I agree Phil.... What Ducati gave us with the Panigale NEVER would have came from Japan or Germany, not in a million yrs. Japs etc will stick with the same old same old designs. It will never change, might improve but not groundbreaking. But I really think that Ducati should be more concentraded on the likes of winning in BSB or WSBK first. Should they not be improving the 1199 Pani to win?
its tricky. winning is good - the end justifies the means in some minds. but ultimately ducati exist because of bike sales - no sales, no company. People buy because of the brand desirability ( then they realise their mistake when the engine cracks lol ) some of the most desirable vehicles have never entered a race let alone won one.
RC30 RGV's RD350LC even the lowly FS1E I could list shitloads. That statement is wrong on so many levels. And when Honda's MotoGP bike appears, you may regret that statement. Motorcycling is what it is today thanks to a large part to Japanese innovation, quality and most of all affordability. (although I concede a road going RCV will be up there with the Desmo). Japanese motorcycling engineering is at the pinnacle. The pinnacle. To suggest otherwise is plain foolishness and ignores what went in the past. remember the 6 cylinder TT Hondas? Was Joey Dunlop a fool to choose Honda's? Who was it that took leaky old brit bikes and innovated a simple concept of horizontally split crankcases and killed off oil leaks in one fell swoop. Japanese soul is different. It in efficiency and tolerances Triumph, Norton and the Ducati's of the day could not get within a thou off. They still cant. MotoGP does not lie. The Honda and the Yamaha are leagues ahead of Ducati. Leagues. Please retract that 749sDub. Your a decent fellow defending his love but please dont deny that the Japanese bikes do not have soul. Anyone who has ridden an RC30 or even an SP1or2 would deny that accusation. My GSXR1100SD Katana for instance, brilliant bike with an engine that could pull a train, even if the frame had 3 hinges on it past 120. To deny is just misplaced snobbery. I like Ducati's because I love torque and the beat of a twin. Plus theyre usually quite pretty. Oh and when I was caning a French Autoroute at 180mph on my 1198 full chat, head down. My mate flew past me like I was going still on a 10k fucking s1000rr. (albeit with a few choice mods) Bastard. Still I concede I looked better.
Wow he beat you in a straight line, oh the shame. Bolt a rocket to your 1198 and you'll beat your mates S1k. Maybe we could throw them off a cliff, first one to hit the ground is the better bike! Its all getting a bit Bike magazine "we test the 1000's" Again!! Yawn I have far more respect for the guy who can spank a 100 BHP bike around a track or roads quicker than Mr all singing all dancing latest greatest 180 bhp bike
Which bike is currently winning WSB and BSB? Kawasaki ZX10....how many road versions have they sold.. hardly any
I have a mate who thought he was the knees of the bee on his new R1, till you got to the first corner and several miles down the road you'd be sat with then engine off waiting for him
His chicken strips on his rear are legendary. But that bike flies. Christ it flies. What I love about dukes is the engine braking into a corner to settle the bike and the powering torque out of it. This I concede betters any other marque ive ridden, so far.
Sam, I hear everything what you are saying. I acknowledge what the Honda's are what they are. Ive owned every firebalde since 2003 until 2008 and done a A LOT of miles on them, crossed europe of 3 of them a few times so yeah, I get the Honda thing....My first ever trip around france was on a cbr400rr gullarm with a tank bag and a tent ! Im not saying their wholey souless, Im just saying they are a little quiet personality wise, thats a subtle way of putting it(?).. The only fireblade I had that wasnt was the 2003 954rr without question. That bike had character. Ive rode an SP2 and SP2, booming engines, but still didnt do anything for me, but oddly enough I liked the firestorm, go figure that one, cause i cant. I cannot compare a Duke with the blades Ive owned, seriously. Dont get me wrong, there was never a moment when I said "Im going 1500-2000 mls away from home, what happens if...." Whereas if I was heading off on my duke I would be a little apprehensive, but Id still take it ! But i honestly, i think they did not have the attachment/involvement to me I get like I do with the duke. Honda have been playing the safe game, why ? They have the capability, that v4 motogp road bike wont be here until at least 2015. But then, will it be really special or will they wow us with something like a Desmo? Who knows. 9 If i have to eat my hat I will ). Re the gp effort, we all know the duke is sh1t. Thats down to the wrong ppl making the decisions. You could say when honda had a bad run couple of yrs ago, they were building to be where they are now, Ducati didnt and the likes of Honda and Yamaha are reaping the rewards, no question. Im a complete virgin when it comes to ducati, i i get it, i actually do. I know what ppl talk about when they say "that feeling". Sure they aint gonna blow the socks off flat out, they are a little quirky but come on, they tunning to look at, involving, have buckets of character, torquey and sound immense. F rom what I see on this forum and the previous old one, Ducati are at a turning point with their brand, bikes, the whole shooting match. Ducatisti of old and new are now torn apart with the direction and bikes that are headed in our direcftion. We'll have to agree to disagree on 50% of what we both said to avoid us falling out :smile: zx10r, yup, no doubt about it.......I dont know the answer to that but Ducati did say that they had this bike to better the 10/1198 in WSBK and take the trophies home with....that never happened.
S'okay Dubs. :wink: btw its Boots. Sam's the other better half. Besides I just like being argumentative.
The motorcycling equivalent of a swiss watch. Honda RC174 6 Cylinder. 66bhp @ 17,000rpm in 1960 something
Isnt it. I would pay good money just to be able to listen to the 6cyl 2 stroke at full chat. I imagine it sounds amazing.
Nah. The best sounding bike EVER (and nothing else comes close) was Italian... though it wasn't a Ducati.
Alleged picture posted by D16 Riders Club on Facebook Taken in Rome, during the Ducati convention (whatever that is) and smuggled out apparently.
