Ducati 848 vs. Ducati 1098 vs. ??

[TKonaCafe]

Hello fellow barfers,

Built myself a cafe racer (77 cb550) when I was 15 and love it to pieces, but curious about what else is out there. I really like race bikes and ducs especially.
Any recommendations? Pros, cons, other bikes, what it's like, why you like them why you don't? What you like about other makes/models... Let me know

Thank you for any and all info you can give me!

All the best,
TKonaCafe :ride

 

[Shaggy]

Kinda depends on what you want from a motorcycle.

:dunno

 

[fubar929]

Any recommendations? Pros, cons, other bikes, what it's like, why you like them why you don't? What you like about other makes/models... Let me know

Thank you for any and all info you can give me!

Are you planning to grade our term papers on a curve? Will you read through my entire 20-page answer or should I limit myself to 5-10 pages?

 

[XPEHBAM]

Are you planning to grade our term papers on a curve? Will you read through my entire 20-page answer or should I limit myself to 5-10 pages?

Please do not go over 5500 words and nothing under 5100 is acceptable.

 

[synfinatic]

Based on your specific requirements, I've determined the best bike for you is clearly my old '02 748.

 

[Whammy]

Ive made a decision

Buy the 848 final answer.
Your fee?
12 pack Michelob ultra:teeth

 

[rick]

The only bad thing I can say about riding my 848 is that the riding position can be a little aggressive when putting around town or slowly lane splitting. It always takes a few days for my bones to readjust to it after I've been ridng a different bike for awhile.

Otherwise, it's a glory every time I get on it.

 

[Whammy]

Seeeeeeeeee

The only bad thing I can say about riding my 848 is that the riding position can be a little aggressive when putting around town or slowly lane splitting. It always takes a few days for my bones to readjust to it after I've been ridng a different bike for awhile.

Otherwise, it's a glory every time I get on it.

There is glory when you ride it... sounds of a holy choir and total harmony.
Case solved indeed!:teeth

 

[russ69]

Ducatis are great if: You have a really good job and you have other bikes to ride.

 

[jpoppa]

Just buy a KTM and be done with it, SDR or ADV and you will be good.

 

[rick]

Ducatis are great if: You have a really good job and you have other bikes to ride.

Just buy a KTM and be done with it, SDR or ADV and you will be good.

FWIW, my KTM RC390, which was supposed to be my primary commuter, spent 3 out of every 5 days I owned it broken down. The 848 has never let me down.

I did think of something that could be better on the 848. Digging down to the valve covers for scheduled maintenance is a bit of a chore. The Kurvey Girl DZUS kit helps quite a bit. It is enough of a hassle that I'll frequently just pay someone to do it though. My local Ducati dealer charges actual hours though so, I strip the bike down before I drop it off and save quite a bit of cash.

 

[TKonaCafe]

Kinda depends on what you want from a motorcycle.

:dunno

Thanks for replying nick,

Since I'm very much so a noob to this great activity I guess I'm still finding out what I want in a motorcycle. I'm disappointed in the suspension on my cb550, I'm getting speed wobbles at 70/75 mph. I'm anything but afraid of wrenching around on my bike so I'm not as worried about maintenance costs. I like the mechanics of the ducatis, the Italian engineering is pretty badass.

 

[TKonaCafe]

Are you planning to grade our term papers on a curve? Will you read through my entire 20-page answer or should I limit myself to 5-10 pages?

Haha I'd read every page! Can't seem to get enough of the motorcycle business

 

[TKonaCafe]

Based on your specific requirements, I've determined the best bike for you is clearly my old '02 748.

748s are really cool but why a 748 over an 848? Any mechanical advantages or preferences?

 

[TKonaCafe]

Buy the 848 final answer.
Your fee?
12 pack Michelob ultra:teeth

848 is what I'm leaning towards. I just want to know if I'm really missing out by not getting the liter bike

 

[TKonaCafe]

FWIW, my KTM RC390, which was supposed to be my primary commuter, spent 3 out of every 5 days I owned it broken down. The 848 has never let me down.

I did think of something that could be better on the 848. Digging down to the valve covers for scheduled maintenance is a bit of a chore. The Kurvey Girl DZUS kit helps quite a bit. It is enough of a hassle that I'll frequently just pay someone to do it though. My local Ducati dealer charges actual hours though so, I strip the bike down before I drop it off and save quite a bit of cash.

^^^Oh very good suggestion thank you rick.

This bike would be my main bike so bone resetting isn't much an issue to me, never rode a sport bike for 4 hours though. Do you think your 848 has all the power you want?
I've been drooling over these bikes since they came out when I was in middle school and honestly like them better then ducatis new line. I found an 848 for $5500 and really want to jump on it but I'm hesitant to drive hundreds of miles to buy a bike I've never ridden. Hopefully I'll meet someone who will let me try his/hers before he sells it.

Sorry for all the replies, I've yet to figure out how to tag multiple posts

 

[fubar929]

This bike would be my main bike so bone resetting isn't much an issue to me, never rode a sport bike for 4 hours though. Do you think your 848 has all the power you want?

I dunno about the 848, but I test-rode a Panigale 959 and found the engine (and ergonomics!) thoroughly disappointing. Like most recent Ducati sport bikes, you have to rev the snot out of it before it starts to make any decent power. If I wanted that sort of powerband I'd buy a cheap, reliable Japanese bike...

I've been drooling over these bikes since they came out when I was in middle school and honestly like them better then ducatis new line. I found an 848 for $5500 and really want to jump on it but I'm hesitant to drive hundreds of miles to buy a bike I've never ridden. Hopefully I'll meet someone who will let me try his/hers before he sells it.

If you're not willing to drive hundreds of miles to test-ride the bike, you're probably not ready to own a Ducati. They're not exactly cheap, reliable bikes...

 

[TKonaCafe]

I dunno about the 848, but I test-rode a Panigale 959 and found the engine (and ergonomics!) thoroughly disappointing. Like most recent Ducati sport bikes, you have to rev the snot out of it before it starts to make any decent power. If I wanted that sort of powerband I'd buy a cheap, reliable Japanese bike...



If you're not willing to drive hundreds of miles to test-ride the bike, you're probably not ready to own a Ducati. They're not exactly cheap, reliable bikes...

Huh, ok. I thought these bikes had "better mid range power" what kind of Japanese bikes do you like?

In regards to the test ride, I'm more then willing to drive or even fly out of state to check it out but my thought was I'd like to have something to compare it to. Thats a good idea right? Or me I over doing it? I would think there's no overdoing it when it comes to carefully buying a bike

 

[El Feo]

The 848/1098 is the most uncomfortable bike I've ever been on. The only thing that helps is doing 70+ to have the wind help prop you up.

I don't even know how Aaron races one.

 

[augustiron]

Save your money, there is no difference between a well built cb550 and a modern sportbike.