A £1K+ service isnt unheard of,Ive paid for one!.Parts can take months to arrive.I once bought a new 996,rode home 20miles,dropped off the paperwork and...wouldnt start,relay had gone.Broke down on a couple more occasions,once after taking it out of the van for a trackday.But other Ducatis Ive had have been faultless(almost).After selling a 888,had no intention of buying another Ducati.Suzuki GSXR converted me,fantastic machine.Service costs,parts arrive in days!,amazing.But...there was a 888 for sale locally,good price.Its now in my garage,there a hard habit to break.

Isn't it funny how you never hear anyone compare their bikes to anything else other than Ducatis. And the worse snobs on the road for not nodding back are Hardley riders.

You mean that you thought that you would get smogged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:lol:

Modesty forbids any detailed response to this question ;)

Who on Earth doesn't know what a Ducati is? Whatever are they like, oop-north?
:lol:

I based my comments about IL4's based on my experience of them 5 or 6 years ago......now having ridden and owned albeit for a short time a modern litre IL4 jap bike i can honestly say they have mooved on..in a word AWESOME..........

Which is better ! neither they both have something to offer, both can be lazy on the power and both can be ridden hard to feel the passion and the rewards for getting in the zone.!

Right now the R1 is the bike for me and im looooving it.......just waiting for ducati to inspire me again............

Still got 2 dukes tucked up in the shed so im not without my v-twin fix.!....but unless you have ridden a litre modern jap bike save the bland n boring comments huh..i cant hear you over the induction roar.....

Phil

No, for me it seems more (but not all) Harley and Goldwing riders need to remove their heads from their bottoms, I grit my teeth whenever I nod to those 2, whether it's on my st4s or my bmw, you always get the same response: you don't exist.

I often feel that with a Ducati, you are riding the way the bike wants you to ride it. It's a brilliant experience, but you are limited somehow by the bike's own idiosyncrasies, eg. the tendancy towards slow steering (although the stability at high speeding is a fantastic feeling).

Jap IL4's are perhaps more of a blank canvas - the ride may be neutral to the point of blandness, but that leaves you free to employ your own techniques and desires. The only drawback to them that I can see is the need to keep the engine on the boil, but maybe that's no longer true of litre IL4s. I haven't ridden a modern Jap IL4, I'm basing my opinion on my experiences in the early-mid 90's.

Depends on what Jap IL4 you ride Loz - the Fireblade needed to be revved hard, the R1 had a little more mid range and was smoother, the ZX10 was just mental at the tope end but the GSXR is the daddy, loads of torque and a huge hit at 9000rpm.

Having been there I am happiest on my 996 - that's enough real world power, and to be honest, there's not a lot in it when riding on the road between most 1000cc engines up to 120mph, be they twins, triples or IL4s.

Henry, what you say about the GSXR1000 is echoed by the journos who write about it, and my own experiences of riding with people who own one. I've ridden a GSXR750, which I have to say, accelerates like a lunatic - BUT - it still needed to be kept on the boil. One day I'll try a Gixxer Thou and see for myself.

And you are spot on, the 996 is all you need and more for the real world - once you sort the over-gearing issue out ;) :devil:

Lets face it, if you ride something a bit different you're going to have somebody taking a pop at you; BUT when your helmet's on & its you, your Duke & the open road do you really care? I don't.

Well well how true this is. i have ridden the 916 and its rare to get a nod from any other biker even other ducati riders, yet this weekend took the RC30 out into wales and yet again not a sniff of a nod, although got an irrate finger from a ZX7R rider after riding round the outside of him through some bends (power ranger'd up and no idea that his bike leans more than 5 degree's yet blasts it on the straights). yet took the CBR600RR out on sunday evening and got loads of nods, flashes and waves.
Deffo seem to be having to seen riding a modern jap missile to fit in with the power ranger boys, on the other hand most have no idea what a RC30 is let alone how rare and special they are, most think its just another NC30 - hence girls bike - till you pass em anyway

it's just so red:D

Although I've never owned a Ducati, I've been a fan for a long long time. I've also owned various Japanese bikes and the quality can be very surprising and varied, not helped by some dealers messing them up. The service costs for Japanese bikes are not very cheap either, and at 4000mile intervals this can get very expensive. The money I saved in not letting my 600 Bandit commuter bike near a dealer for the first 2 years(50,000miles), could've bought me another Bandit. I invalidated the warranty, but it proved reliable as the dealer's dodgy trainees never touched it. Fortunately the large dealer chain is no longer in business. Not all Japanese bikes are as reliable as this one, but the importers cover it up with the dodgy dealers and plenty of magazine advertising.
Ducati - bought by enthusiasts, looked after by enthusiasts
Japanese - cheap disposable transport
http://www.od-racing.co.uk/forum/phpBB2/index.php

I could not care one bit what others think about my bikes. They are my toys.


"He who enjoys doing and enjoys what he has done is happy"
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

[quote=Loz]Henry, what you say about the GSXR1000 is echoed by the journos who write about it, and my own experiences of riding with people who own one. I've ridden a GSXR750, which I have to say, accelerates like a lunatic - BUT - it still needed to be kept on the boil. One day I'll try a Gixxer Thou and see for myself.

Loz,your more than welcome to try my GSXR1000 K6 if you want on the "you bend it,you mend it "basis,it has a very linear,almost Ducati power delivery below about 9000 RPM where after its just ballistic.The handling is neutral,the ride is softish,the brakes are not as sharp as my old 748R but powerfull,the looks are marmitey especialy the exhaust but obviosly not as pretty as 916 types,the finish i have to say is nowhere near as good as a Ducati but you just know that every time you hit that switch it will start and it just does what it says on the packet.Oh and did i mention that air box noise? Just heavenly.

Bury Hill?

So if you go for a ride with someone on say an R1 you would say the R1 is a better bike ?

Your comment only means that you are a better rider than your friends it's as simple as that. Your comment also gives me reason to your original post, maybe you have a bit of a complex about owning a Duc ?

The 999 I owned was great, went well and handled well but if that's the yardstick to buying a bike then it wouldn't be the 999 as there are plenty of faster lighter bikes out there.
Buying a duc is sacrificing power for something else, a bit of character. But many Jap bikes also have that which I think is now showing in sales.

The main thing is tho buy what you want and be happy with it, there's no point knocking other marques or trying to justify your own choice :)

Hi Stu
That's a kind offer and I have to say I'm tempted. I almost always refuse the offer to ride someone else's bike, their p&j, but if we happen to be at Bury Hill at the same time one evening / weekend, who's to say?
I happen to like the GSXR1000 exhaust, it appeals to me. However, Suzuki build quality, in terms of finish, has always been a bit suspect in my opinion (same for Yamaha), but you can't argue with that performance, can you?

Yes, I know what you mean about induction roar, it's very seductive :)

Cheers mate.

i dont believe the 749 is a quicker bike, there is just a common sterotype that is, expensive bike he must ride really slow and or is a poof.
Which makes me laugh when you can actually ride quicker than they do.
Although

I know quite a lot of muppets who ride Jap and Italian.

When you park up, just get a brew and a sausage barm, it's only a toy, don't take it too seriously.

The only reason people own a japanese bike is the cost............they cant afford a ducati! :D

Ah so it was you that rode over my new Alpine Stars :-)

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It's all good but I know which one went down best in Nice.:D

Nod if you like I will as I'm injoying me self.:rolleyes:

problems with Ducatis? 996R=yes! 998R=yes! 999R=oh yes!!
but has it put me off?? hell no! i still love em even for all the hassle i've had!

Neither can I... :o :o

But seriously, I was thinking about this today. Running any big bike is expensive: if it's not a C&S kit you need, then it's a set of tyres. If you use your bike much, there seems to be sometihing almost every month.

Couple of months back i had a new clutch: hub and (expensive) STM basket (but not plates). Just prior to that, a new set of tyres, all preparatory to going to Scotland. Oh, and sprockets too.

Now I need a new chain. And more tyres before the summer's out.

OK on a Jap bike I wouldn't have had the clutch expense (I reckon 20-25k for a hub, 15k for a basket), but tyres, chains, and sprockets all need replacing on any big bike. Not to mention servicing (every 4000 miles?).

'Course, another factor si that the cost of running a bike isn't helped by what we might call

"self-inflicted expenses" :) I'll say no more about that, but I'm sure it strikes a chord with some of you... :)

It's an expensive hobby alright...I'm moving house so that I have somewhere other than the kitchen to store it!
I've just been quite poorly and haven't been able to get out on mine. I had a crog' on the back of a bandit I was so desperate for a fix...I reckon as long as you love it, who cares what you chuffing ride. It's sooo diffuicult nowadays to actually pass your test that EVERYONE needs a nod, to congratulate them, whatever they ride!

Call that exclusive?

When I had my Ural I never even saw another one one the road, never mind at a meeting place!

Aw Loz, and I've always wanted to try that 999s out...?

Biking in 2000 is not a "cheap" pastime full stop, regardless of what two wheeled machine is your passion. Back in the late 60's when I got my first (4th or 5th "hand" Bantam) folks used to comment that motorcycling was a great and cheap way to get about. The great is still there, but cheap - that's long gone whatever you ride.

Cars are cheaper - 3yrs guarantee and servicing thrown in etc etc etc and better residuals generally.

The best we get is 2yrs guarantee but you still pay for servicing - some poor folks only get 1yr guarantee with their favourite brand of motorcycle.

So when you take "custody" of your Ducati just be sensible and realise that just like a mistres, the object of your desire is going to cost you - but - the emotional kickback will be worth it :-))))))

Having come back to biking after about 12 years out I have noticed that whatever bike you ride there is a lot less acknowledgement by other bikers than there used to be.

I remember that probably 90% of bikes you saw nodded or waved but now I reckon its around 33%. Do not know why.

Don't think Ducati owners are particularly snobby compared to others. The Jap owners probably are a bit jealous even if they do not say so.

I still run a Fazer at the moment with 748 hopefully next on the agenda and everyone I have met on here has been fine about that when they found out except a couple I met on a recent trip who for some reason ignore me now...... Perhaps I smell?

except a couple I met on a recent trip who for some reason ignore me now...... Perhaps I smell?

Nah Ozz - it's 'cos you're an accountant mate, pure and simple :lol:

Damn I was worried it might be...

You never know, Jan, you may get your wish one day ... :roll:

reliability........
 

I love my ducati....

even though it went back to P&H 5 times to fix a 'variable' idle that caused it to stall, and the battery being only good for a few restarts left it dead a couple of times, have frequent saver points with the AA now !

After some TLC from a Ducati man called Andy it has been perfect now for a few months, have been as far as Luxembourg and tomorrow off to Le Touquet.

Its due for a service next week, 6000 miles since Sep 05 :-)) , so we'll see how much that costs !

Steve
Slow and a Slow Learner