Hey guys. OK, I'm a Ducati virgin. I'm looking at my ZX10R in the garage and having serious thoughts of trading it in for a Ducati. My local dealer has a 996 and a couple of 748's sitting looking gorgeous. Quite simply, they are an iconic bike and just beautiful to look at, and I want one! But which one, and what to look out for. I know servicing costs are crazy and they ain't exactly the most comfortable beasts. I'd always used my bike for communting to work as well as blasts but don't have to these days so it will be purely for fun. Cheers
996 - more stomp. Go and ride both and then decide. No one can do this for you (but I wouldn't mind doing the riding for you).
If we told you what to look out for, you'd never buy one!! :wink: Compared to the ZX10 they're both going to be slow! But, they do things very differently. As Glidd says, go ride both. Full service history from reputable Ducati dealer/independent helps.
Hello and welcome, as has been said before, give them both a try, they will be very different from your ZX but hopefully the grin factor from one of them will give you your answer! Chris
What year is the ZX10R? As Greyman says, the twin will be very different to the Ninja and I would suggest a test ride before you make the leap. If you do decide to change, the 748 will feel utterly gutless next to the Ninja, especially in the lower revs
Hey guys, cheers for the thoughts. My Ninja is a 2006 D6F and it is a missile. I know, weighing up common sense and the passion!
Personally, I wouldn't do it. I know that coming from a tuned GSXR 1000 K6, the only Duke that satisfied from a 'go' perspective was the 1098R/1198. Looks are one thing, but the ride is just as important - especially if it is your only bike. Ideally you would be able to keep the ZX10R for the majority of rides, and then be in the right frame of mind when you felt like enjoying a [relative] slow bimble on an uncomfortable vintage v-twin sportsbike. But if you only have one bike, its performance will be important if you are already used to the effortless ease of the ZX10. Amongst the Tamburini Ducatis, definitely the 996/998. Alternatively, it's worth trying a 1198 to see where the next generation went... there was a big jump. Whilst I am lucky to have other bikes to ride apart from the Ducati, and the Duc is just a fun/play thing for me, its performance is still critical enough to me to make sure it still delivers as much as my previous sportsbikes.
yeh I had a k5 they are incredible. the kind of roads I like the power was possibly too much lol but I do miss that riotous scream I have been mulling over another bike....maybe another duke perhaps a 1098r or an I4 such as a 1kL0 or even dropping my 999 lump the coming winter and working on it. im errring toward another bike as im worried about the 999s ability to handle mods..I seem to be stumbling on lots of posts on the web with engine cases cracking
999 was at the limit of the 1000cc testastretta. IMHO I think Rotax (Aprilia RSV) did a better job of the 999cc v-twin - it has far better manners and power delivery compared to the 999, and the Rotax has been proven to be a reliable unit. The 1198 is one of the great motors though, and it's super heavyweight punch is addictive if not as top end ballistic as an equivalent IL4.
