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Old 30-Jun-2005, 16:36
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david.hicks david.hicks is offline
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1996 996 SPS vs new 998s FE?

After a biking career solely on Jap machinery, on Monday I spent a happy day at my local bike shops deciding what to buy as my first Ducati.

Started off with test rides on the 749 and 999 s models. I had about 20 mins on each - 5 mins in town, 5 mins on b-roads and 10 mins on a-roads - not long, but enough to give me some "first ever Ducati" impressions ....

- better looking up close & in the flesh than in pictures
- easiest bikes to ride fast I have ever come across
- great handling
- hot arse
- aching left hand from heavy clutch
- sore wrists

however, overall I wasn't as blown away by them as I expected to be given all the hype. On balance I preferred the less revvy nature of the 999.

Next I went a few mins up the road to another shop and test rode a 1999 800 mile 996 SPS with a John Hackett chip ....

What can I say - words fail me, but TRULY AWESOME is kind of how it felt. Just sitting on it got me giggling inside - the riding position is just so spot-on, focused and purposeful. Then I started the engine and the noise! AMAZING. Like an earthquake or a Spitfire or something. 30 mins riding around the same roads had me totally hooked - I was screaming and laughing out loud to myself like a nutter on a roller-coaster - oh my God, what a bike.

The riding and power delivery is clearly more sporty than the 749/999 but it just felt so much better (even in the arse/wrists/left hand department). The only thing that didn't feel as good as the 749/999 was the brakes.

I would have bought the 996 SPS there and then but for a couple of things ...
1. It wasn't in excellent condition (good but not excellent)
2. Up the road they had a brand-new 998s Final Edition that had caught my eye.

Unfortunately they won't let me test ride the 998s FE so I am in a real quandry about what to do. I am leaning towards the 998s FE because it is new/the very last in the line/has zero miles etc. etc. - but I am concerned that the riding experience won't be everything that the 996 SPS was.

Can anyone who has ridden both of these bikes (or similar) offer me any opinion on the differences in riding experience?

I think I understand the main differences in spec (different engine, suspension etc.), but I want to try to get an insight into the difference in feel. I will be gutted if I buy the 998s FE and am disappointed after riding the 996 SPS.

The 996 SPS was standard except for the John Hackett chip and a 14 tooth front sprocket. So far as the 998s FE goes, I would plan to put 50m carbon Termis and a 14 tooth front sprocket on and otherwise leave it standard for starters.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Dave
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