Living with a Ducati 749s

How bad can it be? The 749/999 models were what got me hooked on motorcycls so I have a soft spot for them, regardless if they aren't close to being one of the better sport bikes from that era. I have also fallen in love with my Monster S2R 800 and likewise the Ducati brand. It more than likely would be my second bike since I don't think I could part ways with my monster quite yet, just wish it had a little bit more go.

I know they supposedly handle like a dream once in the turn and have the great mid range like all Ducs, but how are the ergonomics for daily riding? I've only sat on them and they feel like a long reach, but the S model does have adjustable rear sets and seat to help with that.

So, has anyone lived with one, or at least ridden one enough to have an opinion on them?

How tall are you? Long legs? My wife has a 1098 that is a little more extreme then the 999. She can ride it for 6 hours stopping only for gas and have no issues. I can't stand being on it for more then 30 mins. I also have a monster and love it.

I am 5'9" with short legs (30" inseam). I guess I have always had the impression that Ducati sport bikes are great for the track, but uncomfortable on the street, mostly due to the long reach. After reading about the 749/999 it sounded like the editors thought it was a pretty comfortable bike. I'm not going complain about a little discomfort while riding, but also don't want it to be bad where I want to stop riding 30 minutes.

I know there are better bikes out there, but I don't need the fastest or the most technologically advanced with rider aids and such. Just have always liked the bike. It would probably see some track time and shared daily rider duty with the Monster, so it won't have to be the "perfect" bike.

Short legs will help. The rear sets are high. They are subposably way better then the 916 series, but I never thought that they were that bad. For 2nd bike/track duty, It would be a great bike. The two ducatis would complement each other well. Plus there are tons of aftermarket seats, high rise clip ons and adjustable rear sets to tailor the bike to your frame.

Okay, this is a long and rambly post here because I am SO wrapped up in my own 999.

I recently bought an '05 999. This has been a longtime dream of mine, owning a Ducati Superbike. I still open the door to my garage and gaze in and get all happy that it's mine and I can ride it whenever I want.

I am getting rid of my CBR600F4i now that I have the 999. I mean, the F4i is terrific. But "terrific" isn't as good as "fully awesome." This thing handles like nothing I have ever ridden. There is a spot not too far from my house that has this great double-S-curve. On my Bullet, I'll be scraping the pegs and I come out accelerating (well, as much accelerating as I can do) and my exit speed is just touching 40mph. On the F4i, I was happy that as I rode it more my exit speed went from high 40s to 56, occasionally 59 when I REALLY nail it. I rode this section on the 999, the day I brought the bike home from buying it, my exit speed was 84. Like, seriously, it's not okay how hard thing thing pulls.

I've been riding on the very comfy F4i since February, rain or shine. All this time I have been saying to anyone who cares to listen that a full liter bike is COMPLETELY unnecessary. There is no place I can let the 600 out all the way without going to jail, and now that I HAVE a liter bike, I'll say, I believe this now DOUBLY so. I haven't had a place on the street where I can go WOT safely or legally. I haven't gone fast enough to shift above 4th, and it still has two gears to go. But unlike the ZX10R I rode, there is no need to wind it up - it PULLS no matter where your revs are. And the sound it makes is unreal. It has a digital speedo. Just rolling on the throttle while going in second gear, not whacking it open or anything crazy, and the numbers do not climb by 1s. This thing just blasts out speed. Only 140hp but soooooo much torque. The 749 may well be the better street bike. But around me, anyway, the 749 and the 999 are going for pretty much the same money, so I figured I may as well get the big guy.

I find the ergos on the Ducati to be quite comfortable. It's more aggressive than the F4i, to be sure, but the F4i has the clipons above the triple tree and the pegs are lower. In fact, yesterday was the first time I've ridden the CBR since getting the Ducati and I was shocked at how tame the riding position was on the Honda. When I first got it I thought it was much sportier than what I was used to. But 600 miles on the Ducati and I have completely recalibrated. I've been commuting on it, rain or shine.

Commuting... It will tell you that this is not the way it wants you to ride it. The clutch chatters unless you give it some revs and slip it a bit. The big twin firing pulses remind you that your revs are too low. It will bake the backs of your thighs because there is so much heat coming out. In stop and go traffic my temps have crept up into the 200s and I can hear the fans on. The mirrors suck, so you learn to do the funky chicken to move your arms out of the way. But the mirrors with the signals in them are so gorgeous that I don't want to change them. (In fact what I really want are mirror extensions that are just painted extensions of the shape of the stalks, but those seem to not exist.)

My commute to my current office is not a lot of stop and go, bumper to bumper. But I crawled through downtown Joliet the day I brought it home and, ugh. I was so worried about the temp. They make low-temp fan switches for them and I think I'm going to get one.

The feel from the front brake is AMAZING. Like, they actually AMAZE me, not like I am just blowing "amazing" on a basket of chicken wings or something. An opossum darted out in front of me while zipping down rustic roads in Wisconsin and I grabbed a handful of front brake like I would on the CBR. The thing just STOPPED. And then I felt my rear wheel touch back down. It was incredible. But very controllable.

The tank is beautifully sculpted and it feels so perfect and narrow to grasp between your knees while you're riding. The seat is actually pretty comfy. Aside from the heat, I have had no discomfort in the seat area.

The pegs have 5 adjustments. Mine is currently on the lowest, rearmost setting. I personally don't find this to be too extreme for normal trafficky riding. Remember to grip the tank with your knees and use your core a little bit and weight on your wrists is nominal. It's really easy to tuck in and get out of the wind. My gut, though, might be bigger than others' and I can rest very comfortably on the back of the tank.

I have a biposto, and I have a set of Nelson-Rigg side backs and it is just as practical as my CBR. However much that is... But again I have been riding it pretty much every day rain or shine. It's a delight. And then I get home and I rub it with waxy cloths and obsess over how gorgeous the thing is. I am a rider, not a waxer. I have never had a bike before that I have been nervous to berkeley up somehow, but this is one. It is so beautiful that I am worried that I am going to blemish it. I have had exotic cars and less exotic bikes and I have never felt this way about a vehicle before. I am very in love with it.

So in my own little comparo between a middleweight Japanese sportbike and this italian superbike, I can say that if you can live with the Ducati's attitude toward your riding it, DO IT. Like, don't wait, seriously DO IT. The 999 lets you know when it wants you to change your habits.. riding position, input on the controls, lean angle, whatever. It'll tell you, "You know, you can go in deeper here. Just push the inside bar a little more, it's okay. We can go WAY faster. No? Okay, well, it's there for you when you aren't such a Bob Costas."

The Honda, on the other hand, kind of shrieks at you. "GO! GO GO GO GO GO!" Doesn't give nearly the kind of feedback you get on the 999. On the other hand, it doesn't complain about ANYTHING. Ride as sloppy as you want, it's fine. Stop and go bumper to bumper? Okay, fine. Chopping the throttle open and scraping a knee around a good corner? Okay, fine. The CBR just doesn't care.

I am completely smitten by this motorcycle. Whatever the belt service and frequent oil changes cost, I'll pay it, just so I can keep riding it. I am very, very in love.

TL;DR: DO IT.

In reply to Lugnut:

Damn man you sold me and every sport bike I've ever ridden is so damned uncomfortable I swore off ever owning one.

Well dang Lugnut, I think you sold me on it. It sounds like your only real issue with it is commuting and I have that taken care of with the Monster or the 335i, so the 749 would just be the fun bike. I never thought I would fall in love with a Ducati, but after riding my Monster for the last 2 1/2 it will be hard to not own one. Just something about the high revving twin that is awesome. Power everywhere, and it's not overpowering, just smooth. I think I was sold on every aspect of the bike, but was a little unsure of the ergonomics. From the way you describe it, there is really nothing to worry about.

Thanks a lot GRM, you're making me spend more money now..

The F4i is super comfy. I felt much more comfortable on the F4i than on my old K75RT. I guess my body needs just a little bit of forward slant to be comfy. I looked at a bunch of others. On the R6, the pegs were placed such that getting my right foot up needed me to do this crazy monkey bend as I was setting off. On the GSXR-600, my elbows were banging into my knees. Same deal on the Daytona 675. I haven't ridden a 748 or 916/996/998, but I hear those are tremendously uncomfortable due to the reach to the bars and the height of the pegs and the shape of the tank.

On the 999, the bars are lower than the CBR and the pegs are slightly higher, but now I have done several all-day rides on it through as twisty of roads as we get out here. I haven't done an interstate trek yet, but I can't imagine it'll be too bad. But standing on the balls of my feet on the pegs, butt a half-inch above the seat, zoom lean zoom lean stop sign go, we were out for 11 hours just his last Saturday. I have gotten out of cars after shorter drives and been less comfortable.

And I rode it to work again today. I promised I would take it up to 10k rpm. I forced myself not to look at the speedo, just the tach, and HOLY SCHMOLEY. I'm still in love.

Then again, I also still love my Bullet and it has left me stuck on the side of the road five times in 14 months. So maybe I don't have the most logical taste in motorcycles.

In reply to Lugnut:

With the engine temp thing, try this stuff. I just ordered a gallon myself and my friend already has it in his muzzy's turbo 10r(and he doesn't have cooling fans)

http://www.revzilla.com/product/engine-ice-high-performance-coolant

My friend has already noticed a 40* drop in running temps and he can ride through modest urban traffic without overheating now.

Oh, and what gen 10r did you ride?

I feel ya. But I am more of a 748 and 996/998 fan myself

In reply to Flight Service:

I prefer the styling of MV's myself......but I have eccentricly exclusive tastes.

You know, I was LUSTING for a 916 the day I saw it in whatever magazine I was reading back in 1993. I absolutely loved it, thought it was the best looking motorcycle maybe ever produced, ever. When the 999 came out in '03 it was very... jarring... the change from the smooth lines and sexy slab siding and the headlights, to the very sharp creases and fairing wings and stacked headlights on the 999. But 11 years on, now, I kind of think the 999 has aged better.

I would still absolutely buy a 748 or 996 or whatever. And if I bought a dead one that never ran, ever, I would proudly display it in my living room and just gaze upon its beauty.

But, still, it's hard to argue with this.

Lugnut wrote: I've been riding on the very comfy F4i since February, rain or shine. All this time I have been saying to anyone who cares to listen that a full liter bike is COMPLETELY unnecessary. There is no place I can let the 600 out all the way without going to jail, and now that I HAVE a liter bike, I'll say, I believe this now DOUBLY so. I haven't had a place on the street where I can go WOT safely or legally. I haven't gone fast enough to shift above 4th, and it still has two gears to go.

I commute on my k1300s and hammer down on it pretty often. No jail yet. The SS 600s are plenty fast to get you in trouble too though.

I have had two water cooled monsters (916cc S4 and a 998cc S4Rs that uses the 999 motor). My wife has the 1098. Even in 85+ degree days riding in town, we almost never hear or feel the fans kick on. These things have good side radiators that seem to work even without lots of air flow.

Btw my wive had a F4i for 9 years and loved it. She was looking for a 848 but found the 1098 for less then any used 848 at the time and will never go back to a small bore bike on the street. The power has corrupted her completely.

What a glorious sound those ducs make. That's reason enough to get one, right?

Just a FWIW, theres a Duc 749 with 3000ish miles http://www.zx-10r.net/forum/showthread.php?t=233849