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It looks like it’s about time for me to finally buy a Ducati!!! It’s either going to be an ’04 or ’05 999 or S4R. I know they’re completely different bikes, those are my options. It’ll be a daily driver as most of its mileage will be going back and forth to work (60 miles round-trip).

Could you guys please give me as much input as possible on the following questions? I’d truly appreciate it.

I know there are some many variables concerned when buying a bike, but these questions are all I could think of so far.

First off, which bike has the most usable torque for daily driving? Hopefully I’ll be able to go to track days at least once or twice a year, but the vast majority of my riding will be going to work and cruising around the Hill Country on the weekends.

As for comfort, for those of you owning a 999 or S4R, what parts of your body are fatigued most by the riding position on the 999 or the S4R? Your wrists, shoulders, back, neck…? I’m 41 now and I have to consider these things. Would a tank bag (to lie on) on the 999 make a major difference if I wanted to ride a long distance (up to 150 miles)? This of course is my assumption that the 999 is probably less comfortable than the S4R. How long does it take for the heat produced by the under seat exhaust of the 999 to make a rider uncomfortable? Or is it even noticeable? Are the suspensions on the bikes so stiff as to make the average bumps on the average roads very noticeable?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

I've heard, through no actual experience of my own, that Ducatis are terribly uncomfortable all around.

Especially on the wallet.

Forsaken wrote:I've heard, through no actual experience of my own, that Ducatis are terribly uncomfortable all around.

My wife owns an S2R and it is quite comfortable....far more so than my Honda VTR1000. I could really see myself doing some distance on this bike and the ergos are identical to that of the S4R. I can tell though from sitting on the 999 that it is not a distance bike, and every magazine test I have ever read about one confirmed it. Beautiful bike though....

Mintbread wrote:Especially on the wallet.

what do ya mean?

Extreamly expensive maintaining one, you can't do the valve adjustments, and the shop charges 700-800 bucks for every adjustment. not to mention the 30,000 price on the 999.

M1- How long have you been biking? A duccati may not be upto your skill level, but for your situation, I'd get the 999 because uncomfort woundn't set in for your trips, plus... it is the toop oof the line number 1 sport bike in the world... If you get tired oof it and trade it in... you can get almost any bike you could want right off the bat.


~Snake

Snake wrote:Extreamly expensive maintaining one, you can't do the valve adjustments, and the shop charges 700-800 bucks for every adjustment. not to mention the 30,000 price on the 999.

Not only that, I believe the interval between valve adjustments is 6,000 miles, although, I may be wrong. I'd be in there every 3 months or so.

im not sure if you guys are being sarcastic with me about a ducati being expensive, cause i was with you, i know they are. but i would say motorcycling in general is takes a good shot at the wallet quite often.

Ducati's are expensive to maintain, if you want to ride those bikes as they are meant to be ridden you are going to be putting tyres, sprockets and chains like they are going out of fashion. In general sportsbikes are not the best bikes for commuting. I am 44, so I know where you are coming from. Ducati's are great bikes but in your situation I would look at the Triumph ST1050, the Yammy FJR 1300 or the BMW K1200S (my bike). Not as good on the track as the Duc, but will beat it hands down for fast commuting without breaking your body or the bank.

A few points.

I wouldn't recommend a Ducati if you can't do your own maintenance (valve checks and adjustments)

For sheer comfort and day-to-day riding, I would go with the Monster

For ease of Maintenance, I would go with the Monster (Less body work to remove)

Here's a nice ducati site you might like http://www.ducatisuite.com/home.html

Ducati's desmo valve system is easy to deal with, if you know how to do it. What makes Ducati's valve check interval so short is the fact that Ducati uses a wire circlip on the valve to keep it from falling into the cylinder. This must be changed every 6,000 miles in order to prevent this from happening. THE GOOD NEWS is that there is an aftermarket company (Martin Brickwood Performance) that makes valve keepers out of machined steel - these raise your valve check interval significantly. Triple it, in fact - to 18,000 miles) They are highly recommended.