Ducati Sucks Ass

I have an 1198s with about 1500 miles on it. I bought this as my first Ducati after selling my ZX10r. Of course the looks of the 1198 and the name draw you in. They are so exotic compared to everything else on the road. yada yada yada, next thing you know I am buying one, where I was planning on going with a yami originally. Although I haven't put many miles on it (alaska keep in mind) I haven't had any major problems yet (knock on wood). I will say it sucks in traffic though. This bike does not like to go slow, you have to engage the clutch to keep from chugging in slow traffic and it heats up like a bitch. The gas mileage is terrible for a bike. I can't stray too far from town without fear I would run out of gas and up here the higher octane fuels can only be found in the big cities. The service dept here is not the greatest and I don't really feel confident they know a whole lot about this bike. Anyway those are my gripes. On the plus side the bike is so light, wery skinny (much nicer than my zx10) and much easier to handle. I get compliments all the time on it from women, men, old people, etc. The other day a lady told me she liked it cause brad pitt had one...lol. My other gripe is the availability of carbon fiber and all that shit. It becomes a sickness and gets expensive. With all that being said I wouldn't sell it, rather I think I need a Jap bike again as well to have the best of both worlds. The ducati is exotic and gets the looks (admit it if you own one you like that), but the jap bikes are really a better street bike in my opinion. I guess it would be the same dating a supermodel.
 
Well, I can relate to our thread starter's frustration. I owned my 996 for about a year and a half. In that year and a half, I spent about $5-6k in parts, repairs, and maintenance. I treated the bike properly and maintained it as such. But I have to tell you, it wasn't a really happy experience every time I brought my bike in for service-service which seemed like it was about every other month with some bothersome issue. However, I did really like my 996 when it was running properly. I didn't like, however, waiting a month for parts because the Paesanos were on their summer break.

I would have loved to make a Duc of any color my next purchase, but to be honest, those factors of price and reliability were strong components of my decision. It's why I looked at the CBR1000RR and the Buell a little more intensely. The 1125R had 146 crank HP, a fully adjustable Showa suspension, a killer braking system, and a slipper clutch. Don't you have to pay for one of those on your Duc? Sorry, but at that price, THAT'S BULLSHIT! Plus, I read about how DNA has been treating some of you after the purchase and it wasn't anywhere near pleasant.

Now, with all that being said (and this may sound hypocritical), I still like the Ducati. I'd still own one, REALLY! I just don't think, quite honestly, it could ever be my daily ride. A weekend canyon runner or track day companion, yes. Something to put major miles on, in and around LA? Not on your life.
 
Brett, it wasn't so much the riding position or anything like that, it was really the maintenance. I'm not bike savvy like many of you, so when something goes wrong-even little things-I've gotta take it in.

I really liked the bike a lot, which probably explains why I'd get another one. However, with how much maintenance is required on a Duc (and let's be honest here, it's pretty extensive) that's the reason I'd have one as my second. No other reason than that.

By the way, the bikes I like most are the MH900E, Paul Smart, and the 748/916/996/998. It'll be one of those, but unfortunately, it's gonna be awhile.
 
+1 I like how you respect the big four technology but love the Duc.

What's up with some people talking shit about Jap bikes just because they Now own a Duc. Alot of you likely had a jap as your first, bet you loved it and thought the world of it. I choose to respect both & all...that's just me. However, i'd never trash one over the other, make jokes sure.. all the time. Though calling an R1 or zx10 etc..shit or junk etc sounds ignorant! ..

Willing to bet most guys on big Duc's talking shit couldn't "walk all over" an R1 if their life depended on it( a close race? absolutly). I let my bike do the talking. Usually guys talking the most shit do the least riding.

When did riding become about the brand and not the excitement from it.
 
And I respect your opinion.



"When did riding become about the brand and not the excitement from it?"

For me at least - the 'brand' provides the 'vinegar stroke' to the excitement.

Yes my first bike was a Honda dirt bike, a kid with no license or money - hell yeah..... I loved that bike.
My first road bike was however a Ducati and it's been mostly Ducati for the last 30 years..

It is also not about track times - I currently love to death & ride a 11 year old blob that has no hope against the latest and greatest rice burners (shit - even a 600cc japper) but reasoning, logic, common sense doesn't even get a look in with this one-eyed, passionate Ducati motorcyclist.

It is was it is.




Hmmm.... yes.... they are all created equal aren't they
 
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