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ducati 848 or harley nightrod special?
- Thread starter raprit
- Start date
austntexan
New member
I'm in my 40s and ride in what you'd probably describe as a "spirited" style. Consequently, my opinions are molded by my riding style. Most of the folks I ride with ride Brit, Japanese or Italian, none ride H-D. The reason is b/c it's a cruiser and not suited for any real level of aggressive riding.
H-D are street bikes, period, yes, even the nightrod. H-D is on the other side of the fence as far as the 848 is concerned. The nightrod is not meant to be a performance machine and was certainly not built on racing cred like the Duc. It can be modded to go decently fast. . . in a straight line, but that's about it.
If you're going long distance, there are other bikes that would be a much better fit.
I think the 848 is a more genuine bike as it doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. Nearly all Ducs, with the exception of the Diavel, are literally built upon an actual racing heritage. Names like Polen, Fogarty, Corser, Bayliss, Hodgson, Toseland, Hayden and now Rossi have ridden and won on Duc's very very similar to the 848. The chassis, forks, brakes. . . every piece is connected to it's racing past. Even the Ducati Monster has a similar frame and components to the early WSB champs.
I'm tryin' real hard to think of champions who've ridden for H-D within the last decade or two. Once upon a time, H-D did make a killer race bike, the XR750. This bike is the flat track legend that Chris Carter dominated the Ford Flattrack Series (and the only H-D I'd ever own). Not to be confused with the bloated XR1200, that sports faux gas tank. The only actual race bike H-D had was the Buell 1125R Danny Eslick won Dayton in 09 on it. Of course, H-D got rid of Buell, so. . .
As far as image goes, if you're buying a H-D to be "cool", you're about 5 years late. That time has come and gone thankfully. If you're buying a H-D for value, you're in luck as you cannot swing a dead cat on CL without hitting another H-D up for sale, they're everywhere and relatively cheap.
I know you mentioned "new" motorcycle, but I'd definitely recommend you look at the used H-D market seriously, as you will find many many used H-D on the market with very low miles. Ducati's less so but there are deals out there if you look. Expect huge depreciation on any NEW bike (H-D or Ducati).
With regards to riding either a Duc or a H-D I'll say this. . . I've never passed a Ducati rider that didn't give me "the wave" back. . . as far H-D riders go, I'll say. . .I've never passed a Ducati rider that didn't give me "the wave" back. I think many H-D riders have a bit of a Walter Mitty complex. . . Duc riders do too, but they all want to be Rossi, which is forgivable.
Get the Duc.
H-D are street bikes, period, yes, even the nightrod. H-D is on the other side of the fence as far as the 848 is concerned. The nightrod is not meant to be a performance machine and was certainly not built on racing cred like the Duc. It can be modded to go decently fast. . . in a straight line, but that's about it.
If you're going long distance, there are other bikes that would be a much better fit.
I think the 848 is a more genuine bike as it doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. Nearly all Ducs, with the exception of the Diavel, are literally built upon an actual racing heritage. Names like Polen, Fogarty, Corser, Bayliss, Hodgson, Toseland, Hayden and now Rossi have ridden and won on Duc's very very similar to the 848. The chassis, forks, brakes. . . every piece is connected to it's racing past. Even the Ducati Monster has a similar frame and components to the early WSB champs.
I'm tryin' real hard to think of champions who've ridden for H-D within the last decade or two. Once upon a time, H-D did make a killer race bike, the XR750. This bike is the flat track legend that Chris Carter dominated the Ford Flattrack Series (and the only H-D I'd ever own). Not to be confused with the bloated XR1200, that sports faux gas tank. The only actual race bike H-D had was the Buell 1125R Danny Eslick won Dayton in 09 on it. Of course, H-D got rid of Buell, so. . .
As far as image goes, if you're buying a H-D to be "cool", you're about 5 years late. That time has come and gone thankfully. If you're buying a H-D for value, you're in luck as you cannot swing a dead cat on CL without hitting another H-D up for sale, they're everywhere and relatively cheap.
I know you mentioned "new" motorcycle, but I'd definitely recommend you look at the used H-D market seriously, as you will find many many used H-D on the market with very low miles. Ducati's less so but there are deals out there if you look. Expect huge depreciation on any NEW bike (H-D or Ducati).
With regards to riding either a Duc or a H-D I'll say this. . . I've never passed a Ducati rider that didn't give me "the wave" back. . . as far H-D riders go, I'll say. . .I've never passed a Ducati rider that didn't give me "the wave" back. I think many H-D riders have a bit of a Walter Mitty complex. . . Duc riders do too, but they all want to be Rossi, which is forgivable.
Get the Duc.
bikinkawboy
New member
That's like choosing between chocolate and vanilla ice cream, there ain't no comparison. Here you have two bikes that are pretty much at opposite ends of the spectrum. And don't put too much stock in what ninebad says, he's a known Harley hater. The HD has a great engine and unlike the air cooled Harleys, it has an European sports car sound to it. People with no mechanical knowledge would never notice the difference, but it has the taut, hard, mechanical sound of sports cars or Indy cars. I'm not saying the engine is of Indy stature, just that the really cool sound is there. The air cooled twins have none of that sound.
As for the Duck being less expensive to maintain, don't believe that for a moment. Call up a Ducati dealership and ask them how much it costs to adjust the valves on the now outdated and unneeded desmodromic valve train. Adjusting the valves is a complicate, exacting, time consuming ordeal. I can't remember with the rod engines, but HD has had hydraulic lifters for decades and I suspect it's the same. If so, that means once off the assembly line, no adjustments, ever.
As for looks, if people say a Duck looks sexy, then I guess that's so. But, I've seen plenty of HD women that were absolute knockouts. Just remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And while I have nothing against Ducatis and know they are a great bike, I personally think they look cobbled together. Handling? I've never ridden an 848 but I have a V Rod and they do handle well. Most likely no where near as well as the Duck though. I really dislike the forward pegs on the V Rod, not sure what the Nightrod pegs are like.
In the end, it's your money and you choose what you like. If you're into canyon carving and short, spirited rides, then you better go with the Duck because you'll be playing catch up all day long with the HD. If you're into less aggreessive but longer rides, better go with the Harley. In general, Ducks aren't known for their comfort. Most of all, choose the one that you find the most attractive. If you have to learn to like the way something looks, you'll never be totally satisfied with it.
As for the Duck being less expensive to maintain, don't believe that for a moment. Call up a Ducati dealership and ask them how much it costs to adjust the valves on the now outdated and unneeded desmodromic valve train. Adjusting the valves is a complicate, exacting, time consuming ordeal. I can't remember with the rod engines, but HD has had hydraulic lifters for decades and I suspect it's the same. If so, that means once off the assembly line, no adjustments, ever.
As for looks, if people say a Duck looks sexy, then I guess that's so. But, I've seen plenty of HD women that were absolute knockouts. Just remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And while I have nothing against Ducatis and know they are a great bike, I personally think they look cobbled together. Handling? I've never ridden an 848 but I have a V Rod and they do handle well. Most likely no where near as well as the Duck though. I really dislike the forward pegs on the V Rod, not sure what the Nightrod pegs are like.
In the end, it's your money and you choose what you like. If you're into canyon carving and short, spirited rides, then you better go with the Duck because you'll be playing catch up all day long with the HD. If you're into less aggreessive but longer rides, better go with the Harley. In general, Ducks aren't known for their comfort. Most of all, choose the one that you find the most attractive. If you have to learn to like the way something looks, you'll never be totally satisfied with it.
Entropy King
New member
Im with the other guy on this one, both are completely terrible on passengers, both v-twins. But the DUC has one big advantage. It is just plain sexy.
In all seriousness, the DUC will cost less to operate and maintain than the Harley. The only thing I'm going to tell you about the DUC is that you had better get frame sliders and fairing protection from day one. If you dont and you lay it over... you might be wishing you had the Harley. Replacing fairings is NOT cheap.
In all seriousness, the DUC will cost less to operate and maintain than the Harley. The only thing I'm going to tell you about the DUC is that you had better get frame sliders and fairing protection from day one. If you dont and you lay it over... you might be wishing you had the Harley. Replacing fairings is NOT cheap.
ninebadthings
New member
Don't know why james said they are air cooled. Don't know why a serious buyer would narrow it dow to these two such opposite bikes. One is a canyon racer and looks like sex on two wheels. The other would be a slug on twisty roads and has that stupid forward leg position, so I have no idea what it is supposed to be good for. But they are two very different bikes, one aggressive, the other has horsepower but not in the race. Neither is a bike for a beginner. Neither is a good all around bike. If I owned 5 bikes I would want one like the Ducati but as an only bike, I like a bike that can do more things.
William Blowfty
New member
Get the Ducati. There is nothing like riding one. Freakin awesome