I’ve had a SP1, a 748, and 2 x 916’s, plus various other bikes and I have got to say that the bike I had the most fun on was my first 748. I have done one or two track days but mainly ride on the road. When I had the 748 all my mates had litre sports bikes like R1’s and could whip my arse on the straights and big main roads, but get them on the tight B road twisty’s and I’d be all over them, breaking much later into bends. Which is great fun when you’re on a so called “small bike”
I did like my SP1, V-twin with Honda reliability (gear driven cams, marvellous) and it did handle well but was only really ridable over 60mph, under that on normal roads it was a bit of a pig. Rock hard suspension and a rear wheel that I think is too wide, makes slow speed turn in very slow, the bike will just not drop in. But you might be able to get around that with the new 190 x 55.
I’ve had another 916 because I just don’t do the miles that I use to which makes the cost of running it not much different to any thing else, and is the only bike I can get on and it hits the spot even just popping round the shops. I like the way you can tat with them and I think that despite what the majority of Jap riders think they are very well put together, there is a lot of attention to detail.
Never ridden a 996/8 but I would have thought that the only difference was the power, as that was the only real difference between the 916 and the 748 (settled on the 916 because I’m a big bloke). Never ridden a 999 but I may well have a go in the summer, sat on one when they first came out and it felt right to me, the looks are starting to grow on me especially the R, and I’ve heard that its being replaced in 2007. Might be able to pick up a cheap one then!
Oh the RSV, my mate had one rode it a couple of times, I don’t know what but it just never felt right to me, to high up, felt like I was on top of it, and every one I know who has had one has low sided it? Mind you everyone I know with a Ducati has binnid it???
Hybrid Mode
