2003 Ducati 749 - good or dog?

**5150** · 22nd September 2011, 14:41

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

ha...me actually being facetious !!
Of course I would !!
...err then I'd ask her for a loan to buy an 1199...

Ha. I knew there was something sinister in that statement. An alterior motive perhaps. And here it is...

If you performed well, I guess she would just give you 1199, right before her husband cuts your balls off......

**nudemetalz** · 22nd September 2011, 14:47

hahahaha

Now, back to your bike.

I've always liked the twin swingarm look of the 749/999 Dukes that were so bagged in their time. I guess people that buy Italian bikes like evolution rather than revolution ..(says him that owns a pushrod v-twin from Italia...)

**5150** · 22nd September 2011, 15:11

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

hahahaha

Now, back to your bike.

I've always liked the twin swingarm look of the 749/999 Dukes that were so bagged in their time. I guess people that buy Italian bikes like evolution rather than revolution ..(says him that owns a pushrod v-twin from Italia...)

The 749/999 shape had the biggest impression on me. It was way overdue. Personally I think Ducati run the 916/748 shape to the ground. So seeing the next models was a breath of fresh air. I too like the look of twin swingarm. Even Karl Fogarty said the single sided swing arm was too flexible. Aparently he begged Ducati for the double sided swingarm to no avail.

If I get this one , It will be a special day ride / track day machine.

**NZsarge** · 22nd September 2011, 19:06

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

What's all the fuss about?

Super milf!

**Marmoot** · 22nd September 2011, 22:38

Originally Posted by Edbear

All said and done, the 748 is a limited edition special high performance track bike and should be looked upon as such, not a "daily driver".

My 848 is a daily.
But yes, you are right, expect to pay more.
Service is not cheap, and parts do fall off from time to time (screws mostly, plus 2 voltage regulators so far)
Plus tyres.....sticky tyres are not cheap.

If you can get 999 for another $2000, I'd take the $2000 on finance. It would be worth it.

**supa.m** · 22nd September 2011, 22:49

Originally Posted by Marmoot

My 848 is a daily.
But yes, you are right, expect to pay more.
Service is not cheap, and parts do fall off from time to time (screws mostly, plus 2 voltage regulators so far)
Plus tyres.....sticky tyres are not cheap.

If you can get 999 for another $2000, I'd take the $2000 on finance. It would be worth it.

Mortgage of the cat plus divorce = 999

Of course you could look for an Aprilia?

**nudemetalz** · 23rd September 2011, 09:48

Originally Posted by supa.m

Mortgage of the cat plus divorce = 999

Of course you could look for an Aprilia?

Is that like selling the pussy?

**5150** · 23rd September 2011, 10:40

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

Is that like selling the pussy?

I think the 749 or 999 would qualify as a sex supliment if divorce was on the cards.....

**nudemetalz** · 23rd September 2011, 11:20

A tempermental redhead that only turns on when she wants to and not you?

Now does that explain a Duke (or Guzzi..ahem) or the missus ?

**5150** · 23rd September 2011, 11:43

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

A tempermental redhead that only turns on when she wants to and not you?

Now does that explain a Duke (or Guzzi..ahem) or the missus ?

Oh, when you put it like that, ofcourse it makes sense

**nudemetalz** · 23rd September 2011, 12:40

Guzzi owners are well known for not making the slightest bit of sense.
Just look at Dangerous, or Willythekid.....

**5150** · 26th September 2011, 13:00

Well. Didn't even make it to Auckland this weekend. A friend of a friend has a 749S and let me take it for a short blast. I'd hate to say it but it wasn't for me. Just didn't feel right. Don't know if it was this example or because it was his bike and I was too scared to drop it, what ever it was I just couldn't get comfortable with it. It was twitchy with hard ride and I just wasn't getting the feedback from the suspension that I wanted. So that plus his comments regarding the maintenance costs etc made me walk away from owning a Duke.

However I also took an 07 Triumph 675 Daytona for a ride, and that put a huge grin on my mug. What a ride that was. The feedback through bars and the smooth power gave me lots of confidence. I didn't even miss the 400cc and extra cylinder of the Zed.

I took it down my fave road and honestly on some corners I was going nearly 10-20 kms faster then I dare take my Zed to. Fell in love with it. Now, just have to convince the finance minister of the benefits of owning a Triumph

**Edbear** · 26th September 2011, 13:13

Originally Posted by 5150

Well. Didn't even make it to Auckland this weekend. A friend of a friend has a 749S and let me take it for a short blast. I'd hate to say it but it wasn't for me. Just didn't feel right. Don't know if it was this example or because it was his bike and I was too scared to drop it, what ever it was I just couldn't get comfortable with it. It was twitchy with hard ride and I just wasn't getting the feedback from the suspension that I want it. So that plus his comments regarding the maintenance costs etc made me walk away from owning a Duke.

However I also took an 07 Triumph 675 Daytona for a ride, and that put a huge grin on my mug. What a ride that was. The feedback through bars and the smooth power gave me lots of confidence. I didn't even miss the 400cc and extra cylinder of the Zed.

I took it down my fave road and honestly on some corners I was going nearly 10-20 kms faster then I dare take my Zed to. Fell in love with it. Now, just have to convince the finance minister of the benefits of owning a Triumph

Not unexpected. Not sure about the long term ownership of the Triumph, but they certainly seem to be popular, esp. on the track.

**Marmoot** · 26th September 2011, 13:14

Originally Posted by 5150

Well. Didn't even make it to Auckland this weekend. A friend of a friend has a 749S and let me take it for a short blast. I'd hate to say it but it wasn't for me. Just didn't feel right. Don't know if it was this example or because it was his bike and I was too scared to drop it, what ever it was I just couldn't get comfortable with it. It was twitchy with hard ride and I just wasn't getting the feedback from the suspension that I want it. So that plus his comments regarding the maintenance costs etc made me walk away from owning a Duke.

You're spot on.
Ducatis take a long time to get used to. It took me about 2 months to get used to mine when I transitioned from my Fireblade(s). It normally comes as some sort of "enlightment" that you suddenly realised how you are meant to ride it.
However, once you get it, the satisfaction is just so great that you'd end up wanting to stick to Ducatis.

It's very different from inline 4 or 3 bikes. Suspensions are also much firmer, steering a bit confused and very committed (you need to turn it like you reallly want to, even just inside the city). Also, the faster you ride it the nicer it handles and feels. It struggles in the very-tight narrow twisty bits (like Auckland's Scenic Drive) but it is simply awesome in the more open areas.

You won't get to like Ducati just by test riding it. Like I always say, you buy Honda/Suzuki/etc for what they can do, but if you want to buy a Ducati you should only buy it for what it is (i.e., you like a Ducati).

Maintenance cost hovers around $800 for low service (every 12k) an $1.5k for big service (cam belt change, every 24k). It's the money you have to spend on carbon fiber bits that you need to worry about

they are priced differently from Japanese bike parts.