Help, Should I get a DUCATI?

[boomer]

And didnt manage to wreck it either time he owned it

that bike taught him a thing or two i suspect..??!!! not the other way around

[Voltaire]

Ducatis are rubbish
They are the most unreliable bikes on the planet
They cost lots to fix
You can't service them yourself
The clutches make more noise than the exhaust
No one knows how the valves work
They cost too much

don't buy one.

[AllanB]

Ducatis are rubbish
They are the most unreliable bikes on the planet
They cost lots to fix
You can't service them yourself
The clutches make more noise than the exhaust
No one knows how the valves work
They cost too much

don't buy one.

So, you like them then?

Care to elaborate on your comments as I presume they are from personal experience and I'd be interested to hear the stories.

[Coldrider]

Ducatis are rubbish
They are the most unreliable bikes on the planet
They cost lots to fix
You can't service them yourself
The clutches make more noise than the exhaust
No one knows how the valves work
They cost too much

don't buy one.

Yes, but they are red, you get undies thrown at you, and they like working with concrete, the more you stir the wetter they get.
That is what I have gleaned from this thread.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Ducatis are rubbish
They are the most unreliable bikes on the planet
They cost lots to fix
You can't service them yourself
The clutches make more noise than the exhaust
No one knows how the valves work
They cost too much

don't buy one.

no not just one buy two or three...

[Insanity_rules]

Ducatis are rubbish
They are the most unreliable bikes on the planet
They cost lots to fix
You can't service them yourself
The clutches make more noise than the exhaust
No one knows how the valves work
They cost too much

don't buy one.

I beg to differ, the only thing I haven't attempted to do on my Ducati is a belt change. Every job I've done on mine so far has been relatively easy and the parts are pretty reasonably priced if you know where to look. And do you mean to tell me you own two Duc's and you don't know how a desmodromic head works? I'm not even a mechanics asshole and I keep mine on the road no problem.

To add insult to injury you own one of the sexiest classic bikes of all time (your SD). Thats it hand over your Ducatista title right now young man.

Please tell me you were being sarcastic.

[Voltaire]

I beg to differ, the only thing I haven't attempted to do on my Ducati is a belt change. Every job I've done on mine so far has been relatively easy and the parts are pretty reasonably priced if you know where to look. And do you mean to tell me you own two Duc's and you don't know how a desmodromic head works? I'm not even a mechanics asshole and I keep mine on the road no problem.

To add insult to injury you own one of the sexiest classic bikes of all time (your SD). Thats it hand over your Ducatista title right now young man.

Please tell me you were being sarcastic.

I was being sarcastic....and just trying to get into the KB sprit of fact based opinion.
Yes the SD is a sexy bike...I've had it for 23 years and it would be the last bike I'd part with.
I have done the belts and set the desmos...easy enough.
As for the discussion on Yamahonsuzwaki vs Ducati....I can't comment as I don't need to more than 80HP to enjoy motorcycling and I could not tell one jap bike from another.

[timetoride]

I was in a similar position as you, had il4's most of my life and a couple of triples, had the chance to buy a Ducati and did so. Previously before that I was of the same ilk as others on here. They are expensive to maintain, uncomfortable blah blah blah.
They very quickly make sense in the real world of riding. No they dont like being in town as they have very tall gearing (easy fix with 1 off the front sprocket and 3 on the back sprocket) Mine has cost me no more to maintain than any of my inline 4's or the 675 i had and is a much more involving motorbike to ride. See if you can test ride one for a while. Not once round the block, but a decent ride and you will probably find that you can live with the hopeless mirrors (999) and rock hard seat (which is an easy fix too by the way) just because of the grin it puts on your face everytime you wind on the throttle exiting a corner or start it in the garage with the pipes booming in your ears.
And regarding the power/torque argument realisticaly how much of the gsxr's power do you use most of the time? The duc's are deceptively fast and in my opinion you do get the high rpm surge of the il4, just constant and predictive grunt wherever and whenever you need it or want it.
I too have been converted to owning Ducati's as road bikes and hopefully will be changing my race bike to one when I can afford it.

Just my 2c worth!

[Insanity_rules]

I was being sarcastic....and just trying to get into the KB sprit of fact based opinion.
Yes the SD is a sexy bike...I've had it for 23 years and it would be the last bike I'd part with.
I have done the belts and set the desmos...easy enough.
As for the discussion on Yamahonsuzwaki vs Ducati....I can't comment as I don't need to more than 80HP to enjoy motorcycling and I could not tell one jap bike from another.

Oh thank god, I couldn't imagine someone with such immaculate taste in bikes be so anti what he rides. Actually I have to admit two things. One is I haven't set the valves on mine but have had a pretty big education on how to and two I own a jappa as well but its also a v-twin. The Honda is a good little city hopper and ultra reliable, really good for its purpose.

As the old saying goes jappas move the body but italians move the soul. PS I want a good SD to add to the collection. I've looked at a couple but they were a bit ropey.