Evening all, i bought my 848 early December 2012,I convinced the mrs it was a steel of a price and I'd never find another one.....she went along with it!! Now were in mid march and I've still not been out on the bike!,its driving me crazy but under wife's orders the conditions need to be better (fair point). i had the r6 previous and never rode a duke,I've been told by a few people that ill not like the v twin and should have stuck to the inline 4.A couple have mentioned about not dropping the gears before corners as the back will lock up and its good night Vienna. im probably thinking about it to much as its just sat there in the garage. I bought the 848 for the reason that I think the dukes are the Ferrari's of the car world. im hoping I've made the right choice!!should find out in a couple of weeks!
Welcome It will take a little getting used to after an il4 but well worth it. Easy to ride. Easy on the eye. What's not to get on with?!
You will genuinely enjoy riding a Ducati. Just tell those mates, who will no doubt be following in your wake, to stay off your arse end when entering corners. They will all be expecting you to brake, like they have to with their in-line 4's, and you won't. Same goes for when entering speed restrictions from deristricted areas, you will just ease off the throttle, they will be jamming on the hankers. You really need to get the suspension set up for you by someone who knows what they are doing. Your bike will then behave like it is on rails. (If near Leeds I can put you in touch with someone who does it for £30) Welcome to the fold and just ENJOY
Did the same and went for a 1098s from a gsxr 750 k7 having never ridden one, just for the looks and hankered over that twin sound..... Bloody hated it, to the point where I very nearly got rid. The killer for me was the red line comes up way to quick and it is bloody vicious every time it kicked in. Hit it all the time when overtaking and it would lift me out of the seat! I did though persevere and adjust to it, my style was all wrong and learned to use the low down torque... All good now! True enough about the engine brake but only to the point of not having to use the breaks as much (which really bugs my mates behind me lol) nothing to worry about with that one though. Never once have I locked the back end..... Put a slipper in it anyway so never will either!
Cheers chaps!! im about an hour in the car away from Leeds,I'm sure the bike came from a ducati Leeds dealer as there's a sticker on the number plate. I reckon I need to go out for a nice 3 hour ride and see how I get on.Hopefully ill love it even more,especially to piss on those mates who keep frowning and shaking there heads when ever I mention ducati!!
Dont worry about it too much. Its still early in the year and lets be honest, this early Spring weather has been shite. Any bike is a long term thing and we all know that over time you become more accustomed to their character traits, which then become the reason why you love the thing so much. There is still alot to be said for pride of ownership. For the record thou, Ferrari (founded in 1929) are the Ducati (founded 1926) of the car world :wink:
Moving from a JIL4 you'll need more that three hours to get used to it. But you will. And you'll love it
Hi Blanco, I went from a gsxr1000 to a 1098 at the end of october, my first twin. Yes it takes some getting used too but after 3 or 4 ride outs you will be fine. I kept hitting the limiter for a while which was sobering at 90 mph lol. I have only managed to get out four times but I am with it now lol! Its still a nightmare in slow moving traffic though!
Cool!,did you have doubts then when you first rode it? I'm hoping I get to grips with it after a few rides. I feel quite proud having a duke sat in my garage,should hopefully be a long happy relationship!!
Seriously, everyone I have spoken to says that the first thing they said was "WTF have I done?". And I was one of them. However you do get used to the stance and you then start to enjoy the ride. After a few rides you even get used to it in town and know how to smooth out some of the lumpiness
@ChrisW - I would quite like details of that contact if you could let me have them? Thanks in advance
Nice one,ill put a post on about my first ride when the sun comes out!,it'll probably start off with WTF have I done!!!
I may take a while to get used but I'm sure you'll love it. For me just the sound makes up for any issues I may have with the bike I can be a right pig at low speed but 14T sprocket makes a huge difference.
Hi iceman i read that about the 14 tooth sprocket,ill see how it goes then may look at that option. i agree about the sound!!!,I had a guy on here 'Hutch' come and fit me some new cans that he modified,it gives alot deeper rumble now....sounds like I'm striking up a Lancaster bomber in the garage!!
