Ducati 400M

[JimO]

no stoppies but had a good ride to roxburg bit windie though

[McJim]

Fitness for purpose. It is indeed a little bike but they handle very well - it's not always about power and top speed (well for me it's not).

Most people that buy Ducatis buy them because they are, well, Ducatis - it's an emotive brand. Most people that try a Ducati tend to comment favourably on the subject of handling too - a 400cc naked V-Twin bike with USD forks - should be very flickable in the twisties given the torque the V-Twin puts out - a machine built for corners not straight lines.

I suspect the 400 is there to capitalise on some Japanese learner/restricted regulations and would suggest that you maybe look at a 620M instead.

So looking at fitness for purpose -
Do you want a bike to pose on? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want to cane it in the twisties? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want a bike that delivers power fairly gently? If Yes then 400M is good
Do you want 180kph as your top speed? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want to do 20,000 km per year? If Yes then 400M is bad
Do you want a straight line speed over 200kph? If yes then 400M is bad

etc...

[desmo dave]

Fitness for purpose. It is indeed a little bike but they handle very well - it's not always about power and top speed (well for me it's not).

Most people that buy Ducatis buy them because they are, well, Ducatis - it's an emotive brand. Most people that try a Ducati tend to comment favourably on the subject of handling too - a 400cc naked V-Twin bike with USD forks - should be very flickable in the twisties given the torque the V-Twin puts out - a machine built for corners not straight lines.

I suspect the 400 is there to capitalise on some Japanese learner/restricted regulations and would suggest that you maybe look at a 620M instead.

So looking at fitness for purpose -
Do you want a bike to pose on? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want to cane it in the twisties? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want a bike that delivers power fairly gently? If Yes then 400M is good
Do you want 180kph as your top speed? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want to do 20,000 km per year? If Yes then 400M is bad
Do you want a straight line speed over 200kph? If yes then 400M is bad

etc...

So you reckon i should lube me chain then.

[placidfemme]

Well the dude who is selling the Duc 400M on TradeMe has finally replied to my email.

He said the ride height is about 800mm. He also said he doesn't know what the top speed is due to the speedo "playing up over 140kph". Doesn't sound like a good bike investment... not this particular one anyway...

[laRIKin]

Doesn't sound like a good bike investment... not this particular one anyway...

You will never know unless you look at it.
And when you are thinking like that, that is you will not buy it.
Is the best time to look at it and see if you can get a good deal.
Because you don't care if you buy it or not, so you can be as cheeky as can be, about the price you will pay.

[avgas]

What about a 350 goose. bloody nice the 1 i rode

[bounce]

So looking at fitness for purpose -
Do you want a bike to pose on? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want to cane it in the twisties? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want a bike that delivers power fairly gently? If Yes then 400M is good
Do you want 180kph as your top speed? If yes then 400M is good.
Do you want to do 20,000 km per year? If Yes then 400M is bad
Do you want a straight line speed over 200kph? If yes then 400M is bad

etc...

Good plan. let me know when you get around to mapping out your analysis on the 900ss. Might help me out too

[R1madness]

Hey I can get you a really tidy M400 Dark (BLACK). Fuel injected. Very Tidy. for about $7500. I would pay half the freight to get it to Auckland. Oh yea we put a full warrentee on all our used bikes.........

[placidfemme]

Hey I can get you a really tidy M400 Dark (BLACK). Fuel injected. Very Tidy. for about $7500. I would pay half the freight to get it to Auckland. Oh yea we put a full warrentee on all our used bikes.........

Thanks for the offer, and it sounds really sweet... (being black and all ) but unfortunatley we're just checking out all our options. Sam will more than likely end up with a Duc Monster at some stage, she tried sitting on the Cagiva 650 and was no-where near the ground... so too high... so its looking good for a Duc 400 but not just yet... we need to save some more $$$ first

[WickedOne]

Hey Tam, just be aware that when looking at Ducati you will be spending a lot more on servicing and parts than you would with a Jappa!!!!

[placidfemme]

Hey Tam, just be aware that when looking at Ducati and Cagiva you will be spending a lot more on servicing and parts than you would with a Jappa!!!!

Yeah I'd assume so... But Sam can't make up her mind what she wants lol So right now I'm happy to settle for anything she's happy with over trying to convince her otherwise...

[WickedOne]

Yeah I'd assume so... But Sam can't make up her mind what she wants lol So right now I'm happy to settle for anything she's happy with over trying to convince her otherwise...

I think she should go down to Barry's Point Road and sit on as many bikes as she can at Holeshot, Cyclespot and Spectrum Motorcycles and then may have a better idea. I would even go with her one weekend if she wanted me to.

[Jimmy B]

Hi PF,

Just to confuse things:

Buell Blast!!!!

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...238#post985238

[placidfemme]

I think she should go down to Barry's Point Road and sit on as many bikes as she can at Holeshot, Cyclespot and Spectrum Motorcycles and then may have a better idea. I would even go with her one weekend if she wanted me to.

I think that would be awesome! Sam's biggest issue with test "sitting" bikes is that shes really nervous about dropping the bike and so only gives it a half-assed effort because she's nervous.

I think it would really help her to get "motivated" about getting her A into G and start planning on getting the next bike, because right now she's bouncing around so many ideas shes not totally focused. I just want her to find the bike she wants and be motivated and start working towards it... if that makes sense?

[placidfemme]

Hi PF,

Just to confuse things:

Buell Blast!!!!

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...238#post985238

Do you have any pics of the Buell Blast? I don't know if Sam is keen on Buell's, our landlord has one but she's never taken enough interest to even stop and perv at it lol