I have little riding expirience on a 05 gsxr 600. Im about to take the Motorcycle class, and then buy a new bike.. I want to get a 600 motorcycle, but i have heard that the 848 is similar in power to a new gsxr 600 or kawi zx6...The money is not an issue, i know its an expensive fix if i drop it. But im concerned about the power..will an 848 get away from me any quicker than any other 600..please help and i dont need any of your smart a$$ comments..so save them..thanks for the help
Should I get a ducati 848 as a first bike?
- Thread starter Jerron H
- Start date
I mostly agree with the first answer, good on you for not following the masses and going for a 4-cylinder jap 600. Don't get me wrong, I ride a jap 4-cylinder 750, but only because money IS issue for me! Id far rather be on a big v-twin, thumping round some corners. I grew up on a mix of sports bikes and big 4-stroke single-cylinder endoro's and super-motards. I did work my way up steadily to my 750, over 8 years, from 50, 125, 250, 400, 600 4-cyl, 610 single-cyl... id say there's no rush dude, if you hit the top too quick, there's nowhere left to go, you'll end up on a busa in a few yrs! 
On a sadder note, we've just commorated the 1'st yrs anniversary of Luke's death, my mate's younger brother on his brand new r6. A few have said he was too inexperienced to handle that bike at this time of year, its certainly not for me to say, but perhaps they are right?
I know you say the cash ain't an issue, but it is heart-braking dropping a pristene machine and you are quite likely to drop your first bike, hell, I've dropped all but a few of the bikes I've had! Its horrificly easy to do, you only need a bit of uneaven ground or a patch of fuel at the petrol station and your on ur ar*e in a second! If your prepared to fix it then why not...
Id still go with something a wee bit smaller though, the 'recommended' starter bikes are the likes of sv650's, bantit 600/650's, hornet 600's (excellent little bike) and the ducati monster. Sv650's are supposed to be one of the best handling and pleasing in the corners bikes around. Also consider some of the big 400/600 supermotards, they can be awesome fun, you can even smoke the big guns of the line, yet because of their off-road roots, they are a lot mor forgiving and easy to handle. + you can wheelie like a king! 8) Like I said your in no rush, if the cash isn't an issue, perhaps get a little bandit second hand, use it for the first enevitable drop and to get used to the concept of riding the machine, you certainly won't hanker for power for at least 6 months. Then, once you've got used to it a bit and learnt how a big bike handles, (believe me they won't teach you that in your test!) if its the 848 you had your heart set on get that. Perhaps with a few months riding experience and armed with the knowledge of how a bike handles, you will feel better informed as to whether the 848 is really the bike for you.
On that note, they are stunning bikes, the styling is exquisite, the noise they make is arousing, I don't think many would dispute that! However, unless you are confident in servicing and maintaining a modern motorcycle it WILL ost you a fortune to run over a period of time! Again, it boils down to cash, I'm not sure you can put a price on owning a machine like that. Ducati are part of the same group as husky now, my recent 610 was a nightmare! It would run for a week or 2 and it would then be broken for a few weeks, run for another week or two, break again... Blood sweat and tears I put int that cursed bike! HOWEVER, when it ran, it gave me so much pleasure, gave me access to many an adrenaline filled corner and done so in such an awesome style! BMW don't build joy you can get it on ANY bike if you find the right road 8) I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can probably own a zxr, gsxr, cbr, r6/1 and there probably isn't much of a difference, but on a achine like the Ducati, you will have a much much more exclusive experience. I honestly think you would appreciate the ducati more if you had "played the field" a bit first. There's no rush, all the best things in life...
Lol. I hope this helps and I hope you are happy whatever you chose. I wish you a long, happy and sucessful riding carer. Good luck to you. K
On a sadder note, we've just commorated the 1'st yrs anniversary of Luke's death, my mate's younger brother on his brand new r6. A few have said he was too inexperienced to handle that bike at this time of year, its certainly not for me to say, but perhaps they are right?I know you say the cash ain't an issue, but it is heart-braking dropping a pristene machine and you are quite likely to drop your first bike, hell, I've dropped all but a few of the bikes I've had! Its horrificly easy to do, you only need a bit of uneaven ground or a patch of fuel at the petrol station and your on ur ar*e in a second! If your prepared to fix it then why not...
Id still go with something a wee bit smaller though, the 'recommended' starter bikes are the likes of sv650's, bantit 600/650's, hornet 600's (excellent little bike) and the ducati monster. Sv650's are supposed to be one of the best handling and pleasing in the corners bikes around. Also consider some of the big 400/600 supermotards, they can be awesome fun, you can even smoke the big guns of the line, yet because of their off-road roots, they are a lot mor forgiving and easy to handle. + you can wheelie like a king! 8) Like I said your in no rush, if the cash isn't an issue, perhaps get a little bandit second hand, use it for the first enevitable drop and to get used to the concept of riding the machine, you certainly won't hanker for power for at least 6 months. Then, once you've got used to it a bit and learnt how a big bike handles, (believe me they won't teach you that in your test!) if its the 848 you had your heart set on get that. Perhaps with a few months riding experience and armed with the knowledge of how a bike handles, you will feel better informed as to whether the 848 is really the bike for you.
On that note, they are stunning bikes, the styling is exquisite, the noise they make is arousing, I don't think many would dispute that! However, unless you are confident in servicing and maintaining a modern motorcycle it WILL ost you a fortune to run over a period of time! Again, it boils down to cash, I'm not sure you can put a price on owning a machine like that. Ducati are part of the same group as husky now, my recent 610 was a nightmare! It would run for a week or 2 and it would then be broken for a few weeks, run for another week or two, break again... Blood sweat and tears I put int that cursed bike! HOWEVER, when it ran, it gave me so much pleasure, gave me access to many an adrenaline filled corner and done so in such an awesome style! BMW don't build joy you can get it on ANY bike if you find the right road 8) I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can probably own a zxr, gsxr, cbr, r6/1 and there probably isn't much of a difference, but on a achine like the Ducati, you will have a much much more exclusive experience. I honestly think you would appreciate the ducati more if you had "played the field" a bit first. There's no rush, all the best things in life...
Lol. I hope this helps and I hope you are happy whatever you chose. I wish you a long, happy and sucessful riding carer. Good luck to you. K
I mostly agree with the first answer, good on you for not following the masses and going for a 4-cylinder jap 600. Don't get me wrong, I ride a jap 4-cylinder 750, but only because money IS issue for me! Id far rather be on a big v-twin, thumping round some corners. I grew up on a mix of sports bikes and big 4-stroke single-cylinder endoro's and super-motards. I did work my way up steadily to my 750, over 8 years, from 50, 125, 250, 400, 600 4-cyl, 610 single-cyl... id say there's no rush dude, if you hit the top too quick, there's nowhere left to go, you'll end up on a busa in a few yrs! On a sadder note, we've just commorated the 1'st yrs anniversary of Luke's death, my mate's younger brother on his brand new r6. A few have said he was too inexperienced to handle that bike at this time of year, its certainly not for me to say, but perhaps they are right?
I know you say the cash ain't an issue, but it is heart-braking dropping a pristene machine and you are quite likely to drop your first bike, hell, I've dropped all but a few of the bikes I've had! Its horrificly easy to do, you only need a bit of uneaven ground or a patch of fuel at the petrol station and your on ur ar*e in a second! If your prepared to fix it then why not...
Id still go with something a wee bit smaller though, the 'recommended' starter bikes are the likes of sv650's, bantit 600/650's, hornet 600's (excellent little bike) and the ducati monster. Sv650's are supposed to be one of the best handling and pleasing in the corners bikes around. Also consider some of the big 400/600 supermotards, they can be awesome fun, you can even smoke the big guns of the line, yet because of their off-road roots, they are a lot mor forgiving and easy to handle. + you can wheelie like a king! 8) Like I said your in no rush, if the cash isn't an issue, perhaps get a little bandit second hand, use it for the first enevitable drop and to get used to the concept of riding the machine, you certainly won't hanker for power for at least 6 months. Then, once you've got used to it a bit and learnt how a big bike handles, (believe me they won't teach you that in your test!) if its the 848 you had your heart set on get that. Perhaps with a few months riding experience and armed with the knowledge of how a bike handles, you will feel better informed as to whether the 848 is really the bike for you.
On that note, they are stunning bikes, the styling is exquisite, the noise they make is arousing, I don't think many would dispute that! However, unless you are confident in servicing and maintaining a modern motorcycle it WILL ost you a fortune to run over a period of time! Again, it boils down to cash, I'm not sure you can put a price on owning a machine like that. Ducati are part of the same group as husky now, my recent 610 was a nightmare! It would run for a week or 2 and it would then be broken for a few weeks, run for another week or two, break again... Blood sweat and tears I put int that cursed bike! HOWEVER, when it ran, it gave me so much pleasure, gave me access to many an adrenaline filled corner and done so in such an awesome style! BMW don't build joy you can get it on ANY bike if you find the right road 8) I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can probably own a zxr, gsxr, cbr, r6/1 and there probably isn't much of a difference, but on a achine like the Ducati, you will have a much much more exclusive experience. I honestly think you would appreciate the ducati more if you had "played the field" a bit first. There's no rush, all the best things in life...
Lol. I hope this helps and I hope you are happy whatever you chose. I wish you a long, happy and sucessful riding carer. Good luck to you. K
On a sadder note, we've just commorated the 1'st yrs anniversary of Luke's death, my mate's younger brother on his brand new r6. A few have said he was too inexperienced to handle that bike at this time of year, its certainly not for me to say, but perhaps they are right?I know you say the cash ain't an issue, but it is heart-braking dropping a pristene machine and you are quite likely to drop your first bike, hell, I've dropped all but a few of the bikes I've had! Its horrificly easy to do, you only need a bit of uneaven ground or a patch of fuel at the petrol station and your on ur ar*e in a second! If your prepared to fix it then why not...
Id still go with something a wee bit smaller though, the 'recommended' starter bikes are the likes of sv650's, bantit 600/650's, hornet 600's (excellent little bike) and the ducati monster. Sv650's are supposed to be one of the best handling and pleasing in the corners bikes around. Also consider some of the big 400/600 supermotards, they can be awesome fun, you can even smoke the big guns of the line, yet because of their off-road roots, they are a lot mor forgiving and easy to handle. + you can wheelie like a king! 8) Like I said your in no rush, if the cash isn't an issue, perhaps get a little bandit second hand, use it for the first enevitable drop and to get used to the concept of riding the machine, you certainly won't hanker for power for at least 6 months. Then, once you've got used to it a bit and learnt how a big bike handles, (believe me they won't teach you that in your test!) if its the 848 you had your heart set on get that. Perhaps with a few months riding experience and armed with the knowledge of how a bike handles, you will feel better informed as to whether the 848 is really the bike for you.
On that note, they are stunning bikes, the styling is exquisite, the noise they make is arousing, I don't think many would dispute that! However, unless you are confident in servicing and maintaining a modern motorcycle it WILL ost you a fortune to run over a period of time! Again, it boils down to cash, I'm not sure you can put a price on owning a machine like that. Ducati are part of the same group as husky now, my recent 610 was a nightmare! It would run for a week or 2 and it would then be broken for a few weeks, run for another week or two, break again... Blood sweat and tears I put int that cursed bike! HOWEVER, when it ran, it gave me so much pleasure, gave me access to many an adrenaline filled corner and done so in such an awesome style! BMW don't build joy you can get it on ANY bike if you find the right road 8) I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can probably own a zxr, gsxr, cbr, r6/1 and there probably isn't much of a difference, but on a achine like the Ducati, you will have a much much more exclusive experience. I honestly think you would appreciate the ducati more if you had "played the field" a bit first. There's no rush, all the best things in life...
Lol. I hope this helps and I hope you are happy whatever you chose. I wish you a long, happy and sucessful riding carer. Good luck to you. K
Its a great idea, bravo to you for not going with a 600cc like every other person on the road. Stand apart, you will be so much more cool, if that's what your going for.
With that said, you should think twice about such a "big" bike for your first. I always say, if you start on a dirt bike you will be fine, if not the first time you lock the rear wheel your gonna drop it. I have seen this proven true time and again. I road dirt for years until i got a cbr1000rr for my first, and i have never been down. Good luck, ride safe.
With that said, you should think twice about such a "big" bike for your first. I always say, if you start on a dirt bike you will be fine, if not the first time you lock the rear wheel your gonna drop it. I have seen this proven true time and again. I road dirt for years until i got a cbr1000rr for my first, and i have never been down. Good luck, ride safe.
your words "im concerned about the power" says it all to me, it doesn't sound like you'd be confident enough to enjoy the bigger bike any more than a 600, start with a bike ur comfortable and confident with first and build up.
i own a 999 and an old gixxer 600, still find the gixxer fun, its good for 150 mph + on a clear day over the mountain, im guessing your not going to get any benefit outta any more power than that for now!!!!!!
but then when u open your garage door the ducati will probably put more of a grin on ur face!!!
can u not maybe hire or test a 848 for a few days and see how it goes first???
( oh, and i live on the isle of man, so my 150 mph + is legal, b4 any1 reports me lol))
i own a 999 and an old gixxer 600, still find the gixxer fun, its good for 150 mph + on a clear day over the mountain, im guessing your not going to get any benefit outta any more power than that for now!!!!!!
but then when u open your garage door the ducati will probably put more of a grin on ur face!!!
can u not maybe hire or test a 848 for a few days and see how it goes first???
( oh, and i live on the isle of man, so my 150 mph + is legal, b4 any1 reports me lol))