Cheap Ducati wanted

**lanci** · 12th February 2008, 20:44

Has anyone ridden an SV and a Monster? What handles better/feels nicer?

**SixPackBack** · 12th February 2008, 20:59

Originally Posted by lanci

Has anyone ridden an SV and a Monster? What handles better/feels nicer?

Ridden a 'sorted' SV650 and owned a 750 Monster.

Monster wins by a margin.

As a contrast the SV1000 naked and sports while having a heap of straight line grunt are IMHO well behind a Monster/SS900/1000 in the handling stakes.

Ducati feels far more planted, flickable and confidence inspiring. Down side is maintenance cost and odd riding position on some Monsters.

By and large Ducatis are a reliable bike, but more expensive to maintain.

To be honest I still think about my Monster all the time, even after owning three new Jappa's over 750cc. Monsters are a special bikes that's for sure.

**JimO** · 12th February 2008, 21:10

To be honest I still think about my Monster all the time

**McJim** · 12th February 2008, 21:32

I found parts for a 10 year old 600cc Ducati were much cheaper than parts for a 250cc Honda. The service interval on the Ducati is 10,000km the service interval on the Honda was 6,000km.

The myth about Ducati reliability starts and ends in the 80s.

I won't buy Japanese ever again.

I bought a 1998 600ss for a little over $6,000 insurance is cheap coz it's not balls to the wall performance and generally the kind of person that buys a 600cc Ducati doesn't tend to be the kind of rider that rides like the Kalamari Kid therefore they are less crashed and insurance premiums are lower.

**DUCATI*HARD** · 12th February 2008, 21:40

DUCATI HARD!!!

**98tls** · 12th February 2008, 22:07

Was lucky enough to have an old man who after owning/restoring/modding many English offerings went on to first an 860 then a 78 900 SS followed by an 80 900 SS,the years went by and still enthused by the sound of bevel driven,conti barking Ducs i bought a later model one minus the character,sold it quickly and ridden Jappas ever since.Strange as it may sound when i venture out to the real world and ride real roads on real everyday world days the majority of them dont actually seem to do anything much quicker than i am,in saying that chances are maybe i am lucky enough to just happen across Duc owners with poor skills.....go figure.

**Hillbilly** · 13th February 2008, 01:33

Here's the technichal data which should help give you a clear picture of Ducati Desmodue performance. Please keep in mind that these bikes are all powered by air-cooled 2-valve engines.

By comparison, the new Monster 696 due to be released around April this year has 80hp!! Still an air-cooled 2-valve motor too! The "DS" you may read about on some 1000's stands for "dual spark".

**Bullitt** · 13th February 2008, 16:44

My bike is insured through AMI. I rang kiwibike and they were marginally cheaper (and also do a breakdown service that AMI dont) however dont change at all when I turn 25 so will become dearer. Also there was another reason I didnt go with them but cant remember what it was.

I did a 10,000k service awhile back. Did it all myself except for adjusting the valves. Boyles checked them for me and said they were still within tolerances and didnt need adjusting...total bill from them $90 (it included something else minor in that price too)...cant remember the price of the other parts I used myself but the total cost was stuff all.

It had a 20k service (where the belts are replaced) just before I bought it and I have the invoice for a little over $400.

At those prices its gonna hardly break the bank, I spend more than that in tyres and theyre certainly not Ducati specific.

**AllanB** · 13th February 2008, 17:02

For the 650 - SV

Ducati - save, then trade the SV for a real one

and go for the larger cc Duke.

Hmm Monster S4 thingy - on the lotto win list.

Mind you I do not like what I see in magazines with the 08 restyled Monster 600(something).

New Dukes from 07 now have 10k servicing - advertised as 50% less service costs. I do wonder if some shops have been creaming it on Ducati servicing in the past.

Of interest with my new Hornet the owners manual has 'proper' service intervals including oil/filter at 12,000 kms. the 6k 'to-do's are only chain and minor easy owner specific stuff.
However service intervals for NZ Hondas are 6k (cheap one basically a oil/filter, general look-over, then the 12k one). Valves do not get toouched until 24,000! Personally I'd always keep the oil/filter changes at 6kms, but its interesting that we slot in the extra one in NZ.

**wolf.47** · 13th February 2008, 20:06

Sounds like the duc's aren't all that bad then, just need servicing a bit more but with the amount of riding i do 10,000km will be few and far between, Now i just have to find a dealer so i can take some for a blast. Also Whats any ones opinion on the Honda's 600/1000 seen a few today at a Honda dealer not to bad price wise, not to bad looking either, will test ride soon.
Also if you know anyone keen on my 250 let me know, Thanks.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-140833318.htm

**McJim** · 13th February 2008, 20:19

Originally Posted by Bullitt

At those prices its gonna hardly break the bank, I spend more than that in tyres and theyre certainly not Ducati specific.

Yeah, biggest expense is Tyres, chains, oil and filters (none of which are Ducati specific). Termignoni make budget belts that last like Ducati ones. Valves on the Desmodues are big and easier to access and fiddle with than multi valve japanese ones.

A basic aircooled desmodue is a great engine to teach yourself maintenance skills.

**Paulus** · 13th February 2008, 20:25

Originally Posted by wolf.47

Also Whats any ones opinion on the Honda's 600/1000 seen a few today at a Honda dealer not to bad price wise, not to bad looking either, will test ride soon.

Yikes! You aren't thinking of jumping straight from a 250 cruiser to a Fireblade are you?

**Bullitt** · 13th February 2008, 21:31

Originally Posted by McJim

Yeah, biggest expense is Tyres, chains...

When I bought my bike the chain was tensioned correctly, I didnt have to touch it till 2,000 ks later when the back tyre was replaced. Another 6,000 ks later I havnt had to adjust it. Thats with regular lubing but no scott oiler or anything.

Im not sure how much new chain/sprockets is gonna cost me but at that rate Im never going to need them

**DUCATI*HARD** · 14th February 2008, 07:51

the majority of them dont actually seem to do anything much quicker than i am,in saying that chances are maybe i am lucky enough to just happen across Duc owners with poor skills.....go figure.[/QUOTE]

i could say the same thing about people who ride jappas