Ducati Vs Japanese

[JohnRet.]

OK you bikers, it's a toss up between a Ducati 748 R and Japanese alternative either the Kwak ZX6-R or the CBR 600 RR.

For weekend summer riding, no track use.

The Ducati is going to cost me more in servicing and maintenance but the fact that it's such a beautiful bike makes up for that.

And to be honest I even prefer the revvy sound of the Kawasaki as opposed to the 'electric' sounding Honda and the dry-clutch sound the Ducati produces.

Help me out and make up my mind for me!

[S4TAN]

Ducati's are extremely uncomfortable! I had a 750SS and after about 50 miles into a ride my wrists were completely numb - the front shocks are like concrete! However - they are beautiful bikes and the 748 is a work of art and sound awesome with Termi's on!

IMHO with Ducati's it really depends on your body-size; I'm 6'1" and 16 stone so a Ducati was a bad idea for me (I was dazzled by the looks and sound though) - I only kept it 6 months as I just couldn't ride it in the end.

Not tried the Kwak but rode a few CBR 600 RRs - very nice, good looking, reliable and comfortable, but you have to rev the hell out of them to get them to do anything (again; they were a bit small for me)

Best bike I ever had was a Honda VFR800VTEC - absolutely brilliant all-rounder: super reliable, very comfortable, very very quick (VTEC kicks in at 7Krpm and feels like a turbo charger!) and look great. Ideal for summer touring, cruising, thrashing ... even trackable if you wanted to do so.

Does it have to be a 600 that you get?

Just my 2p.

[BRETTCOLLINS]

Honda 600 CBR, I am on my 3rd one. use it every day to get to and from work. easy to ride and everything works... LOL

[jeffw]

My last bike was an Honda RC30....I wept when it left with it's new owner. I bought it brand new in 1988 for £9200. Still looks lovely 20 years on


Oooohhh.....the Duke will look lovely but let you down so buy the CBR600

[S4TAN]

Ooooooh! That looks f*cking gorgeous jeff!

[jeffw]

Proper Bike....92MPH in 1st gear, had to slip the clutch below 30MPH and it would fry your legs in traffic but on the open road.....best bike I've every ridden. The picture isn't actually of my bike but something I stole off the internet, mine was the UK model which was slightly different but visually the same.

[S25MRS]

Italian all the way... I'm 6' and 15-and-a-bit stone, and had 748 & 916, now on MV, found all of them less sofa-like than the Japanese 'competition', but been to France for weekend runs, Moto GP's at Assen etc, yes, could've been more comfy, but my word, the trips!
As for the noise, a set of carbon Termi's and blows any other bike noise into the weeds....beautiful. Also, like our cars, be wary of main dealers for servicing, etc find a good indy and (as it's not an early bike you're looking at), it'll be just as reliable, etc as the common stuff.
Just my opinion, of course....but a little bit of a passion of mine

[S4TAN]

Yep - MV Agusta F4S - now you're talking! Beautiful piece of kit. Not cheap though!

[S25MRS]

Thanks! I've wanted that bike since bike show in 1999! Finally got one last year, and it was as good as I wanted it to be. No, not particularly cheap, but well worth it, I feel - real craftsmanship, believe it or not. - Amazing considering the italian's reputation for building stuff, but saying that, I had no probs with my Duke's whatsoever, either. Maybe lucky???

[S25MRS]

The pic looks better after it's been clicked on, by the way

[derdle]

Oh...what a choice. I've always wanted a Ducati cos of the sound they make and the beautiful styling...was put off by poor reliability compared with Jap bikes.

Have you ever thought about the Aprilia RSV1000? Again a V twin with stonking torque...have ridden one but not sure of reliability etc.

[rolskii]

I got a 748s.... c/termi's etc ..... tight on roads but not comfy really, havent ridden it over a yr now .... its going soon ..... a mate races his MV F4s ..
so for beauty, roar & clunk = duc's
but I do like rice burners for nice quiet engines .... probably comfier on a run to ...

[grizz]

I had a zx9r , great bike , comfy , fast , reliable. I sold it to get a supermoto . After that i got a Aprilia rsv'r. not as fast as the zx9 but much nicer and very reliable

[bobbler]

I would go sit on a few and see which you prefer myself, see which "fits" you so to speak.
I never got the sportsbike thing, probably because I use a bike every day and it would "spoil" it.
I just bought a huge great V-twin with oodles of torque instead, much more my thing and it makes a nice noise too

Next is gonna be a Speed Triple I think, don't know how I missed them when was deciding what to buy next back in November.

Though that MV is bloody gorgeous!

[Ads4]

Had the Mille in 1999...awesome...and the noise....ooooooh