Someone help with the Ducati dilemma...

[crashe]

-i put about 20000km up.

Ze trusty SRV is on TradeMe with the compulsory rant about how rad it is for a 250! In fact today I'm using it to videotape what I hope to be the biggest lane-split on mini-dv!I'm gonna ride CBD to coro turnoff filming the shot off the back of the bike in the eaSter traffic for an artwork. might be the last run i do on her!

Wohooooo that be awesome to see.....

Take it easy out there doing it.

[Devil]

unfortunately I'm just not going to go the monster road as I want a road bike.

Eh? The monster is a road bike.

[spudchucka]

unfortunately I'm just not going to go the monster road as I want a road bike.

Last time I checked it was still a road bike.

[xwhatsit]

I think she means sportsbike.

Or sprotsbiek, perhaps.

[surfchick]

yer i's a meaning sportsbike, had a spagetti brain moment-what I should have said is dat i've done my time on bikes without fairings although I've had so little sleep lately it could have come out loadbike, sprutsbike, spratsbike, spudsbike, sportshike...
x

[dragonz]

My wife has a late model 750SS
She is about your size & weight
She absloutely loves it!!

You can get them full or half faired (hers is half faired, & it is a nice motor to look at)
& they are very good value for money.
I got a modified swingarm made for her, to lower the bike a little, cos she has no strength in one leg, & was a bit paranoid about dropping it at first.

I'm twice her weight, & over a foot taller, & I think it's a fun bike to ride also.
We looked at SV650's & all sorts of other bikes for her, but the duke was the one she really liked.
Maintenance costs are little different from any japanese bike (I have a TL1000S) & she loves it cos it rides so nicely, & is a really finely sculpted & finished bike.

You can follow your heart, & still have your head in control.
Don't listen to the nay-sayers.
She has commuted on it regularly, it is far more economical than my bike, & it is a great all-rounder.
My other reccomendation would be a monster.
Yes you don't have a fairing, but you certainly don't lose out on the 'sportsbike' ride quality or performance.

My advice is to get a leg over & ride a few bikes.
Go round a few different bike shops & ride as many bikes as you can.
One of them will leap out & say 'take me, I'm yours' in a way that the others won't.
then buy the best example of that bike that you can afford.
You'll never regret it!

[Eddieb]

Commuting in heavy traffic on a 9xx will kill you and the bike, they aren't designed for city riding. If you want to commute get something else.

The steering lock is shocking. It takes a 12-15 point turn to turn my bike around in the garage, and it's a proper width 'open the doors fully on both sides of the car' garage, not one of these modern skinny ones.

For servicing, new belts every ~20,000km or 2 years at ~$80 for belts (Can't remember if that is each or the pair) plus labour, change the oil and filter every ~5000km. I can't remember of the top of my head when the valves are due, got it written at home somewhere.
My last major service cost about $1800, but I had the belts and valves done, oil & filter, replaced a pile of gaskets, an injector and a few other bits at the same time.

I've had my 888 since 2003 and done about 16,000 miles on it. It's basically the grandfather of the 916. In that time the only actual failure I can recall is a bearing in the shock. It was a 12 year old bike by the time that failed though.

Buy one based on service history and condition, not mileage. Despite the servicing costs and other horror stories you can't beat riding a Ducati on a good day. Mine has been as reliable as any of the Jap bikes or BMW's I have owned, and more reliable than some.

[flame]

Ducati's are fantastic! at a guess Ive probably ridden upwards of 150,000 km's on them over the last 8 years. And I'd have to say the 998s was the best of the lot. 748sp was great fun, but lacked the top end of the bigger twin. Handling wise it's a close call though. The 748 being lighter and more flickable, may be an easier machine for a slight rider, though Im 5'8" and roughly 58kg and didn't find the bigger bike to be an issue in that respect, I think thats becoz they seem so well ballanced.
As for maintenance and probs.......1 electrical breakdown in total. Not bad, considering the bike in question was 10 years old. The ECU packed its pants, the Cost to fix was $200. Apart from expected things like shocks getting sad and rear brakes or clutch throwing the odd tanty, the Duc's don't really cause any more probs than any other brand. And my bikes wern't babied on the road. I guess thats why they have rev limiters

The only issue I had with my ducati's was the servicing costs. I was never game enough to attempt working on them myself (my brain just dont wanna go there), but to me, having to pay $1000-1200 for a service involving oil/filters/valve clearance and shim checks was just toooooo much. Having to pay that 2-3 times a year on top of tyres etc is getting out of my income allowances. So as much fun and enjoyment I had with them I switched to Aprilia's and I certainly have no regrets, perhaps the only regret I have is that I didn't make the switch sooner You can buy a top of the line Api for a lot less $, also...perforamance/handling/looks are right up there with the Duc's, only the maintenance costs are approximately a 3rd!

Two valver Duc's are a little cheaper to maintain.....but personally the performance is probably only half the fun of a four valver.

Good luck with whatever you buy, go and ride some twins and see what feels right for you

[HDTboy]

Congrats on getting your full, I'm still a learner.
Give me a bell if you want to borrow my GSXR 600 for a day

[Deano]

how many of those people have actually owned one long term?

I owned a 93 900SS for 18 months. Did a few track days on it - took it in for a service and fuck me......mega dollars. Shims, new valve and 3 hours labour on the front forks alone.

Didn't help that it seemed to have missed it's 20K service, despite the bike salesman who sold it to me guaranteeing it had a regular service history. Wanker.

Went back to a Honda and never looked back since, except at the odd Suzuki in my mirrors.

[Sparky Bills]

Think of it this way..

Ducati's have Soul and Personality.
Jap bikes dont.

Buy a Duc and enjoy the fell of bing different to everyone else.
Working in a Duc dealership, Ive met some pretty interesting people. But no matter how much money they have, Most of the Duc owners are very happy and easy to deal with people. Im glad and proud to be apart of such a brand.
Enjoy and good luck.

[The Stranger:Me]

Think of it this way..

Ducati's have Soul and Personality.
Jap bikes dont.

Working in a Duc dealership.

What a load of crap, but hey whatever you need to tell yourself so you sleep well at nights after spending your day ripping off customers.

[Her_C4]

What a load of crap, but hey whatever you need to tell yourself so you sleep well at nights after spending your day ripping off customers.

Huh?? What the heck is THAT for?

I am with Sparky on the Ducatis and I don't work for a Ducati dealership!! Each to their own eh?

Live and let live

[The Stranger:Me]

Huh?? What the heck is THAT for?

I am with Sparky on the Ducatis and I don't work for a Ducati dealership!! Each to their own eh?

Live and let live

It's a machine - it has no soul, all bikes have a personality of sorts, the way they handle, the way they deliver their power etc etc.
It is pure twaddle trying to say it has soul and other bike don't have personality.
That is just trying to create elitism and sucker people.

[aff-man]

Hey congrats on the full locence.. long time no see.

As to the bikes. Havn't ridden either (for some reason people don't want me to test ride??)
But from what I can tell.....
Service costs for the ducati are silly high. Like $1000+

If ya speak nicely AMPS may have a 675 tester. and there is a test 998(or 996) at haldanes. They want 21k for it I think. 748 are cheaper... But again the service costs...
heaps on tardme...