Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 999 / 749 > Weekend on a 999

[Loz]

I won't try to tell Mello-Yellow he's wrong in his opinion. but I don't understand his (and others') comments about a lack of "rawness" or the 999 being too smooth. This isn't a challenge, I'm genuinely puzzled.

The 999 isn't a neutral-steering bike in the same way many Jap machines are (thinking GSXR's here), you have to work it a bit to steer it quickly (plus get it set up right), but the 999 does provide you with a machine you can express yourself on. I don't like a bike that dictates to me how it wants to be ridden - I like to do the dictating! If I want rawness, I'll create it myself by riding it hard (preferably on the track). I don't want to have to fight a bike's character all the time - the 999 enables me to thrash it when appropriate, but also to tour on it and cover big miles, if not in perfect comfort, then with a minimal amount of spine-crushing pain. Obviously, this is my opinion and others have their own take on it.

Anyway, enough rambling ... my question - what is the rawness that the 996 had that the 999 lacks? Thanks.

[bolds]

Anyway, enough rambling ... my question - what is the rawness that the 996 had that the 999 lacks? Thanks.[/quote]

Probably the same sort of thing a MK1 Ford Escort has over a Ford Focus

[Sharpy G]

Originally Posted by bolds

Probably the same sort of thing a MK1 Ford Escort has over a Ford Focus

what, some style you mean !

[900MAN]

I'm surprised it did'nt feel raw.
Think loud termis help, the bike is always barking and snarling just daring you to nail it and hear the pipes scream
Lovely stuff

[KeefyB]

Originally Posted by 900MAN

I'm surprised it did'nt feel raw.
Think loud termis help, the bike is always barking and snarling just daring you to nail it and hear the pipes scream
Lovely stuff

Ooh yes!

[Animal]

I've just jumped from a 916 to a 999, I decided to go for the 999 over the 749 for this reason. If your willing to give the 999 a good kicking it will pay you back... I needed a bike that gives me some fun at the weekend but will also allow me to ride into London every day. The 999 does it for me!!!

[Loz]

With my 999S in for it's 18k service last weekend, I was loaned an SV650 by my dealer, CMW Motorcycles of Chichester. Many thanks guys, and thanks again to workshop John for looking after my P&J. The SV's fuelling is, how can I put it ... awful. At low revs (in town, etc) it's on-off to the extent that I ddin't feel 100% safe riding it. I had already test ridden an SV a couple years ago when I was thinking of chopping in my 750Sport ie, and decided against the exchange.

The 999's fuelling is exquisite, so smooth. Apart from the problem with cutting out sometimes when pulling to a halt with a hot engine, it seems flawless to me. (Has anyone come up with the definitive answer for that?) The bike handled 600 miles of touring the weekend before the Cadwell TD, then did the TD, and then got me the 270 miles home afterwards, without missing a beat. How's that for versatile? My body has been able to adapt to the shape you need to twist yourself into to ride the 999, so touring on it isn't the painful experience you'd expect.

I love my 999.