The war begins....

Links to a different thread?

 

Just to give you an idea and answer your question on power, my 999 with 749s heads and moderate porting is making just under 140 bhp at the rear wheel with a custom map by Riders race team. It's lovely and torquey with a very linear curve and a pleasure to ride.

In all honesty however it's no match at all for 4 cylinder 1000's. On track day's it has proven very similar in a straight line to a GSXR 750 but as soon as we get to a corner it's a different story. I invested in new Ohlins suspension, uprated brakes and 2ct soft race/road compound tyres coupled with a suspension set up (I am 16 stones) it has transformed the bike. Simply awesome around the corners and really good exiting the corners.

I agree with the previous comments regarding the "S". If you can stretch to one that is the way forward as you will get the Ohlins as standard. You could also consider the 749s perhaps although Ohlins are not standard on this. On the road the 749s is a very acomplished bike.


Personally I think you HAVE to get one with an after market exhaust, they don't seem to sell for much more with them fitted, However trying to source one is proving harder and harder and much more expensive and trust me, once you have ridden one with the standard exhaust vs an after market you will want one!

Matt

 

yes, it was just easier than reposting all of the gumpf.

 

I mean it links to one about BA Olympic paint job for me? No pictures of bikes in there?

 

no way!!! I've just clicked it at its taken me to where it should have! :frown:

 

Amusing the tapa talk app so might just be a bug at my end

 

999.... Pretty....

Think it's a bit like that "model" with the huge gap in her front teeth, maybe pretty to some but not for me thank you....

much better = DUCATI 996 996 cc Biposto Biposto

 

wheres the gap in her teeth lol

 

The Benelli looks to have great potential, but I seem to recall the electronics on it were hideous even by Aprilia standards, as was the manufacturer backup. Such a shame really.

675 is a fantastic bit of kit. Will feel short on poke compared to your other choices, but it's lovely to ride and Triumph know how to do fuel injection - my Speed Triple was flawless.

 

I think the Triumph 955i makes a great road bike. I haven't read the reviews, but I've ridden it on a number of occasions. A friend has one. It definitely won't outdrag a 999, which is faster - have had a couple of, ahem, motorway wind-ups with him. But in the real world? The Triumph is comfy and easy to ride. The triple motor is great and makes a good noise - esp with a pipe of some description. Well worth having a ride on one to see what you think.

If it's for the road, the Triumph can make sense, but if you were going to do track, I wouldn't bother so much. Naturally, I prefer the 999 as I have never had a bike in 30 years with more or less than 2 cylinders. But the 999 (like pretty much all Dukes) is less forgiving, more focused, feels tighter and stiffer. That's great when you're motoring, not quite so good when you're feeling more relaxed. It's easy to get obsessed with outright performance and handling, but it is hard to exploit those things in an everyday environment with towns, traffic, speed limits, dodgy road surfaces etc. The 955i still makes, in my view, a great road bike and the engines are surely reliable. If you wanted to tour on it, things like a comfy seat and more relaxed riding position start to come into their own. With a Duke you put up with a bit more discomfort.

A couple of friends of mine have a variety of Triumphs and I don't think either of them have had any problems with them.

 

if they are both 's' models then the core spec. suspension, engine performance is the same. the only difference is the twin seat.

if you buy a twin seat - make sure you get the rear footrests. it sounds daft but often they are taken off for cosmetic reasons and forgotten about until you one day go to carry a pillion lol

I bought a gsxr 1000 k5 and it happened to silly me. drove 50 mile home. didnt realise they werent on. went to carry the then wife weeks later (shes history now) and it was one of those derrrrrrrr moments lol and seller never had them.

whats important with any bike, especially ducati is paperwork to back up the mileage servicing. you may well hear the old 'my mates a mechanic' line which is virtually meaningless without invoices to prove correct belt changes etc.

otherwise ask to see the old parts, or part packaging (I used to keep all my old packaging with part numbers as partial proof that I laid out for parts)

check for signs of damage incase it has been a track bike. make sure the steering lock is equal left to right. make sure it goes in a straight line on test ride by briefly taking both hands off the bars on a flat road (no camber) if it tries to steer itself - walk away. take a torch and shine under the headstock. check the tyres for even wear. as most tracks are clockwise often trackbikes can have excessive wear on the right hand side but not always.

dont be shy and ask for the fairing panels to be removed in advance. it takes 5 mins and you will se obvious signs of body repairs and re- paint/plastic welding etc..

if a seller is shifty and wont play ball. walk away. im personally proud of all my bikes and when I have sold one will bend over backards with enthusiasm to show my pride and joy off - I expect others to be similar...and if they arent it makes me wonder why..

a mono to biposto conversion while isnt hard can be expensive as you ideally would need the mono or bip subframe and bodywork. .in your case a biposto maybe more suitable

 

675 yes, great great great bike, but it is tiny
955i? Good bike, but 675 is much better
Benelli...and you thought getting parts for an Aprillia was hard? DomRusty has one, may be worth a PM

Looks like its between the 749/999 and the 675 :smile:

 

Just to note.

When converting a mono to Biposto you need to replace the rear sub frame.

The mono has a very light, and pre 2005 flimsy sub frame thhat is barely man enough to carry the exhaust let alone a passenger. It also of course has no mounts for the rear pegs.

I had my sub frame replaced FOC on an 8 year old bike by Moto Rapido in Winchester which was an incredible piece of customer service!) as the early models suffered from cracks in the welds and brittle material fracturing.

So basically you will need

steel sub frame

Rear pegs

Biposto seat unit

It is a 20 minute job to change over. The fiddly bit is removing the tail unit from the seat which is bolted on with 1 No. 17mm bolt. You hve to support th weight of the tank and undo the bolt at the same time

Good luck with your purchase, I look forward to seeing some pics!

Matt

 

I'd advise trying both 999 and 749S if you can to see which you like more.

I have had both. For me it is no contest (but that is me, not necessarily you).

I had the stock 749. The fuel consumption is no better and possibly worse, than the 999 (in fact, I think it was worse). It needs more winding up. I found that when following slow traffic and looking for an overtake, I would have to cog down gears when the chance arose. This does not happen with the 999 - you just twist and go. It's not so much about power, it's about torque and having torque makes cruising along hassle free. Some people like the more frenetic 749 - having to rev the thing, but this is not my riding style. Happy to rev when the mood takes me, but not all the time.

I had had an 851 and a couple of fairly standard 916s before the 749, and I found the 749 more work than either. But I repeat, this is my personal experience and from what I can read on here, certainly not everyone's. Bigger motors mean more on tap and lower down the range. It's always there if you want it and as I say, strangely the bigger motors seem more fuel efficient. Certainly the 749 was thirstier than either the 851 or 916. I just couldn't see the point of having an almost identical package, delivering less and costing more in fuel. What's that about?

As for suspension, I have had the 999s with Ohlins rear and my current 999 with Showa rear. Once again, on the road, I have found the Showa suspension to be every bit as good. Indeed, for some reason, my current 999 (later model) feels better than the earlier S. Perhaps, if you track the thing, the supposed greater adjustability of the Ohlins may come into it's own, or perhaps if you get it set up by a suspension specialist. But then again, I bet that the Showa with a pro set-up would be excellent. My limited experience of track with my Showa equipped 916 was superb - in no way did I feel my suspension was cutting into my lap times. I think that the Ohlins items on the S models aren't the full Ohlins monty (they do have different ranges) and probably don't deliver much on the road that a well set-up Showa unit won't. You do get a more prestigious name though.

I have always had Bipostos for practicality reasons: you can put a tail bag on the back for weekends away. That for me is more important than the improved aesthetics of a monoposto. But it's a personal thing. I like going quite far afield on my bike and that means some luggage. I don't want all that crap on my back if I can help it.

 

Having got a 998 mono, and got the bits to be able to take my eldest on the back, I believe a mono will hold value better in the long term, and the Bip parts should get most of their value back if I ever sell up.

going 2 up, you should really consider the 999, as it should take the extra weight a bit easier (not implying your missus is some sort of hippo, or owt!)

so, you don't have a 999 mono as an option, then the 999 Bip would be my choice.

good luck with whatever you go with go for.

pete

 

Forget the Benelli imo,high service costs, dodgy looks parts and reliability. Take a Triumph 675 for a spin , awsome and by far the best of the Supersport options.