2002 and Ducati unveiled to the world its long awaited replacement for the stunning, but long in the tooth, 998. The last in a long line of 916 shaped machines and for my mind the single best looking production sports bike ever built. I'd ridden a 916 and hated everything about it except the sound it made. Still had wet dreams over how it looked though.
So the covers came off the triple nine and once the camera flashes finished blinding the public, I gasped. Then gagged. Then threw up in my mouth a little. Then I laughed. I wondered out loud to anyone who'd listen, just how the spaghetti slurpers in Bologna had for so long built a machine no one could even come close to in styling, had dreamed up this monstrosity. I didn't give a flying rats about adustable seating, rear sets or steering head. More power, who gives a shit. Proper swingarm, doesn't matter. "LOOK at the thing, it's fucken terrible" I proclaimed loudly.
Move forward nine years and I'm wondering if I'm getting old. RB Auckland had recently traded a 2004 example, 2 owners with only 26000kays and we were lucky enough to be getting it. "Good stock" I commented.......... then wondered if I'd actually just said that or thought it privately. Turns out I'd said it, not sure where it came from.
So the bike arrives and I'm looking at it carefully. It's stunning! Very minimal in its design and approach, the friggen rear cowl doesn't even cover the muffler for Christs sake! Adjustable subframe and rearsets to suit varying body shapes suddenly seems cool, as does the quick ride height adjuster. Levers, resevoirs even the sidestand are all stylishly crafted and look exotic. I'm getting a little chubby here, weird.
So I thought I'd better take it for a quick spin and see if it disappoints as much as the 916 did all those years back. My riding style has changed a little in the past ten years after all.
Typically slow to crank starter mottor lugs the engine over a couple of times before she fires into life and begins idling perfectly, Termignoni muffler bellowing out that Testastretta for the whole neighbourhood to goof off on. Get some temperature on the dash before disengaging the rattly dry clutch and grab first gear. No Chain snatch or engine lugging as I pull away strikes me as a bit weird, this is a Ducati isn't it? As the road speed increases I'm instantly aware of the very tall gearing but intrigued at the lack of vibration. Hand on heart, this is the smoothest V-twin I've ever ridden. Low revs, low speed there's a bit of a vibe that makes the mirrors fuzzy but feed it a handfull and instead of lurching and snatching like an SV1000 does for instance, there's just tonnes of drive and glorious V-twin music.
Shortcut to the motorway and through the Dowse drive interchange, there's a little bit of steering effort required, more than say an R6, but the bike is impeccably balanced and confidence inspiring. As I accelerate through the rev range I'm rewarded with fantastic acceleration, building stronger as the tacho climbs. Like all good italian rev counters there's no redline so I grab gears at around 10K, bike's still pulling hard at these revs though. The speedo's reading some pretty silly numbers so I peg back on the throttle and grab the last two gears into sixth. From memory the motor's turning over at a very lazy 3750 at 100kph but still gives really good drive if you twist the wrist. Inspiring performance is how I'd describe it. Yes an R1 or a GSXR will thrash the hell out of the 999 in a straight line but somehow I just don't care any more. Braking for some lights from 100kph and the front end feels great, nice and compliant but still offering a heap of feedback through the Pirelli Diablo. Brakes are as you'd expect from Brembo monoblocks, more than adequate in their power but offering superb feel through the semi radial master cylinder and lever. Being Italian, braded lines are standard.
I managed to get a quick run through some constant radius turns, and oh yes, this thing holds a line and feels soooo predictable. The Diablos aren't my first choice of tyre and for a bike like this, likely only to see dry days in perfect weather I'd personally go for something a little more track focussed. That's just me though.
Unfortunately, there was work to be done so with much regret I headed back towards work. Grinning like a loon and imagining the fun that could be had with this bike on a nice twisty, empty road.
I'm back at work. Without a word of a lie, I have NEVER ridden a bike that I've wanted to own as much as this one. I'm totally smitten and don't even want to sell it to make money so I can maybe one day afford a nice bike again. Every single thing about this bike turns me on. I can live with the sore wrists and left forearm pump from the stupidly heavy clutch actuation. The heat from the exhaust making my nuts sweat is reminding me of what a glorious, emotive machine that I'm riding.
It's coming home tonight so I can take photos of it in my garage and I can then dream of what it would be like to not have four beautiful kids and one beautiful Ducati instead.
I'm off for a cold shower then I've got nine years of apologising to Pierre Terblanche for sullying his genius and good name for the same time.
My god I'm in love.
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Originally Posted by White trash
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