Anyone own/owned a Ducati 749?

[swiftb]

Im seriously considering one of these. At the minute its a toss up between a 749, and either a 2006 gsxr600 or zx6r.
Ive read various bits and bobs about the Duke on the net and it seems to be a bit of a marmite bike. Some rave about it, some hate about it.
I always wanted a Ducati and I have a serious hard on for the styling of the 749/999 at the minute. Unfortunately, nipping to the local dealer for a test ride is proving difficult as the nearest ones are all 60-70 miles away. So until one comes up a bit closer for me to test ride (wont be buying from a dealer) to see if I like it or not, id like to hear some 1st hand experience.

Current ride being a zx6r I find I dont very often use the high end of the rev range, and I dont often exceed 120mph, Basically due to spending most of my time riding twisty fast B roads.
So maybe a Duke would suit my style/needs

Anyways, would be good to hear opinions/advice from any of you that own or have owned one. Especially those who went from an IL4.

[garth]

I've ridden one and I loved it. It's got to be a gloss black one though.

So slim when you're sat on them.

Also it's a 4V duke with no rocker problems unlike the 748/916.

I wouldn't hesitate to own one over an IL4 sports 600. Although they're not as outright fast, more enjoyable on the road.
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[rac3r]

Nope but I'm pretty much set on one as my next bike (better start saving)

As far as I know one fault that seems to be common it slow speed stalling but it's an easy fix.

Have a look here: https://www.ducatisti.co.uk/forum/ducati-749/



(PS listen to the one in the first non sticky topic )
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[swiftb]

[rac3r]

I want a red one

Doesn't ben (not 848 ben) but the other one have one?
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Seb]

Always fancied one but various mixed stories about the clocks not being particularly keen on rain put me off, if I had a garage I suspect I'd probably have been looking at them instead of going with the more sensible zx-9 option
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Wave owned a 749R.

IIRC the subframe broke in Scotland?

He's certainly one to ask.
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[R6jonny]

[rac3r]

Wave had the Monoposto I think and loaded it with luggage or something. If you want to do that or carry pillions get a Biposto
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[R6jonny]

I've not owned a 749 series bike but i did have Wave's for a weekend. My impressions of it were that it was a superb bike. It was stiff and needed some input to get it turned in as most Ducati's do but once it was mid-corner it was so stable. Termignoni cans were great, it was trick too!

It was probably a bit too harsh if you were going to use it everyday as a commuter but as a toy it would be great, i even think the looks of the bike are maturing nicely too

Of course what it was like to live with long term i couldnt say
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Honda NSR125 - Yamaha R6 - Ducati 748 - Suzuki GSXR750K6/GSXR1000K7/GSXR750K8 - Ducati 848 - Honda SP1 - Triumph Daytona 675
"simply because she is a female and is thus her actions largely make no sense whatsoever by default"

[bEN_]

Sounds like your getting pissed off like i was with my R6, had to scream it to move anywhere, stupid revs, sounded just like every other bike out there.

you could test ride an 848 properly setup, SC1 supercorsa's and gutted cans if you lived near me

i was considering a 748 aswell but i like to ride alot and didn't fancy having a bike that needs servicing every 400 yards
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2010 Ducati 848 Dark

Lamp Post Enthusiast

[swiftb]

[Seb]

Given your choice of roads I'm surprised you're keeping your options to sports bikes. My GS500 is way more fun than the 9 when it comes to hustling along tight bumpy little country lanes, I really dread to think how much fun a properly capable SM would be along that stuff
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[swiftb]

Ive considered allsorts seb. Was looking at a KTM as a 2nd bike, but decided doing 3k a yr over 2 bikes is a complete waste of money. The B roads I hit are quite wide, pretty smooth (only certain sections are bumpy) and generally a right hoot even on a sportsbike. As I prefer the riding position over anything else Im sticking with them for now. Also still want the sportsbike for group rides which tend to be on the A roads etc.
Id love a supermoto but only as a 2nd option.

[Spit-Fire]

why a 749....? used they cost only a little less then a 999
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they say the good die young... i say we just live faster

[swiftb]

999 has a lot more bhp which is a factor I want to avoid. From what ive read 749 is meant to be a much more useable road bike

[Spit-Fire]

hmm, you would kinda be paying more for less with the 749 unless you picked up a fair priced one
(not the most common thing with dukes)

is the extra bhp that much on a no no? you control it after all.
you would have a top end better then your current kwack, but still fix the power/rev delivery problem.... win win?

the super sport class seems to hold its value a lot better then the thou's

so going bigger some times is the best way to get a bargain
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they say the good die young... i say we just live faster

[rac3r]

Make sure you have a look on the classifieds on the relevant forums. I actually made a topic on the Monster forum saying I was looking for one and the owner contacted me! I got a pretty good price as well
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[swiftb]

See your point but insurance is also a problem with a 999, extra £200 a yr , but more worrying is the fact the best excess I can get on a 999 is £700 compared to the £250 excess on a 749.

[rac3r]

You've got me looking now!

Here are some:
https://www.ducatisti.co.uk/classified/showcat.php?cat=22
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[rac3r]

Only 1500 on the clock

https://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1849529.htm
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Spit-Fire]

[rac3r]

Yeah I know it's £££ I was just pointing out how low the bloody mileage is!

I think the RSV's aren't too good at low speeds
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Ben.]

Got one. Not as powerful as a 600, and are lazier to turn in. 749 has good brakes.

bad points, bit of a cunt to start if the battery is low, dont get the clocks wet, its just as well built as jap bikes, but jap bikes crash a lot better and handle abuse better (leaving it out in the rain etc)

I dont like mine but I like power and racing round a track... and a 600 is better for track riding.

they are cool bikes if you like b roads and treat it well. Only buy one if its going to be used as weekend treat, also only get one if you like stock bikes because they are horrible to work on and there are no after-market parts for them.

Doesn't suit my riding. Mines up for sale btw.
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Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[silky666]

One of my road riding chums has owned a 749 mono for the past 4 yrs.

Just my 2 pence worth having ridden almost every weekend with him:
Cons:
1) If you get termi's on it (which is the law) ... then you need to have the ecu changed and stuff .. even then the thing stalls all the time. I am talking at least once an hour on a ride out.
Not a problem usualy, unless it catches you out and you start to drop the bike.
2) electrics are a nightmare ... he literally cannot take his out in the wet ... the clocks are an issue, they have the whole bikes control (I know, my mechanical knowledge is poop) system in the same unit .. and when they go then its expensive.
3) Service is more expensive than a jap ... but not over the top really.
4) Build quality is shocking.
5) Materials are shocking .. wires short ... bolts break ... alloy corrodes.

The mechanics at ProTwins all say "thats the way they are ".
His bike is the same year as my R6 ... and has done 1/4 less milage. ... but looks 5x as used.

Pros:
1) looks the daddy.
2) sounds the nuts.
3) handles really well ... easy to use power and great grip.
4) everyone looks at it and comments (they ignore the R6).

See what I mean:
https://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t69/silky666/Bike%20Stuff/devilsdyke.jpg
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