916 or 748

[Chinaboy]

Simple question really, what is best a Ducati 916 or 748. Any opinions welcome before I make my final choice.

Steve

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Define best?

916 has more stomp, 748 is lighter and thus more flickable.

The oldest 748 is also newer than the oldest 916.
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[Jewell]

748 is a farking hoot...

have ridden both all depends on the models themselves....i would pick the 748...slower than most IL4 600s just in a straight line but good handling and sound the nuts...
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[G]

Not sure the 748 is much slower?

Personally, I think the engines on both bikes would probably be decent in a naked chassis, but don't really work for sports bike; my typical dislike of twins.

Go for the 748 if you like to be made to 'work' a little more.

[sickpup]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

For some reason the rider surveys done by "RiDE" etc showed the 748 going wrong a fair bit more than the 916. Whether this is down to the engine or younger/ more improverished owners who knows.

[sickpup]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[G]

[Barry_M2]

I'm very happy with my 916. But I'm afraid I've not ridden a 748 to be able to compare! I believe like all smaller engined bikes, you just need to rev the 748 a bit more toi get the most out of it, with the 916 you dont.

The weight difference is minimal, but the grunt you get out of corners is more with the 916.

I put a Power Commander 3 USB on mine and sent it off to be mapped on a dyno, and with just a pair of 50mm Termi cans it made 105bhp at the wheel and 60ft-lb of torque from 6-9k rpm which feels VERY good on the road and track.

Im very happy with mine, and personally wouldn't go for a 748 just because I dont like reving the crap out of an engine all the time.
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[garth]

748's are revvier, and have alot more reported problems namely rocker wear which is apparantly due to poor finish on the rocker arms on certain models.

I rode a 749 and preferred it to the 748. Haven't ridden a 916 but aim to in the near future.

Don't think the 748 is significantly slower than the 916, just requires more work.

What is your budget, what are you going to be using it for, and why just the 916 or 748?

If you want a grunty ducati for the road also look at the 2v SS's etc. Not as quick but much cheaper to buy and maintain.
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[mark83]

On that budget, you could also try looking at a newer aprilia.

Or maybe a monster?
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[Chinaboy]

Guys,

I thank you for your replies, all very interesting. My reason to ask the difference was because I am now newly single and want another great bike. I have had a Fireblade RRT, next a '98 R1, then a GSXR 1000 then a Hayabusa (comfier for her). But I have always hankerd for a Duke, I loved the shape and sound of the 748 but a friend has a 916 and said they were better. Your comments on the 748 being a revvier bike and having to work it harder has put me off a bit, I think a gruntier bike like the 916 might save me wringing its neck all the time, and who want to do that.
I intend to use it for work most days having to go 30 miles each way, taking me over an hour morning and evening. On a bike I can halve this time. As for budget, up to £4000 is about max, although I might go to more for the right bike.
As for alternatives for the two I have asked about, I am not sure. I want something quick and fun to ride. I enjoy a stylish machine, one that people watch as you ride by. As you can see by my last few bikes, it has to live up to the performance and thrills I had on them.
Comments welcome, thanks again.

Steve

[G]

Neither will be near the potential for easy speed compared to a GSXR1000 or Busa - depends how much you turned the throttle on those, though.
You will certanly have to work harder on either to go at a decent pace compared to your litre 4 cylinder bikes; 105hp was mentioned, while I'd expect the R1 to be more like 135hp and at least 145hp for the GSXR1000. Both probably have more torque across most of the rev range too. The 4 cylinder bikes are however higher geared as stock, which may slightly slow their 'feel' comparatively.

Oh and if you want a bike that people watch as you go by, can I suggest:
https://gees.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p577426687-3.jpg
Hell of a lot more attention that riding any Duke I'd say - and probably more of it 'good' attention to!