Finally lost my virginity
 

Well, I've been and gone and done it and finally lost my virginity. I've ridden a 999 series bike!

What did I think of it? Well I only had 20 mins at Brands courtesy of Ducati UK - BIG thanks to them for that - so can't really be overcritical.

Good points - the engine! First time I've ridden a Stretta lump, and by eck it's awesome. So free to rev and loads of power everywhere, and this was a bog standard Bip! Lovverly. Bit more of a rattle than I'm used to but sweet nevertheless.

Bad Points - couldn't turn the bloody thing! First hot lap into Paddock Hill bend I honestly thought I was for the kitty litter, it just did not want to turn. I was pushing the bars like crazy but would it come round, would it b****ry! To be fair the bike was on road tyres, with road settings, and mine is a well set-up track bike on slicks, so maybe not a fair comparison.

Anyway, I've lost my virginity now, but will I be going for a 999?

Somehow I don't think so, cos they're still ugly! INCOMING!!! :sing:

I think they are so ugly I'm not even tempted to ride one, Yeti, so you did well. No doubt the suspension set up makes all the difference. Did you try counter steering :devil::devil::devil:

Drop the yoke through the forks 20mm and fit a 180 tyre, then draw your conclusions :sing:

'KOFF :lol:

20mm!! Seems a bit extreme to make the booger turn! But as I said this was a standard road bike and no doubt given time to "play" with it, could have got it turning quicker.

Still don;t stop em being as ugly as an ugly thing, thwacked several times with the ugly stick tho'

[Edited on 6-10-2005 by yeti]

Yes, maybe extreme for a 748/998's, but i think it goes well with the 749/999's.

As for uglyness........ get an MV then :D

No street Ducati on stock settings turns quickly Yeti - you should know that :lol:

I rode (as it was wet) one of the Ducati uk std bikes at Silverstone. i know exactly what you mean.

I went back to their garage and said, raise the rear, drop the front a bit (not 20mm! its about 11mm if you achieve 186mm from bottom of tube to bottom yolk) and fit dunlops with a 180 on the rear!.

This is based on nearly 2 years of 999 ownership. I know the std setting is a basic compromise, and thats how you have to look at them!

Isn't this the very reason that they come with Adjustable suspension, ride height, steering head angle ?????


I still can't believe people find them ugly!

Absolutely! As I said in my original post, given time to "play" with the settings, no doubt it would turn in better. I merely expressed some surprise at just how difficult it was to turn a standard bike. My 996 was never that hard to turn, even before I "played" with it!

And YES (sigh) I DO still find them ugly, but that's me! :sing: