Should I sell/trade-in my Duc to get a dual sport?

[Nacademus]

Hey guys,

I've owned my Duc for 3 years now. I love it to pieces and have put a lot of blood sweat and tears into it.

Now, this is only a recent desire of mine-but I feel like I would get greater marginal utility out of a dual sport bike.

My Duc is fast, loud, unique, expensive, and absolutely beautiful, however, I find myself wishing I had something more practical.

I bought my Duc having owned a 1969 Suzuki T500 for quite a while previously. This (apart from few dirtbike stints and a couple cruises on F2s) was the only bike I've used heavily in the street. It was fast and fun,and practical enough as well as cost effective back when gas was $4.30/gal.

Then I met the freight train. My Ducati.
On a whim, I decided to get a personal loan to build some credit-thus began my bike search.

I found a Duc on Craigslist and contacted the seller. A couple days later, I met with him at his home to see the bike.
When he started it up, I really didn't have a choice in the matter-I drooled. All I could think about was that bike for the next 2 days while I ruminated over what I was about to do.

I would see various other bikes on the streets and they just didn't do it for me. I took a fat stack of cash with me and purchased the bike. I was too stupid to negotiate a lower price... I guess I didn't care.

On my way home, the way she pulled when I twisted the throttle, I was absolutely captivated and in LOVE with the machine. It was night and day compared to my tired carbed T500 (which I still dearly love).

I put a ton of money into it and lots of labor as well.
I tend to do that. I don't account for labor as an expense since its a hobby that I enjoy doing. Essentially, all it cost me was cash. Cash that I am fine without-even now.

I only rode my Duc for 300 miles this year, since I did the 996 conversion.

The summer I BOUGHT the bike, I put 12,000mi on it (roughly 4 months until the snow flew). The 996 scares me a little I think-or my life is just so busy now with full time working late nights and early mornings that the last thing I relish doing is diving atop the torture rack to ride the same boring roads time and time again. I love the bike though.

I just feel like its time for something a bit more practical. I have though about it for a few months and have decided that I would like a dual sport bike.

Maybe something tall like a KLR650. I really like those bikes and they appear to be affordable. I haven't ridden one, however. A ride could change everything. A KTM would be great too, but far too expensive.
I just want something tall, dual sport oriented, descent on gas, and economical to maintain.

I will probably get my ass chaffed when I look to sell the Duc, but that's life I suppose. My woman says I can't do it, and that I will miss it... but I haven't really missed it since I haven't been riding a lot. Maybe the separation will take its toll when I realize that she is no longer with me and that if I ever get emotional and want to go for a dive in some curves, no other machine will understand me quite as well as she-as we glide along the tortuous roads communicating between one another in some indescribable kinetic language. This sounds so very cheesy and insane, buts its true to me.

Or maybe the opposite... maybe the DS could do it better. I really don't know.

Anyways. I guess I would just like some guidance as to which dual sport bike could provide what I need. The KLR650 is large (which I like), looks kind of funny, seems economical... I just don't know.

Maybe a Buell Ulysses? Those may be a bit more expensive that I want to give up.
I would essentially like to trade my Duc 1:1... if I could sell her for higher, I would like that also. I fear that her modifications and the fact that its a 996ed 748 could HURT the already low value on a 748.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Chuckracer]

Sounds like you're thinking about trading emotion for utility.

Don't do it. Keep the Duc, get a KLR if that's what you want (yawn...) (older ones can be had cheap enough) and you'll have the best of both worlds.

On the other hand...I understand totally about the "torture rack" ergos. There's nothing more uncomfortable, and unnecessary, than a race-track position on the street.

If you're gonna sell your Duc, get something cool like a 950 Adventure. I did, and couldn't be happier.

I wish we lived closer - I'd swap bikes with ya for the weekend.

[Nacademus]

Originally Posted by Chuckracer

Sounds like you're thinking about trading emotion for utility.

Don't do it. Keep the Duc, get a KLR if that's what you want (yawn...) (older ones can be had cheap enough) and you'll have the best of both worlds.

On the other hand...I understand totally about the "torture rack" ergos. There's nothing more uncomfortable, and unnecessary, than a race-track position on the street.

If you're gonna sell your Duc, get something cool like a 950 Adventure. I did, and couldn't be happier.

I wish we lived closer - I'd swap bikes with ya for the weekend.

Thanks, Chuckracer. That'd be awesome. Too bad

You're probably right about trading emotion for utility. Maybe I should just wait... I have read that the KLRs are snooze worthy. I love the 950s and 990s KTMs a LOT more. They are just so expensive.
I'm really back and forth about this all. Having both in my possession would be ideal but space is a concern.

[Wonway]

I would think you can find a nice beemer that would suit your needs more in your price range. (Gotta love the KTM though. I rode a 990 Adventure about a week ago and loved it)

[Nacademus]

I haven't really thought of a BMW. I just figured they'd be in the same bracket as the KTMs and MSs.

Which Beemers do you recommend?

Here's the girlie on a KLR650 at a bike show we went to. I liked how tall it was-it seemed to fit me great. I'd rather a bike be tall than too low. She couldn't ever ride it though. lol. Maybe that's a positive.



Her CBR600RR has a 3" lowering kit on it. I feel like I'm a grown up on a Big Wheels bike when I ride it, its soooo low.

[Wonway]

Originally Posted by Nacademus

I haven't really thought of a BMW. I just figured they'd be in the same bracket as the KTMs and MSs.

Which Beemers do you recommend?

I am not much of a BMW motorcycle guy, so I'm sure someone else could chime in with better recommendations. Search for a GS and see what suits your fancy. There are so many different submodels and options.

[Desmodude]

Originally Posted by Chuckracer

Sounds like you're thinking about trading emotion for utility.

Don't do it. Keep the Duc, get a KLR if that's what you want (yawn...) (older ones can be had cheap enough) and you'll have the best of both worlds.

On the other hand...I understand totally about the "torture rack" ergos. There's nothing more uncomfortable, and unnecessary, than a race-track position on the street.

If you're gonna sell your Duc, get something cool like a 950 Adventure. I did, and couldn't be happier.

I wish we lived closer - I'd swap bikes with ya for the weekend.

What Chuck said.

The whole "adventure riding" thing seems to be an outgrowth of old dirt riding guys (they had motocross bikes in their youth) that bought street bikes (a GPZ 1100 for me) then wanted to return to the dirt riding without the berms and jumps as it might aggravate their bad knees.
Seriously, Is it really something you'd be interested in or is it a passing whim because this month's Motorcyclist magazine was dedicated to adventure riding?

[Nacademus]

Originally Posted by Desmodude

What Chuck said.

The whole "adventure riding" thing seems to be an outgrowth of old dirt riding guys (they had motocross bikes in their youth) that bought street bikes (a GPZ 1100 for me) then wanted to return to the dirt riding without the berms and jumps as it might aggravate their bad knees.
Seriously, Is it really something you'd be interested in or is it a passing whim because this month's Motorcyclist magazine was dedicated to adventure riding?

It's somethings I've wanted from the first time I ever rode my cousins XR400.
I was 15. I just like the utility of it. I also like the riding position of a UJM... ie, my Titan. Its not a passing whim. That was my sportbike experiment.

[Dmitry]

I suggest the next best thing: Get a cheap dualsport and keep the Duc

I have both (well, more than both) 748 for when I need my speed fix (even go camping with is) and picked up cheap KTM for a daily beater so I don't have to worry about leaving the bike unattended also maintenance is cheap.

[MTScott2]

MULTISTRADA
Yeah you are nuts to think you can take it off road , but it will do dirt roads and worse if you are brave enough to be prepared to dump it ...

Time marches on , and a bike you do not ride isn't much fun.. you got to get one that is going to work for your style, I sold My I/2 ton Harley cause I KNEW that when it got dumped it would prolly hurt me too...

I love the Multi for the Ducati it is , UGLY ,FUN ,THRILLING , bags make it more useable ,
Potential for a long haul , I wouldn't take it to work cause I don't trust the Morning traffic and the parking lots are not secure enough ...

Don't be afraid of change , Life gets in the way of riding , you got to do what you need to do to live, if riding takes the back seat for a while so be it ...
You will never loose the desire to ride and with a Ducati it is hard to replace them with anything else ...

Look at all the alternatives and come full circle . Multi has a LOT going for it and it suits my style better than ANY other bike ... If I could trade it for ANY other bike... Nah
There is not another bike I want ...