Ducati Motorcycle Anyone?

[Roverjoe]

I've been thinking of buying a street bike this fall to toy around on next spring. I've ridden dirt bikes but don't have much experience with street bikes. I have always wanted a Ducati. Honestly, I probably won't buy a bike unless it is a Ducati. I also don't want to spend more than 5k. I've seen some pretty good deals on cycletrader.com but really don't know what to look for. Any Duc riders out there to offer some advice?

Thanks much - joe

 

[marc olivares]

Joe,

Ducs' are a lot like rovers. they are an enthusiast vehicle that typically requires quite a bit of regular maintanence, they have terrible parts support and when you find parts they are terrible over priced.
with that said, you won't fine a sexier line of bikes on the planet!!!!
my personal fave. is the Dark monster (graphite with red wheels)
with the pipes swept up under the seat.
or a race prep'd 996.

not the most comfortable bikes to ride over the long haul (BWM has this market locked) but excellent cafe' bikes (i.e. ride to the coffee shop and then home ).
if your not intimidated by the upkeep then you'll love it hopefully as much as i have

marc

 

[LostInBoston]

I'm looking at some 999's on ebay, and ive bid on some. I like the aprilia 1000 factory a little better though, and they are cheaper. dont have as much style and appeal of the duke, but more HP and slightly mroe comfortable. of course the duke dealer could probably easily set me up with the right rear sets and bars and new seat and probably be as comfortable. i wanted a monster when i was 16, but now im way to big for them.

 

[smenzel]

You might want to check into the service costs before plunking down the cash to buy one of these finely designed, racing beauties.

A friend of mine has a Ducati with 55k miles and found that it costs roughly $2k of service per 10,000 miles. Granted, this is all service done at the local dealership but it's a fair chunk of change.

 

[Ron]

Alyssa vetoed my monster purchase. Something about needing me to make money to justify paying for law school and me wrapping it around a tree

 

[smenzel]

Bummer. The Ducati is a sweet ride. Maybe _after_ law school.

 

[john]

Nobody here likes the KTM 950? That's my dream ride.

 

[bri]

That KVT is bad. I have always loved the BMW "adventure" bikes, but I am warming up to the KVT (much more angular look to it). Maybe someday I will be brave enough to get back on a motorcycle. At least with one of those you could get where there is no traffic.

Edit-- Oh, I have only seen the adventure version of the KTM, maybe there are more. Saw some awesome rides in Lake City, CO, they were all doing the Alpine Loop. Sounded like a ton of fun.

 

[john]

Oh shit, is Kyle making bikes now?

 

[bri]

Too funny, phrasing is near classic. At least I did not pull the udder finger trick all three times. I guess I saw too many KVT references, or his ads have some subliminal tactics.

Brian

 

[Leslie]

Actually, I'd give my eye-teeth for John's bike... I'd fallen for the bigger 1150GS, but when John got his 650 Dakar, I realized it'd be more practical for my uses. Unfortunately, one of the few things the wife *absolutely* refuses to budge on is me and another motorcycle.... But, I'm still not gonna give up hope..... eventually, one day....


-L

(always the optimist, even after the ship has sunk....)

 

[john]

Les, if you want my 650, let me know. Then I can get THIS:

 

[bri]

I saw an what looked like a spanking new 1150GS this past weekend and was looking for some close detailed pictures of it, but have not found any.

Either would be a "win the lottery" kind of bike for me. Certainly a smaller bike would be more practical, if I were to actually get a bike that is. Certainly would never need that kind of weight and power behind a 950 or 1150 motocycle.

I wonder how long it will take for John to be a KTM dealer or KTM Gear distributor?

 

[Leslie]

You tryin' to break up my happy home?? LOL!!!

Seriously, I'd love to have your bike. If I could afford to do such, I'd buy it from ya just to help ya get that KTM.... But before money even enters the picture, the missus is flat-out against 'em (my brother and I grew up on dirt bikes; I never had a road bike, but he did, and he had a bad wreck about a decade ago... still has a limp, and motorcycles have been taboo in the family ever since.....)


Man, I'll have something to dream/plot about tonight as I drift off to sleep, how to hide a motorcycle from the wife......




-L

 

[marc olivares]

boys please.....don't drag your high falutent Bimmer speak here, we're talkin' DUCS!!
germans can do cool, but please, the Italians define sexy.........

 

[john]

Ducati's are cool, no doubt about that. But this ain't no Ducati:

 

[bri]

uh oh, here we go.

 

[marc olivares]

true that ain't no Ducati. but it's not real sexy either.
no warm fuzzies here
when i think Ducati only this comes to mind...ooooohhh sexy!!!

 

[john]

 

[marc olivares]

grrrrrrrr,
thanks, what i'm talkin' about!