 1098). 998 fairings will fit the older models but older fairings will not fit a 998.
Regarding the HP difference on the 748 to the 916 there is not a huge difference (10hp) but the 916 produces much more torque (particularly low down), and has a much flatter torque curve, the 996 even more so and so less gear changing is required making it 'easier' to ride, particularly on the road, some prefer the way the 748 delivers, particularly for track use. There are 853cc kits (916 clinders & pistons) for the 748 that claim to give the best of both worlds - according to Sigma performance "The best bike Ducati never made" www.sigmaperformance.com/748-853.html
catso said:
Regarding the HP difference on the 748 to the 916 there is not a huge difference (10hp) but the 916 produces much more torque (particularly low down), and has a much flatter torque curve, the 996 even more so and so less gear changing is required making it 'easier' to ride, particularly on the road
Yup this is the most important point for me.
People just get so fixated by horse power
which is fine for pure track/race use, but for real road riding the area under the torque curve is what is more important. When I had my Monster 750, with it's measly 74hp, but lovely broad torque curve and superb chassis, more than one Jap 4 cyl rider that derided my bike choice (then bro-in-law included) would be confused as to why they weren't often so much faster on the road with their 25-30hp advantage plus the fact they were often having to ride harder as well.
aeropilot said:
People just get so fixated by horse power
which is fine for pure track/race use, but for real road riding the area under the torque curve is what is more important. Exactly, your M750 proves the point. Best example I can think of is an old 900SS they 'only' put out around 80hp but punch well above their weight due to the fat torque curve, (2 valve Ducatis make even better low-down than the 4 valve), lightweight and top-class chassis, these bikes are able to keep up with bikes that are, on paper, far superior.
A good bike is about the combination of many factors and not just the sum total of it's parts and specifications, Italian bike manufacturers were well ahead of the Japanese with this concept, (witness the heyday of Bimota using Jap engines in Italian frames) and Ducati have been masters of the art and have used it to great effect for a long time, how else have they won so many WSBK championships when their bikes have always been (even now) significantly down on horsepower?
Edited by catso on Tuesday 27th February 11:10
aeropilot said:
When I had my Monster 750, with it's measly 74hp,
I lied, I've just checked, it was only 62hp.....
How the years dim the brain cells.
Mind you that's about the same hp as my Harley that is just over double the capacity...
Mind you te Harley has double the torque of the little Monnie....
Err...and double the weight....
Edited by aeropilot on Tuesday 27th February 11:27
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff