999S 2004;cast swingarm,narrow top fairing with vents,a claimed 136bhp.
999S 2005;deep alloy swingarm,wider top fairing with vents removed,taller screen,a claimed 143bhp,Termignoni sound system in the box.:D Black version also available as limited edition.
999S 2006;same as '05.Black now standard colour.

all down to your budget? can you loose with the 0% on the 749/999? is the bike just for road? if so - stick to a basic 749/999 bip

Personally, I'd go with a 749S for the higher spec supension. Also, given the depreciation on 749 and 999 models I'd go used.

See if you can track down a lightly used 2005MY red 749S mono with the new swingarm and red frame.

Nick,nick, nick...think about it..you will be spending how much?? every month for how many years for a weekend bike and trying a few trackdays to see if you like it! in 3 years you will have paid i guess 7,750 and have a bike worth half that Now you need a really sexy but less expensive model like..mmmmmmm a 748E and you too could look like the one in the avatar left ...749/999's are just not sexy.:D

Nick - personally, I believe the big point on the 999 v 749 issue is money rather than performance - I currently have both although am planning to offload the 749s as soon as the sun starts to appear on a regular basis. What I would recommend is that you look to buy an '05/06 model, whether it be a 749 or a 999, secondhand or new - as already suggested on this thread, both models received significant improvements including the new black alloy swingarm etc for 2005. The performance differences, particularly on the road, are less than one would expect although it is very much the case that the 749 needs to be worked harder - higher revs, more gear changing etc. However, some are of the view that this actually gives a more 'involving' relationship, contributing to a greater degree of rider satisfaction.

You will have seen the quite significant additional cost of the base 05/06 999 over the 749 (list £11,250 v £8795). Going back to the pre 05 models, you will probably have also noted that this disparity grows less with time. so..if you have been persuaded by the 999 lobbyists, then you may need to be looking pre 05 with the grey swingarm? If going pre05, would look for an 's' model as again the +£1,000 price difference on the 749 & +£2,745 on the 999 tends to largely disappear over time.

In a nutshell, although I now have a 999, and you will probably want one in due course, unless you have a big bagful of money, you will not be disappointed with a 749, ...still a great machine, lower insurance costs and no slower on the road unless you are a big risk taker with both licence & personal safety..on the other hand, most that buy a 749 sooner or later want the 999...

are the

749 2005
749 2006

the same?

05/06 749 same price/same spec....I was told by Ducati UK at the NEC last November, although the 06 model comes in gloss black whilst (I think) the yellow finish has been dropped...however, Ducati have a policy of introducing improvements every now and then without really telling anybody, so no guarantee that the 06 model is exactly the same in every respect!

They're identical, save for colurs (yellow no longer available on any 749 or 999).

Hi Nick,

you have u2u:)