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From Buell to Duc... a story about changes!

11K views 44 replies 20 participants last post by  signit98 
#1 ·
First Post! Go Ducati! Harleys suck blah blah blah
 
#27 ·
Re: Yer holdin' out on us!

Presumably you've ridden one. I found on the one I rode that you had to push it into the corner and pull it back out on the exit. It's similar to Nortons or old Triumphs with clipons. Did you notice that? I wonder if wider bars would help.
 
#28 ·
Re: Why is it?

According to his tank bag full of road test results and dyno charts the 600 sportbikes in general and Kawasakis in particular are the best bikes ever made in the whole history of the world.

You clearly don't know your butt from a hole in the ground.
 
#29 ·
Re: Yer holdin' out on us!

My test ride was pretty much up and down the freeway so I didn't do much cornering. I know a couple of companys like Norman Hyde, South Bay Triumph and Jack Lilly's are selling new top clamps with dog bones so you can run any bars you want on there for around 4 bills.

From what I could tell it felt more "natural" to me than the R1 I rode last year. If it get's hard on my elbows I'll go with some flat bars.
 
#31 ·
Re: Why is it?

You wrote a question. However, you were implictly stating that a Buell Firebolt was not in the same class as the Duc 749 or any Japanese 600.

Clearly, they're not in the same class. That's obvious, and why your "question" was meaningless.

A shootout would be futile. A review of each (and letting a reader reach his/her own conclusion) would be more appropriate. A prudent consumer, after reading said reviews, if still interested, would go to the dealer(s) to ride what appeals to him/her.

I may retract my original comment regarding stupidity.
 
#33 ·
I have raced a 748 powered franknduc for 2 years. i have had it with that pos and starting next weekend in seattle will be on an sv.

The good news for you is I have both marchisinis and marvics that will fit your bike and everything is for sale. both sets are gold in color.

ducatis belong in california in my opinion and are great if you want to spend money and attach silly carbon fiber and billet bits to an overpriced, underperforming piece of machinery.

I would also like to point out that i am always amazed at the number of street riders who talk about noticing the difference in bikes with similar engine configurations but differing horsepower as if they actually spend any time at all with the throttle pinned.

its time to admit that the reason to own anything more than a 70 hp bike on the street is so you can brag about it.

the best performance upgrade you can to do a bike is to learn to ride it. and have fun on it.

finally, acting like a ducati race rep is a decent street ride is an exercise in denial.

 
#35 ·
Ok who told you could be a part pooper...anyway. Your are totally right of course..70 hp is about what a little Buell Firebolt has. So shame on me for putting down the Buell... Seems like the SV has a little more right? I always enjoy your real world experience point of view ewok...Keeps us Burger Boy magazine fanatasy riders inline.. What took you so long? :)
 
#38 ·
Wow.. one of the reasons I went to Ducati was cheap insurance.. $350 a year on a new 999. My agent told me that Duc's simply are wrecked like other type of superbikes. Unless your record stinks (or you are very young) I would shop around.. Geico gave me the best rate.. BTW - welcome to the family!
 
#40 ·
Re: Help is on the way

yea well. I just looked at the black on last week while picking up my raffle ticket refund for a monster 900 (they couldn't sell all of them, so they quit).

I need to beat this 999 to death before buying another RC51.

I'm sure it won't take too long. :+)
 
#41 ·
...WOW, would I have just known how many responses I'd trigger!





Anyway... my post was not about superiority or the opposite, not about bragging or anything the like... just simply to share my impressions of the two bikes while they are fresh in my memory! No more, no less...



The Buell IS AN AWESOME bike... I'd still ride it, and ride it with pleasure, if the Ducati Bug hadn't bitten... And I'll probably buy one again down the line... just not right now!



To those pointing out that my happiness is fleeting... rest asured, I know what I am riding!...



I work on my own bikes, get great deals on anything in the Parts Unlimited Catalog and I am not wearing pink sunglasses... I know about the weaknesses, yet, I also know about the beauty of the bike I am riding...



Thank you all though for taking the time to respond... either way, it is interesting to see some Japanese bike owners trying to justify themselves and some of the Italian bike owners getting tired of the hassles... yet, it seems that most Ducati owners get over the downsides and enjoy the upsides... we all have to live with our decision...

Thank you all and keep the rubber side down!
 
#42 ·
Re: Trade Buell XB12S for a Ducati 999???

...the insurance depends on where you life as well.... I guess, being that close to the Mexican border, theft comes into play as well!?

As for your maintenance cost!?

Try the Barnett clutch... and harder springs, they will reduce slip... get the clutch basket holder and the tools you need and do it yourself...t he tools are paid for the second time you do it!

Same is valid for the oil change... also, not even the valve adjustment is as complicated as some want to make it sound... it is just labor intense!
 
#43 ·
Re: Trade Buell XB12S for a Ducati 999???

..you know, as bad as some may make the quality and reliability of the Italin Bikes sound... I have just recently met someone who had 65K!!! Miles on his 916... both street and track... still going strong and fast. All he ever had was a few small knick-knacks and the clutch replaced a few times... that's it!

That is good mileage for any high performance bike, I'd think...
 
#44 ·
...beat the Heat!



...wrap the exhaust pipes and put some 1/2 " insualtion under the seat underbelly... works miracles!



Rode the bike last Sunday in the desert (110+) and it was considerably better... wrapped the pipes today and my legs thanked me for that immediately... try it!
 
#45 ·
...I've mastered that! I am happy with what I have and I look happily forward to what I may or may not have...

No, the character will not become irritating - at least not more than it is allready... and yes, I was extremly happy with the Buell initially and until the last day I owned it...

Your zynicism is entertaining... funny, even...

Yeah, the other TWO owners put 5 K miles on it in 2 1/2 years I did over 1000 in only 1 1/2 months (3 days of riding! and a tad bit of around town)... must be the fact that the bike was initially purchased at "Ducati of Beverly Hills"... I guess it counts more THAT you have one than whether you know how to put it to use or not...!?

Anyway, I was happy to find a newer one with low mileage... and the guy I bought it from went out and finally bought some furniture for the money he got from the bike... I guess priorities DO change over time, eh?
 
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