I want a Ducati so hard its killin' me...

[HardDrive]

I rode a Kantana when I was younger. Cheap, but cheap to maintain and plenty fast.

I want a Duc. I have wanted a Duc for years. But the wife is against it in a major way. But the wife was against me buying a Porsche, and I have bought (and sold) two, and she now thinks of them positively. Wife won't be happy, but I'm getting the urge to just say F-this and go for it.

"And remember son, its better to apologize for something you have done......"

[varmint]

you're about the tenth one here to feel the motorcycle lust.


same advice as always, buy something cheap. i've read the actuarial tables. it's a dead certainty that you will drop the bike in the first six months. $500 will get you a decent bike. that's the price of one small body panel on a ducati.

if you last through the summer, then start looking for the bike you want.

[Danny_Ocean]

Here you go. Will ship by this weekend:

[RWebb]

repeat this before you go to bed each night:

DesmodroDesmodromicDesmodromicDesmodromicDesmodrom icDesmodromicDesmodromicDesmodromicDesmodromicDesm odromicDesmodromicDesmodromicDesmodromicDesmodromi cmic

[Joeaksa]

And repeat this every night "I will have to morgage the house every time it needs a tune up for those wonderful desmo valves"...

[TerryBPP]

Have you heard the "dry clutch" yet? yuck!

[widebody911]

A friend of mine just bought a 999s. It looks like a very nice bike, but the sound of the dry clutch is disturbing when you hear it for the first time.

[VincentVega]

I know the feeling. I look online for a early/mid 90's SS every few days.

[TerryBPP]

Originally Posted by widebody911

A friend of mine just bought a 999s. It looks like a very nice bike, but the sound of the dry clutch is disturbing when you hear it for the first time.

Yep, thanks to nostatic I will never own a Duc, lol.

[deathpunk dan]

WTF! The dry clutch is part of the allure. Otherwise, you might as well ride a Superhawk, SV, or TL.

Find a 90s 900SS and don't look back.

[Rick Lee]

BMW's have dry clutches too. They're fine. HD, you might make it a year without dropping the bike. I've dropped mine about five times, but they were all in the last three mos., three of which were in the Sonoran Desert in sand that felt like silt. Two parking lot tipovers more than a year ago, one due to leftover sand from snow treatment. On BMW's and KTM's, the scars make the bike look better and give you some cred. I don't think that's the case with Ducatis.

[NICKG]

monster 696 is a great bike! i was droolin over one this past weekend.


http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/my2008/ModelPage.jhtml;jsessionid=VCVCQOJKUJFIYCRNCB3CFFQ KFUIHSIV2?family=Monster&model=M696-08

[Shoepop]

Must be catching, I got the bug for a 749S about a week ago, after riding my son's friends new 695 monster. Cool bike but something about a 749, at my age I ought to know better buuuuuuuuuuuuuut

[serge944]

Originally Posted by widebody911

A friend of mine just bought a 999s. It looks like a very nice bike, but the sound of the dry clutch is disturbing when you hear it for the first time.

I disagree! Sounds like an angelic choir to me!

Look into low-displacement monsters and supersports - they're fairly cheap to buy and are less maintenance intensive than other ducs. Parts are cheaper too.

The timing belts cost $200 for my 999S...thats not even from the dealer.

[HardDrive]

I know how easy it is to drop a bike. I've only dropped one on the road once. Still have the scar to prove it.

I was thinking a FI Monster 900 of some flavor would be a good way to go.

[grudk]

I was getting the itch to get another bike this past weekend when I saw a sweet 996 on Sat.

Got home and got an e-mail that my friend went down earlier that day, broke multiple ribs, scapula, fibula and ruptured his spleen (went down on a curve -- no other vehicles involved, five year daily rider)

Will wait a bit...

[scottmandue]

I hate to be a nay sayer but is the performance of a duc really all that different than a Japanese crotch rocket that is a fraction of the price to buy and maintain?

Say like a Suzuki SV1000S?

[JavaBrewer]

Performance? Other than the 1098 superbike I wouldn't think a Ducati, especially the monster line, can match a Japanese bike for power/handling and reliability.

[TerryBPP]

Clickity Clack Clickity Clack Kathunk Kathuck, Clickity Clack Clickity Clack Kathunk Kathuck, Clickity Clack Clickity Clack Kathunk Kathuck, Clickity Clack Clickity Clack Kathunk Kathuck.

[serge944]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

Performance? Other than the 1098 superbike I wouldn't think a Ducati, especially the monster line, can match a Japanese bike for power/handling and reliability.

That's not exactly what you buy a ducati for... They are much more maintenance intensive than their jap counterparts. Afterall, it have the "ferrari of bikes" reputation to uphold. Some decisions are emotional - they don't have to make sense. Being automotive enthusiasts you all should understand. You spent countless dollars on your old Porsches when you can just go out and buy a new sports car that'll run laps around them in greater luxury and reliability - for the same money. But, like I said - that's not what it's all about.

As far as power goes, they make heaps of it considering the engine configuration. You're comparing apples and oranges with V2 and I4 engines. I prefer the useable powerband of the V2 engines...I4 are so peaky and geared so tall you can't even tap into the power without going triple digits.

Handling? This is a very subjectional topic. Ok, I wont even bother to make the 911 analogy.

Then comes the sound - nothing touches a duc.

The first time I rode my ducati my heart was racing in much the same way when I got to drive a 997 GT3. None of the japanese literbikes do this - they feel so bland and soulless.