Thinking about a Ducati

[bmcdonau]

I've been kickin' around the idea of buying a sport bike, but I really don't want to ride something you see ten of each day. I also don't want a "racing bike" sold for street use so it kind of narrows down the choices considerably. I was leaning toward a naked bike from Buell, Triumph or Ducati when I found the Ducati Sport Classic.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/bmcdonau/DucatSport1000S.jpg

The Sport 1000S is a beautiful bike--it reminds me of the British Cafe Racers I lusted after in the 60s. Performance is close to what I was looking for; its under 400lbs and puts out 92 hp/65 ft/lbs of torque. It ought to have lots of low and midrange power which is what I'm looking for instead of lots of HP at high rpm. I think it lists for about $10.5K so its reasonable too.

Anybody have experience with Ducati bikes?

[John Anthony]

Dennis,

Damn! That's a beautiful bike. If you go that direction, but sure to let us know how it turns out.

John

[Mark]

For a sort ride alternate to the ST that'd be a sweet bike.

Very sweet look.

Mark
P.S.
You going to do your own valve adjustments? :rolleyes: :)

[Highrider]

Dennis

The Sport Classic is a looker, but do a distance test ride to see if the seating is not too aggressive for you.
I was uncomfortable on the Sport 1000, I ended up getting a 900SS. This is one heck of a fun bike and I think it is going to keep me younger for a few more years. They are relatively easy to work on, and they will need more TLC than a Honda. The Duc motors have power and torque all through the range.
My opinion is : GO FOR IT !!!

[FritzSTr]

Dennis,

I've got an 06 S2R 1000 Monster and I love it. I ride the Duc about 2500 miles a year when the weather is warm and leave the ST for spring and fall. Having the ST and a Monster gives me more then enough riding choice.

[ST13Fred]

That IS a beautiful bike.
One big disadvantage of owning/riding a ST13 is that I am so spoiled in how it does everything so effortlessly and in complete comfort. I rode an 07 Duc ST3 the other day and could not get off of it quick enough. I simply love my ST and would probably never ride a 2nd (sport) bike if it was given to me. D#$% that ST anyway!!

:04biker: :mad:

[Bones]

I think Ducati makes some of the best two-wheeled eye candy going. Had breakfast today and talked to a guy with a 900 Super Sport which looked showroom even after 11 years. Sounded fearsome.

If you're used to Honda reliability, consider what a friend with a Super Sport likes to say about his Italian iron: "The candle that burns twice as bright lasts half as long." On the positive side, he'd add, buying a Ducati helped turn him into a better mechanic.

Teasing aside, the one you're eyeing looks awesome. If I had the time, money and garage space for several bikes, I'd love something like it.

[ducman748]

As pointed out in the other replies, any Ducati will take a little more effort and money to maintain than the Honda. Make sure you test ride it for a few miles to see if the low bars are compatible with your back and wrists. There are lots of choices in the "naked bike" arena, but if you like the low end torque rather than high RPM Horsepower, you are limited to the V Twins from Ducati, Aprillia, KTM, Buell and Suzuki or the Speed Triple Triumph. Bang for the buck favors the Suzuki SV 1000S and coolness favors the Duc. For "hooligan factor" the Triumph takes the prize.

[NCrider]

Had a friend with a Ducati, he sold it because it was costing him a fortune in routine maintenance.

So, it you do your own work or don't mind the maintenance costs, it's a great looking bike.

[Computer Nerd]

I had a Ducati Rep tell me "These bikes are a like a beautiful woman. Any beautiful woman will a cost you a lots of money." :)

[STNY]

I've been kickin' around the idea of buying a sport bike, but I really don't want to ride something you see ten of each day. I also don't want a "racing bike" sold for street use so it kind of narrows down the choices considerably. I was leaning toward a naked bike from Buell, Triumph or Ducati when I found the Ducati Sport Classic.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/bmcdonau/DucatSport1000S.jpg

The Sport 1000S is a beautiful bike--it reminds me of the British Cafe Racers I lusted after in the 60s. Performance is close to what I was looking for; its under 400lbs and puts out 92 hp/65 ft/lbs of torque. It ought to have lots of low and midrange power which is what I'm looking for instead of lots of HP at high rpm. I think it lists for about $10.5K so its reasonable too.

Anybody have experience with Ducati bikes?

All though a little pricey, this is what i would get.


http://www.mvagustausa.com/web-mvagusta/07_F4_1000R.html

[bmcdonau]

That IS a beautiful bike.
One big disadvantage of owning/riding a ST13 is that I am so spoiled in how it does everything so effortlessly and in complete comfort. I rode an 07 Duc ST3 the other day and could not get off of it quick enough. I simply love my ST and would probably never ride a 2nd (sport) bike if it was given to me. D#$% that ST anyway!!

:04biker: :mad:

Fred, I'm a serial motorcycle owner who doesn't like to ride the same bike twice in a row.

[bmcdonau]

Thanks for the replies. One of the things I was wondering about was the reliability and routine maintenance of a Ducati. I don't mind working on bikes (I have three of them 25 years old or older), but I do want them to be reliable. Ducati advertises routine maintenance costs 50% less for the 2007's than they did in previous years. My question would be 50% less than what?

I assume that the riding position of the Ducati is similar to any Japanese sport bike. I understand you can buy risers and a different seat which puts you in a less radical position. I wouldn't plan to spend all day on it, but I'd like to be able to ride a couple hours without requiring a chiropractor to get off. I need to ride over to the Ducati dealer and sit on one.

[roginoz]

I'd check the "fit." The pegs seem a little high, and the bars a little low, for an old fat guy like me. You can get risers, but they're fairly pricey for some of the ducs due to the bar attachment method. My buddy has an ST3, Ducati's idea of a "sport tourer." It's a beautiful bike, but I prefer my ST13. The valve adjustments on the desmos are pretty involved, and consequently expensive. The lower costs for the '07s reflect increased valve adjustment intervals. It is a beautiful bike, though, and you have the ST for long distances. Kind of like the expensive beautiful woman - you pay for what you get...

[bmcdonau]

I downloaded the owners manual from the Ducati web site and it says to use at least 95 octane gas. I don't remember seeing anything higher than 93 at regular gas stations. Is there another way to compute octane in Europe?

[skyboybry]

I seriously think that you should get a Desmosedici RR & let us ride it, strictly for empirical research.

Those Ducs beckon me closer, too. I think the 2 valve engines are less costly than the 4 valves. Or did I dream that? I sometimes imagine things just to justify getting them. Any of them are cool, my most current flavor is the Hypermotard 1100S. How many pints of plasma would I have to sell?

<<<<<-----calculating finances....

[M&M Take2]

Dennis I've been lusting after the 1000 Sport S as well. I rode it for about 35 minutes, LOVED IT! Lots of torque but you should know that risers won't be an option because of the fairing. You raise the bars, they hit the top of the cut-outs in the fairing. The pegs are a little high but you get used to it. You might want to look at the 1000 S "naked" version it already has risers and it's a bit more roomy. I rode both, Man what a ride but I don't think I'd want to do any touring or even an overnight with either of them, but a Sunday morning blast for coffee and some bragging rights? Oh Yeah! Marty

[TPadden]

All though a little pricey, this is what i would get.


http://www.mvagustausa.com/web-mvagusta/07_F4_1000R.html

This is what I got when I was looking at Ducks....... more comfortable and cooler temp wise than the F4 ........ and no where near as pricey :)

Tom

[Mike]

Ducati makes some of the best eye candy out there. I recently became a Duc. owner and love it. It's just what I wanted. I feel like I am back on a bike and not riding a recliner. I have spent three weeks on the Duc. and then rode the ST and what a difference. That 1000 sport S looks like a fine set of Red Italian Heels!

I went the opposite end of the spectrum and bought a pure hooligan bike....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/H1018/Hypermotard/HM016.jpg

[Caper]

Keep an eye out for an SV1000, not many of them on the road, great bike. On the other hand, the Duc is one gorgeous bike, and sounds great to boot.

[bmcdonau]

Dennis I've been lusting after the 1000 Sport S as well. I rode it for about 35 minutes, LOVED IT! Lots of torque but you should know that risers won't be an option because of the fairing. You raise the bars, they hit the top of the cut-outs in the fairing. The pegs are a little high but you get used to it. You might want to look at the 1000 S "naked" version it already has risers and it's a bit more roomy. I rode both, Man what a ride but I don't think I'd want to do any touring or even an overnight with either of them, but a Sunday morning blast for coffee and some bragging rights? Oh Yeah! Marty


That's what I'm talkin' about! Four hours Saturday morning on an empty stretch of curvy road.

[bmcdonau]

I met a friend this Saturday and we took a ride over to the Ducati dealer to gawk at the bikes. Man they have a lot of pretty hardware on the floor--they handle Ducat, Moto Guzzi and MV Augusta. I tired out a few and the riding position is more aggressive on all the bikes.

I sat on a few sport bikes--the Ducatai 1098, SuperSport 800, Classic 1000S and MV August's newest bike (can't rememer the model). I wouldn't have trouble riding one at track day, but just riding out of town to get to the country would be a PITA on most of them.

I like the bikes with fairings better, the naked bikes made me feel like I was looking straight at the ground. You can't put risers on the bikes with fairings because the hydraulics on the bars would hit the fairing.

Then I sat on Ducati's sport touring bike, the ST4. The riding position is much more leaned forward then the ST or FJR and the pegs are much farther behind you. Its probably as radical a position as I'd like to ride for more than half hour or so. Man, getting old sucks.

The ST4 is more like a SPORTtouring bike than our ST. It puts out about 20 hp less than the ST, but it weighs about 450 lbs instead of 650 so the hp to weight ratio is a lot better. I may have to start looking at one of those instead of a sport bike.

[st11ray]

If your not sure about Ducati, don't forget about those V-Twin Honda's the RC51 & Super Hawk. You can pick up a Super Hawk cheap enough to justify adding real suspension front & rear.

[DRAFT1]

I also have this bug. I had a triumph Sprint ST and loved it. Been looking at the used ST2's out there. I have heard that the valve arrangement is easier and cheeper to maintain than the ST3 and ST4. Many copies out there on Ebay and Cycletrader online. Hope it works out for you. Always leaves me hope of adding to the stable again.