Potential Ducati Onwer HELP!!!

S

shelby!

New member
Hello everyone,

My name is Jason and I am thinking about buying a Ducati for my next motocycle. Here is a little of my story.

I have been riding bike since I was 8, streetbikes since I was 15, and have owned the following.

97 ZX-7 - 4k miles/sold
98 R1 - 70k miles/parted out
05 V-star 650 - 900 miles/sold
06 R1 - 15k miles/sold
08 Raider - 5k and still riding.

I am a sportbike rider at heart and only sold my 06 R1 because I previously lived in Oklahoma for 8 years and got tired of riding the STRAIGHT roads EVERYWHERE. I bought the 08 Raider as a travlel/trip bike and love it.

We currently got stationed in Las Vegas and I told myself that if I moved to another location that was good for twisties and sportbikes I wanted another. I have dearly missed my R1. The reason I am asking you guys for advice is because who better to get information about Ducatis, then from people who own them.

I was looking at getting a Monster S4R or an 848 for a while. Yeah I know they are both different bikes, but I like all bikes and each had its perks to me. I am looking for a great handling bike first and foremost, then style, comfort, and then power. These are the most important factors for most people but the order of them is also important to me.

I would really like to get some opinions from any of the ducati owners on how they feel about their Ducati experience. I have ridden a 996 and a Monster 696. Both rode very well.

HONESTLY, what do you love about your particular Ducati, and what would you change, or what do you not like. The bikes I am currently most intersted in are the 848, Monster 1100, and the Streetfighter.

Please dont respond with "Ducatis are great, and all other bikes suck" responses. What truly in your mind makes your bike great. Those of you who have ridden other makes, or currently own both, your opinions are greatly appreciated.
Factors like, reliability, maintenance cost, performance, comfort, and price are the most important opinion factors I am curious about. Is it worth the extra cost of the Duc over an R6/R1 acceptable in your eyes?

Sorry for the long post, and hopefully I will have reason to buy a new Duc soon.

Thanks in advance everyone, god bless and be safe.
 
Jason, the best thing about the 848 is its smooth power. what i mean is, the torque gets you through just about any situation. your first modification should be the 14-tooth sprocket...it's a must. check out the thread on it.

Ducati bikes are high-quality, light weight, perfect power-to-weight ratio, and beautifully designed. Your R1 will feel like a cruiser after you've had the 1098 or 848. you're ready for a Ducati...i can feel it.
 
Feel like a cruiser in comfort....or performance....lol. Thanks cduc. I think I can feel it too. How are the maintenance cost, etc.

keep the opinions coming guys. Thanks!!
 
So far, not maintenance cost at all because Ducati offers a 2-year warranty. Most motorcycle mfgrs. only offer 1-year warranties. For example, I had the gas leak on my 848 and needed a new tank. It arrived within a week, good as new. Service is great. I had the 14-tooth sprocket installed and it only cost $45. You can do it yourself if you have the right tool. If not, the tool may cost you $10. Up to you, but it was easy enough for the dealer to install it while they had it for the tank.

Anyway, you will love riding that Ducati. Just the sound of it makes you want to ride all day long.....
 
Jason,
Similar history for me here. I started riding at 3, and was off road until 17 at which time I got an old used Ninja and scooted around on that until '97 at which time I picked up my first Ducati. I have never looked back through 2 monsters, a 748, and now an 848 and a 696.

I think the best thing about owning a Ducati is that you set yourself apart from the average sport bike squid/jockey. Most folks recognize instantly that you have a certain taste in bikes and the passion for something out of step with the usual.

In my personal experience I have had very very few true mechanical issues with any of my bikes. I did make sure to keep the log book up to date and it is critical you find a good dealer who can take care of the bike for you. It really holds that if you take care of your Duc, it will take care of you. The best news about the newer bikes is the significantly improved service intervals. Also the electrical systems are greatly improved over the pre-2000 year bikes. Though a battery tender is a must for your Ducati.

As far as which one to get. Well, that is a very personal decision. If you want the ultimate in handling, and performance a superbike is where you should be looking and will be most comparable to your R1s, though the power delivery and character is entirely different. I don't hold to the "Ducati will blow away any Jap bike out there" mantra, but they are brilliant and have a lot going for them over the inline-4s...

The Monster line is going to be more tractable and useful on a daily basis. Something to keep in mind if you have plans to ride to work and on a very frequent/short trips type of approach. Living in Vegas, you can potentially ride year round, and the Monster will be more enjoyable for you, but you give up a bit of performance on the weekend canyon run for this. As far as 1100 vs 1100S I would stick with the 1100. You really pay a big premium for a few bling parts and some Ohlins suspension that probably isn't worth the price compared to the Showa that comes OEM. Now that doesn't hold as true on the 848 as I think the upgrade to Ohlins was well worth it in my bike.

The Streetfighter is going to offer you the naked look of the M1100 with the engine from the 1098. I think in general the same sacrifices as far as comfort and riding position will hold true as with the 848 here. Very sexy bike, and I have been very tempted to pick one up, but am waiting to see if perhaps the 1098 engine ends up in a monster chassis in the next couple of years. Kind of an S4 type of deal.

Regardless you are making the move that we all remember doing and most remember fondly. I will never go back or be without a Ducati. Welcome to the club and the next stage in your riding life.

BTW, I live in Prescott, AZ which is only about 3.5 hours from Vegas, so when you get your bike, we should try to hook up to ride in southern NV or Utah and northern AZ. We have some of the best riding locales in the world right here out our driveways!!!

Cheers mate,
Joel
 
thanks AZMCS....great opinions/facts. I appreciate it. I would love to meet up sometime and ride. I am leaning towards a Duc, and I am pretty sure I will enjoy owning one. The biggest thing is the difference in price. I am a RIDER and am not into parking lot pimping, so I can get a GREAT ride and have out of my last bikes. I am just wanting to buy something now that is different and gives a little more pride. Plus, I am tired of having a bike that EVERY 19yr old gets for graduation gift.

You guys planning on Laguna Seca this year. I am thinking of buying tickets now that I am closer.
 
My story is a bit different then most people. I'm a pretty mechanically inclined individual with years of experience in fixing cars. I actually started riding bikes for the mere and simplistic reason of wanting something to race. I had given up on racing cars (due to the expense) and wanted something else that would be more premier, not just another karter sorta deal. So in November of 06, I got my license, picked up a CBR600F2, learned how to ride and in that process, figured out what bike was the best of the best.

Turns out, I fell in love Ducati's, dreamed about them constantly until I bought my first one; 748S in April of 07. I haven't looked back. I turned the 748 into a race bike in late 07, bought an 848 to ride on the street in March 08 and recently parted the 748 in favor of a 749R for my 09 racing season. I've so far been very successful in racing, having only a two years of riding on the track experience under my belt.

I absolutely love Ducati's and everything they represent. They don't necessarily make the best street bikes, but the platform is superior in many ways. So taking the base platform and making it better, is something thats not only very doable, but also very rewarding. Of course in the process, I've learned how to fix these things, but in all honesty with over 30k miles put on all 3 of my Ducati's, I've never had a failure of a street bike, besides a bad battery. Both my 748 race motors blew up on the track, but both were poorly re-assembled by the guy I bought them from, so it really wasn't Ducati's fault.

I've ridden almost every bike Ducati has ever made from Monster S4RS to older 90's supersports and almost all the superbikes. I've logged thousands of track miles on a 748/848/749R, so know that series of superbike, inside and out as well.

My favorite street bike? Well, I don't have one because it would be a Monster S4R with a larger wind screen, so you don't get the wind buffeting effect. So far, I've not seen anybody who's made one and seriously, thats really the only defect. I ride an 848 every day and its a pretty lame daily rider. I can't contain myself and go triple digits on the highways tucked in, totally hooligan and thats just not right. I really want something thats more up right, the monster is a perfect bike for that, even though I'd probably start wheelying all over the place, instead of just going fast!

I love the monster's, I love the superbikes, I even love the Hypermotard, that bike is totally outrageous! But in the end, the Monster is what made me want a Ducati in the first place and I have a feeling it will be my next bike!
 
Thanks for the info Tye. I know what you mean about tucking on the streets and being hooligan. I lived in OKC and the closest track was whack and the next closest was hours away. I found myself getting so bored with Oklahoma straight roads that to make them more fun I would go faster and faster. I would be taking long sweeper turns very fast just to get my lean on. I finally realized that I was putting myself at more and more risk and eventually that was the biggest reason I sold the R1. Now that I have much much better roads that dont require me to go FAAAST to turn in sharp, I know I have to have another. I really like the S4R, and the new 1100. I just cant keep my eyes off the 848/1098
 
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