Ducati Supersport

Does anyone have any information on these bikes. I have been searching the web and cannot find much. I am thinking of getting one when I pass my test. things I really need to know are

Will it be to much for me as a novice? really want a sports bike
running costs?
parts availability spares and tuning etc?

Cheers Alastair

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Alastair

VDA#26 BNegg4

If Harley Davidson made aeroplanes, would you fly in one?

600 SS?

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Bevans MC Cardiff | VD Chat | jap4performance | PJ Motorcycle Engineers | SuperBike

I was thinking more along the lines of the 750 as the 600 seems to have about as much power a sewing machine.

Alastair

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Alastair

VDA#26 BNegg4

If Harley Davidson made aeroplanes, would you fly in one?

a 750 SS, sat on one at the NEC bike show, it had a set of race rearsets and felt really nice. Don't know how they drive though.

Depending on your age it may be expensive to insure, but then again I *think* they are in the same league as the SV650..

As long as the bike is used often and the running in period is followed religiously there is not a problem(so says me mate, but the RAC van has been out to his house fairly often).

Suck it and see.

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Crazee Kid
What this requires is a subtle mix of psychology and extreme violence...
IDGAS#25
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
The Wobbler Returns

750 is still slower than a 600 sports bike.

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Bevans MC Cardiff | VD Chat | jap4performance | PJ Motorcycle Engineers | SuperBike

I was not thinking of buying new and will probably go for one of the pre injection/facelift models as I prefer the looks.

As for insurance it seems the Duc 750/900 ss is only marginally more to insure the nc30 or rs250 I was also looking into.

Alastair

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Alastair

VDA#26 BNegg4

If Harley Davidson made aeroplanes, would you fly in one?

I'd rather a Aprilia RS250

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Bevans MC Cardiff | VD Chat | jap4performance | PJ Motorcycle Engineers | SuperBike

750SS and 900SS - perfectly good VTwin "sportsbikes", been going for years.
Great handling, not hugely fast though the engine is still being used in the Monsters, and in the ST2. Reasonably reliable, big servicing costs if you use a Duke dealer.
Better bet if you go for a "Hailwood Replica" from 1980ish. That'll increase in value whereas the modern version won't... And it can be almost as loud as you like
Plenty of scope for tuning (Bimota used the engine for years!), plenty parts availability and 70-80bhp so not too much of a handful from DAS.
BTW, all models have limited steering lock so don't even think about anything less than a 3 point turn in town!

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My Guzzi

Yep priller, I think the 750SS kicks out 64bhp, but I've heard it has the ducati handling...

Dunno about parts though Alastair, ring up a Ducati dealership and ask for some prices of some parts, like fairing, indicator lamps, replacement keys etc etc. I always ask for the servicing costs as well.

Good luck though!!

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Crazee Kid
What this requires is a subtle mix of psychology and extreme violence...
IDGAS#25
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
The Wobbler Returns

Might be a bit of a handful for a first big bike.Ducatis need plenty of TLC,power delivery great though.Also nothing else looks or sounds like them.If you are tall,take a test ride to make sure you are comfortable.600/750 SS are cramped to say the least.

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Heaven is the sound of a booming
triple eight

thanks for the advice Biglad. Steering lock would not be two much of a problem as I don't plan commuting or anything like that.

As for the RS250. I really like the bike but I would like a bike that I can ride long distances if nessacery.

Alastair

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Alastair

VDA#26 BNegg4

If Harley Davidson made aeroplanes, would you fly in one?

A RS250 or VFR400 etc, would be quicker.

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Bevans MC Cardiff | VD Chat | jap4performance | PJ Motorcycle Engineers | SuperBike

alastair wrote

As for the RS250. I really like the bike but I would like a bike that I can ride long distances if nessacery.

Alastair

RS250's aint bad over distance.

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Bevans MC Cardiff | VD Chat | jap4performance | PJ Motorcycle Engineers | SuperBike

priller wrote

RS250's aint bad over distance.

Yeah right mate...

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VDTD1Fas / BN#250 / TIT#3C / VDA#250 / TFG#4 / TOFFS3 / SSSD (Poof) # 2 / HBA#1 / VDFF#5 / AC#1200/2

I've a monster 900 (same engine as 900ss) !

definitely go for the 900 !! the others lack the poke !
Sound glorious (especially with termis. !), handle great and despite what you hear very reliable.
75bhp at the rear wheel & if you fancy lots of mods to take you to >90bhp with reliability !!
But what these bikes are all about is the torque.....
we're talking 996 territory with the mods !!:smoke:

This is IM(very)HO,

I must admit i dont have any experience of 'modern' dukes. I have an old Pantah (plus jap machines), which is essentialy the same motor but the modern ones are pussycats compared to the older generation (so am told).

I dont know if I would recomend them as novice bikes, they are riders bikes really, there not really designed to apeal to a mass consumer market, often designed by one man, not a marketing commitee. if you want somethin thats cheap to run, straightline fast, and easy to look after and ride then look elsewhere.

Italians and esp dukes can be very annoying to say the least. Can you put up with silly problems, often terrible reliability, swapping out cheap componants (etc fasteners, Clips, etc) . You have to keep it clean, can you sit and spend time washing and polishing it?

Can you handle a set of spanners as this will make things a lot easier and you'll enjoy the experience that much more. If your gonna go down the dealer everytime the chain needs adjusting then a 10 year old Duke is gonna cost you loads. All Italians require maintainance to be done as per book, not when you feel like.

But if you want somethin that full of character, handles better than anything else, has a real heart and is a bit different from the Japanese thowaway culture, then your on the right lines.

A word of warning for yer. If your used to Oriental machinary then first rides are allways terrible on Italians, its takes a while to get used to them. Try not to judge the bike on a 10 min test ride.

I guess there is only one way to learn. You have good taste in motorcycles.

Good luck

Kev

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DISCLAIMER:
Application of the procedures described herein is at your own risk. Myself or other Visordown members have submitted this information in good faith, without charge but neither myself, members nor admin will be held responsible for any injury, damage or loss whosoever caused resulting from your use of these procedures or Information. This infomation is not intended to replace your repair manuals, your common sense, or your responsibility for your choices and actions.

http://www.eddnet.com/kev

Part of the reason I'm getting into biking as a hobby as I usually find myself piss bored on a weekend so don't mind a bit of cleaning, fettling and I know one end of a spanner from the other so I should be able to do a fair bit of routine maintainance myself.

One things that attract me to the Duke is what I have heard about the handling. I would rather have a nice handling bike that a mega power bike I think as a novice it may help develop my riding style.

Cheers guys keep it coming

Alastair

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Alastair

VDA#26 BNegg4

If Harley Davidson made aeroplanes, would you fly in one?

Alastair,

Go for it! I was thinking of swapping my Pantah for a SS as the prices are real cheap at the moment. The new models have dragged the old ones down.

You want a nice dealer serviced prefrably low mileage but not essential if its well looked after. A good clean duke is often good mechanically cos the cosmetics are so poor they look tatty easy. Sensible mods only, Nice exhaust etc. Try to avoid tuned examples if your not worried about the power.

Dont buy a very early 16" front (dont know if the 16 incher made it past the sport to the SS, but watch out). tyre choice for 16" is getting awfull. The single disk 750 is prob best avoided unless the price is right.

Let us know how you get on. I have an FZ750, Guzzi Le-Mans, Kaw z250, some tiddlers and the Pantah. The Duke is somethin else, its not for posing, putting in a musumn its for riding, there are no concessions to anything except riding enjoyment.

If you learn how to ride a duke quick you'll be quick on anything.

Kev

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DISCLAIMER:
Application of the procedures described herein is at your own risk. Myself or other Visordown members have submitted this information in good faith, without charge but neither myself, members nor admin will be held responsible for any injury, damage or loss whosoever caused resulting from your use of these procedures or Information. This infomation is not intended to replace your repair manuals, your common sense, or your responsibility for your choices and actions.

http://www.eddnet.com/kev

Gotta say I am really suprised about the amount of positive advice here I was expecting all the 'it will fall to bits', 'you should buy a Bandit instead' (not that there is anything wrong with a bandit) negative stuff.:burnout:

Alastair

PS these smileys are wicked!!!

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Alastair

VDA#26 BNegg4

If Harley Davidson made aeroplanes, would you fly in one?

priller wrote

750 is still slower than a 600 sports bike.

So's a 900ss but having borrowed one for a weekend I bet it would slay just about any 600 on a fast winding A-road. It's all about torque, handling and the ease with which high speeds are achieved and maintained. I ride a 748Rs which really is a hot ship...but the 900ss EVO2 IMPRESSED me and set me thinking about getting one as my main bike. Top speeds and quarter mile times mean little in the real world of road riding.

In response to Alistair:

I guess the 750ss is much the same but just that bit slower. 125mph, if we're honest, is enough for most situations..they'll throw away the key whether it's 125 or 150.

Reliability..I can only speak for my experiences with 748's..I've ridden them since 1995...the only failure I've had was an oil pressure switch on my 748SP in 1997. They've been just as reliable as any Jap bike that I've owned but, this is tempered by the fact that they do need rather more TLC than a Jap bike. Fit and finish is not in the same league as a Honda or Kwak but, generally is as good as a Yam or Suzi. It's absolutely essential that they are serviced in accordance with the schedule by a dealer who knows what he's doing (Italia in Lincoln look after mine - they are superb) so, this tends to exclude the likes of Motorcycle City, Daytona, Cusworths and Carnell.

Both the 900 and 750ss are immensely tunable and there are quite a number of people out there that provide such services..my advice would be to leave tuning well alone and learn your craft first cos you're on a steep learning curve. Spend money on tyres and uprating suspension components - these are worth more than any amount of horspower that you can afford.