From a Japanese bike to Ducati? - Ducati.ms

ElDiablo · Feb 19th, 2008, 4:58 pm

I have owned only Japanese bikes in the past. Recently I bought Husky which is Italian and now owned by BMW. I'm considering getting 1098 or 999R.
For those of you that came from a Japanese bike to Ducati...what do you think? Was it easy to give up cheap service, parts and in most cases better performance to be unique and stand out in the crowd or enjoy the V twin music?
I'm a little tired of a new bike every year with 3-5HP more and my bike value drops 30% in one year. For a change I would like to hold on to a bike for more than 2 years and not be totally outdated. Maybe I'm just getting old

mad · Feb 19th, 2008, 5:11 pm

I'd say go for it. The low end grunt is completely different from a high revving I4. Variety is the spice of life. If you haven't tried a Ducati then give it a go would be my recommendation. Holding value? Buy a used Ducati then. A nice bike with low miles can't be beat, may already have some mods you want, and will not depreciate as quickly as ANY new vehicle these days. As for type? I'd sit on each you're interested in and, if possible, test ride. They all fit differently.

I'm not giving up my Ducatis but think I may try an Aprilia next.

ZDM · Feb 19th, 2008, 6:15 pm

You are where I was a year ago. I have been wanting a Ducati 996, then a998 and now I finally got a 2003 999 in May 07'. With the improvements in the ergonomics the 999 was much better for me than the 996-998 versions. Before the 999 I owned an 05' ZRX1200. And before that it was CBR1100XX to which I got punted off about 175' by a woman who was not paying attention. In turn I bought the ZRX and still have it. I wanted a 1098 but they were all sold out basically. So, I thought I will buy a used pristine 999 which body style I really liked any way(one of the few it seems) and put some of the $7000 or so saved into the 999. And did...Ohlins R/T forks and shocks sprung for my weight, Ohlins dampener, Full 54mm termignoni Titanium exhaust, FBF bar risers, DP seat, chain and sprockets and a small fortune in carbon fiber stuff. Now, I would have never put Ohlins, carbon anything on my ZRX or CBRXX but you HAVE to do it when you own a Ducati. (just teasing). But it seems like all these things go with a Ducati, especially the Ohlins and carbon fiber! Servicing the bike is not too expensive. When I first got the 999 it had 6000 miles on it so I had the 6000 mile service done. That ended up being about $800 bucks....but I knew that BEFORE I bought the bike. I inquired about the servicing first because I had been told that it was critical to get the valves and belts checked at certain mileage intervals. So this I knew going in before buying a ducati. Now I had EVERYTHING done, from brakes bled to oil / filter change to valves checked and belts replaced. I wanted the bike gone over by a pro before I put it on the road. In the future I can change the oil/filter, bleed the brakes etc. I will just leave the belts and valves to the pro's for now. That's about a $300-375 dollar job. Lately I have been looking at the ZX14. It's big, comfy and fast. It really "fits" me better than a 999. It's all day comfortable the way the XX was and I hate to say but I'm thinking about selling the 999( the ZRX has to go regardless) and getting the ZX14. I have always wanted to own a Ducati superbike and now I have. It's a great bike and there is NOTHING like the sound of that L-twin and dry clutch. But after riding a ZX14 it's just no comparison to the 999 for me any way, but the two are not meant to be compared. A 999 is w/o a doubt made for racing..obvious...with enough lights and stuff to make it a street bike, but it's really not. So right now I am trying to figure out my finances so I can trade the ZRX in on a used ZX14 and keep the Ducati. It's going to be tough letting the 999 go.

stryder · Feb 19th, 2008, 7:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElDiablo

I have owned only Japanese bikes in the past. Recently I bought Husky which is Italian and now owned by BMW. I'm considering getting 1098 or 999R.
For those of you that came from a Japanese bike to Ducati...what do you think? Was it easy to give up cheap service, parts and in most cases better performance to be unique and stand out in the crowd or enjoy the V twin music?
I'm a little tired of a new bike every year with 3-5HP more and my bike value drops 30% in one year. For a change I would like to hold on to a bike for more than 2 years and not be totally outdated. Maybe I'm just getting old

It sounds like you're on the same path that brought many Ducati riders "over": you're seeking that elusive "something more" that Japanese bikes just can't deliver. Ducati delivers. Take a leap of faith, and buy the one you like. That's what I did, and I have no regrets.

tweek · Feb 19th, 2008, 7:25 pm

I'm still a bit of a noob. My other bikes are Kawasakis and I like both of them. Great bikes. Unfortunately neither quite fit what I really wanted: a MotoGP bike. Or at least a bike that look damn close to a MotoGP bike. My 848 comes close and will get a lot close in a few weeks when I buy the after market blingage.

The 848 has been a completely different riding experience from my Zx6. The power starts down low and builds quickly. Red-line is a bit flat on my bike, but then again I'm not WOT and I don't go there much. All the power lives between 5000RPM and 9000RPM which for the street riding that I'm doing now is about perfect. I occasionally get caught short in too high a gear going around corners, but thats b/c I forget to down shift and don't keep count of shifts (now was that 3rd gear or 4th gear?....Oh its 2nd.)

Anyway, I don't regret the choice in the least. In fact the bike has been so great I completely forgot to have buyers remorse. Damn - I did miss something.

EDIT -
Forgot to point out - this really is the poor mans Ferrari. Only difference is that it will smoke a Ferrari anywhere you are likely to find a Ferrari. And even some places you shouldnt.

Cucciolo · Feb 19th, 2008, 11:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElDiablo

I have owned only Japanese bikes in the past. Recently I bought Husky which is Italian and now owned by BMW. I'm considering getting 1098 or 999R.
For those of you that came from a Japanese bike to Ducati...what do you think? Was it easy to give up cheap service, parts and in most cases better performance to be unique and stand out in the crowd or enjoy the V twin music?
I'm a little tired of a new bike every year with 3-5HP more and my bike value drops 30% in one year. For a change I would like to hold on to a bike for more than 2 years and not be totally outdated. Maybe I'm just getting old

I think you're asking the wrong questions. Well, the right questions, just the wrong audience. Bike selection is a personal choice (unless your choice is to get the most stylish thing out there).

Why do you ride? What do you look for in a bike? If you find the need to change bikes every two years because you're afraid of being "outdated," hey, even Ducatis get outdated pretty quick. In the sportbike world, there'll always be something faster or flashier or tricker every year, particularly now that the Japanese seem to be on 2-year development cycles.

Personally, I got a Duc because it's something I had wanted for about 13 years. Interestingly, the bike I bought was about that old, too. Certainly ancient in sporting terms. But, with its sound and feel--two items that are fairly intangible in terms of objective performance/engineering parameters--it puts a way bigger smile on my face than my Japanese bikes ever did. No regrets on my part.

Your questions: My pocketbook can stomach the higher cost of parts/service (which hasn't been too bad, actually). That's going to depend on how mechanically adept you are, and your personal finances. Everyone's going to be coming from a different perspective on that one. My bike was World Superbike winning cutting edge technology...13 years before I bought it. So, obviously, having the latest and greatest wasn't high on my priority list. If someone's faster than I, it's either because they're a better (or stupider) rider than I--not because of what they're riding. I almost always ride alone, so I never really have any crowd from which to stand apart. Resale value? I hope to keep this bike forever, so who cares about resale value?

markg · Feb 19th, 2008, 11:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElDiablo

I have owned only Japanese bikes in the past. Recently I bought Husky which is Italian and now owned by BMW. I'm considering getting 1098 or 999R.
For those of you that came from a Japanese bike to Ducati...what do you think? Was it easy to give up cheap service, parts and in most cases better performance to be unique and stand out in the crowd or enjoy the V twin music?
I'm a little tired of a new bike every year with 3-5HP more and my bike value drops 30% in one year. For a change I would like to hold on to a bike for more than 2 years and not be totally outdated. Maybe I'm just getting old

The good thing about Ducati's, and this is only halfway tongue in cheek, is that until the 1098 they were already outdated when you bought them, so it isn't an issue.

The real reason is that people buy them is that not having one simply isn't an option. It's not, or shouldn't be, about latest, greatest, fastest, or best graphics, or horsepower specs or what the magazines say

The people that ride supersports are as rabid about theirs, with all of 75 to 95 hp, as the guys with a new 1098. Same thing with Monster riders, MS riders.

You will also find generally older riders, but not old, on Ducati's, and these are riders who have been around long enough to decide for themselves what strikes just the right chord.

I didn't have anything to give up, because I have only had Ducati's and BMW's for the last 30 yrs. Other than the Bonnie, which is just a reminder that all motorcycles are DNA linked to motorized bikes. It just has more of that DNA.

Shinddles · Feb 19th, 2008, 11:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by stryder

It sounds like you're on the same path that brought many Ducati riders "over": you're seeking that elusive "something more" that Japanese bikes just can't deliver. Ducati delivers. Take a leap of faith, and buy the one you like. That's what I did, and I have no regrets.

+5!! Just did the same thing and it's not about "being cool", it's just that for some of us...that exclusive feeling is a very comfortable place. If you've always got a more refined sense of taste or preferred the "different" things in life . . .or never believed that the "first to the finish line is always the winner", then I think you'll quite enjoy a Ducati. They are mastery.

Cucciolo · Feb 20th, 2008, 12:10 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinddles

. . .or never believed that the "first to the finish line is always the winner", then I think you'll quite enjoy a Ducati. They are mastery.

Of course, it is nice to know that quite often Ducatis have a habit of crossing that finish line first.

Shinddles · Feb 20th, 2008, 12:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cucciolo

Of course, it is nice to know that quite often Ducatis have a habit of crossing that finish line first.

Indeed.

I guess I meant that more for those who always say, the V-Twin won't put out as much HP at the top end as would an inline 4 or 3. You know...those guys that if there's a straight long line, they always want to race.

Big ups to Stoner though.