Ducati spotting

[JamesH]

A friend of mine has recently got her motorcycle licence and for the first year here in WA you have a 250cc limit for the first year (I've always wondered about that - her Kawasaki 250 Ninja would blow my old 750 trumpy into the weeds probably).

Anyway she is of course dead keen and wondering what she is going to get when she gets her unrestricted licence. I have been pushing her towards a Deus Ex Machina worked Kwaka 400 but she is now leaning towards Ducati. Here is why:

She is in England and she texted me last night beside herself. She spotted Prince William turning infront of her at the lights on his black 1198s. She recognised his leathers because he has the St Georges Cross on his kneepads and had read this article just days before.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/5755071/Prince-William-arrives-at-polo-on-Ducati-motorcycle.html

[jackz]

Off a ninja 250 straight onto a Duc. Superbike!!!!?????:eek:
You should get her insured for a couple of million then get ready to retire to a life of leisure!!!:twisted:

[mudmouse]

In NSW it's a Learner Approved Motorcycle (LAM) and the list is huge! But it does include a few Ducati's - I think there was even a 250 Duke in the '70s and I know they built the odd trail bike....

The restrictions here are (memory :angel:) not more than 260ml engine capacity and 150Kw per tonne and not more than 660ml and 150Kw per tonne. I know if I was on my L's and I hopped onto an XR-600 I'd poop myself......but it's better than the old system.

Matt.

[jackz]

Umm Kawa 250 has what, 30 kw, 1198 Duc has 122kw. Duc monster 600 has probably 50 - 60 kw. I know what my advice would be!

[JamesH]

Off a ninja 250 straight onto a Duc. Superbike!!!!?????:eek:
You should get her insured for a couple of million then get ready to retire to a life of leisure!!!:twisted:


Well she'd probably settle with the 848 "entry" superbike ;) but she is a very sensible person and not looking to race anyone or make use of the top speed. She just wants something speccy for the beauty of it.

She'll also enrol herself in all the right courses to improve her skills, she's like that. Being female she takes a sensible approach not the way we blokes would do it - hop on and give it a flogging because we watch Casey and reckon we know all about it.

[jackz]

That's good to hear!!!:)
My 2Cents Worth......
Suggest she looks at, and rides a Trumpy 675 Daytona as well as the 848 before she buys.
I did both and bought the Trumpy.
IMHO, the 675 is a much nicer bike to ride, and top value for money, and its not a "smaller version of the big version"

[Chops]

Whan I bought my first road bike, I was advised to get an 1100,,,being wise and responsible, :eek: my thoughts were,,,"stuff that, im not going from a Honda 200, to an 1100",,,,:angel:
So I bought a Kwaka 750,,,,

The mates theory was, after I'd had a 650/750 for about 2 weeks, I would be over it, and wanting more power,,,,

How right they were,,, :( It didnt even take 2 days before I worked that out,, :mad:

Had to then wait for it to be paid off,,,then bought the bike I should have bought new,,, GPZ 1100,,, :burnrubber:

Let her get the BIG banger,,, awesome piece of equipment :D they sound so good too,,, and being a woman,, she will probably be no where near as wreckless as we men are, :wasntme:

Chops

[jackz]

Ah yes, BUT, A GPZ11 from what, the mid to late '90s probably had similar output, and a lot more weight than the current crop of 600s, and therefore, similar performance.

[austastar]

My first bike was a honda 50cc step through, but for the past 33yrs have ridden my trusty BM750cc.
I had occasion to ride a friends 250cc Kawasaki recently, not one of the hot models, it was 'learner approved'.
Man that thing had some poke!
No where near as tractable/predictable as my BM.
"Now is that why I am looking at Defenders?", he wonders.
cheers

[Davy]

After 22 years without a bike of my own.. I bought this two weeks ago.
Drove down to Brissie from Ingham with the trailer, it was love at first sight!
Ducati 748S 2000 model production racer in immaculate condition.
It's a Ducati thing:)))

Davy

[JamesH]

That's good to hear!!!:)
My 2Cents Worth......
Suggest she looks at, and rides a Trumpy 675 Daytona as well as the 848 before she buys.
I did both and bought the Trumpy.
IMHO, the 675 is a much nicer bike to ride, and top value for money, and its not a "smaller version of the big version"


Yes I thought of that one too being a Trumpy rider myself and she'll def test ride it. It is the height and weight I was looking at and the difference between that and the Duck 848 is minimal. Sounds crazy but the 1198s is actually lower at the seat than the 848, that's a stat that will mean something to her.

Of course stats mean little really. She'll sling a leg over both as you did and go for the one that feels best. Though being a woman she'll want to try them on in front of a mirror (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[VladTepes]

It's a Ducati thing:)))

Davy

Not just that it's an Italian Bike thing.

I love Ducatis but have always wanted a Guzzi the most. I love those big thumping transverse V-Twins. Go knows why.

Having said all that I would definitely advise ehr to test ride the Trumpy as well.... then buy whichever one she likes the most.



And wha's with the Prince ? Shouldn;t he be riding a British bike ?

His (alleged) Dad drives an Aston Martin, after all.

[CraigE]

There are a few Dukes she should consider : 748, 848, 900SS,750SS, ST2,3 or 4 even 1000 Sport or Replica. All nice bikes and not over the top power wise. The 998, 999, 996, 997, 1198 etc are very powerfull beasts and probablly not for someone just off their 250 licence.
The biggest problem is long distance riding, you get a sore back, back side and hands riding a sport bike. If I was to buy another Duke it would be a ST4, but I will probablly get a cruiser of some sort.
A lot has to do with $ to spend as well.

[richard4u2]

get her to have a look at this site, i am on this site also www.perthstreetbikes.com (http://www.perthstreetbikes.com)
most of the members are in perth and they are a friendly mob just like here:D

[ashman]

Hi
If she is keen for a Ducati I say go for it, they handle very good are light, it don't matter what every one says it will be her that will decide, I have been riding for over 35 years now,I have a very hot Norton, have owned ducatis, Truimphs, and jap bikes, there is somethink about the twins, but I hope she test ride other bikes as well, but the new Ducati's are very good bikes and witch way she goes she will be happy as long as she takes the time to learn how to ride it properly...

Ashley

[JamesH]

And wha's with the Prince ? Shouldn;t he be riding a British bike ?

His (alleged) Dad drives an Aston Martin, after all.

Ha Ha no this is the older one, he's legit, well apart from the Ducati. The young one with the suspicious parentage (not that I'm judging, due to glass houses ;) ) rides a Triumph, which is much more legit so go figure.

[VladTepes]

I strongly recommend she not adopt this method of riding:

http://open.salon.com/blog/monte_canfield/2008/12/16/files/occhi-chiusi-old-racing-eyes-shut-giclee-print1229487428.jpg

... unless of course, that's you teaching her how to ride an Italian bike !

[JamesH]

Close, Vlad but this is what I call the "benchmark"

[VladTepes]

hm James H ... you fancy a bit of "here's to you Mrs Robinson...." i take it ?!

[JamesH]

hm James H ... you fancy a bit of "here's to you Mrs Robinson...." i take it ?!

Well Marianne in 1968 wasn't exactly Mrs Robinson but she sure racked up some kilometers since then! 40 years of off road we're talking with Marianne, bless her.

[Tombie]

I'd agree, the Trumpy is a much nicer ride....

My next toy (added, not replacing) will be a Trumpy:cool:

[Grockle]

Anyone remember the 250/350 Desmo,s from the early 70's,used to day dream about them at school.

[VladTepes]

Yeah ridden one years ago. Sweet.

Here's a 350.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/1490.jpg

I had no chance of keeping up with my mate, I was riding a Honda CD 250.

[V8Ian]

Yeah ridden one years ago. Sweet.

Here's a 350.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/1490.jpg

I had no chance of keeping up with my mate, I was riding a Honda CD 250.
But you should have been able to pass him as he was adjusting the valve train.;)

[crump]

But you should have been able to pass him as he was adjusting the valve train.;)
:lol2::lol2::arms:

[VladTepes]

LOL pay that !

[jackz]

Anyone remember the 250/350 Desmo,s from the early 70's,used to day dream about them at school.
I used to work in a bike shop years ago that specialised in Ducs and HDs. a couple of our customers had singles, they are a lovely little motorcycle. The engineering in them is superb.
The are great to work on, absolutely everything on them is shimmed.
You can really make them go too!:)