Ducati or Porsche...imput needed.

[uncwSoccer]

I've been saving up odd funds thinking about another 911 or project car to replace the now deceased, salvaged and sold 1970 coupe. Things have been a headache getting the 914 re-sorted out over the last few months however, leading me to think two 30+ year old cars might be too much wrenching not enough seat time.
Being speed consumed (duh, I own Porsches) I'd also kinda like to own a motorcyle, atleast I think that's what the itch is, doc says I'm clean.
I've been road racing bikes (pedal power) for some time and feel pretty confortable on the road, in traffic, in packs, I've even gone past 60 (according to bike comp.) in the Appalachian mountains downhill, back when I went to school in Boone NC.
So I was thinking, maybe a Ducati, something to take to the track as well and learn to ride on, a small Monster is this a good choice?
What I've been looking at is the Ducati 620. Should I ditch the 911 plans for a new Duc? 120 miles to the dealer...

[Isabo]

If my husband's Duc is anything to go by then the 30 year old 911 has the edge for reliability and build quality. Just follow your heart and don't bother trying to rationalise it.

My collegue has a Dacati Monster and he loves it. On the othr hand he really really likes Porsches too. He just can't afford one....

I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence

[motion]

Monsters are great little bikes, but don't belong anywhere near a racetrack. If you want a sporting Duc, I'd recommend a 3 year old 748. You should be able to pick one up for around $7,000. IMHO, the smiles per mile on a Duc is second to nothing

[CarreraS2]

I don't ride on the track, but my Monster 900 is a blast on the street!

I don't think I'd buy a 620, though. The 900 is the same physical size, is easy to handle (pretty light), and you'll grow into the extra power.

The thing that makes the 900 soooooo much fun is the TORQUE. Twist the throttle at any rpm and just feel the torque.

Definately the best street bike I've ever owned. In my younger days I had a lot of zingy inline 4 sport bikes, but this is more fun to me.

I think reliability is very good these days, at least in my experience and from what I've seen in general on the Monster boards. Compared to the complexity of a car, a Monster is a fairly straightforward machine.

[vash]

the duck 620 is a turd. it was introduced really to get the entry level folks addicted to ducatis. in reality, a suzuki s650 (?)v would smoke you through the twisties. i am in agreement with motion. a 748 gives me a stiffy. caution, i almost bought a 748R on credit, but for some reason or another my insurance company wouldnt insure that bike. this was a few years ago. i didnt explore it anymore, so i dont know crap. i didnt need the monthly payments. i basically shelved my motorcycle purchase until i can get my car sorted out. i friggen love both. i have been destroyed in motorcycle accidents, but i still want one. the car is safer. but nothing accelerates like a bike, that you can feel. my next purchase will be the new street going twin by KTM, the superduke 99something, then a commuter bike like a honda VFR, my 911, life will be good. dont discount the japanese 600's, in the right hands, on real life roads, the even the big ducatis wont keep up. and VERY GOOD bang for the buck.

cliff
to answer your question, i would get a japbike 600 (swiss watch reliable), think R6 for 6 thousand used, and that would leave you enough $ to slowly tinker with the 911. the japanese bike crowd is totally slave to "latest and greatest" therefore, great used bikes are readily advailable, for cheap.

[uncwSoccer]

Good advise, thanks. 98-99 748's look nice enough. Any reason to up to a 749? I figure helmet and suit is another 1500-2000 right?

I can go the jap bike route, I have a buddy who owns a honda motorcycle dealership, but I'd like the Ducati and I'm willing to pay a little over time for it.

As for 900's I think that's a little large for a first bike.

[Eric Coffey]

You are going to cry when (not if) you lay that nice Ducati down (BTDT). I would Buy a used `01+ (fuel injected) GSXR600 and get some miles track days under your belt. You can probably find one in decent condition for around $4k. After a year or two of experience, then move up to the Duc.

[5axis]

The Ducs are too pretty for me. I would have a mental breakdown if I were to pitch one down the road. A thing to remember is that a bikes natural resting position is on it's side. If you are of a sporting nature and get a little too frisky you will discover this law of nature. My pick for MAX fun per $ would be a SV650 and then spend the extra on good leathers, helmet and very,very good gloves. (Your hands and pavement don't mix well. I have a few pair of shredded gloves and still have functioning hands).

david turbo cab
bmw K100
GSXR 1100

[vash]

any time i hear someone say a certian cc bike is too big i crack up. no one everwill say, naw i dont need a 3.2Lconversion, i am only talented enough for a 2.7L. if the bike is physically to big, that is one story, but anything other than that is BS. that is what the throttle and selfcontrol is for. you can putt around on the latest offerings from ducati and never really tap into its full potential. i have a 2000 honda F4i in my garage right now, and i love it. believe me, that thing has stretch my arms back so hard, it is difficult to back off on the throttle. the riders here know what i am talking about. you are hanging on so tightly, you dont have the strength to roll the gas back off. woooweee! get the ducati if you want, i agree i want one too. but dont get all bummed when some flyboy in a 600 japanese bike smokes you through the turns. reminded me of the time an old school GPZ blasted me into the weeds with a blown rear shock. i was humbled...haha

[motion]

Hey unfixed... have you ridden a Ducati? Lemme tell you, I wouldn't wish a litre Duc on anyone who didn't know what they were doing. You can get into trouble, like *real fast*. Very, very different from an inline-four. Try this on a 600-four: Get up to 20 miles an hour in first gear and whack the throttle open. Nothing happens. Now try it on a 99x. You will be on your lid so fast you won't know what hit you. I'm a firm believer in learning how to ride a bike that won't scare the living crap out of you.

[Nader]

The earlier Ducati superbikes are the most beautiful things on two wheels, and maybe the most uncomfortable, too. When it comes to a person's first track bike, the advice I got from the Ducati forums was to get a Suzuki SV650. I've heard the Monster doesn't have enough ground clearance in the turns for hard track duty.

[5axis]

This would be my next toy if my business situation were to improve a whole lot.

http://www.prosourcemotorsports.com/sales-detail.asp?VehicleID=2900

I still fit in my dainese leathers, and they would mostly match the bike, except for the scuff marks.

[cstreit]

The monster 900/750 is more of the "grocery getter"/Hooligan bike of the lineup but an excellent bike. Problem is when you compare them to the other Ducati's, even a superb bike would fall short. For the same price as a newer monster, you can get a 748 or 96 a few years old... ...and be into a serious bike.

Now I'd always pick the Porsche over the Ducati, but I'm fortunate to have both in my stable. If you end up buying the bike instead or the p-car, go for the Superbike line... it's worth it.

They have actually been very reliable except for alternator/voltage regulator issues.

[uncwSoccer]

Some interesting opinions tonight regarding 900cc bikes but... I've already wrecked two racing bicycles costing me out of pocket as much as this bike will, I'm looking for a first bike to maybe lay down, not a keeper bike even if it survives, except maybe for track purposes.

Throw some more ideas at me for good sport/track bikes in the 500-600cc range. I would lean towards a CBR600RR since I can get good dealer service. The yamaha yzf r6 seems to have good specs and good reviews with decent prices for 00-01 models.

Thanks for everyone's imput.

-Dan

[motion]

Hey 5axis, I just got one of those a few months ago. What a blast! I can't remember having so much fun on two wheels!

[vash]

MOTION, you are totally right! but you now what really got me after riding inline fours for the majority of the time? it was the massive engine braking! it really took some learning. you are ripping down a straight getting psyched for the next turn. let off the gas and varoom, it is like the brakes where on. the major lesson of the day: throttle control. you cant throttle down as hard on a twin like you can with 4 cylinders. believe me, i want a new ducati bad. that and a sport touring honda for the blasted commute, plus a suzuki DR400E with street tires.... oh crap. i havent even mentioned the KTM supermotard thingy coming out this year...i am going to need to sell something.. haha.
oh, the triumph speed triple...arrgh!

[Shuie]

SV650 is an awesome bike, but not a ducati. If you want a Ducati, get one. Nothing else looks or sounds like a Ducati.

Make sure you have a shop in your area that can do the maintenance. You may want to look into the scheduled maintenance cost differences between the 2 and 4 valve bikes. The local Ducati dealer went BMW exclusive because the Ducati owners were not doing the scheduled maintenance on the bikes due to cost.

[5axis]

Originally posted by motion
Hey 5axis, I just got one of those a few months ago. What a blast! I can't remember having so much fun on two wheels!

I just checked your link. I have my older (late 80's) dainese Monza leathers. Black, red, and white. Those colors sure go nicely with that bike. I didn't see your boots but mine are red white alpine stars that are seriously scuffed up. I recovered a high side, was laying sideway over my tank and ran over my foot with my rear tire. Whew!

[hokkaido]

Originally posted by 5axis
[B] I recovered a high side, was laying sideway over my tank and ran over my foot with my rear tire.

Ah, the highside, last refuge of the chicken. A bird with small brain and large breast, much like your avatar, 5axis.

Soccer, a 620 would be a fine learner bike. EXCELLENT urban machine. It may be the smallest Duc on the pond, but it has that bark that none can match. And that's with stock cans, before you slap on the Termignonis. But before you plunk down that kind of dough for a small bike, give the higher-displacement Monsters a look as well.

Whatever the size, the Monster will do beautifully in the twisties, and if the NC is for North Carolina, you must have twisties. Sure, your buddy on the 955i may smoke you in the straights, but where's the fun in straights? They're for Kansans. You can hang just fine in the hairpins, if you do your homework. And you'll sound better than he does.

But if you're a speed freak, maybe you want a ride that'll take you past 150 with aplomb. And if that's the case, you obviously don't get a naked, even one of the big dogs. I'd still advocate Ducati, but that's a style (and sound) thang. There are plenty of Japanese bikes that are faster and more reliable for the money. Note I don't say better. Unless you plan on shelling out for one of the REALLY spendy Italians, there's nothing that'll turn heads like a Duc.

xoxo,
Ducatista

P.S. I stumbled onto this forum by accident, don't think I'll be back. I'm a two-wheel girl myself.