998s FE initial impression - Ducati.ms

ShadowROne · Mar 31st, 2006, 3:36 pm

Well, as some of you know I recently bought a 2004 998s Final Edition. Well, it finally got warm enough to put some miles on her and though I would post up my initial thoughs on her.
Now, keep in mind it has only been about 100 miles and I realize it is going to take a while to get used to her. Also, I am comparing it to my 2002 Yamaha R1 and it is going to be comparing apples and oranges... but they are my apple and my orange

This Ducati is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever ridden. Alot of the weight is shifted foward onto your wrist and the windscreen puts the wind right at my neck so it does nothing for me. The mirrors are a freaking joke

They must be there just to comply with the Department of Transportation.
The trunk space may as well not be there. If the helmet lock was not located under there there would be no reason for the tail to fold up like it does.

The power delivery it something I am going to have to get used to... and I bet that is the biggest diffrence between an inline 4 and a twin...
When on the express way, I need to be in 3 gear for the bike to have the balls to out run that loosed on the riced out Civic... I could do that on 4th or even 5th on the R1.

Having said that, I fucking love this thing

I cant believe it took me so long to get it. Every time I look in the garage all I can say is WOW!

I am going to take the bikes out back to back here soon to get a better feel for the diffrences between the two bike to "better" compare my 2 ladies.

Well, that's all for now
-Rob

webwarrior · Mar 31st, 2006, 3:42 pm

And here I thought you were going to complain about how your R1 can do circles around your 998FE..

and was going to slap some sense into you til i finished reading.. buhaha

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowROne

Well, as some of you know I recently bought a 2004 998s Final Edition. Well, it finally got warm enough to put some miles on her and though I would post up my initial thoughs on her.
Now, keep in mind it has only been about 100 miles and I realize it is going to take a while to get used to her. Also, I am comparing it to my 2002 Yamaha R1 and it is going to be comparing apples and oranges... but they are my apple and my orange

This Ducati is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever ridden. Alot of the weight is shifted foward onto your wrist and the windscreen puts the wind right at my neck so it does nothing for me. The mirrors are a freaking joke

They must be there just to comply with the Department of Transportation.
The trunk space may as well not be there. If the helmet lock was not located under there there would be no reason for the tail to fold up like it does.

The power delivery it something I am going to have to get used to... and I bet that is the biggest diffrence between an inline 4 and a twin...
When on the express way, I need to be in 3 gear for the bike to have the balls to out run that loosed on the riced out Civic... I could do that on 4th or even 5th on the R1.

Having said that, I fucking love this thing

I cant believe it took me so long to get it. Every time I look in the garage all I can say is WOW!

I am going to take the bikes out back to back here soon to get a better feel for the diffrences between the two bike to "better" compare my 2 ladies.

We;;, that's all for now
-Rob
-Rob

level7 · Mar 31st, 2006, 3:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowROne

Well, as some of you know I recently bought a 2004 998s Final Edition. Well, it finally got warm enough to put some miles on her and though I would post up my initial thoughs on her.
Now, keep in mind it has only been about 100 miles and I realize it is going to take a while to get used to her. Also, I am comparing it to my 2002 Yamaha R1 and it is going to be comparing apples and oranges... but they are my apple and my orange

This Ducati is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever ridden. Alot of the weight is shifted foward onto your wrist and the windscreen puts the wind right at my neck so it does nothing for me. The mirrors are a freaking joke

They must be there just to comply with the Department of Transportation.
The trunk space may as well not be there. If the helmet lock was not located under there there would be no reason for the tail to fold up like it does.

The power delivery it something I am going to have to get used to... and I bet that is the biggest diffrence between an inline 4 and a twin...
When on the express way, I need to be in 3 gear for the bike to have the balls to out run that loosed on the riced out Civic... I could do that on 4th or even 5th on the R1.

Having said that, I fucking love this thing

I cant believe it took me so long to get it. Every time I look in the garage all I can say is WOW!

I am going to take the bikes out back to back here soon to get a better feel for the diffrences between the two bike to "better" compare my 2 ladies.

Well, that's all for now
-Rob

It really is an amazing machine.

nathanTX · Mar 31st, 2006, 4:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowROne

This Ducati is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever ridden....... The power delivery it something I am going to have to get used to...

One of the primary problems with the riding position, IMO, is the hand angle. It's not just that more weight is on your wrists, but more importantly, the angle to the levers combined with the angle of the bars makes the weight on your hands more noticeable. Remove the lever housings so you can get to the pin that keeps them from rotating. Pull the pin, or grind it off if it doesn't want to come out (like mine didn't). Then rotate the levers downward until they are comfortable for you while watching the clearance to the fairing and other parts. Wrist problem 75%+ solved. Or if you have money to burn get adjustable bar-riser clip-ons for 90%+ solved.

Second problem: What you are feeling is not power delivery, it's gearing. The Duc superbikes are geared notoriously high. You'll find sixth is basically useless and in order to get any reasonable power, you'll be a gear or two lower than on your R1. You can get used to running around in second through fourth all the time, or change sprockets. Drop a tooth off the front and see where that gets you. Then consider going up in the rear as well. I have yet to go up in the rear (because I'm a cheap bastard and SSSA Duc sprockets require extra $$$), but could really stand to. I'm guessing -1/+2 would be a pretty good combo. That'd be a drastic change on some bikes, but our Duc SBKs need it.

grendels_arm · Mar 31st, 2006, 4:39 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowROne

This Ducati is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever ridden. Alot of the weight is shifted foward onto your wrist and the windscreen puts the wind right at my neck so it does nothing for me. The mirrors are a freaking joke

They must be there just to comply with the Department of Transportation.
The trunk space may as well not be there. If the helmet lock was not located under there there would be no reason for the tail to fold up like it does.

-Rob

It's great that you love it. But after reading this you do have to admit that if the bike is called a "Superbike" you can't expect it to be comfortable. I mean it's basically what is raced in AMA SBK and WSBK except for motor and suspension upgrades. And those guys could care less about mirrors and trunk space. I like the idea I have something like that instead of a nice plush Honda.

bruce19 · Mar 31st, 2006, 5:11 pm

Go out and ride the bike. After you put some miles on it, if you still love it, change the things that bother you. You will never look back. My '02 998 is the balls! And, here's an anecdote: My 23 yr. old son rides an R6. He thinks it's the most awesome bike. Last year he rode my 998 a few times and said it was "nice" but he loved his R6. Then in Nov. to celebrate his 23rd birthday he spent the day riding.....on my 998. This week I was working a case when I get a call on the cell phone. (Son) " Are you out on your bike?" (Me) No, I'm working. Is this about you want to take my bike?" (Son) "Well, yeah." (Me) "OK, have fun, be safe." Later in the day I have a message in my mailbox. "In case you don't already know, your bike is outrageous. I'm afraid to take it into my garage because my bike will cry." Sometimes watching your kid grow up is an awesome thing.

bruce19

Mar 31st, 2006, 6:52 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by grendels_arm

It's great that you love it. But after reading this you do have to admit that if the bike is called a "Superbike" you can't expect it to be comfortable. I mean it's basically what is raced in AMA SBK and WSBK except for motor and suspension upgrades. And those guys could care less about mirrors and trunk space. I like the idea I have something like that instead of a nice plush Honda.

You say that the superbike is the basically the same bike they race in AMA SBK, and WSBK, I think that is true, but every other bike out there that races is also the same thing they sell, and even more so then ducati's. You can buy an RS for a lot of dough, but I think a Japanese bike is actually closer to the bikes they race then just buying a standard 998 FE compared to the ducati race bikes. As far as Hondas being plush, that doesn't compromise their track ability at all, I have a 600rr for track, and it's not plush.

bubbazenetty · Mar 31st, 2006, 9:52 pm

I'm just waiting for him to start talking about the handling, once he finally gets it leaned over a bit.

+++1 on the levers, and get a DP powerbronze windscreen. Also try some DP rearsets, if you REALLY want to have fun.

HOOTER13 · Mar 31st, 2006, 10:36 pm

Nathan is right on with the gearing thing. Do it and you will be amazed by the difference. Just for fun I go into "other" bike shops and when I get asked the usual question "what do you ride now?" I tell them I have two Ducati's. After that they spend more time talking about Ducatis then the GSX-Rs and R1s they are selling. I get that "you have two Ducatis and you're in here" look. If 17,500 rpm and a bike that will be out of date in 24 months is appealing to you than hang on to your TJM. But I'll bet a year from now you'll still have the Duc and the R1 will be a distant memmory. Hooter 98 SPS/ 05 ST3

Namor · Apr 1st, 2006, 12:24 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOTER13

If 17,500 rpm and a bike that will be out of date in 24 months is appealing to you than hang on to your TJM. But I'll bet a year from now you'll still have the Duc and the R1 will be a distant memmory. Hooter 98 SPS/ 05 ST3

I don't get it, a 2001 R1 vs a 2006 R1 is only more out of date than a 2001 996 vs a 2006 999, because Yamaha has developed more. I'd say the 2001 996 is out dated by the 2001 R1. That a 2003 999 is not so out of date from a 2005 999 while as the same year R1s are very dated speaks a bit about the companies. I'm suprised it took Ducati some 7 year to find the testeretta heads, no great leap there. If i keep going I may say things I can't take back...and would delete the post if i hadn't taken the time to write it. I already see some holes in my argument.