1098 or RSV??? (oh! and hello to all, newbee here)

hey 23six,
I subscribed to this forum a couple of days ago, I tried to read the more posts I could cause I find this site really nice, and I have to say I really appreciated your last post; I appreciate the time you spent in writing it and that (to me) meant how much you care about your passion.

As an Italian I can just be proud hearing (reading) all the words I read about our motocycling technology. I got some friends of mine whom own themselves an RSV and they would really die for those bikes; well, till 999 they didn't even wanna ride or even see a Ducati, an ITALIAN bike, you could just imagine what they thought about jap ones. Add I've always owned jap bikes (I've owned an FZR 600 too...) except for some "small" Garellis or Aprilias (ever heard about the "Red Rose"?).
Now that I own a 1098 things seem a bit different.

Till now I've never wanted to ride an RSV, but now I read your posts and you really made me wanna try it.

Well, this maybe nonsense, nevermind...

Lamps from Italy
 
Doc - yes, that was my race bike for the 2004 season. It's the same as an in my avatar...that's me. Thanks for the props.

Blame - thanks for "feeling" my post, I am glad to have inspired you to try an RSV if only for a ride. I have not heard about the "Red Rose". Over here in the States we only have a few Aprilia models and have only had them here for 8 or so years now. You said you are an Italian, are you in Italy? I have been there several times myself, usually for the Milan show (EICMA I believe). As well I have been there other times, all for the motorcycle industry.
 
Hey Doc, I was about to post a super long story of my journey to finally buying my 1098s. But to save you the confusion, I absolutely love my 1098's. No major problems except she can run hot on a hot day, but once she's doing what she likes to do (i.e. go fast and turn like she knew what you wanted to do before you did) all the so called drawbacks disappear.

I was originally in lust with the Aprilia line of Tuono n RSV, but I have no regrets at all since getting the 1098s. As a matter of fact, my buddy has an 07 Aprilia RSV and wishes he waited for the 1098.

IMHO, the 1098 one ups the lovely RSV in looks and the sound of the 1098 is intoxicating... she sounds meaner than my buddy's Aprilia, even with his having Akrapovic Cans. If Aprilia is having those types of probs, go with Ducati as the company seems to be headed in the better direction.

Lastly, check out Motorcycle-usa.com for the 1098s vs RSV-R comparo. It truly is telling about the character of the bikes. Hope this helps some....go DUCATI.
 
to be fair to 23six, i really appreciate the time, effort, and just plain unbias honesty...there have been several ppl who have been instrumental in helping me to determine which bike would be best for MY SPECIFIC SITUATION...and i know that both bikes are wonderful...here has been my internal debate within me (an internal dialog, well, "monolog" since i am the only one in my head) as to which bike....which bike? which bike? which bike?

the duc - sexy, beautiful, elegant, a work of art...and appears to be created by the great engineer himself as if the lines were manifested out of thin air...the mechanics are immaculant...

the ape - alluring, aesthetic, and graceful but also more comfortable for my wife...

so these are my opinions...and i love my wife, guys...i really love my wife and i want to do things together...so, as of now (i am 35) the ape seems to be the bike for me because my wife will be more comfortable (this is the number one reason why i am choosing the ape over the duc)...but what has the forum done for me as far as ducatis are concerned? i want one really, really, bad...but perhaps now is not the time...maybe next year or the year after...perhaps by that time my wife will say to me that she wishes to no longer ride...or after i get some actual v-twin experience, i will be able to appreciate the difference and the advantage that the duc may possess...and wish to evolve into a "track-only" guy

i really appreciate the experience that many of you have that have ridden many other kinds of bikes because you have true emperic evidence for the choices that you have made...(i have never owned a v-twin before in my life...and i certainly appreciate any and all rags-to-riches stories because mine is the same)...i came from less than nothing to everything that i have today...and i want to bask and appreciate every step along my journey's path...

for you who own 2 or 3 ducatis (maybe even a $72,000 bike) along with a few mv agustas - there was a time in your life when you could not afford to own what you have...but you could afford something smaller - but still amazing to YOU at that time - this is exactly where i am at...

and if i choose to buy an ape now while i am 35 then i hope that you will still wave when you see me on the streets (i know, some of you stick to the track...lucky punks)...because my choice to do this now does not disqualify me from making a ducati purchase in the future...

peace
you are my brothers
 
Hi Doc, Yo 23six....pls do not mistaken my disclaimer statement at the beginning of my post as a mockery of your post 23six. I truly was trying to save everyone the story of my bike experience when I was 10yrs liking Kawi Gpz550's to me 35 yrs later lstill loving motorcycling and getting overtaken by the culture of Ducati.

Doc, if the Ape is for ya and your wonderful wife, I think it would be best for the two of you. I still would sway you towards a Duc and maybe not the 1098, maybe the monster line or the new classic based on the fact that Ducati has really turned their company and reliability way up and from what you have found out that Aprilia has been experiencing some serious set backs as a company and in their product reliability. If you want to share the experience with your wife, have her definitely with you to sit on the bikes and weigh the pros and cons. Both bikes are on the higher end of pricing, so think of it as making an investment with the least risk with the greater return.

And I will surely wave to you regardless if you're on a Duc or Ape, you're a rider that shares my motorcycling passion.

23six, I too enjoyed your posts and find it uplifting to know that you too have enjoyed the Ducati 1098 experience, even more so now vs your wonderful Aprilia's. I started to really appreciate the Aprilia's after riding behind one going to Moto GP when they first returned to Laguna Seca. I even went to the Aprilia dealership and sat on one. I really liked the unique blue OZ rims and different from my Kawi styling back in 2005 when I got the itch to upgrade to a bigger bike.

Well, to Doc...I wish you and your wife smiles ear to ear riding together.

And 23six...go get em @ the track brother and show them the "Superbike" Ducati has created to dominate again like the 851,916, 996, 998, and of course the WSB champion 999r.

Oh yeah, one more thing Doc.... the Aprilia's torque is more subtle than the "you want torque, I got torque in handfuls baby" character of the 1098.
 
They can be really fast and have lots of power too.......

http://www.spoonvalleyracing.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Etbtej7z8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDylS0RbriA

/J
 
that's really funny...your a trip

as for the other ducs...even though i want to include my wife into this i am not ready to NOT be a crotch-rocket guy...

so this was my orginal dilema...here are the 6 criteria that i boiled down from about 15:
1) want crotch rocket
2) want italian
3) want reliable
4) needs to be comfy for wife (at least be able to handle 3hrs day (up to raleigh, NC and back [about 150 miles round trip])
5) want something different that no one else has (there are way to many haybussas, gixxers, and harleys where i am at [near ft bragg])
6) performance - doesn't have to be the fastest, but respectable and nimble (me luvs the twisties) - but not while i am with my wife

so i had these 2 bikes that met all 6...do you still think that the 1098 fits my criteria? i would like your honest opinion...
 
The Aprila Red Rose was a bike made for young guys (50cc and 125cc). It was a cruiser made to satisfy the (mostly) Italian boys who were starting seeing the spread of Harley Davidson motrcycles in Italy in the middle of the 80's. I remeber the 125cc already had 6 speed!! It was very fun to ride and women (well... girls... I was 15...) really loved it.

Here's a pic:

Ah, yep, I live in Italy.




Hey doc,
I EXACTLY know what you mean 'cause I've been there too.
In 2005 I had to buy an Honda CBR 600 for the same reasons. Then, two months ago, when I decided to change my bike, switching the new GSXR (2008) at a new dealer I have 100 meters from where I live, I saw her: the 1098, the one I really wanted since she was "born". The dealer told me: "Wanna talk it about?". I went home and my girlfriend saw my face and understood what I really wanted.
It comes a time when you have to choose between what you really want to ride and what they want you to ride. I'm 34 and I don't think I will always ride supersport motorbikes, so maybe my next bike will be a BMW 1200 GS or something like that, so it was NOW the time to have the bike I always wanted to ride. I'm really lucky cause my woman saw all that in my eyes and ALLOWED me to have it.
Add I see the dealer's store so many times a day when I ride home... it would have been a pain seeing the red one staring at me from there.

You love you wife? You like the Aprilia? Go for it definitely, expecially if your main use of the bike is riding with friends and families. I couldn't take the same decision cause I mostly ride without my woman (it just happens 15-20 times a year) and what I wanted to avoid was REGRET!

Lamps
 
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