Ducati

[killa]

Can someone please tell me what it is like to own a Ducatti and what is the owners and everyone else’s view on the reliability and costs of one.
I might be interested in one, if I do buy one I will be riding it all year round like I have with my others, so how will it cope with our changes in weather all the time.
Not sure if it matters but I will be interested in a 900SS or a 748.

Cheers
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[G]

Dare I say it, I do actually quite like the 748 as a 600 alternative for the road.

No way I'd ever want to pay the extra £k or two above the price of a probably faster 600 though.

[chinupkneedow...]

Never owned one - but I love them!!! I always have loved twins.

I say go for it and worry about it when it happens!
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[killa]

[chinupkneedow...]

Me???
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Where there is a wheelie there is a way....

[craigs23]

I was tempted by a 748 when I was looking for my last bike. It is a fantastic bike - I couldn't imagine owning a mainstream bike like a 600 inline 4 and the Ducati gave a heck of a lot more character, soul, sound and heritage that make the 600s seem like fashion accessories, rather than a fashion icon. The pride of ownership no doubt goes further than skin-deep, customer test rides.

I did deeply consider partying my hard-earned for one, and could afford it - to buy, insure and run (if it had the same reliability and usefulness that I expect from the bikes that I own. But I read a Bike Magazine's buyer's guide to the 748, and 'reconsidered' my options.

"reliability: Ducati reliability has improved dramatically but is still nowhere near Japanese levels of dependability. Lots can go wrong with a 748.

Fuel lines perish and leak; hardening wears off cam followers; oil pressure switches leak oil onto the rear tyre; regulator/rectifiers blow; coolant header tanks split and dump coolant on your left arm; clutches die; the starter motor relay connection fails; other electrical and fuse connectors fuse and burn out; the tail unit lock breaks or bounces out of its socket; cam belts can snap if the bike's been standing for a long time; cush drives can develop so much play the sprocket carrier fouls the swing arm; clutch slave cylinders fail; alternator nuts on Ducati generators come loose..."

OKay, this may not be true for every single 748, but considering I do over 15,000 miles a year on a bike (only form of transport), unfortunately this knocked the Ducati out of the running when I last bought a bike. Plus, running costs including full Ducati servicing, cam belt changes every 6000 miles, etc meant that it wouldn't be up to the job - and would be incredibly expensive to keep tip-top.

Maybe the air cooled 900SS may be a better bet. Still got the Ducati's famed build quality, electrics, etc - but the bike's so much easier to work on and being an air cooled motor in a lower state of tune, maybe there'd be less to go wrong.

[killa]

BOLLOX

Seems like a lot of shit can go wrong, this isnt good, really had my mind set on one.
I probably do less than 10,000 a year on my bike, not sure if that would matter. Changing cam belts and servicing properly sounds like a nightmare.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Kickstart]

Hi

While you are unlikely to get hit for many of those problems (and many of them apply to other more mainstream bikes as well), at 10000 miles a year you are looking at regular cambelt changes, and paying someone to do that is not cheap.

All the best

Keith
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[Ducati750s]

A cambelt change on a 900ss should be as cheap as chips. There are 2 plastic covers (1 for each cylinder) on the side of the engine. Whip these off, ensure engine is in correct position, remove old belts and slide on new belts in SAME position, tension, then slip covers back on.

The 900ss is quite a different bike to the 748 in terms of mechanics. I've the 750sport, which is very similar to the 900ss and the engine is seriously basic, and has been around for years. The servicing should be comparable to most 600's.

I've not had it long, but really like it now. The main reason I bought it was because I couldn't afford the insurance on a jap sports bike, but it still had sporty handling compared to the other options I considered, Sv, Bandit etc. 1st bike I got my knee down on too

And it is Ducati, not ducatti;-)

I'd buy another ducati anyway.

Having said that, I've not ridden it through a winter yet, and to be honest, I dare say that I'll ride my CB250 instead!

[feef]

having known a few people with Ducati's of varying ages, the newer ones are FINE for reliability, as long as they are used properly and looked after.

The biggest problems are with the ones that aren't ridden enough.

get a Duc, ride it, look after it and enjoy.

If you want something to polish and take out in nice weather, be prepared for fixing it

a
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[killa]

I'd be using it pretty much everyday, as it is my only transport.
But the models i have been looking at are late 90's
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[G]

[feef]

[Jamie_ducati]

[killa]

Well that’s certainly sorted me out, thanks very much for the post Jamie.
I think at the moment it is not such a good option as I have just moved out, but I will not let the dream go of owning a Ducati as I am so close.
There is a Ducati specialist at Dave Parry’s in Cheltenham who knows his shiznit. (sorry, new word)
When I speak of a 900SS I was referring to the, and I quote “Upside down bathtub with a head light” as above.
I quite like it, but I do think a newer model is safer option.

Thanks
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Jamie_ducati]

Pleasure Killa, just research and take your time - but do get that test ride!!!
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Jamie
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Time for eDUCATIon

[Jamie_ducati]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Couple of years ago I went to look at an older 900SS for my father and took it for a spin.

It was a nice enough bike, but I think it depends on where you are doing your riding. The 900SS was a stable torquey bike and worked great on a fast road where you are adjusting your speed on the throttle all the time and rarely needing to brake. Using it down the small back lanes I use to commute really would not appeal.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[G]

Could always get a red TRX850 and stick a ducati badge on it .

[Kickstart]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

I know someone who rides an old 750ss and treats it terribly, fairly reliable actually.

He did look into getting a 748 himself but said that from what he had read, the people he had talked too and the riding of it himself he couldnt see anyone using it as an only bike for long. The running of it is ok and it could withstand it mechanicall, but you wouldnt be able to withstand it physically. Even after a few miles in town he said it is painful.

Buy one of the Supersports (SS) bike's if you want an everyday sport Ducati. And make sure it's a post 1996 bike whatever you get. The latest bikes are all as relaible as the Jap bikes if looked after correctly.
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