Ducati 999R Coming to America

I finally saw a 999 at the local dealer here in Oceanside, CA and I thought it was quite stunning. It's much better than pictures suggest.



It's not as sexy as the 916 and the MV Agusta but very purposeful-like the ****pit of a fighter jet.



It's also much more closely styled to be a modernized version of the MH900E rather than the 916 at least in my opinion. The two bikes were sitting side by side in the showroom and they really resemble each other, expecially the tail section.



KPaul! Insert obsolete bike post below!

Look at those prices!!! Sure, it may be a landmark motorcycle, especially with regard to its adjustability (every single one of my sportbikes has wound up with adjustable pegs and clipons for years. Movable tank is a nice touch), but who is going to pay those prices? The 999S is basically spec'd about the same as a Mille R (with some extra ponies thrown in, to be sure, but I bet that doesn't last long), but it costs a whopping $5K more than what is already an expensive machine.



Sure, its a Ducati, but buy absolutely ANY V-twin superbike by another manufacturer and then spend a fraction of the difference between the cost of it and the Ducati and you'll be certain to come up with a better motorcycle. Heck, for the cost differential between a standard Mille or RC51 and the 999S, espcially with some careful shopping on EBay, you'd have enough for a 600 supersport left over, even after buying rearsets, bars, forks, shock, custom valving, and a couple of track days. Or maybe you could pay to ship your bike to Italy, or New Zealand, or any one of the countless amazing motorcycle spots we've all dreamed of riding. What a ripoff. I'll stick with my upgraded Mille, thanks. It's better looking, too.

Re: Hello Collectors!

Ducati is targeting this bike to ME!!

The typical mid-life crisis, ample disposable income, racer wannabe, hunting down 20+ women (with the Ducati as bait!) to reach for my youth, and FINALLY able to get the bike I couldn't afford when I WAS 20+..

Too bad Ducati. I NEVER did grow up! I HAVE the money, I get 20+ without the Duc, I KNOW how to ride, I SPENT it on an RC51 and a few other bikes. I toast Ducks constantly 'cause they're either afraid of trashing their carbon fiber or they really never were riders.

Nice bike though.

Maybe they ought to market them in the Harley showroom too!!

Ducati is targeting this bike to ME!!

The typical mid-life crisis, ample disposable income, racer wannabe, hunting down 20+ women (with the Ducati as bait!) to reach for my youth, and FINALLY able to get the bike I couldn't afford when I WAS 20+..

Too bad Ducati. I NEVER did grow up! I HAVE the money, I get 20+ without the Duc, I KNOW how to ride, I SPENT it on an RC51 and a few other bikes. I toast Ducks constantly 'cause they're either afraid of trashing their carbon fiber or they really never were riders.

Nice bike though.

Maybe they ought to market them in the Harley showroom too!!

Same customer profile, different riding application.

Come on, blokes - you disregard the "pride of ownership" factor that goes into any purchasing decision. I ride much faster/harder on my SV650 than on my Duc - that's why I got the SV - because I don't worry about trashing it. Pride of ownership for the SV is based solely on fun factor, whereas pride of ownership for the Duc goes into history, pedigree, uniqueness, sound, looks, handling - a different sort of fun. Does that make me a poseur on the Duc? Whatever... Our logic makes perfect sense to us - but it doesn't have to make sense to everyone, and that doesn't make everyone else wrong. So go ahead and smirk as you pass my Duc on your R1 - next week I'll come back and humiliate you on the SV650. Either way, I'm having just as much fun, but I must be doing something wrong - where are all the 20+ chicks??