Wot's the Ducati difference?

**vifferman** · 28th January 2009, 14:20

Originally Posted by Winston001

I don't think of my bike as having character when a screw comes loose - my mates with Japanese and German bikes have identical small events.

I've owned seven Hondas, and the only thing that's ever fallen off (apart from the rider) was a footpeg on my very first one, the bolt of which probably broke from too many wheelstands, crashes, and that sort of thing.
I've had two occasions when I've been stuck on the side of the road - both times were R/R failures.

**scracha** · 28th January 2009, 16:28

Originally Posted by Winston001

. No amount of hype will protect sub-standard products over the long term which is why Ducati upped their game in the mid-90s to improve reliability.

Look, they're beautiful bikes and I always said I'd get a 748 but there's no fuckin way anyone could say they're even 50% as reliable as a Japanese bike. My last Japanese bike did 3 times the mileage and probably had half as much spent on it. There...I said it. Handling, looks, brakes and oh...the sound. But they're expensive beasts to maintain and the engine performance isn't as good as the Japanese bikes. Luckily I don't really give a toss about engine performance as I'm man enough to admit that 99% of the time I've rarely got the twisty thing around more than 30% of the way round.

**Hiflyer** · 28th January 2009, 16:44

Originally Posted by jrandom

Name me a motorcycle brand that doesn't have a racing heritage.

Hyosung?

**Bonez** · 28th January 2009, 16:52

Riding with a chap on a 600 duc and me on the dreaded La Trog ( a cicle 20 years older and 100cc down in capacity I might add) convinced me Ducatis aren't cracked up to what they're made out to be. It was a red one too.

But then again I'm biased.................

**dipshit** · 28th January 2009, 17:14

Originally Posted by Winston001

No amount of hype will protect sub-standard products over the long term which is why Ducati upped their game in the mid-90s to improve reliability.

Yes i have heard all of this before. Mid-90s and on were sorted... then someone says anything 2000 and on is a lot better for reliability... then when researching 999's it turns out the red frame 2005 and on are the ones to get because they have most of the problems sorted by then. WTF!!

Sorry, but I'm not totally convinced yet.

Like another person i know called around the other day with a 2003 S4R monster he traded his R1 in on. It already has been back to the shop for 3 different problems so far. One fault is that the dash has died completely and now he has cardboard over the speedo and taco with a aftermarket digital instrument panel on top of them. :slap:

**mikeey01** · 28th January 2009, 17:57

Originally Posted by Oscar

I'm sorry, I tried to restrain my self here...but this is the biggest load of bollox I have read in sometime.

Yeah your right it was crap! :slap:

**98tls** · 28th January 2009, 18:21

The character modern day Ducati riders are so fond of talking about and so certain they feel (spooky really) disappeared with the Cagiva take over,who else would be stupid enough to make 10,000 Alazzurras when the world was crying out for Pantahs.They say the only way to truely understand the real meaning of Ducati character was to go to Bologna and drink copious amounts of red wine with those that made them.Growing up with an old man who had an 860 followed by a 78SS then an 80SS (both 900s) filled me with plenty of desire to own one as soon as i could,sadly the shit boxes available when it came my turn had as much character as a hard boiled egg,89/90 750 Sports and 900SS were dreadful bikes.The new ones are nice bikes for sure but any "character" they have is far from where the word was first associated with Ducati.My suggestion to anyone with a new one that wants to feel the "character" is to find someone with a 900SS take a trip round there and listen,not only can you feel it you can hear it,oddly enough i cant imagine how most modern day Ducati riders feel anything in there blimp suits.

**dipshit** · 28th January 2009, 18:26

Originally Posted by imdying

it's still only a Ducati. It's not like it's an MV or anything

(if you see my point?)

Do MV do V-twins...???

**98tls** · 28th January 2009, 18:28

Originally Posted by dipshit

Do MV do V-twins...???

Its KB,anythings possible.

**Bonez** · 28th January 2009, 18:44

Originally Posted by Oscar

How do you know?
Have you ridden every last Jap model? Reading this thread, it would appear that "soul and character" can be translated to "quirkiness and unreliability", so on that basis plenty of Jap bikes have "soul and character"

Bling going your way sir.

**dipshit** · 28th January 2009, 18:47

Originally Posted by 98tls

They say the only way to truely understand the real meaning of Ducati character was to go to Bologna and drink copious amounts of red wine with those that made them.

A mate of mine who was into his Alfa Romeos went to Italy and did just that.

**McJim** · 28th January 2009, 19:06

I think, despite the differing opinions voiced on this thread that the thread itself goes some way to explaining the phenomenon. A thread entitled "Wot's the Kawasaki difference?" or "Wot's the Honda difference?" would be met with a couple of posts saying "No difference bro" and "Meh, 10 Chars"

I like my bike and it gets me where I want to go at a speed I like.

**98tls** · 28th January 2009, 19:27

Originally Posted by McJim

I think, despite the differing opinions voiced on this thread that the thread itself goes some way to explaining the phenomenon. A thread entitled "Wot's the Kawasaki difference?" or "Wot's the Honda difference?" would be met with a couple of posts saying "No difference bro" and "Meh, 10 Chars"

I like my bike and it gets me where I want to go at a speed I like.

Theres nothing to explain Jimmy.It is however amusing to read of late model Ducati owners character experiences.