(Buying) My first Ducati......advice please
 

Hi all,

Bit of a Ducati virgin here so be gentle!

Looking to buy either a 748r or a newer 749. Don't know the pitfalls, model line up, year changes etc so please point me in the right direction.

I ride a 2001 fireblade at the moment, and its v reliable (just what i need, don't have much time to tinker).

With regards to the 748r, when did the bodywork change to the smooth sided design?

Any advice would be appriciated.

Welcome to the site - first piece of advice would be to post this request in the relevant section - this is in the DesmoDue race section and not all view the messages here.

I suggest you post this in "idle chat" or the 748 area.

This board is full of great information and help, you've come to the right place. Try the search function for specific info, your request is quite generic, but great to see you looking for a Ducati.

Good luck

Tim

(Thread moved to correct forum by Webteam)

welcome dude
I think you are going to find either of those bikes a bit under powered after having a blade
its your choice obviously but I would suggest you stretch yourself to a 999S
if not then the 748R is a bit more specialist and may not be the all year round work horse you want it to be. Servicing, Different R spec parts.
the 749 is meant to be a very good bike however. What with a testastreta engine you wont have any rocker issues like you may on the 748.
but I just think you will find it a bit slow.
maybe get yourself along to a dealer for a test ride
Happy hunting

I would'nt say that any Duke is an all-year round workhorse,but if you look after them they will tolerate most weather conditions.If you don't have the time or don't like tinkering then in all honesty you're looking at the wrong type of bike.As others have mentioned coming from a 'blade will mean it will feel underpowered.In defence of Duke's however,i would say that they reward the riders' input more than a Jap bike,but that may just be my biased opinion.If your still interested i'd go for an (mk.2) 999 or S,as it won't feel as underpowered as a 9**/748 or 749 will compared to what you're currently riding.Try to get a testride first.

I used to own a gsxr1000 k3 and a 98 R1 , i now own a 2002 748R and i absolutely love it , sure its down on power to the other bikes ,my mate has got a 99 gsxr 750 srad and my 748R has got the legs on that in a straight line so its still a very fast bike , as for reliability I've had it since May and the header tank split only a weep this is a common fault with these bikes and I've had a aip pressure sensor go down on it , but I've done lots of miles on it including ,Cornwall and back twice , i won't be selling this bike for a long while . And my 2002 R has got the smoothed out body work.

I may be wrong ?
but didn't all the R's come with the smooth body work.
otherwise they would be a sps or such like

Thanks for your comments.

Yes, I find the power of the blade awesome, but I've owned one or two bikes in the past with different power outputs (gpx250, kmx125, zzr600, TL1000R, 600 Hornet).

TBH, I don't use all of the blades power, A 600 is as much power as I really use so a 748/9 would be fine. I also only use a bike as a weekend toy, never ride in the rain unless I can help it and only cover approx 2000 miles per year.

My budget is around 4 to 4.5k, which seems to be about right.

The only reason i'm after a new bike is that I always fancy a change after a year with a bike. Can't fault the blade really, I love it to bits (I don't believe in all this jap ****!) its just time to move on.

The looks of a bike are a big selling point and the 748r/749 does it for me every time.

If anyone has a bike for sale (red please, to match my gear) just let me know.

wasn't there recently a 748R for sale here on DSC that didn't have the smooth bodywork?

BRB

http://www.ducatisportingclub.com/sh...ad.php?t=37542

well that's the one to grab if that's the case
hook yourself up