Right so I'm now feel ready for my step forward to getting my Ducati. I've loved the 749 since they day I first saw it back when I was 23, 34 now. But I'm getting really annoyed buy all these put offs, YouTube vids about how difficult the clutch are, Maintanience costs, reliability, not the best commuter bike, you know the stuff Can someone please reassure me and that these are great bikes to live with everyday, or just give me the real low down on what they are like to own.
I used a 748 daily for years and they're probably seen as a bit harder to live with than a 749. I LOVED IT! Yes it'll be a bit harder to live with and a bit more expensive than a jap bike, but I've never walked into my garage, looked at a jap bike and gone, YEAH, I own that and want to lick it clean. Go for it, just take someone that knows them with you cos some of the clatters and bangs they make aren't good ones.
Thanks 1037sps great info and that is just how I feel about Ducati's, no other bikes are that, bite the back of your hand gorgeous. Have you always ridden Ducati's? And did you find them easy to ride at first or did you need to change your riding style? Just because my journey to and from work can be a bit stop start'y and do rely on good clutch contol, and I hear they can be hard in built up traffic? Also any advise about riding winter time, cold mornings and so on would be amazing, just so I know when to by, it's starting to get cold and wet here now
I've had mine from new. 11 years later, after commuting, touring, track days and taking my advanced test on her she still makes me smile. I've had no reliability issues out side of the early stick coils (changed for 2006 type) and the subframe cracking (early Monoposto), which was replaced by Ducati. Yes the servicing can be a bit expensive, but if you do some yourself (oil, filters, plugs, brakes etc) and use one of the many good independent specialists it is not too bad. Never really found the clutch to be that heavy, and compared to the BMW RT1200 I ride now and again it's petty similar. You do have to slip it a little in traffic, but that's never really been an issue. If you change the rear sprocket for a 42 tooth it smooths everything out and it is very easy to do 30. Cold starting can need a little care, and everyone has their own knack, but as long as your bike is well serviced it is no more problematic than any other bike. The biggest problem for starting it maintaining a good starter circuit. A second earth or replacement high quality leads make all the difference. Checking and cleaning all the terminals is often overlooked and is often the cause of poor starting. If you have an alarm then use an Optimate. I've only changed the original battery after 9 years. There is plenty advice about caring for these bikes on here. So use the search function. Good luck
Been lucky enough to always have 1 since I was 21. The older stuff 748, probably 749 etc tends to need a bit more rider input to get it to turn, not all sharp and pointy on the front end like a jap 600. You gotta ride it! As for in town, put it in neutral at traffic lights helps the left hand, or fit a bigger clutch slave cylinder (£80apx). Your arse will get warm and wrists ache a bit going slow but that's about it for me. I'd always warm it to about 50 degrees summer or winter and didn't have any troubles, apart from the alarm. But that doesn't count. Sure i could tell you all sorts of problems i had but they were my own doing. Like not changing belts and having one snap. Keep on the maintenance though and they're as good as anything.
1037sps I would be interested to know what happened to your engine when one of your belts snapped,and how old the belt that snapped was?
Jonny boy The 749 is a cracking good bike IMO. As Duke said it does require more rider input, which makes it such a satisfying ride. Once the suspension is set up correctly for riders weight the bike handles superbly. A faster action throttle and the suspension set up are the best mods you can make, and they will transform the bike. Both fairing panels can be removed in a couple of mins, unlike some bikes which take an age of fiddling. The lights are virtually useless however which isn't an issue for me as I rarely ride at night. I wouldn't want to use my bike for commuting it's too race focused. They do seem to respond well to being used regularly and maintained correctly. A lot of maintenance can be easily done yourself, such as oil and filter, cleaning air filters, brake pads, chain tension and cleaning, and it's surprisingly straightforward to change the belts using the Sonic tensioning method. There are several very useful vids on u tube which are helpful in showing how this is done.
The belt must have been about 9000 miles old. Thought it would've been changed before I bought it. It wasn't. was flat out going 3rd to 4th when i hit a neutral. Hit the limiter which would've been fine if it wasn't for the old belt. Fixed it myself for about £500 15 odd years ago. All 4 valves bent into S shapes, guides deformed or smashed and that was it really. Piston, rod and all rockers were all fine which was the shock, but in a good way. Had to change piston rings though cos one snapped putting it back together.
Just to add, I've always just used the finger and thumb twist method to tension belts and never had one snap since. So no special tools needed there either. Get dirty and do it all yourself.
Hi and scuse ignorance (and jacking the thread a bit!) Could you advise how / what changing the rear sprocket to 42 (from ?) does and does it mess the speedo reading? If it changes speedo does it show you going faster than you really are, or slower? Hope that lot makes sense! Cheers, Andrew.
Hi, it makes it accelerate a bit faster but slower top speed. But crucially it keeps the revs higher for the same road speed so it's a bit smoother. Gearing changes won't affect your Speedo as that's taken off the front wheel.
Its taken off the rear wheel but not the sprocket side . At least it is if we are still talking about the 749 .
Thx for explanation - may well look into this Re OP - other than being a little choppy at slow speed / revs, the 749 is a great ride IMHO.
Oh dear, yeah sorry, was thinking of my 748! 749 speedo drive could be taken from space for all i know so listen to someone else. Soooorrry. :Shamefullyembarrased:
CRYSTAL JOHN You are a legend! Thank you so much for your knowledge, when it comes to the bike set up, where is best to go? to a main Ducati dealer or is it a specialist thing? I have never done any bike maintainence in my life, and not sure about fiddling with breaks pads, I'm not saying im not gain, but I think I need to be shown the way. You have given me lots to look up and I love that. Thanks mate
1037sps Yeah the whole wrist thing does not sound that great, but my jorney to work is only 20-30mins max, And once or twice I go to brandhatch and thruxton for the British super bike, so just more coffee stops on the way will sort at out. If I could I would have a 748 too, still to this day I think it's one of the best looking bikes ever made, but just don't feel I could stretch to a bike that is that needie, maybe a nice weekend bike one day, as long as the misses doesn't go in the garage to find 2 "big red shoutie bikes" in there
Jonnyboy. Had a 748 and 2 x 749. Always serviced them properly, only ever had 1 problem, a snapped throttle cable on the 748, thankfully while on the yard before setting off. Would agree with decent suspension set up, and possibly a decent power commander and set up. I found the power commander and set up, made the bike smooth, and removed the "lumpy" nature at low revs. As others have said, if you want a lighter clutch, fit a larger clutch slave for £80 ish, or, try taking 2 springs out of the clutch £0 .... Will help in making it lighter. All that said, the 749 rides ok straight out of the box. Don't be put off by the online stuff ..... How many people will spend time putting up videos of how good the 749 is, most people only put that much effort into complaining. If you get a 749, just try living with it as is for a while, before making plans to change it, even before you have one.
Keep it moving at bike speeds and the wrist issue ain't too bad, and i believe the 749/999 was better than the earlier stuff like i use anyway. It's the real slow stuff below 30 mph when you start to notice, as the speeds pick up it all gets better so don't get too hung up about it. A good suspension setup will make the whole riding experience of any bike not just Ducatis better, I use K-tech, they'll change springs and valves to suit you and your riding style, but it might be a bit much unless you really do want the best you can get. Having the standard stuff serviced and setup by a good local dealer should suit. And if you aren't too good with the spanners, you need to get friendly with your local dealer anyway or save this forum in your favorites list. Everyone seems more helpful than you'd believe is possible.
