Do I want a Ducati?

[JAMSXR]

Been off two wheels for over 6 months now and have started to plan my come back! Now in the past I have been riding all year round but now I can afford a bike and a car I will tend to be a fair weather rider. I have started looking around and having never owned an Italian twin I quite fancy a Ducati, now the plan was to get a zx10r but I keep finding myself looking at Ducati’s! I think because as I will only be using it on nice dry day’s reliability and running costs are not as much as an issue as they have been in the past. I like the idea of owning a Ducati because they a just that little bit more special than your average Jap IL4. I know the Jap bikes will give you a better overall package but I just have an urge to own a Ducati.

The two Ducati’s in my price range are the 748 and the 749, would be good to hear from anyone who has owned/ridden one, and to get their thoughts.


Cheers
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[craigs23]

Best person to ask is G, he loves Italian twins.

[JAMSXR]

[Mr Nice Guy]

Damn google images for foiling my *insert witty picture of glamouress sexy Italian twin models that G loves* that I was planning posting!!!!
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[Mr Nice Guy]

Surely a 748/749 would be a bit of a come down after a thou four?

Speaking of point and squirt only, it very well may be superior in the handling etc etc
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[JAMSXR]

I am not really looking for the best bike I can buy in terms of power and handling, I want something with character and a bit different. My best bet is go to a dealer and try and get a test ride, and then I might realise that a 1000cc ballistic zx10r would be the better option.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[Mr Nice Guy]

Isn't Half Lyfe selling his 749?

If you're brave...
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[Barry_M2]

[Barry_M2]

[G]

The 748 actually has power delivery a bit like a litre four, just toned down quite a lot.
For me the power delivery would make sense in a naked bike, but not so much in a hunched-over focused race chassis... same with the 675.

If you 'Just want to own a Ducati', then asking other people might not be the answer .
Some people have done this and come back saying they love the bike (at which I point I suggest they would love any bike they spent a load of money on), while I've known others to have it up for sale with in a few weeks because "it's boring"!

No pics of 'good' Italian twins as I'm in an office, I'm afraid.

I dislike twins and doubly so overpriced ones, whereever they come from (I have actually been seen recommending the RSV-R on occasion!)
If you want 'character', you could always get a new GSXR1000, then use the lowest power mode and chuck a bag of bolts under the rear seat, while slowing down the handling a bit .

[D O G]

I love Ducatis, but I would never buy one...

EDIT:
Well actually I would buy one, but only as a second/third bike, once I already had a nice performance bike.

I wouldn't buy a contemporary model though, they're for the poseurs.

[JAMSXR]

I loved my RVF400 and that had 50-60 Bhp and a hunched-over focused race chassis!
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[Barry_M2]

[JAMSXR]

I have a budget of £4000 give or take a little, so I am not exactuly spending loads.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[G]

[Barry_M2]

[MarkJ]

Don't forget to look at the old (2nd) shape RSV-R's

[Barry_M2]

[quote="G"]

[JAMSXR]

[Barry_M2]

[MarkJ]

[G]

Nope, mine didn't have the associated 'trendy' status that a lot of Ducatis have, thankfully .

The point was that cheap and even making money from them doesn't mean they weren't overpriced in the first place!

I would call the power delivery and handling of a Ducati 'boring' compared to the alternatives available.
I prefer a bike that encourages me to turn the throttle more, lean that bit more; while the Ducati it seems does what it's told (quite well) but no more.
I'm not actually a fan of litre bikes generally either, as they too easily satisfy my needs.
As I've gone on about before, I suspect aural stimulation is partly to do with one of the reasons I like fours; there's more of an obvious response to when you are making the most of the engine than on a twin.

I'd always had the impression the big Aprilias at least had better 'quality' than the big Ducatis if anything.

[JAMSXR]

I guess it’s all about riding style as well as preference. I do remember a review comparing a 749 and a K4 GSXR 600 and despite being allot more expensive they pretty much put then on an even par.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[Barry_M2]

[G]

On track my main issue with twins is working out what revs you're at.
Otherwise, I'm riding it the same whatever bike it is generally; so it's merely a case of dropping back slightly more compared to the person infront if you're in the wrong gear.