Emerging dilemma...

A

AnnabellActress

New member
Guys/girls,

Up until recently I have been dead set on getting an 848. As some of you already know, I currently have a 2006 ZX-10R which is an absolute beast. I love the bike but was thinking that it might be nice to have something a little more nimble for the street. If I'm being honest with myself this thing is way too much for the street...thus my thoughts on getting an 848 to tone things down a bit...

I looked at trading in the 10r but the dealer is basically trying to bend me over and rape me with what they are offering on trade. I have basically come to the conclusion that I would be better off just holding on to the 10R and pursuing my track aspirations....ie making it a dedicated track bike....In this environment the 10r would certainly be right at home, and I would look forward to being able to ring the thing out in such an environment. So the 10 is gonna stay in the stable. This is for sure now. The thing is in such good shape, and I'll take a knock for sure if I unload it.

What is not sure is where my head is at right now on the 848 purchase. If I'm strictly looking at dollars and sense it's really not starting to add up in terms of getting an 848 over an 1198.

The difference in canadian dollars is 3500 (~2800 US dollars). Then on top of this if I factor in the cost of a steering damper for the 848 (700?) it starts to chip into this difference. Further more, one of the things that I would probably do right away with the 848 is replace the front fender and under belly fairing with factory red painted Ducati replacements. To be honest, I'm not a huge carbon fiber junky and really prefer the all red look of the 1098/1198. Not sure exactly what these parts would cost but suspect it would bring the difference down to somewhere in the vacinity of 1500.

If one is only considering the cost difference, well it starts to become very apparent very quickly that there is not much of a diff. Given that I'm pretty used to liter class bikes at this point, do you think I would regret giving up the power of a 10r and going to an 848, or would it be more advisable to stick with what I know (in terms of power) and stick with the 1198?

I wish I could easily test drive these Ducatis in my market so that I could fully decide this for myself but I can't. It is frustrating. They simply will not allow it.

For those who have driven both the 848 and the 1098/1198, how much of a difference in power and handling are we talking about?

Also, is there anyone on here that has driven an 06 zx-10r that can given their impressions on how it compares to both the 848 and 1098/1198?

I'm tormented at this point!!!! LOL

I suppose it's a good problem to have...

PS: The 1198 does include a steering damper stock, right?

Thanks in advance for any help that you guys can kick into my court...

Cheers
 
Dbone you've been dragging this out ad infinitum...

As myself (and others) have said before; you need to go out and try them. If your local dealer isn't willing to come and help you in this regard, then go somewhere else! It's not inconceivable to plan a trip to another nearby city, or have a weekend interstate, and organise for another dealer to assist you in this regard (I've done it myself). Hell, if they're willing to let you sample 1198/848 back-to-back then they may as well get the sale from you!

Twins are an acquired taste. They are remarkably different to inline 4s, in feel and sound and in the way they deliver the power. Not everyone likes them, others (myself included) would never own anything else.

I did have several rides of 848/1098 as comparison and am glad for it. Though if you're starting to torment yourself over the $$$ 'balance sheet' thing then you've probably missed the whole point of owning a Ducati..

Get out there and search for your test ride.

jdw
 
Dbone,buy the 1098/1198. no way after a ten are you going to be happy with the power of a 848. A mate has had a ten along with with his 998FE etc.I know your ten will go like a scalded cat when you want it too,even if though they have a way over optimistic speedo !!!.Torque of the 98s will keep you happy.An 848 is likely closer to 600/750 class jappa!!hj
 
I may just have to do that...or just wait until the end of May when Ducati brings their fleet in for the test drive day or whatever...

Appreciate the input. I'm not trying to drag anything out. I'm just trying to make the best decision for myself that I can. That's all. As for talking about me missing the point about Ducatis etc. LOL I think you might have missed the point of what I was asking.

It is a lot of money but I do have the money to spend. Just wanna get it right.

Cheers
 
Dbone,
I get it. Take your time and make the decision when you are ready.
I have ridden both. I had a very scary tank slapper on the 848. You are very wise to want a damper. Money is one aspect. Do you intend to mod it out? Or ride it stock? Performance is another. The 1098/1198 is no comparison when it comes to performance. The 848 felt almost too light and not very stable. But, I hadn't ridden in like 8 years so my memory of my 98 GSXR 750 is dusty.
I think you should get the 1098/1198. I got a used '07 1998s (with 2100 mi) for $15,250, with a warranty and several mods. IMO this is the way to go. Buy used with mods for less money and low miles. Then you have the money left over to do some mods or buy some new gear. But the 1098 was much faster, & more stable, and I think it will hold resale value better and have a bigger market when/if you go to sell her.
Conclusion:
Better performance and more bang for your buck on the 1098/1198.

Let us know what you decide.
 
Thank you for your input. You are right about the 10 being a scalded cat. In this regard I am certainly not concerned about the 1098/1198 being too much power for me. I have experience driving my 10r for the last 2.5 years, a 600 prior to that, an older 1000 Honda Interceptor before that, and smaller bikes before that so I am not concerned in any way that the power will be too much for me.

When I first got the 10r that was a real eye opener and so much more than anything I had encountered previous. If the 848 is along the lines of a 750 inline 4 equivalent then this would probably be sufficient for me. As I mentioned, my instincts are telling me to go a little smaller than my 10r for the street these days.

I think I am mostly interested in the handling characteristics of something smaller. The 10r, for what it is, handles pretty decently but I would doubt it handles as well as an 848 :-)

I know the best way to determine it would be to try and drive these things, but I wonder how much better, if at all, an 1198 might handle compared to the 10r...

Cheers
 
Interesting...you would classify your experience with the 848 as it being unstable? Perhaps the tank slapper put you in this frame of mind? :-)

Interesting comments though...I planned to add a damper for sure...

Regardless of what I buy I will be going new. I won't b blinging either bike out with mods. I will more or less run stock...

Cheers
 
I own an '05 ZX10R with a Hyperpro damper and an 848 without a damper whatsoever. The 848 IMHO does not need one for street use; but I cannot comment on the track b/c it's never been. It seems very stable though at speed, much more so than my 10R stock. I haven't had any headshake whatsoever with the 848 and I've had fun on it. To me the 10R steers like a tank compared to Duc, but the 10R will blow by the Duc like it's screwed into the ground when the road starts straightening out. Not that it is slow by any means, just not explosive like my 10. That's why I kept her too when I bought the 848.
 
Also, I don't know about where you are in Canada but here in NYC, once you go over 1000cc, ouch!

You take it in the ass from insurance.
 
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