Well I have had everything from a SF V4, SF V2, M1000R, KTM 890R over the last 2-3 years and now the Monster SP which is the lowest power of any of them but is the most useable on the road today. I dare say on the Monster and 890R they are quicker through the country roads and the Monster despite only having 110-115hp has more low down torque than my V2 SF. A 125hp bike could be ideal for country road use. Not in a Panigale or Streetfighter though, if your buying one of them you want more for your money.
all of this is 100% correct and valid,… except… why should we as consumers look to go and replace/upgrade to a new product that’s 30hp less than the one we have sat in the garage, when the benefit is being lost somewhere in the exhaust system. maybe for new Ducati buyers, or people making a conscious decision to step away from the mental V4’s etc then perhaps, but for all of us with 899/959/Panigale V2 and even those with supersport, monsters etc, it’s going to be more challenging to want to rush out and change to this
Started my Ducati journey with 900ss then ST4s then MTS1200 pre DVT. After that I did not like the engines at all, totally lost interest for me and left the brand, which with those bikes I owned will always hold a very special place in my heart ❤️
But isn’t that just technology moving forward? As I said, if they still made what they were making 20 years ago then they would no longer be in business or their top line superbike would still make 150bhp and every one else’s would be making 200bhp. It wouldn’t sell. I appreciate that to us bikes are a hobby/way of life etc but to Ducati they are a business.
You are correct, it is “moving forward “. But I don’t get the same connection with today’s Ducati that I did before. So I switched brands and now ride a Yamaha. Why you may well ask. It does everything the MTS did with no electric issues, far easier to set up suspension etc. Fast enough as it’s the rider that counts and all at 55mpg since I got it. However what a thrill to visit Ducati factory, would I do a Yamaha factory visit, not in a million years. But I bought one of their bikes and not a Ducati.
Yes things move 'forward'. But I still play music via a nice amp and good speakers. I also still buy vinyl. New doesnt necessarily mean better. All 'new' is, is yet another oppurtunity to sell you the same thing you already got. Thats marketing.
Hmmmm.... as many of you know I already own a Ducati 890,built by John Hackett and producing 129bhp at the rear wheel with more torque than the new one and as Michael Neaves said when he road tested it in MCN "The best bike Ducati never made!" Progress,what progress!
For me i don’t feel the newer models are for the riders, it’s about cheaper for manufacturer. Admittedly all the old school are getting near the end of their lives…I just look at them and they remind me of the old school budget bikes…original gazer/mt/hornet…parts bin bikes but still asking premium prices… I love my aprilia and when I saw the RS660 I was like wow that’s lovely but then I see the swing arm and frame and it’s just looks cheap. the R7 and R9 it’s the same. R9 is not a replacement for an R6, that’s a special little rocket and the new one doesn’t light my fire. At least there are still a few trying to keep the sports bike going but it’s dwindling which makes me sad. Maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy…..lol
I just read the new V2 engine has 30,000km valve checks. How come, if it’s springs like in the V4 GT engine, they can’t get 60,000km out of it?
because it’s 900cc in 2 cyclinders meaning the valves are probably 20-30% bigger than the v4 valves, so heavier
I have a GSXR1000 K5, and had a GSXR1000 K9 at the same time, the K5 is a far better bike to ride, none of the electronic rider aids, more simple, every time I went out on the K9, I kept trying to compare it to the K5 I sold the K9, still have the K5
As clarification my comment was wrt to the new engine/bike with the present engine/bikes and I’d certainly agree there is no comparison between the latter and the old 70s/80s bevel stuff. But I’d also agree here as the belt drive (bevel) replacement engine/bike, and 888, 916, 996/8/9 and on up to the 1299 evolutions, still retained that essence of Ducati character of the older stuff. They were, and are, enthusiasts machines with heaps of character, which imo, refers to the bikes ability to have a myriad of infuriating issues but also the ability to make the world feel glorious when it all comes together driving hard out of your favourite 3rd gear corner. I’m sure bootsam will correct me if I am wrong, but this character is what he is referring to as the baby. Tbf to Ducati I suspect the need to move forward with the new engine design is (only) driven by having to adhere to the ever more stringent emission & noise regulations. Not to mention production costs. It would be interesting to know what sort of engine developments could be made if regulations remained the same. However as can be seen above, the bikes then just become marketed ‘products’ which have to compete with other, just as accomplished, products in the market place. But with none of that ‘old school’ Ducati sp to sell them apart from a name & an engine configuration as the differential. And as a final thought, here is a quote from Bike magazine’s test of the latest Multistrada - “An 11 hour day is no more daunting than popping to the shops; all you have to do is push the buttons & steer – it’s motorcycling made convenient to the point of of secretly wishing it was a bit more of a challenge”
