WHAT BIKE NEXT
Discussion
Ok the GSXR 750 is up for sale and hopefully going over the next couple of weeks.This was to fund a new 750 but I keep looking at ducati 999's ,I have had a fire storm which was good but a bit soft and I love the 750 but Inever use all the revs except on a track.so will the 999 or even 749 be the ideal bike . I have never ridden a Ducatti and dont know if the new models are reliable or not.I expect the 750 GSXR to handle better but is 999/749 ownership a better experience.Any suggestions or advice welcome.Thanks
i wouldnt say the GSXR 750 would handle better, in my opinion if you want a Ducati just go and get it out of your system, i have to admit i want one too and if my Fireblade wasnt such an amazing bike i would have got one already, my next bike though i think will be a Ducati, go for an Ohlins+Termi shod 999 if you can 
Ducati ownership will certainly leave your wallet lighter than suzuki ownership.
Sounds almost tightfisted, but the first thing i'd consider ( if i were short and thin enough to be able to ride a duke that is) is the cost of owning the them. Servicing is very expensive, parts should be stored in the national reserve they're so expensive, and when they go wrong (which they do) they're certainly one of the most expensive to fix.
Handling wise, i've only ridden a few dukes, and not for lengthy periods as i'm not comfortable on them due to my height and build, but they're very good. The lack of mental speed compared to say the GSX-R thou or to some extent the 750 is made up for with the feeling you get from putting it through the corners, they really do give you lots of feedback. My criticism of this would be that they're slightly too track focussed for a lot of uk roads, B roads fast become very uncomfortable if they're anything more than slightly bumpy.
Reliability is also something i'd factor into the equation, They've come on leaps and bounds in recent years apparantly, though my mates 749 has had its fair share of problems, mainly electrical, aside of a problem with a brake caliper. I suppose it comes with Italian bikes as standard, they're built with soul, and have soul, Italian soul, which makes them passionate and temperamental!
Great fun though, i'd have one regardless of boring things like reliability or expense if i could fit on one, and if i wasn't a total sucker for souless and reliable japanese bikes.
Honda SP2's are worth a look if twin's are your thing, lovely bikes to ride. from the other side of the fence the ZX-10R is a riot to ride, absolute hooligan of a bike, comes thoroughly recommended.
good luck with whatever you get!
Sounds almost tightfisted, but the first thing i'd consider ( if i were short and thin enough to be able to ride a duke that is) is the cost of owning the them. Servicing is very expensive, parts should be stored in the national reserve they're so expensive, and when they go wrong (which they do) they're certainly one of the most expensive to fix.
Handling wise, i've only ridden a few dukes, and not for lengthy periods as i'm not comfortable on them due to my height and build, but they're very good. The lack of mental speed compared to say the GSX-R thou or to some extent the 750 is made up for with the feeling you get from putting it through the corners, they really do give you lots of feedback. My criticism of this would be that they're slightly too track focussed for a lot of uk roads, B roads fast become very uncomfortable if they're anything more than slightly bumpy.
Reliability is also something i'd factor into the equation, They've come on leaps and bounds in recent years apparantly, though my mates 749 has had its fair share of problems, mainly electrical, aside of a problem with a brake caliper. I suppose it comes with Italian bikes as standard, they're built with soul, and have soul, Italian soul, which makes them passionate and temperamental!
Great fun though, i'd have one regardless of boring things like reliability or expense if i could fit on one, and if i wasn't a total sucker for souless and reliable japanese bikes.
Honda SP2's are worth a look if twin's are your thing, lovely bikes to ride. from the other side of the fence the ZX-10R is a riot to ride, absolute hooligan of a bike, comes thoroughly recommended.
good luck with whatever you get!
Edited by MeLLoN Stu on Friday 30th June 04:10
been out today looking at bikes and now have a complete change of heart with either 04 model R1 or 05 fireblade been top of list.Ducati 999 's are nice but just to expensive and I do like Jap reliability.Suzuki 750 looks great and I have loved having mine but I think it might be time to move up to a thou.Just got to sell mine or I think ill have to go down the px route which I know is going to be more expensive.Oh and fixed the lights.
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