I'm converted to Ducati's
 

I have been on bikes since 1974ish. My first bike was a FS1E. Since then I have always had a bike of some sort. Most recently I have owned kawa zx9r, cbr1000, gsxr 1000 and even a vn 1500. Last year I purchased a yellow 1999 748s my first Ducati. I was told by the seller I would either love it or hate it. I went for a test ride and never stopped smiling all the time I was on it. I bought it and rode it over the winter and on March 2009 I upgraded to a 2002 748E which is my current bike. I have covered 3000 miles since then and the only problem I had was a faulty battery. I do ride it hard and it never misses a beat. As mentioned I have had a few litre fours but can honestly say that the 748 is just amazing...not the fastest but the torc and handling is the best by far.
So I am totaly converted to the Ducati twin.
Cheers Doug

Good stuff...we all like 'em as well

Welcome to the forum

You should try a 996 SPS for the torque... if you want something involving to ride you don't get any more bad a55 than that... butt clinching in the wet :D

Enjoy the Duke, it is a difficult and painful (and expensive) experience when they go wrong, but they are not the temperamental italian divas that people make them up to be. As long as you learn about then and how to treat them well, they are relatively trouble free.

10 years of Ducati ownership here and all the issues I had were largely down to inexperience.

thats another one converted, this side is so much better.
i have had 5 748's and have finally just bought myself a 998's bostrom rep and it was amazing, i only did 36 miles on it and the belts snapped, so be sure to regulary fit new belts, and make sure they are on properly as it is very costly. dont scrimp and scrape with them.

Enjoy....

Had mine for 3 1/2 years now and have done 20,000 miles on it. Every time i look at it i love it more.
42t rear sprocket makes a massive difference IMO.

Not sure what the standard rear sproket is so what the difference and do you run standard front sproket and chain?