if theres one thing that puts you off ducati ownership...

I keep looking at a BMW F800 S with the AC Schnitzer lower fairing, don't know why, but I like them, belt drive, abs and still around 90 bhp from a fruity little twin.

 

My last bike, and first after passing Direct Access, was an F800ST. It was a damned fine bike, the belt drive especially.

 

Biggest single issue that is putting me off Ducati is the end of production of sps series bikes:frown: and direction ducati took since about 2001 with looks and engine character.Started with the 998R getting a shorter stroke motor than previous 996R so longer stroke grunter gradually becoming more revy track bike until you end up with new pannygale.Oh and the looks tumbling downhill arse over tit with the 999 (lets draw a veil or burka over the diavel and old multi,best thing for em) and have never really recovered bar the hyper and sedic.The looks thing is just my opinion before anyone gets there knickers in a twist.

Once the old, raw ,fun road orientated ,long stroke desmoquattro's are no longer available due to rarity and higher price or I get pissed off with service bills I will change marque.Unless ducati produces a updated 916sps but more likely another super revy short stroke twin or v4 in the future.

MV Agusta 312RR in white and black keeps catching my eye just gotta get past the whole IL4 thang.RC8R and RSV4 are very tempting to.


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Well ducati's direction is the one thing putting me off.

That is a face only a mother could ever love.Only jesting I quite like the later 05/06 999R now and always liked the 06 999R Xerox bike.But my god those looks where a shocker for the ducati faithfull after the stunning 998.Still nicer looking than the latest ducati superbike offering.

 

the one real bug bear with my 916 is flaking paint on the casings and headlamp shell...i can live with all of its other quirks because i love it..even having to check my nuts and bolts after every couple of rides.

 

Didn't your SP get the sand cast cases funky.I thought that was the only reason my old 916sps doesn't suffer this paint flaking on the casings as mine are rough now not smooth and painted like on my previous 996BP.

 

i actually sold some anodised nuts on fleabay the other and littered the listing with double entendres phill...right up your alley.

yeah, i think theyre sand cast..ive lost a little bit of paint near the front sprocket and little bits here and there..if im able to get another bike in the new year, i'll be taking my beautiful baby off the road for a while and more than likely get all of the cosmetics done..dont get me wrong, she's in wonderful condition..actually the best ive seen outside of a collection, but i want everything to be just so..one day these bitches are gonna be worth big money..i honestly cant see me ever selling, and i genuinely mean that...i'll have to be lifted onto the thing one day...as long as i dont have to be scraped off it, i'll be happy.

 

Battery power/charging system.

You can crank over a jap bike for ages, have a fiddle, crank it over again, until you get it sorted and the bike fires. On a Ducati you get two short goes and then it's time for the AA truck. Proper shit. It's the only reason I didn't take the fuglystrada abroad. Other than that both my Ducatis were utterly reliable.

 

7 weeks In to ownership and back to the dealers twice and back again with a DTC issue but still love the bike and would,nt change it, just learning to live with the issues

 

Nothing. Nothing at all.

There are many, many reasons. All Duc owners know what they are. Thankfully, I am one of them. Rejoice!

 

I am completely happy with the flip-up sidestand on any bike, it's all down to brain programming and criticism shouldn't really be levelled at the design although it's true that it can be a pain maneuvering bike if you can't be on the same side as the stand. As a counter-argument, how many people have ridden off with their nonflip-up sidestand down? (me, many times). Only improvement would be if you could isolate the facility with ease so giving you a choice. Best and simplistic design ever on a sidestand is the 'large eraser-like' addition often seen on old Hondas. It's the first thing that touches the ground should you forget to flip stand up and whips the arm out of the way before the steel/aluminium end touches the deck.

 

My 998 has a bypass on it that allows the bike to be started on the stand but if you put it into first with the stand down it cuts out, best of both worlds in my opinion. It's a shame Ducati didn't think of this as it's not a bad solution.

 

'Large eraser like addition often seen on old Hondas'

Thanks Chris, I wondered what that 'flap of rubber' was doing on my Thumpers sidestand. All is now understood.

 

I have axactly the same issue as the Threadstarter: Trashed main bearings, bearing Sleeves AND cracked casing on my 999S trackbike. I don't see any reason why this should happen if you design and build an engine according to the requirements. And don't tell me it's fair that the bearings fail after some serious track use because that is exactly what the 999S engine was built for.

Another thing that really annoys me is the ripoff cost of belts for 999. The 900SS has pretty cheap belts, the 916 can use car belts from a Renault Megane but the 999 is so insanely expensive and the belts are pretty much the same and should cost the same.

Not a huge issue but I am not thrilled by the ugly sound of the dry clutch and the heavy lever. They will not be able to get away with making bikes that are tough to operate in the future.

JimR

 

In last week's MCN there was an article outlining a new set of cores values for Ducati from Claudio Domenicali.

They sound pretty good.

Sorry I can't find a link.

 

A while back on an Italian sports car forum, some tit was extolling the virtues of Jap cars and quoted Toyota as having a pristine record. In 2010, they announced one of the largest recalls of any manufacturer in history and to date has involved over 7.5 million cars worldwide. Not knocking Jap equipment but they are certainly not perfect

I've had Italian cars and bikes for over 30 years and just don't have problems with them. Apart from the Pani service schedules with the supplying main dealer, I have always done all my own work so I know its done properly. In my experience, Italian machinery is as reliable as you want to make it. Put another way, neglect proper servicing and maintenance and it will bite your arse big time - Your time and money, your choice

hope this helps

 

The difference comes when you don't observe the service schedule, of course. Run a Ducati for 5 years without servicing it and you'll end up with an expensive ornament, run a Honda for 5 years without servicing it and you'll end up saving 5 years' worth of servicing money...