eric00zx12r
Novice Class
Posts: 97
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posted March 07, 2002 08:11 PM
To buy or not to buy (a Ducati)
Hey guys wanting to get anyone's input on the 998 Duc. I've never owned one or really known anyone who has. I want to know just how good a bike they are. Are they high maintenance? I know they are basically a street legal race bike (looking at the 998R, but being more realistic about a 998) so they handle great.
I've only ridden an older 916 about 10 miles years ago. How do the newer bikes "feel" after long distances? Is the ridding position too aggressive for "streetable" use?
Just wanting input from those who know.
  
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pat830
Expert Class
Posts: 135
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posted March 07, 2002 08:29 PM
If ya gotta have a V-Twin sportbike.
Buy a RC51 or TL10OOR so you can spend more time riding than wrenching.
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ROCKET J
Zone Head
Goes to water over a dummy!!!
Posts: 602
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posted March 07, 2002 09:38 PM
But they are the "Real Deal"...
They are Italian.
That means they are beautiful.
That means they are high maintenance.
That means they are uncomfortable.
That means they have a pedigree and are unique.
Go for it. But only if you have a second bike.
Rocket
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jimp
Expert Class
Posts: 291
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posted March 08, 2002 03:40 AM
I owned a 916SPS in 97, very cool bike lots of carbon and Marchesini wheels . Lots of people call them Poser bikes, oh also make sure they have a tech that can adjust the valves. I could talk for a long time about the DUC, but I don't like typing .
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SPEEDCRAVER
Expert Class
Posts: 183
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posted March 08, 2002 11:23 AM
You have mail....
Eric,
You have mail. EOM
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silver01bullit
Expert Class
on here too much
Posts: 333
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posted March 08, 2002 03:32 PM
if you're looking for a street legal race bike with all the goodies, I'd get an Aprilia R model. They come with all the same shit the Duc does and IMO they're everybit as good and more comfortable.
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Engage
Expert Class
Posts: 106
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posted March 09, 2002 10:25 AM
I just bought a 2k 996 and am impatiently awaiting delivery!!! As far as maintenance goes actually no one I have talked to has said anything negative. I suppose I am gonna have to learn some new stuff though. To qualify for poser status don't I have to purchase the matching helmet and leather ensemble???
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12RPilot
Pro
Posts: 1094
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posted March 10, 2002 04:31 AM
Matching is posing?
Uh Oh!! I have matching Kawi green stuff. Poser City.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
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posted March 10, 2002 06:51 AM
quote:
That means they are high maintenance.
But only if you have a second bike.
Rocket
I owned a duc (900SS ) for 4 years ... traded it in on the 12 when I got tired of it.... was truly the best bike I ever owned... Everything else Rocket said is ture 'cept these two points... the maintenance was far less than the 12, cost less to maintain as well... and no, you dont need a second bike. they are a dream to ride and with a corbin saddle you'll solve the comfort issues...
my big beef with them is that they have been americanized since they were bought out by US interests.... I no longer consider them to be "true" Italian machines (another reason I ditched it).... they seem to pop up everywhere now and are about as common as a Honda now....
if yer lookin at that much $$$, why not get an Aprillia?
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ROCKET J
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posted March 10, 2002 06:57 PM
 Edited By: ROCKET J on 10 Mar 2002 18:57
Let me go on record as saying...
Fishy, you are probably right about high maintenance. What I should of said, is that many people shy away from the Desmo thing. Less than the 12 though? Come on. Ridden hard, they do require more of a mechanic's touch than most Jap bikes.
The 12 is no Gold Wing, but I have never seen a 99-series Duc that I personally could ride 100 miles and back, without the use of a trailer.
Aprilia does seem to be the shit these days, huh?
Rocket
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fish_antlers
Administrator
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posted March 10, 2002 07:36 PM
No... yer wrong... ridden hard the duc requires the SAME maintenance as the 12, except the parts and labour were less. Sorry... I speak from experience here.
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JoshDunn
Expert Class
Posts: 373
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posted March 10, 2002 07:54 PM
What is the valve adjustment Interval for the 12r? Have you guys had to change from the recomended interval?
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ROCKET J
Zone Head
Goes to water over a dummy!!!
Posts: 602
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posted March 10, 2002 08:43 PM
Don't try and use that fancy-shmancy British spelling stuff on me, buddy....
And comfort?
Rocket
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
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posted March 10, 2002 09:46 PM
as I said in my earlier post, the comfort was just fine as long as you replaced the stock saddle. Why am I having to repeat myself here?
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ROCKET J
Zone Head
Goes to water over a dummy!!!
Posts: 602
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posted March 10, 2002 11:26 PM
Edited By: ROCKET J on 10 Mar 2002 23:27
I didn't realize that we were talking about an ST4....
I guess we just have different ideas, when it comes to "comfort".
Rocket
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ZXtra
Expert Class
Posts: 490
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posted March 11, 2002 12:27 AM
998 Duc???
eric00zx12r...Nice bike if you got the "dough"! Otherwise get a GSXR1000 or an R1 for more "bang fer the buck" (cheaper). They're both lighter too. -ZXtra
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12RPilot
Pro
Posts: 1094
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posted March 11, 2002 03:42 AM
A Link
This guy liked his:http://www.blackmax.demon.co.uk/index2.htm
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eric00zx12r
Novice Class
Posts: 97
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posted March 13, 2002 08:49 PM
thanks everyone for your replies. After thinking about it for a long time and sitting on the bike (also for extended periods of time) I decided that the Duc is simply too uncomfortable for me 
I really like the way the bike looks and sounds but I don't think I would enjoy the bike as much as I "should" due to the ergonomics (sp?).
May look at some of the other twins later.
Thanks again for the input.
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Eric
00ZX-12R
Candy Persimmon Red
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sagot
Zone Head
Posts: 779
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posted March 13, 2002 11:35 PM
Are Ducati's any good? 9 out of 12 World Superbike Championships! Kawasaki 1.
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ROCKET J
Zone Head
Goes to water over a dummy!!!
Posts: 602
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posted March 13, 2002 11:54 PM
Yea but...
quote:
Are Ducati's any good? 9 out of 12 World Superbike Championships! Kawasaki 1.
Do they come in GREEN???
Rocket
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