Why not a Ducati?

[brickdogg]

Ok folks, here it is, the question that maybe you never thought of and maybe you don't have an answer for. I have been reading posts from you guys for a couple weeks now and I have heard more reasons why I am right that a ducati is the bike for me, but you are mostly ducati owners yourselves and as such are also justifying your own purchases.  My question is this, and I am looking for honest answers, Why would I not buy a Ducati? Here is the thing, I have wanted a Ducati for years, and the price for a monster is reasonable, but Ducati's are rare, not exactly the bike you see all over the streets, why is that?

I look forward to your answers!!

[ROBsS4R]

Well in the Bay Area I see at least one every day.

Parts are more exspensive, Servicing is more Exspensive than other run of the mill bikes.

I use mine as my only mode of transportation for the last 2 years or so. Mine has been very reliable so far...

All I can say is get what you wan't. What ever bike calls your name and who cares what other people think.

[DesmoDisciple]

Well, service, reliability issues certainly detract from the Ducati aura.

Not to put to fine a point on it, but they are made in ITALY. Don't you know the old joke? In heaven, the cars are designed by Italians, made by the Germans, and the french do the cooking. In hell, the cars a designed by the French, make by the Italians, and the Germans cook.

My 2 cents?

I have only had my Ducati for about 3 weeks. I  had not been on a bike in years. I didn't want just any bike, I wanted a DUCATI. If you are posting here, I suspect you are in the same boat. I don't know your $$$ situation, but I frankly could have bought  anything Ducati offers new off the showroom floor. But I didn't do that. I researched, and watched craiglist like a hawk, and looked at a ton of bikes, and ended up with a 2000 900S. Absolutely printine, adult owned it whole life, all service records including original purchase documentation. I would recommend you do the same. Take your time. The hunt is a blast.

Don't just focus on the bike, talk to the owners, get a feel for what they are like. Idiots that write, "THIS BIKEZ IS BAD AZZ BOYZ!!!!" in their ads should be avoided. I bought my bike from a business owner in his 40s. I went to the guys house, and his garage, his lawn all immaculate. Might seem like a silly thing, but that stuff matters. It says something about how they treat their possesions.

If you want a Ducati, then take your time, and find the right bike for you. Don't get emotionally attached to a particular bike and DON'T gloss over the cost for service items. "Oh, its just the tires, brakes, and the chain. That stuff can't be that expensive to have it done, right?" Ummmm....yeah. It is. So don't make light of that stuff.

I am VERY happy with my decision, and that includes the epic battle I had to fight with my wife. Zero buyers remorse. The wife has warmed up to it, and I LOVE riding the bike. I just enjoy scooting around in my neighborhood. We live in an area with steep hills, and just gotta love the bark from the Termis when you push it up hill....

[bazz20]

you have answered your own question with ,i have wanted a ducati for years , so whats the problem you dont need any body to justerfie your actions but there is one thing about ducatis they have the sweetest sound and when you ride by they turn heads , just go and buy one 

[MTBryan]

I've had two monsters and they have both been bullet proof as far as reliability goes. But I always do the scheduled maintenance. Maybe I've just been lucky.

Reason NOT to buy a Ducati:

If you open your dry clutch cover (because it looks cool), you WILL get tired of people saying, 'Is your bike broken?'.

[Statler]

Why would I not buy a Ducati?

but I have about 2 years of riding experience in the past (Honda Nighthawk 750) but it has fallen into a state of disrepair. 

Because your last bike stopped being ridden because it "fell into a state of disrepair."

so when your wife buys you a Duc as a graduation present and you do the same thing to the monster, someone on the forum will get upset, steal your wife away, and you won't be able to ride either.

[red baron]

Because your last bike stopped being ridden because it "fell into a state of disrepair."

so when your wife buys you a Duc as a graduation present and you do the same thing to the monster, someone on the forum will get upset, steal your wife away, and you won't be able to ride either.

only the ducati will fall into the state of disrepair quicker.

[superjohn]

I think Ducati reliability has increased in the last decade and made that particular specter a non-issue. Expense of service and parts are still a big detractor though. There are fewer Ducati mechanics in most areas so there are fewer options other than dealers for your service. The parts, in many cases, are very specific to these comparatively low production motorcycles, so you're going to pay more. Not really show-stoppers, but they are matters to consider.

[brickdogg]

Good stuff. And yes, I fairly convinced that I will own a Ducati, I just wanted to see if anyone had any downside. Not really looking for justification, just want to know both sides of the story before I go get one. As for my last bike falling into a state of disrepair, it is because I moved 2200 miles away from it and it has been sitting out in the elements in New Jersey with no one taking care of it.  I now have a garage in Arizona, completely different. 

Any other comments are welcome!

[scduc]

Generally the media here in the states give alot more time to the Japanize bikes. Most young riders want to go fast. We all know that Duc are not the fastest. Other manufacturers choose to build fast-cheap bikes. Something that "kids" like. Given that younger people (for the most part) do not have alot of money to spend on luxurious items, the popularity is lower. The Harley riders know this. Most of them are older, make more money and can afford the high cost and maintaince. M2C

[Raux]

just get a ducati. you'll love it. even just sitting on it not riding .. it gives you inner peace.

[Jarvicious]

I"d never even driven (ridden) a bike before I bought my Monster and I could tell I wanted it just by sitting on it on the showroom floor.  I had no idea about the maintenance costs or what kind of power it had, just that I wanted THIS bike.  I do know some local guys that have switched over from Ducatis to Japanese and have been very happy.  From what I hear, the Big Four sport bikes are smoother and a bit more forgiving than your run of the mill Ducati, but I have people that want to "talk bike" with me all the time that have ABSOLUTELY no idea what they're talking about in regards to their own bike, let alone mine.  I'm rambling.  If you want a balls to the wall, horsepower ridden, straight up race bike, go get yourself a Gixxer or something.  You won't be disappointed because they're not bad bikes.  But if you want something that will make you grin like an moron every time you give the throttle a blip or even when you're just sitting watching it cool after a ride, get your monster.   

[JohnnyDucati]

You should get a Suzuki SV (650 or 1000, depending on your skills and desires).

The Suziki just makes more sense.  It is a 90 degree V-twin, just like the Ducati.  Performance, power and handling are very good.  It has timing chains, not belts, so the maintenance costs are very cheap compared to the Ducati.  Price out the door is a lot lower, too.

The dealer network is huge, you will get great service and parts support for a decent price.  There are oodles of aftermarket goodies like exhaust systems and ECU's, suspension compenents, clipons and rearsets, etc.

However, when you ride the Suzuki, you will be kind of . . . invisible.  When you pull up to an intersection, people will not crane their necks sideways to get a better look.  No one (or very few) will stop to ask you about your bike or how much it costs or who makes it or where it's made or say "Man, that is a gorgeous machine".  Little kids will not stare in admiration and ask you how fast does it go or can you do a wheelie.  Women will not spontaneously stop as they walk along and tell you "hey, I like your bike".  When people see you in your gear carrying your helmet, they will ask, what kind of bike do you ride?  You say, Suzuki SV, they will not respond with "Wow! Don't those cost like $50,000?", they will respond with "Oh."

You probably will not go to a local bike gathering of as many as 14 riders where all 14 bikes are Suzuki SV's (you will go to gatherings but there might be 1 or 2 SV's).  Your list of friends and your contact list on your cell phone will not get filled up with names and numbers of other SV owners who are kindred spirits like yourself.

When you wash your SV, you will not grab a lawnchair and a beer and sit in the garage or driveway just staring in admiration at your bike until you finish your beer (or 2nd or 3rd).  So, in that sense, you'll be saving yourself quite a bit of time.

You can rest assured in the satisfaction that you saved lots of money and got a bike that is "just as good as a Ducati".

I estimate that you will put about 3000 miles on it 2 years and then you will sell it on Craigslist.  Your ad will say: immaculate SV, well-kept, low miles.  You will get a good price for it, too.

Pride of ownership is overated.  Get an SV.

[Raux]

  JohnnyDucati

great post

[killaimdie]

A lot of people think that ducatis are very expensive, which is justified when they walk into the dealer and look at the 1098. They then use this ignorant view to assume that all people who own a duc are rich and they couldn't afford one. I'm often asked at work how I could afford mine, people are stupid. Also a lot of folks won't buy a used bike, this confuses me, but then I've never bought a new anything when it comes to vehicles.