This is true young Cream Tea fancier, this is true :D

That reminds me, I must get on to N E to get my ones out of them. I might have to have a word with Mav if they keep ****ing me around. :lol:

Keep gloating champ ;) I would.

Well, by my calculations, I'm missing 4!!!

Oh well, we may be lucky and get some at Cadwell...



...trophies that is! :o

:D

God I hope so :lol:

Domski, I hope you're not turning my thread into another scrap :devil:

Twinfan, it's a bip but I'm ordering a custom mono seat as soon as I can decide on the custom colour scheme I want for it.

Eric, you can see it whenever you want ;)

Who? Me? Wonder Boy? Never

Nice one Ruth, always liked the **9 shape (in Red of course :D ) have just rejoined the Testastretta gang again today :devil:

Enjoy

Just picked her up
 

Things I didn’t notice on the road test ride

The mirrors are ****. Have to move my head and shoulders to look in the right hand mirror, or lift my arm out of the way. Tricky when about to overtake, as checking the mirror with difficulty takes you’re eye off what’s in front. Checking it after isn’t a problem though because what you’ve just overtaken is nowhere in split seconds! The acceleration is fantastic. Seems much faster than the 996, more responsive and I was overtaking in places that I wouldn’t on the 996 because the bike feels so much more responsive.

I now need to buy a new tank bag. Mine doesn’t fit the tank properly because the magnets are in the wrong place and don’t connect fully.

The seat needs recovering. I’m sliding forward too much on the plastic. Could be because I was in Rukka gear rather than leathers but I think I’d prefer a bit more grip for my @rse. Job for Glyn I think and while he’s at it he can cover the pillion seat in black suede too as whoever buys Ducati’s red plastic obviously can’t tell that red isn’t the same red as the paintwork (same as on the 996).

Double bubble black screen required. Need more wind protection and more screen to tuck behind at speed.

Nice solid side stand that doesn’t have that silly feature that won’t allow you to start the engine, that I had to bypass on the 996. Reassuringly chunky compared with the Monster and 996.

Even with my ‘extra padding’ the seat feels a bit hard.

Long distance might be a bit of a wrist-strain but I’m sure that will be more than compensated for by how light and easy to ride it is.

Put 32/34 tyre pressure in the tyres on the way home. Is this the correct? Mechanic said this was what he had his set at but if someone would like to answer that question, it will save me wasting time reading the owner’s manual at the moment, as my priority now is to get my leathers on, and my very wet Sidi boots, and go riding, oh, and call in at a few friends to show it off but NOT the one whose husband dropped my Monster when I took it round there to show off! :)

A couple of pics.

Looks fab Ruth! The mirrors were rubbish on my 999R. They may as well not be there! You'll be going too fast to need them anyway.... And it's a whole different ride than the 996. More Japanesy.
On balance, I preferred the look and ride of the 916/996. But it's a great addition to the stable! Enjoy.

Very pretty ;) I'd go for 32/36 tho Ruthie, purely personal choice but on the road you'll need a bit more pressure than on the racetrack as the tyres dont warm as much or as quick and the extra couple of PSI will help open the tread in wet weather. What tyres are fitted?

Looks like Diablo's in the pic.
Go for 32psi front,36 rear.
As for the mirrors,dont try to look around your elbows,look under them.
Screens,go for the MRA double bubble,..looks great and does away with the running light.There was one for sale here a little while ago,..or have a look here;http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DUCATI-749-999...QQcmdZViewItem
Nice looking bike,...but then again,I am biased.;) :D

Good choice Ruth, nice looking bike !
and as AndyB said, welcome to the dark side

Looks good Ruth.

I was nearly naughty today. I was posting an ad for my car on the adtrader site and just did a quick search for Ducati on there.

Up pops a Monster 750, 2001 Y with 6k miles. Price only £1600. Phoned the number and found it had not surprisingly gone. ****** I was getting quite excited about getting a monster (despite really wanting a 748 but not having the spare cash).

Yes, well spotted KeefyB. Diablo Corsas. I upped the pressure to 32/34 but I'll up the back to 36. Had a little pootle this evening, popping over to show her off to Mr and Mrs Bisson. Absolutely superb bike. Probably the best I've owned and I haven't even been anywhere yet to find out properly. And thanks for the tip about the screen. I think my shopping list is going to get longer and more pressing. Now thinking I need the track fairings straight away and have been looking at the Oulton Park dates for October. Oh No! :devil:

Don't let a little thing like 'no money' stop you. Life's too short. Obviously, a little thing like her indoors might be more of an insurmountable problem ;)

Yummy Yummy :devil:

My heart hangs heavy to think that yet another person has turned to the dark side. Never having been a fan of the 749/999 series I have too admit that they have a beter seating pssition than my 998 but I still don`t like the looks.

I look forward to the new bikes that are to replace the 749/999 series coz I think they will apeal to all ducati owners who like the 748/916 series as well as those who like the latter variants.

I might even be persuaded to buy another duke...........................if she lets me.

Now lets just have a really nice single pot from the factory to complete the line up.

rcgbob, having been looking at my 749 in the garage this morning, currently in the position that my 996 usually occupies, I have to agree that the front doesn't have the same effect on me. The 996 is a classic beauty but the 749 is distinctive and sleek, particularly with the vents, which the newer models don't have. To be honest, I don't like the headlamp on the Monster much either, or the mirrors, or the silly 'bikini' screen, or whatever it's called. But all of those considerations are forgotten once I start the engine.

I know designers have to attract potential buyers with the look of a bike but if, like me, you're already sold on Ducatis, that's a secondary consideration. Performance and riding enjoyment is what counts, and all three bikes do their own thing fantastically well so, in spite of the fact that you consider me to be 'on the dark side' I would urge you to test ride one and then come back and explain to me what you don't like about it.

Ruth I'm sure you made the good choice with that bike... and after all that's a Duke. As you say, we're already sold to them :D

Personnaly, I think all bikes can look ugly at some point. Sometimes I find mines ugly anyway. Most of the time it's because I'm not looking at them from the right angle, or I've had a bad day, etc... A lot of things can make look ugly the most beautiful bikes...

To come back to the 749, I think it looks like a proper Ducati as it's different from the rest of the production, in a positive way. That's what modern Ducatis (post Paso :lol: ) have always been. Older ones may have, I don't know :D

Anyway, enjoy your new toy.
I can't wait of being able to afford the only bike on my wishlist at the moment, a red ST2 to take Julie touring on the continent :-)

Ahem ...
 

.... :o

Ruth

I dare not have a test ride.......................I might like them to much!

However! I fully agree with us being sold on Ducati`s already, I have had "wop" bikes for 30+ years and would never really want any other type.


Enjoy!

Good Luck with the new wheels Ms Ducati a trois.....

Come down and see us one day.......It's always sunny down here..... :cool:

I've now persuaded the boss (me) that it's time to go out riding. Vaguely work related as I have to drop in some of my promotional leaflets to my local friendly Funeral Home in St. Albans, a contact partly secured by the Director's interest in motorbikes, I'm sure. If anyone is looking for a funeral courtage with a bike and side car hearse, he's your man. I believe in reciprocal business as a method of securing work! Hope that's not too much of a morbid note to go out riding on.
;)

the front of most dukes are horrid.
998/748/996/916 are the exeptions
look at the st3!!

I've seen the sidecar hearse on the M25 before.... looks, er... unusual...