Are Ducatis really worth it?

[bimotabob]

You ride a Bimota mate, are you really qualified to knock the looks of the 999.

Yeh I am qualified as I have taste.
Mine looks fast and sleek, it has style the right colour and lines as well as lower service intervals due to the Yamaha engine.
The 999 sucks and you know it -I'm not getting at Ducati - Bimota have made shockers - the mantra for example.

Regards
BB

[JimO]

i knew you would show up eventually

[McJim]

I like the 749 and the 999 - mainly because other people don't.


Baaaaaaaa.

[Masterchop]

LOL....even better when the chick is riding her own! she'll love it! No hesitation in saying I'll be back on a Duc real soon and I CANT WAIT!!

Good to hear that Flame, looking forward to seeing it.

[flame]

Ducati worth it... mmmm no no, just a little to much charactor uh, who wants to be roadside when you can be tearing on down the seal..... just enuf charactor is what ya need.


Enuf said

150,000 kms and never was 'roadside'. on any dukes I owned......oh um ......until for some reason i switched to a 'gixxer' and held up the entire DUCATI club 900kms from home doh!!!!!!

not dissing the gixxer......just saying that ANY bike can break down, and maybe I was lucky with my Duke's, but unfair call to state that a Duke may cause you to be 'roadside', when in my opinion and experience shows otherwise.

[2cati]

Yeh I am qualified as I have taste.
Mine looks fast and sleek, it has style the right colour and lines as well as lower service intervals due to the Yamaha engine.
The 999 sucks and you know it -I'm not getting at Ducati - Bimota have made shockers - the mantra for example.

Regards
BB

That's classic , The money you save on services you can put towards spare parts that need to be made from scratch. know a guy that cant get insurance cover because of availability of bits.
Not that accidents happen (getting cut off at roundabouts to name one of many shitti things that can occur)

Taste is in the eye of the beholder.
I love my 999 ,you don't .. that's fine

Ducati number 4 ,not one breakdown, maybe I'm lucky ....or maybe its not the eighties anymore.

[spudchucka]

A question for other Ducati owners:

Have any of you experienced problems with running different fuel octanes?

I've had a bit of a problem with cold starting. I've been blaming the battery as when I had it tested it showed up as being slightly in the weak zone. Its only been a problem on cold mornings though, starting it cold in the afternoons hasn't been a problem. Once started it has run fine, its just the starting that has been a pain.

Anyway, I recently tried running it on 91 octane rather than the 96 - 98 that I have always preferred to run my bikes on. On 91 the cold starting problem seems to have suddenly corrected itself. It still requires a few cranks to get it going, (5 - 10 seconds) but it starts much much better on the lower octane fuel.

Anyone else found this or does my Duc just have a little more character than most?

[orangeback]

A question for other Ducati owners:

Have any of you experienced problems with running different fuel octanes?

I've had a bit of a problem with cold starting. I've been blaming the battery as when I had it tested it showed up as being slightly in the weak zone. Its only been a problem on cold mornings though, starting it cold in the afternoons hasn't been a problem. Once started it has run fine, its just the starting that has been a pain.

Anyway, I recently tried running it on 91 octane rather than the 96 - 98 that I have always preferred to run my bikes on. On 91 the cold starting problem seems to have suddenly corrected itself. It still requires a few cranks to get it going, (5 - 10 seconds) but it starts much much better on the lower octane fuel.

Anyone else found this or does my Duc just have a little more character than most?

must try that with mine
another thing i found is mine dosent like NGK spark plugs , seem to run beter on L82 champion plugs

[R1madness]

Anyone that wants a great price on imported dukes send me an email saying you saw me on Kiwibike. We can do sharp prices for MR2a bikes or even cheaper if you want them uncomplied. Please do not waste my time tho by asking for quotes if you are not serious about buying.
Ask around about our reputation
Cheers

[desmo dave]

A question for other Ducati owners:

Have any of you experienced problems with running different fuel octanes?

I've had a bit of a problem with cold starting. I've been blaming the battery as when I had it tested it showed up as being slightly in the weak zone. Its only been a problem on cold mornings though, starting it cold in the afternoons hasn't been a problem. Once started it has run fine, its just the starting that has been a pain.

Anyway, I recently tried running it on 91 octane rather than the 96 - 98 that I have always preferred to run my bikes on. On 91 the cold starting problem seems to have suddenly corrected itself. It still requires a few cranks to get it going, (5 - 10 seconds) but it starts much much better on the lower octane fuel.

Anyone else found this or does my Duc just have a little more character than most?

What model ducati are you running?.Im on my 3rd battery on my 2003 ss,Had a hick up getting my first replacement as the casbolts man kept telling me that the battery was the sane as the earlyer super sports.I said do you have 1 on the showroom floor, yes was the reply.Go and have a look i said, ok..He comes back saying,, yes your right it is different.No 1 has ask for a replacement for your model bike yet and they didnt have 1 in stock.He said get back to me if you cant locate 1.What a waste of time he was.I got 1 from my local battey guy, lasted about 3 months so they re[placed that with a diffent brand and thats gone trouble free for 18 months.The battery is doing a big job as when you turn the key on, the lights come on, the fuel pump springs to life to feed the injectors.Then you have to crank it over and fire it up.So the small battery is doing a big job me thinks.Now fuel, i havent noticed any seat of the pants differents to any fuel i have used.I was told that 91 has less crap in it and seems to run well on it anyway.Havent had enough 98 gas in it for long enough to judge that fuel..And for reliability.....lots of miles and over 20 years of ducati ownership and not once have any of my ducatis stoped me from riding it home.

[imdying]

I'd believe that, sounds like it has trouble getting out the garage first

[McJim]

A question for other Ducati owners:

Have any of you experienced problems with running different fuel octanes?

I've had a bit of a problem with cold starting. I've been blaming the battery as when I had it tested it showed up as being slightly in the weak zone. Its only been a problem on cold mornings though, starting it cold in the afternoons hasn't been a problem. Once started it has run fine, its just the starting that has been a pain.

Anyway, I recently tried running it on 91 octane rather than the 96 - 98 that I have always preferred to run my bikes on. On 91 the cold starting problem seems to have suddenly corrected itself. It still requires a few cranks to get it going, (5 - 10 seconds) but it starts much much better on the lower octane fuel.

Anyone else found this or does my Duc just have a little more character than most?

Check the stats for your bike - if the compression is low you will be better using lower octane fuel - mine is about 9:1 I think and the 91 runs fine in it - 95-98 just fouls the plugs after a while.

My bike starts first time every time - I just use a little choke in the winter mornings.

It's a desmodue you have innit?

[idb]

My two cents worth... avoid the Paso, even if it's given to you. For reason not even God knows, the thing came out with a Weber automotive carb which was never up to the task. Bye.

The later ones had injection and were apparently good bikes....that's if you can get the styling.

[roogazza]

I'll just have to find a millionaire aged 92 with a heart condition.

I've got a heart condition , honest I have ! Gaz.

[idb]

My old Darmah has never let me down.

The 888 on the other hand has been a challenge.
I bought it with 32,000 on the clock which must be the age for things to need replaced.....rectifier/regulator, battery, fuel pump and I think that the radiator fan has packed up.
Personally I don't mind having to fix it....it's part of the enjoyment for me....but then again I'm told I'm a bit strange..............

Are they worth it?
It depends what you want.
If you want a bike to be reliable with minimum maintenance and maximum performance all for minimum outlay then they probably aren't.
But my interest in bikes goes beyond that so they are to me.

As for the fuel I have only ever run it on 98 and it starts and goes well.

To wade into the 999 styling discussion.
I think that they are one of those bikes that look better in the flesh than photos.
I think they're nice bikes....in fact I want one.