Ducati Sporting Club UK
 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 16-Oct-2006, 23:47
fab's Avatar
fab fab is offline
Registered Forum User
Mille
 
Posts: 226
Join Date: Jul 2005
Mood: Ride with me, Ground Shaking comes as standard..
Wink Why does there appear to be this hatred?

So not wishing to bring up too much of this seemingly age old argument, nor do i wish to cause any conflict, i just want to try and understand. Hopefully someone can enlighten me?

I have read many a harsh word spoken from other owners and i cannot just get my noggin around it.

Basically why do so many people hate the 749/999 series bikes?
Journalists, other bikers, fellow Ducati owners.

Aesthetics seems to be the main point of concern yet, in my humble opinion from the first time i saw the pictures i absolutely loved the way these bikes looked. Now beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that b*lls, however the majority of people who sto to have a look generally say,

" you know when i first saw these i didn't like it, but i really really like them now"

how come? is it down to the iconic 916/748 et all range? so the immediate impact of the 749/999 range was a let down? People still rave about the looks of the predecessor which they have every right to as it was a stunner, but it was always going to be superceded, and i do believe whatever ended up replacing it was going to be hated on... much in the same way that whatever the 1098 looks like will be loved as it follows something that wasn't.
I hope the 1098 looks great, i've no doubt the 916 etc owners will say it is an improvement over "our" range but still not as pretty as "their" range...

i really believe it was the journalists that started it and everyone felt they had to follow along so they didnt seem like the odd ones out, i mean actually sit back and admire a 749/999 the next time you see one, owners alike, actually just sit and look at it, and i think you will notice a line you havent before or something to make you think, "hmm actually this is a really nice bike" (if you didn't think so already)

Personally i love them all. They all look great past and present, and if i could afford it i'd have at least one of each model. I think bikes are great, and i love riding, but im in love with Ducatis, as a whole...

Spread the love everyone....
Quote+Reply
  #2  
Old 16-Oct-2006, 23:56
everton
 
Posts: n/a
I think you'll find that Duke loving journos also love the 749/999.

The great thing is that as soon as the next generation 1089 (or whatever number it is) gets released and everyone realises the convergence of the new Ducati styling with that of the UJM the 749/999 will soon become a collectors item. The Ducatisti will reject the UJM styling and the 748/916/996/998 is so common ergo there will be a rarity value in the 749/999.

Of course I hope the new release doesn't spell the death knell of Ducati
Quote+Reply
  #3  
Old 16-Oct-2006, 23:57
YMFB's Avatar
YMFB YMFB is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Meccanica
Bikes: R1200RT F800GS. Hopefully another Ducati soon
 
Posts: 2,526
Join Date: Apr 2005
it was just like that when Ford switched from the Cortina to the Sierra !!
Quote+Reply
  #4  
Old 17-Oct-2006, 00:18
Nattyboy's Avatar
Nattyboy Nattyboy is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati in my Blood
 
Posts: 4,181
Join Date: Dec 2003
Mood: Back down to 3 :>(
I'm not going to be hypocritical here - looks wise I dont mind the 749/999, but I just dont love it in the way that I have a passion for some of the other bikes that ducati have knocked out (I actually prefer the 888 aesthetically now over the 916 etc so I must be getting old !).

That said, I think the saddest thing in my experience is that a good deal of the people who knock the 749/999 havent even cocked a leg over one.

If they did, they would realise, that dynamically, the bikes are a quantum leap over the 748/9** particularly on the road.

I've also been lucky enough to ride quite a few 749's/999's on the track and IMO they are quite a bit easier to ride fast than the bikes they replace.

Nat
Quote+Reply
  #5  
Old 17-Oct-2006, 00:20
Monty's Avatar
DSC Member Monty Monty is offline
DSC Club Member
Ducati in my Blood
Bikes: 1100S Multistrada, 450RT, Gilera Nordwest, Bultaco Frontera, Rickman Metisse-being built!
 
Posts: 4,255
Join Date: Jun 2001
Mood: Growing old-DISGRACEFULLY!
Quote:
Originally Posted by YMFB
it was just like that when Ford switched from the Cortina to the Sierra !!

Dam right, I do remember that, and didn't Vauxhall capitalise on it-the Cortina was the de-facto company car, when they brought out the Sierra Ford lost most of that market overnight to the Cavalier-which in all honesty wasn't a bad car anyway. Now Sierra's are considered a classic-whereas the Mk4 Cortina was and IMHO still is a shed-MK1 and MK2 Cortina's though-now that's a different proposition, even the 'coke bottle' MK3 was a stylish car.

John-showing his age.


Growing old-disgracefully!
Quote+Reply
  #6  
Old 17-Oct-2006, 07:23
KeefyB KeefyB is offline
Registered Forum User
WSB Hero
 
Posts: 7,600
Join Date: May 2002
Mood: Lurkin'.....
I had a great ride on my 999S on sunday.
I left the bike outside my garage while I fetched the keys to put it away,....I swear I looked back 3 times at that bike,...what an awesome thing.
I love 'em.
Quote+Reply
  #7  
Old 17-Oct-2006, 07:31
doogalman's Avatar
doogalman doogalman is offline
Registered Forum User
WSB Hero
 
Posts: 9,937
Join Date: May 2003
Mood: No point in working long hours to die early
They are all great, just that the 916 was iconic.
Quote+Reply
  #8  
Old 17-Oct-2006, 09:01
749er's Avatar
749er 749er is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Meccanica
 
Posts: 2,896
Join Date: Mar 2005
Mood: Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monty
Dam right, I do remember that, and didn't Vauxhall capitalise on it-the Cortina was the de-facto company car, when they brought out the Sierra Ford lost most of that market overnight to the Cavalier-which in all honesty wasn't a bad car anyway. Now Sierra's are considered a classic-whereas the Mk4 Cortina was and IMHO still is a shed-MK1 and MK2 Cortina's though-now that's a different proposition, even the 'coke bottle' MK3 was a stylish car.

John-showing his age.


I think you are right John and I think time will do the same for the 749.999. its ahead of its time. Dunno if this is correct but I heard that the shape of the 999 came from a few things but mainly the wind tunnel and the need to improve rider comfort, both for the purposes of winning races, as the engines were at their limit. This seems to have been borne out by recent events

1) Bayliss being 9km/h straight slower than the Hondas down the straight at Silverstone
2) Ducati wanting to run larger engines
3) Yet, Lavilla, Bayliss and Haslam were all competitive on most circuits

Ducati need to be winning races, 10% of their staff are employed by Corse.

There are other factors of course and racing is not that simplistic, but the design is very much "form follows function" to enable them to compete with the clout that Honda etc have. For me the design represents the kind of ingenuity that has seen Bayliss win and Haslam come very close.
Quote+Reply
  #9  
Old 17-Oct-2006, 10:12
ariel's Avatar
ariel ariel is offline
Registered Forum User
Mille
 
Posts: 192
Join Date: Jan 2005
Mood: Relaxed
A lot of bike journos think the 9's are absolutely gorgeous. I wonder if a lot of the opinions about 916's and 999's are a case of people getting on the band waggon.
The 999 looks good. It is a brilliant bike and hopefully there will be lots of bargains waiting to be picked up when the new models hit the showrooms.
Quote+Reply
  #10  
Old 17-Oct-2006, 15:16
Gbyte666's Avatar
Gbyte666 Gbyte666 is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Meccanica
Bikes: Ducati 996 1 & only Class C DD Champion and KTM LC8 950 SMR
 
Posts: 2,395
Join Date: May 2002
Mood: It's not big, Its not funny, It's necessary
I have still got my 996 and a 749s, I just caan not get rid of my 996 as it is too sexy. I go out on my 749s and love it to bits for its supurb handling / braking and really fun to ride. But then I get back and see the 996 parked up and it looks better, sounds better and more fun to ride as I have to work it more. I've had a go on a 999 as well, nearly, very nearly... but sorry my 996 still beats it for pure pleasure. I can see me keeping the 996 forever and still having a top sought after bike.

Craig
Quote+Reply
Reply
  
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes
Postbit Selector
Switch to Vertical postbit Use Vertical Postbit

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Recent Posts - Contact Us - DSC Home - Archive - Top
Powered by vBulletin 3.5.4 - Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. - © Ducati Sporting Club UK - All times are GMT +1. The time now is 18:20.