Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Bikes that impressed you when they were launched

[Jools]

Originally Posted by skidlids

Fizzys were great and everybody had one

I didn't.

Originally Posted by skidlids

For a moped I would have went for a Garelli Tiger Cross

I did.

Originally Posted by skidlids

As for the 400/4

One of my all time faves, but this was the lust object when I was 17 and on L-Plates



But got heavily into trials riding and ended up with one of these



Ossa Explorer 250 - first bike I ever bought brand new. Exactly the same as a MAR but with a dual seat so I could do trials then take my girlfriend on the back as well (ahem yes officer - on L-Plates). That way I had the choice of which way I wanted to get dirty.

Once I had passed my test, I had a mate who let me have a go on one of my objects of desire at the time...



Which resulted in a big grin followed quickly by a major arse clenching moment as the bike came on song while I was accelerating out of a bumpy corner while still cranked over - fired out of the seat in a near highside, followed by the front end coming right up while I just clung onto the bars like a bison wrestler as they slapped from lock to lock. Nearest I've ever coming to binning a bike without binning it.

Spent hours with my snotty nose pressed up against the window at slow burnin' fuse (Coburn and Hughes) daydreaming about one of these



But, surprisingly, couldn't afford one on a student grant.

[Steve GD]

This one. Minimalist beauty, imo. It was a long time after the launch before I first saw it though.

[Fordie]

When I first saw the Fireblade back in 2004 I had a secret jurning for one. It was the only other bike I would want to own if I was not riding a Duke.

[bradders]

where do I start...heres a couple

with Rattler - RD 350 LC, owned 125lc as first road bike, nicked 3 times and loved it!!
500 gamma
zx7r
916 of course
MV F4
cbr1000rr blade

[andys 900ss]

This one always did it for me



best Ducati ever



the one thats moved things on again



and this needs to be in my garage




Andy

[KeefyB]

The bike that most impressed me when it came out was the FZR1000 Genesis.There was a magazine road test versus a Lambo Countach at the time which blew me away.


I had a black and red 'un.I remember the day I picked it up from Wheels International,.....just blipping the throttle in the car park filled me with fear.It had loads more power than my then FZ750.I got soon got used to it tho!
The bike was a rocket ship and saw off many a GSXR 11,ZX10 and CBR thou at the time.
I later swapped it for the new EXUP version,.....a mistake.The EXUP was a great bike,but it just did'nt have the raw feel of the older model.