What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

So last Saturday morning whilst I was getting my SV serviced at Powersport Bradford my brother and I took a car ride around some bike shops.

We went to a Ducati dealership in Shipley and after 10 mins of checking them out I'd had enough. So I have to ask what is the big deal with these bikes?

Okay as race bikes they're doing well in the WSBK and did well last in the Moto GP in 2007 but:

1) The tubular steel makes them look 1/2 finished what with the holes on show.
2) They look like they were built in a shed
3) The fuel tank is fastened to with a click similar to one I had on a tool case
4) Not really impressed with the sound they make - i.e. dry clutch
5) Any new GIXER looks better

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Couldn't agree more but you and me will both now burn in hell

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

i have never liked Ducati's

:confused:

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Have to say- I don't find the trellis frames on Ducati's very attractive- but at least on the 1098/848 they are mostly hidden by the bodywork. Those particular bikes are gorgeous in my opinion and I like the noise they make, having seen a few around now.

It's the same with the frame on the pointy SV's- it's too chunky for my tastes. I'd have to get a fully faired model if I was getting a new one...

Was it those you were looking at, or the Monsters? They look very- er- mechanical in my opinion- not my cuppa.

I don't like the new Gixxer, in comparison- the fairling looks just too skimpy on it- previous models look OK except the cyclops look isn't for me. I like a bike with a pair of eyes at the front.

Now the new Fireblade- that IS tasty.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

was sitting on a 999r on sunday and i would have one tomorrow.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Well have you ever ridden one? I have ridden a 916 Senna edition some 3 years ago, could be longer. It was fantastic connected to the road like glue and the sound was amazing. I can recal the ride like it was yesterday.

I have contemplated buying one, but in Scotland there's ony one dealer and its a long way from me.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Deaf... AND BLIND?

tragic, just tragic

;)

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

I've been given permission to get a Ducati 996 like this one...
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...996/jd996b.jpg

all I have to do is raise the cash and part ex mine.

So I've decided to sell my body...
Females only may start responding now.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

I;d have one....but then, i wouldnt use it much. Its not really the best bike for commmuting on

Matt

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

I'd kill for a 999 :)

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Buy a 998, the testastretta engine is sublime, and the fairing look so much better with no air vents.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

One word....HEATHEN

That is all.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

NO WAY!!
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos...i_848_08_8.jpg

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

The are just different than the normal jap bikes... I've always liked the 916 shape, since Liz had her 749 I've grown to really like that style as well. Theres loads going on little touches and design details, the way the fairing is shaped, its not flat or slab sided at all, it has curves the whole thing just flows.

Every one I have seen the paintwork has been a beautiful shade of red, a camera just doesnt capture it. The welds the attention to detail, if its not needed its not there.

As my dad said, its all engine isnt it.

I dont however like the 1098, its not finished off well, I dont like the welding, it looks cheap, I dont the stylling either, it doesnt look Ducatiesque enough. All the little things are there, it looks like its been built to a price instead of built to be "right"

I like my GSXR just as much, but its just done in a different way, the Ducati feels hand made bespoke, whereas the GSXR has a real mass produced feel to it.

I think its that one off custom craftmanship build quality that does make it feel special in a way my GSXR is never going to.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused: :confused::confused: are you blind??

you might as well admit you are gay now or something!!

Gixers are some of the worst looking sportsbikes about!!

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Richie, nice one in persuading her indoors to give you the freedom to go and get a 996. I take it that you must have dropped a few hints after seeing those 2 at Helmsley.

I still cant decide on what I would buy next, strangely at the moment Im still quite happy with the SV. I dont really feel inadequate next to sports bikes, even if they cost twice the price.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

I have always promised myself a 916 :winner:when they were new and still keep thinking of swapping my GSXR1000k3 for one even though it would slower,heavier and older. I still think they are the best looking bike ever. (ZX7R in second place?) Its the reliability that stops me:(. I want a bike that always excites me, not just when it feels like it!

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

I had a 916 on my bedroom wall for years as a kid (just a poster sadly), they're glorious. I'd love one at some point.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

I could pour over a ducati for ages.

I love all the exposed parts, mechanisms and joints; I always see something new. I recently saw a 1098 parked up and spent ages looking at the top yoke, amazed at how purposeful and businesslike it looked, compared to the one on my SV!

I like the ktm superduke for the same reasons and though I didn't take to the rc8 immediately its drawing me in.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

That 848 is absolutely beautiful. Shame ill get nowhere near one for quite a while yet.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Have a ride on one then tell us what you think also like the new gixer but would rather have the Duc

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

that they might be, but Ninja look much worse :p

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

iconic :smt055 does anyone disagree?

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Well just checking the thread a few hours after I started it and how right you are!

Good job I didn't say the tank looks square and the exhaust looks tacky on some of the bikes. As for the Monster, we'll its horrible :)

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

The thing is Defender,if you have to ask the question you will never get what it is all about Ducati's...end of!:D

The trellis frame works exceedingly well and was tried and tested long before the Japs tried to convince us all that a twin spar frame was the future. The latest, hottest 1'000cc bike,(the KTM RC8) just happens to have a trellis frame also. With the steel frame you do not get girder sized spars taking the eye from the rest of the bike.

Dry clutch? Oh yeah that is scarey if you dont understand what is going on! The sound though is only evident when the bike is stood still. The desmodronic valve gear can make you almost fill yer pants from worry when first firing the bike up also. However get out on the road and give it the beans and man that noise is truly intoxicating. Funny how even now no one can come up with anything more accurate for valve actuation than Ducat's "archaic desmos!)

Worthy of note that the 848 has a wet clutch which provides a considerable weight saving from the dry option. The 848 is as powerful out of the box as the 999 was and weighs 20KG less than a 749!

I was slow to fall for the looks of the 848/1098 as I felt more of a step backwards had been taken on the styling front. I have to say though that it has really grown on me and I dont really agree with the theory that the look is not Ducati enough.

Get on a good surfaced road with quick turns and you will no longer question what Ducati is all about. Rail like adherence to a line and the ability to power out of turns hard without fear of the rear developing a mind of it's own.

To sum up though, I agree Ducati are sh*te!:D

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

:p;)

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Anyone else think the new ducatis (1098 and 848 ) look a little bit less Italian and a little bit more Japanese than the older models?

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

There may indeed be some value in what you say fella. I though would suggest that if you look at a pic of a 996 next to a 848/1098 you can definitely see that they come from the same gene pool. I mean what would people have asked for? A 21st century leading edge bike with the looks of something that was on the drawing board back in maybe 1990? (Of course I relate to the 916 there) It's called evolution and is much more in keeping with the Ducati race rep look than the 749/999 were,(much as I personally loved those.)

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Am I the only one that likes the dry clutch sound? Bikes that have them are usually special, lets you know your riding some passion instead of a mass produced run of the mill everybody has one bike?

Love Ducatis, but probably won't own one in the next few years.

Benellis are where its all at. ;)

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Also, for the early 90s tell me of a better looking bike than this????? Nothing comes close. FZR1000 Exup? GSXR1100? Nahh thanks.....

http://www.mdinaitalia.co.uk/Gt+888%20003.jpg

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Blade - yes please.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Until you pull up at traffic lights and get comments from car drivers about your bike sounding like a bag of spanners being shaken. It's happened to me when I had a Ducati.

That 848 looks absolutely gorgeous though - worth putting up with ignorant comments for. Though I still wouldn't trust the electrics in British weather.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

I like some of them, but I wouldn't buy one unless I had a lot of cash... then I think it would probably be a monster or something. Maybe a crashed 748 and add streetfighter bars to it, could even be tempted by a 'multi-strada' if I could loose all those plastics at the front.

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

If you actually care what other people say about what YOU spend YOUR money on, then sure, but me, as long as im happy. It also shows their vast stupiditty if they are to throw a comment like that.

Just reply, "yeah, watch out when your behined me, it might blow up and fire the engine parts through your windowscreen :lol: " and watch their face...

I do agree though. If i were to own a Ducati, it would be a sunshine only bike due to the electrics. Just from reading reviews and opinions over the years. I know they are much much better now, but once you've got an image, its hard to shake off. Bit why people are so iffy with Benellis due to the image a few years back.. THose in the know though realise those issues are not there anymore.

If I lived abroad though, with decent smooth roads and a nice climate, well i'd LOVE to own a nice ducati. Preferably the one i posted overleaf ;)

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Fancied one myself at one point but not sure why. Sinced wondered if others did because it was the name to go for like BMW or Ferrari or err Hoover!

Probably nothing wrong with them overall (reliability isn't an issue as you have to expect that from country that specialises in washing mahines and mobile homes :D.)

Always tended to go against brand names and would never touch a BMW (new someone worked for BMW - I was shocked) or Ferrari because that's what others seem to blindly aspire to - but I'm probably just a jealous inverted snob!!:p

Gixer's aren't the best looking bike but it does everything i could possibly imagine wanting to do and suits my common man inverted snob attitude :cool::D

Wouldn't touch a kwak - Valley Boy put me off them (always, and I mean always, something wrong with it :()...

... and Neio's got one!!! ;) :mrgreen:

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Repeat comment........


The 848 has a clutch immersed in oil and not the dry clutch. Therefore no embarassing noises will be heard at all.;)

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

3 of my favourite bikes. Perhaps one day I'll have one of them :)


http://hondafireblade.files.wordpres...8fireblade.jpg

http://www.autosbikes.com/content/up...ki-zzr1400.jpg

http://www.cmsnl.com/news/img/2007-SUZUKI-GSX-R1000.jpg

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

:smt075:confused::rolleyes::smt011 LOL

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

Love the Blade in those colours, love the gixxer (white even better) but that ZZR is fugly.

I would be terrified to go out on the Duke in case I binned it. At 10k its a lot of bike to throw down the road!

Re: What's all this about Ducati bikes then?
 

New blade does remind me of last years MotoGP bike. Think its the rear end.

The Kwak, Chandler from friends "could it beeeee anymore boring"

Gixxer is a great bike, but for me, those exhaust are like dusbins, and its just soooooo common and seen everywhere. Wheres the character, the passion, the style. Its just another mass produced bike. Sure its faster than the passionate bikes, but meh, i'll go with the passion.

Guess its what your into really..... Like comparing a Toyota with an Alfa Romeo...