Ducati Impressions

[Jeff Higgins]

Just over a month (and a couple thousand miles already...) into my Ducati ownership experience, I thought I would share my impressions. Being a lifelong Harley rider, I can't help but make some comparisons in that regard. So here goes...

The Ducati is an absolutely wonderful machine for its intended purpose. It fills the niche I envisioned for it with aplomb; I honestly can't think of another machine that could do so as well as this old 900 SS. It is, however, a very narrowly defined niche. Neither the bike nor I are happy when we try to expand its role outside of my original intent for it.

It is an after work, Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon, or what have you - toy. It is not a commuter, not a tourer. It is not even an all day ride. Not so much because of physical comfort or anything like that, but more because of how it demands to be ridden.

My Harleys are actually far better handling, far less demanding bikes when ridden at "normal" (i.e. more or less legal) speeds. The Harleys are more intuitive, natural, "care free" if you will, for just be-bopping around. The Ducati is unhappy and demanding at the posted speed limits on any given road. It is twitchy and overly responsive, like hitching a thoroughbred to a plough. It stops too fast, accelerates too fast, turns too abruptly... Everybody around me just seems to be in the way, plodding along at an impossibly slow pace.

Until it's free to run; until we are alone together on some lonely back road. Then everything changes. Everything starts to work. At a certain percentage over any given posted limit, it all begins to make sense. It becomes rather effortless to make some serious time on this thing. Not necessarily some furious hell-bent-for-election pace, but (continuing the horse analogy) just at a good solid "canter". It's capable of much more, of course, but this is where it starts to get "happy".

Unfortunately, that "certain percentage over" is somewhere in the neighborhood of about half again what the powers that be (who are so concerned with my safety) think I ought to be doing. Oh, to live in a place where they would leave such matters up to me... This is a truly wonderful machine, trapped in the wrong country. Much like our beloved 911's. Those who neither understand nor care to understand have done everything they can think of to hamstring these thoroughbreds, out of fear and contempt. Oh well... The Ducati (and the 911) and I won't let that slow us down much...

[nostatic]

Other Ducs don't suffer from this. You chose a very focused bike. Mike Marshall has a Paul Smart Replica, and while it is a beautiful bike (and he has no problem doing 2K miles on it in a week), I'd never own one. After 15 minutes of riding it I was ready to get off.

You'd likely find a Monster to be more "user friendly" and versatile, and the Multistrada can do just about anything, and do it really well. You'd forget about your Harleys unless you really crave the cruiser position. In that case, I can't help you

[Evans, Marv]

My lowly FZ1 keeps me happy. It has a decent upright riding position, pretty comfortable, handles decently and is more than fast enough for me. I spend most of my riding time on the backcountry twisty roads around here where there isn't much traffic. These newer bikes are pretty amazing. I can feel the front end getting light when I pull out to pass a car if I don't watch the throttle. Great response though. One thing I love is the smell of the sage in the air. I bought it used the first of the year with 6,100 miles on the clock. Now it has 11K, so I guess the guy who had it before didn't ride it much.

[Ray B]

+1 on the Monster. Different bars/risers make it an all day machine. I can't comment on a 900SS but after a couple of hours on a friend's 916 I was ready to hop back on my Monster. The 916 is a beast- the thoroughbred analogy is accurate. I'm happy with my "compromised" Duc.

[ramonesfreak]

i feel the same about my ninja as you do about your ducati. i owned it, and a harley at the same time for a year. once the harley was sold, i really started to notice that i just cannot ride the ninja as often...not only because my back cant take it, but because the bike is indeed designed to do one thing very well.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

So far my only complaint is that the brakes are a little grabby and it stops too fast. I'm working on smoother pulls, and like my clutch hydraulic system upgrade with Yoyodyne slave which allows me to do city driving, I think a similar tank style master upgrade and full system flush will do wonders. This bike had been significantly abused 2 owners back and I'm finding every time I renew a system, the bike just keeps getting better.

Jeff, I have to agree with you that this bike wants to run. I've come to the conclusion that riding a 900 is like playing a sport. The CB you could hop on and go. The 900 requires more concentration at every level and I've found the more I practice, for example riding around rotaries at minimal traffic times to get a better feel for the bike's handling capabilities, the more fun and enjoyable the bike is when just out and about. And believe it or not, since I've started swimming as my workout/exercise, I've become more comfortable on the bike all the way around.


Good description of the bike's +'s and -'s. Like a track-based 911, it is a demanding piece of machinery.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Other Ducs don't suffer from this. You chose a very focused bike. Mike Marshall has a Paul Smart Replica, and while it is a beautiful bike (and he has no problem doing 2K miles on it in a week), I'd never own one. After 15 minutes of riding it I was ready to get off.

You'd likely find a Monster to be more "user friendly" and versatile, and the Multistrada can do just about anything, and do it really well. You'd forget about your Harleys unless you really crave the cruiser position. In that case, I can't help you

Thats because your a wimp and you only rode it for 10 minutes Actually, once your used to it, it's really not bad. Ok, maybe it is, but I like pain. I've mentioned it before, but I've done a 566 mile ride on my PS and I really was fine. That trip has actually made me want to take it on longer multiple day rides. That being said, There are a lot of them for sale because people can't handle the very extreme riding position. When I purchased it as a second bike, I wanted a very focused bike, a toy and that is what it is. But, If I had to sell a bike and was going to continue riding, it would also be the first one to go.

[johndglynn]

Monsters are a very comfy ride. I had no probs with my lower back on the Duc compared to my 600 Suzuki. Mainly I think because the Ducati was so much lighter - like 40 kilos lighter - and the saddle shape was perfect for my posterior. I could commute on a Monster no problemo as long as there were no 70-mile motorway sections.

[Rot 911]

Damn, I just wish I had the time to put 2000 miles on a motorcycle in a month!