Ducati

[jimbo14]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to get people unbiased opinion on Ducatis. Personally I think they look good and sound great. I think its also good that they are alittle more unique, and not too expencive for an Italian machine. However I have spend a fair bit of time on a Ducati forum and all the guys do is ask questions about their bike breaking down. So many members of ducati.ms seem to constantly have technical problems.

So what do you think of Ducati - are they a load of rubbish or are they beautiful exotic machines?

[moose]

personal opinion, not quite "load of rubbish", but way over-rated.

[slash]

Yes, look good, sound good, on the track good, throw lots of $ to keep them that way.
I won't offend anyone by saying what I think of them:cussing:

[jimbo14]

Please do Slash!

[GN3GTO]

Awsome machines and more than proven themselves on the track but are "high maintenance" in that they are suceptible to mechanical problems a little too often.

I have a mechanic mate who works on them over in Cyprus and he reckons that some have oil leak issues out the box let alone after being ridden.

In any case they are expensive to maintain as opposed to their Jap counterparts but are sex on wheels IMO specially with a pair of Termi's on.

My 2cents......:)

[RobSS]

I own a 1995 900SS and I am waiting for my 1098 to arrive.
I bought the 900SS brand new and have just clocked 55000kms. Its been pretty much trouble free, but its not used daily. Its been such a great bike that I'm going to keep it after the new bike arrives.
The thing about Dukes is that they need their regular maintainance. This includes fresh oil, valves adjusted every 10000kms and cams belts replaced every 2 years without fail.
I may be biased, but in eyes nothing else comes close. And you can't beat the sound.

[Vulture]

I love the Sportclassic range. The Sport 1000 looks like it'd do me just fine.

[klink]

I love the look of the 916-998 range the new shape hasnt grown on me yet.

i would suggest looking at what you want from the bike, for an everyday bike i would look at Jap as the ducati can be expensive to maintain compared to Jap stuff.

Plus the way the power delivery is setup due to it being a twin is different to the jap stuff, lots of tourque.

If your looking into getting one look at the engine specs carefully, as you may find your better off getting the S model rather than an R model (good luck if you can afford one) as the S model has similiar spec engine to the previous years R model without all the carbon bits and you wont have to shell out 50-60k for it.

Problem with the ducati is they are not that rare anymore as there is alot of them around,

If you like twins try an aprillia rsv mille 1000. they look trick. imo

[VU_SS_UTE]

Theres no tougher bike than a Monster!!! (The new Speed Triple is close)

All the injected ones seem to be fine, the older ones are a bit dodgy it seems.

A mates old man had a 1000S Monster and an ST4 and never had an issue with either of them, and they both saw long rides, short rides and the track...

klink - Not every jap bike is a whipper snipper (inline 4), and also the Aprilias are only 60 degree twins, they dont sound as tough as the 90 deg twins (Ducati, Suzuki SV etc)

[jimbo14]

I agree with you VU SS UTE, the Monsters are tough. But as tough as a Buell Firebolt.... Im not sure haha.

Thanks for all of your unbiased opinions guys!

RobSS you must please post pictures of your 1098 when it arrives, I love them! When is it due?

Ok now how about MV Agusta's?

[GN3GTO]

Now the MV 's may not be the most technically advanced bikes around and I'm talking about the 750's mostly(don't exactly know about the 1000) but my god they look SICK on the road and in the flesh.

Love them as they are super :cool: :cool: :cool:

[Malcolmsp]

I love my Monster...sometimes it gets dirty :wave:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/118/363183445_baccb56353_o.jpg

cheers
Mal

[jimbo14]

Haha, nice one.

[slash]

I agree with you VU SS UTE, the Monsters are tough. But as tough as a Buell Firebolt.... Im not sure haha.

Thanks for all of your unbiased opinions guys!

RobSS you must please post pictures of your 1098 when it arrives, I love them! When is it due?

Ok now how about MV Agusta's?

I've heard of mapping problems with certain MV's.

[VU_SS_UTE]

I agree with you VU SS UTE, the Monsters are tough. But as tough as a Buell Firebolt.... Im not sure haha.

Thanks for all of your unbiased opinions guys!

RobSS you must please post pictures of your 1098 when it arrives, I love them! When is it due?

Ok now how about MV Agusta's?

Buell pfft, with that dirty farting armchair motor in them! Nowhere near as tough as a Monster.

I'll get pics of a 1098 'S' up for you soon, the same mates old man has the only 1098 S coming to Tas so far.

MV Augusta's are nice bikes, but plain and simply they cost too much for what they are. The Brutale would be an awesome machine if id had a V twin like it was meant to, its just not tough enough with the pissy whipper snipper 4cyl motor.

[Satansfist]

I've owned 3 Ducati's so far, an '82 SD 900 Darmah, a '76 green frame 900SS with Imola tank and a '98 900SS, the only troubles I had was with the Darmah and that was traced to a loose wire in the instruments...sorted in quick order. Never once had a problem with oil leaks, reliability or costs of maintenance, if you can't afford to have the bike serviced as it should be then a Ducati isn't the bike for you.

Loved all of them (especially the '76 SS...wish I'd never sold it now:bawl:)and will revisit the Ducati experience in my biking future.

[jimbo14]

Hmm very interesting.

I have heard the Triumph Daytona's are fantastic Bikes with there three cylinders. I think it won an award from 'Motorcycle news' magazine.

[Satansfist]

I'd go one of the new Speed Triples, with the bigger engines, helluva lot of fun apparently.

[VU_SS_UTE]

Hmm very interesting.

I have heard the Triumph Daytona's are fantastic Bikes with there three cylinders. I think it won an award from 'Motorcycle news' magazine.

Thats the new 675 Daytona, awesome bike, all the mags loved it!


I'd go one of the new Speed Triples, with the bigger engines, helluva lot of fun apparently.

Depends on what you want, the 675s far quicker round the bends etc, the Speed Triple is more of a hooligan bike and an absolute wheelstand machine (the reason i'll be upgrading to one asap!)


I love my Monster...sometimes it gets dirty :wave:

cheers
Mal

I can hear it crying out for pipes from here :p

And that shovel mounted off the rear of the seat really needs to be shown the boot :thumbsup:

[RobSS]

I agree with you VU SS UTE, the Monsters are tough. But as tough as a Buell Firebolt.... Im not sure haha.

Thanks for all of your unbiased opinions guys!

RobSS you must please post pictures of your 1098 when it arrives, I love them! When is it due?

Ok now how about MV Agusta's?

Jimbo14.

I ordered my 1098 in late Jan, its expected to arrive in April/May.

The waiting list is now around 5 months.

What kind of bike are you looking to get?

Rob

[Malcolmsp]

I can hear it crying out for pipes from here :p

And that shovel mounted off the rear of the seat really needs to be shown the boot :thumbsup:

It has a full termi 50mm system on it now...you won't hear any crying over the booming exhaust...the shovel still needs to be sorted.

cheers
Mal

[jimbo14]

Jimbo14.

I ordered my 1098 in late Jan, its expected to arrive in April/May.

The waiting list is now around 5 months.

What kind of bike are you looking to get?

Rob

Well I have my Learners permit and I have ridden my mates Honda CBR250RR. I don't have the cash now but I have just started my final year at university. When I start working full I will either buy a performance car or a motorbike. Im not sure yet though. I was asking about Ducati's just out of pure curiosity.

[pirate]

Like what has been said by others if you can't afford to maintain your bike then don't buy a Ducati. I had a 998 and never had any trouble with it, mind you I bought it brand new and it was always serviced properly. They are a bit more temprementle than a Jap bike but there is no comparision in my opinion. I have had many bikes and ridden plenty and I would never purchase anything else therefore when it comes time to purchase another bike I will be throwing my hard earned at one of the 1098's.

[VU_SS_UTE]

It has a full termi 50mm system on it now...you won't hear any crying over the booming exhaust...the shovel still needs to be sorted.

cheers
Mal

That would sound awesome!!

[OPPYLOCK]

I owned a Monster for a couple of years and never had a problem with it. Servicing was expensive but the scheduled maitenance periods were twice as long as Jap bikes so it didn't work out that much more expensive for me. I found the clutch pretty heavy around town but thats my only gripe.
Now have a Cagiva Raptor and its the best of both worlds, Italian biike with a Japanese motor!!!

[DNA]

my mate has a 999R he sold his 900SS to get it. Its the most looked after bike I have ever seen.......

Sounds awesome and is a ton of fun to ride.....top bit of kit.....

now if I could justify spending more than 30k on a bike.....haha

[Quen10]

I had a 2000 748R Duke and whilst it was a piece of sex to look at it really was only made for the true racer.

Something i pretended i was but surely wasnt.

Fantastic peice of machine, single sided swing arm, termigonis etc etc and a real head turner... but only good for small rides etc.

Seat would go so hot from the pipes, Slipper clutch was at times a pig

I didnt have much trust in the front end comapred to the CBR 600 i use to have but they are a lovely bike to look at.

[Satansfist]

Here's my latest, waiting for me at the bike shop, can't stay away from them:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g115/Satansfist/DSCN3448.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g115/Satansfist/DSCN3447.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g115/Satansfist/DSCN3446.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g115/Satansfist/DSCN3442.jpg

And here's what it's going to become like...cept black of course...Oneducs bike from www.ducati.ms forums...

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g115/Satansfist/MS4.jpg

[ROGUE]

i've been drooling after a duke or buell for a while now.

originally i wanted something 'fast', and i've had my heart set on the 916SPS.

but after seeing the monsters, i think i'm leaning towards one of those.

my 'boy racer' days are over, and i've had my fair share of fast bikes, so now i just want something that's torquey and lazy, and sounds fkn awesome.

monster anyone?

[old holden V8]

Ducati?

I have never had one, but, I like many here lust after one. Either an ST3 or a Monster.

I have though, owned quite a few Euro bikes, mainly BMW.

My take is that on the whole they require a little more TLC/maintenance than a Japanese bike. I don't really care whether that means English - Italian - german; even American - whatever. But any bike (other than econo models) needs loads more maintanance that a car, it just they way it is, tyres, drive chain, brakes, valve clearences, etc..

If you were to compare, say an average garden variety Ducati (NOT a 1098..) with a SV Suzuki, or VTR Honda it woud be hard choice. But there is intangibles at play that swing it for some punters, not all, but some.

Badge. Heritage. Reputation. Character. Racing Success.

Some people are prepared to pay $$ for it. Some don't want - or need it.

Finally, the modern Duke is a different kettle of fish to ~25 Y.O version. I have memories of Darmah's at Rallys coming in with broken gearboxes, towed in by XJ 900's....The reliablity factor has improved to just as a good as a Japanese IMHO. Modern Japanese bikes need just as much as the Euro's. Just look at the current crop of big 4ST dirt weapons....



My 2c

Laurie

:-)

[Satansfist]

i've been drooling after a duke or buell for a while now.

originally i wanted something 'fast', and i've had my heart set on the 916SPS.

but after seeing the monsters, i think i'm leaning towards one of those.

my 'boy racer' days are over, and i've had my fair share of fast bikes, so now i just want something that's torquey and lazy, and sounds fkn awesome.

monster anyone?

I'm in the same boat mate, getting too old for the riding positions to actually enjoy the ride anymore. Hopefully the S4 will give me the best of both worlds: 916 engine with a decent riding position.

By the time I'm finished with this new one it'll be quite a mean piece of work. Already bought carbon fibre bits and pieces up the ying-yang and luckily whoever owned it before me already opted for the factory power up through the pipes/airbox/ECU mods.

Now I just have to wait till June to actually ride it!

[VB2VT]

ahh ducati's, where to start, they sound great most of em look great especially that new 1080 or whatever it is! PORN! but the 999 and little bro 749 did look crap! So lets face it if ya after something a little exotic are a total showoff and cant find the value in a japanese sportsbike then go for it!! Be warned they are expensive for parts/servicing and you need to join a waiting list to get em fixed! id still buy one regardless all i need is a much higher income! oh and ill have to discount its true competition the mv agusta and the benelli, i take it back i might buy an old one but not before the benelli and the agusta!

[DNA]

I much prefer the 996 shape.....

now that was sex on wheels!!

[warrend]

Saw two guys on Brand new Ducatis last week at Phillip Island track day, I think they are 1098's, anyway they look and sound superb, but I am told the servicing costs are a nightmare, and that they can be unreliable (this was from a guy that owns/races one). The MV's look great as well with the four pipes coming out from under the seat, but again costs, I was told that the guy with the MV paid 3k just for a performance pipe, for me i will stay with the Japanese makes I currently own 05 CBR1000RR, it may not have the power of the R1 or the ZX10, but its very user friendly and a joy to ride whether it be track or road, depending on your age (I am 48) I am told the ducatis also can be uncomfortable on your wrists on a long ride, but i am probably just a jealous old man, have fun with whatever you decide on

[jerrel]

theres nothing better then an mv augusta in my honast opinion.

[DNA]

i have a mate who has an MV.........he has a carbon tank that he got from Italy....tank alone cost 6500.....

The exhaust system on those things is gorgeous!

[Vulture]

http://www.ducati.com.au/07sportClassicSport1000S.php :drool:

Maybe I'm getting older but one of these in red :drool:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/238/445487339_6127828e92_o.jpg

[VU_SS_UTE]

theres nothing better then an mv augusta in my honast opinion.

Nothing pricier you mean...

Great bikes but the prices are just stupid for what you get!

[Frankster_P]

Since we are on the topic of italian bikes, how about the Moto Guzzi's?

Nice looking and sounding bikes.

Models like the California and 1200 Sport.