Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 999 / 749 > Why does there appear to be this hatred?

[Monty]

Originally Posted by YMFB

it was just like that when Ford switched from the Cortina to the Sierra !!

Dam right, I do remember that, and didn't Vauxhall capitalise on it-the Cortina was the de-facto company car, when they brought out the Sierra Ford lost most of that market overnight to the Cavalier-which in all honesty wasn't a bad car anyway. Now Sierra's are considered a classic-whereas the Mk4 Cortina was and IMHO still is a shed-MK1 and MK2 Cortina's though-now that's a different proposition, even the 'coke bottle' MK3 was a stylish car.

John-showing his age.

[KeefyB]

I had a great ride on my 999S on sunday.
I left the bike outside my garage while I fetched the keys to put it away,....I swear I looked back 3 times at that bike,...what an awesome thing.
I love 'em.

[doogalman]

They are all great, just that the 916 was iconic.

[misterpink]

Originally Posted by doogalman

They are all great, just that the 916 was iconic.

...and with that bike ducati did something that would always be hard to folllow - the 749/999 is a much better bike to ride - on the design/aesthetics front it was let down - in my opinion by small details, but overall was good looking. if they made subtle changes they could make a good bike look great. for example they ommitted the top fairing vents in '05 which was good and if they smoothed out the headlight (to look like the multistrada) and kicked the side fairing join line at an angle to run into the fairing this would help too. the seat unit and rest of it are great - the detail maybe not quite.

[Courageous]

Hehe! This thread's really made me chuckle....... I got a "Dyed in the wool" mate who has a 748 who, when I told him I was buying a 750ss, said that he didn't like them. Down in Spain he took a ride on her and decided she was great! I just replaced her with a 749 and he tells me he doesn't like them and prefers the 750ss.........( touch of the "little britains") Go figure? When I asked him what he doesn't like about the 749 he tells me "the double sided swing arm". Jeeeeeezus H!!! He hasn't ridden her yet but already he doesn't like her cos she has a double sided swingin arm! I give up!

[Monty]

The whole point of all this is the PASSION that's what makes us Ducati fans-and bores-and it's that which makes us argue over which version is best, if we weren't passionate about the brand we wouldn't be arguing.

As for me, I own an ST4S-which nobody could say is the most attractive bike-I think they are bland to be honest, but it's an incredibly effective road bike, and it's no slouch round a track either. I also have a 1000ss twinspark which I have only ridden 30 miles on but which impressed me with both it's engine and chassis-should be a belter once I have finished it. I have owned a 900SS and a 996, both great bikes, the 996 was wonderful round a track-even if it did lead me into 2 broken wrist's. I have ridden both 999, and 749 on road and track and like them both, I have also done a lot of miles on Multistrada's both standard and 'S' Ohlins versions and think they are fantastic road bikes, just SO sure footed.
You pays your money and takes your choice.

John

[twpd]

Originally Posted by misterpink

...and with that bike ducati did something that would always be hard to folllow - the 749/999 is a much better bike

That depends upon your point of view. I find the 748/916 far more involving and harder - harder as in more demanding and I prefer my bikes like that. The 749/99 are softer and friendlier...that doesn't float my boat. The older bikes look like they mean business - the newer bikes just look like lash-ups.

Mind you...then again I think the air-cooled 2-valvers are the ultimate. I think my tweaked 800ss rocks and it's scalped a fair few 999's both on and off the track

[ratboy]

Originally Posted by doogalman

They are all great, just that the 916 was iconic.

Spot on!!

[749er]

Originally Posted by Monty

Dam right, I do remember that, and didn't Vauxhall capitalise on it-the Cortina was the de-facto company car, when they brought out the Sierra Ford lost most of that market overnight to the Cavalier-which in all honesty wasn't a bad car anyway. Now Sierra's are considered a classic-whereas the Mk4 Cortina was and IMHO still is a shed-MK1 and MK2 Cortina's though-now that's a different proposition, even the 'coke bottle' MK3 was a stylish car.

John-showing his age.

I think you are right John and I think time will do the same for the 749.999. its ahead of its time. Dunno if this is correct but I heard that the shape of the 999 came from a few things but mainly the wind tunnel and the need to improve rider comfort, both for the purposes of winning races, as the engines were at their limit. This seems to have been borne out by recent events

1) Bayliss being 9km/h straight slower than the Hondas down the straight at Silverstone
2) Ducati wanting to run larger engines
3) Yet, Lavilla, Bayliss and Haslam were all competitive on most circuits

Ducati need to be winning races, 10% of their staff are employed by Corse.

There are other factors of course and racing is not that simplistic, but the design is very much "form follows function" to enable them to compete with the clout that Honda etc have. For me the design represents the kind of ingenuity that has seen Bayliss win and Haslam come very close.

[ariel]

A lot of bike journos think the 9's are absolutely gorgeous. I wonder if a lot of the opinions about 916's and 999's are a case of people getting on the band waggon.
The 999 looks good. It is a brilliant bike and hopefully there will be lots of bargains waiting to be picked up when the new models hit the showrooms.