Next bike might not be a Ducati! Sad but true.
 

I've been thinking about this more and more lately after I almost traded in my 900SS and shoe-string trackbike for an RSV.

My next bike in all probability will not be a Duke. Maybe a test ride on an 888 or older 9 series would prove me wrong (but I'm realistic to know that as a family man with next to no money available) no matter how much I might like a 996 or a good ST4 etc (which I I think I'd really like) - it would be finacially beyond my reach....

At least for the next 20 years anyway.

I know the 916's are a fraction of their original cost now but if I dont just hold onto my 900 the best I think I could hope for would be to trade her in (or more likely considering she's 11 years old already - sell her privately) sometime during 2006 !!! and see whats on the market then.

To get a good performance increase I'd probably be looking for an RSV or Falco for staying with twins.
A sneaking part of me would like to be a bit loyal and buy a Triumph (as long as it was a Daytona 600) :devil:

In the meantime the trackday bug has bitten, so I'll just keep on putting my ikle 600 IL4 together and do as many TD's and schools as I can in 2005 and see how things go on the basis that improving my riding skill (erm...reducing the lack of) - is the best pay-off in the short term.

Regards - Frank

T8
 

Frank
If you lived nearer you could have a go on my 888 and I think you would get one once youv'ed had a taste.
no tarmac stripper but faster than 748 and much more fun a little heavier than a SL but you dont notice it much.
power is not the B-all if it was we'd all be riding the new crescent suzuki gsxr 1000 with 168bhp at the rear wheel.
if you should come down this way give me a bell and have a go.
ian
:)

Cheers Ian...

Thanks for the ride offer...you never know, I might just do a TD at Brands, if I'm ever feeling barking mad :D

Outright performance is not going to matter to me that much (but I was surprised at how much I liked some of the IL4 Jap stuff I've ridden during 2004) - however, chassis technology has moved on ALOT in 11 years.

Still - my baby will be classis status in a few more years !!!

Frank

Don't do it Frank!

As your username implies - your bike is 'Iconic'!

Frank! Put your hands in the air and step AWAY from the Biketrader! We have a code-red air-cooled defection.......

Don't worry, you're just suffering a little mid-winter madness. Go and buy the 944 a little xmas pressie. Nice bit of billet, or a bag of stainless screws. Maybe stretch the budget a bit and get a carbon single seat or a little something in a Cyclecat bag (our Tiffanys). :)

Whatever you do, don't sell her before spring, when you've had chance to go out and remember how much you love her.

Cheers,

Ali

I have to agree keep her...and hold out until in this time next year...
You could find that that the 2006 Ducati's are more to your liking then...
Patience is the key! ;)

MMMMmmmmm Cyclecat.........

Good job this post is in the SS forum (so only a few of us SS / SL owners will read it !)

However, the considered move to an RSV (and the many that have already done so) marks in my opinion the sad decline of Ducati into mediocrity. Other than the iconic (!) but now itself somewhat outdated Monster, the current Ducati range consists of :-

ST - capable, but plain
999 - capable, but ugly
MS - capable, but the Elephant Man of the bike world.

Yes I know I'm stuck in the past, but in Ducati-world the past is preferable to the present !


[Edited on 20-12-2004 by beancounter]

Sorry beancounter, you forgot one:-
"ST4S - capable, but plain-and mad as a box of frogs.:lol:

John

Frank have you seen the 996 Jim at Bike Enders has on Ebay at under £4k sounds like a bargain considering how little damage is on it.
Was talking to a mate yesterday who has had his 900SS 8 years now, he was saying that as the bike didn't owe him anything after this amount of time he would rather spend money on improving it than upgrading to a newer bike.
His bike is fairly well sorted, it came from Baines with Dynojet kit, K&N and Bora converted exhausts, front forks and rear shock have WP internals. But as the shock has done a lot of work over the last 8 years he is thinking of getting a Ohlins shock, getting the forks serviced and would like Keihin FCR carbs.