Thinking of picking up another 996

This time a Ducati! One of my favorite shapes, and I figure it will also completely sate my turbo-remorse Anyone have any recommendations on good places to get somewhat objective, level headed opinions and information on these things?

I found this at one time when I was looking at Duc's. Also, if you live in LA, check out the Ducati dealer in Glendale (really good shop). Ducati motorcycles maintenance By: claytonaz ( 49 ) 28 out of 29 people found this guide helpful. Guide viewed: 2115 times Tags: Ducati|supersport|monster|superbike|sportbikes If you are considering a Ducati Purchase you should research what it takes to keep it on the road. All motorcycles require maintanance. Things like oil changes and routine maintenance occur at simialr intervals from one brand to the next. The Ducati is a great bike assembled with the top of the line parts when you invest in the right models. They also use a engine valve system that is different than most bikes. If you buy a yamaha you will probably have a 16,000 miles valve clearance maintenance. As the engine runs parts wear and shims are used to close the gaps so the valves open to the correct setting. On a Ducati this must be done more often usually around 6000 miles. On some bikes you can do the adjustment yourself by opening covers aligning timing marks and adjusting rocker actuators or replacing shims. On a Ducati you are best off to have the shop do it unless you know someone that has experience that can lead you through it. If you make a mistake it can get real expensive real fast and parts shipped from italy can take a long time to get to the US. Ducati uses this valve system called desmo as it prevents valve float due to valve spring resonances. They don not have a valve spring they use a rocker to open and another to close the valve. A small spring is employed to ensure a tight seal at the valve during starting only. Ducati is trying to make a two cylinder 90 degree twin competiitive with a four cylinder engine. with no valve float you have in theory no red line and that is how there race bikes can run at 18,000 rpm or higher. In practice the street bikes are limited by the ECU to a range that will allow them to give you a warranty. The japanese 4 cylinder engines use a cam over the valve with a shim bucket to eliminate the rocker arm and hopefully eliminate valvle float up to redline. If you have a Ducati with two valves per cylinder like the supersport the valve adjustment is around $300 plus parts. If you have a four valve per cylinder superbike you can double it. If you ride 15000 miles a year you will need two of these a year and one early next spring. If you are on a Yamaha you will not need any. The Yamaha might not come with top shelf suspension that is fully adjjstable and may not handle as well or have the cool factor of an italian mistress but it will cost less as a daily commuter. I only bring my Ducati out for special occassions and use my daily ride for most of my riding. Aftermarket parts can extend the valve adjustment interval and the new Ducatis have taken steps to reduce the time it takes the shop to do the valve adjustments and extended the interval to 8000 miles. If you are considering a used Duacti superbike like the ,748, 916, 996, 998 you need to be aware that some poor quality chrome on the rockers in some of these engines would flake off and get into the oil system. Chrome particles destroyed many Ducati engines over the years. Also watch for cracked frame welds at the steering head area, they are not a great stunt bike for wheelies. Also look for cracked welds on the swingarms. Also check for recalls, the single sided swingarm bearings had some problems on the older bikes and a recall was done to replace the swingarms. Good luck, get educated then bid confidently.

Thanks for that! The pic you posted is almost exactly what I want, 996 biposto in red Are you talking about Pro Italia up there? If I walk in there I'm going to be the proud owner of a 1098 or an F4 way too quickly! I'm wading through some duc forums right now, a little too fiery for me. If I believe what they seem to be collectively expressing, buy the cheapest one and dump it on a first time rider when it breaks, not a promising community so far.

Probably the best Ducati advice I have ever heard. They are fun bikew when they work, but the 996 is still a but primitive IMO. A better bike that will requiring less wrenching on would be a Aprilia Millie. The comfort level is light years beyond that of a Duc and performance surpasses it. The price point should be roughly the same. All in all Ducatis are fun bikes that I truly do believe everyone would should one in there lifetime and there is nothing like the mechanical sound of that dry clutch. But I have owned one in 4 different occasions ( 2 monsters a 916 and a 996) in my life and they all have let me down in one way or another. Plus I find them difficult to wheelie at high speed

996's are beautiful but do they have a lot more power than the 748? I was very disappointed on the weakness of my friends 748. Kinda turned me off to Ducattis. My '02 R1 just felt all around better - acceleration (I believe only the Gixxer 1000 could beat it at the time), brakes, confidence in dipping, balance, blah, blah, blah I also heard you have to have the valves adjusted every 7k miles?

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I found it impossible to get my friends 748 off the ground at any speeds. My R1, I could pull up at ANY speed nearing 100. Nothing like downshifting to 2nd gear at 75-80MPH, pundhing the throttle, and the bike pulling the front tire on its own. BTW, my R1 would do 116MPH in 2nd gear!

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Beyond the "must own before I die" factor, I'm also thinking 996/998 because I don't think I'll get hosed too badly when I sell, depreciation wise. Unless I get chrome flaking off in the motor. They had a very similar situation as Porsche's 993, Financial Problems, 996, 997 with their own iconic 916/996/998, the TPG bailout in ?97?, which was followed by the faster but more Japanese looking 999 which was largely disliked by the press and purists, and replaced by the "second coming" 1098, which looks like the old Tamburini bikes. I'm not suggesting the 916/996/998 will appreciate, but I think it'll be OK I'm not fast enough to need everything a modern liter bike offers, in fact I'm pretty sure I'm leaving a lot on the table even with an old 90s liter bike. The Mille (really the RSVR) is definitely on my list, and the original Milles can be had for a LOT less than the 916/996/998s I've seen, even some RSVRs on the market for less, but this is one of those emotional purchases (that I should probably put off until fall!) I hear the Rotax is pretty much bulletproof though, nee to ride them back to back. The other on the list is the F4-1000 I think the valves are every 6K, and everyone seems to defer to their mechanic for work! the 996 & 998 are quite a bit more powerful per spec sheet than a 748 (to 130+ hp vs ~100 in 748, very close in weight), but have nothing on an R1's (or busa, ZX12, even the old blackbird's) torque, acceleration, top speed etc Cory! That's one of the things about the big 4 japanese bikes in general, unbeatable in a straight line, perfect reliability, and incredible bang for the buck. I just want a V-twin right now though. I'm an admitted anachronist I've noticed the tall 1st gear on all the modern street bikes, Ducati included, they're geared with those incredibly tall 1st & 2nds probably to keep everyone from slapping the back of their head on the pavement every time they open the throttle

HTNY, please do not take offense to this, but what kind of motorcycle experience do you have up to this point? Also what is going to be the main use of the new ride? Definitely 2 more things you may want to consider before going Duc hunting......

No offense taken AL-X, it's the first question I ask when someone asks me about a bike. I've been around bikes since I was a kid, first started riding myself in 1996, everything from an old dirt two stroke KX-250 and TDM to Japanese 600/900 street and touring and a bunch of obscure Asia only cruiser bikes like the Bullet and the Yezdi. The only 1000+ experience I have is on BMWs and a two quick squeezes on the Blackbird and Fireblade. I've had a crash early on (at 19) which I walked away from with only some cuts and bruises (although I was hanging from a rock at the edge of a cliff in Greece, that'll scare you straight), so I'm not a daredevil by any means anymore! I'm no pro, but I'm reasonably competent, respect the machines, and have been told I'm pretty handy haha. I haven't been able to ride regularly since 2004, just once in a blue moon (I have a free pass on my best friend's Interceptor that I don't use enough!), but I'm getting the itch. As to the intended use, I'm not racing the bike although I can't promise it might not see a trackday if it's kept in California, I don't commute, purely a pleasure vehicle to run around on with friends a few times a month and stare at in the garage from time to time! I think I can ride it enough that it doesn't get rusty, but it would be my 3rd vehicle in either location.

Htny, great I was just wondering about the mileage you intended to travel on the bike, for Ducs IMO do not have the luxury as being as bulletproof if you intend on logging some serious miles. Again Ducs are great bikes and it seems your experienced enough to know better so go for it. From the sounds of it you will not tack on enough miles for it to be a huge mechanical concern. Buy it enjoy it then trade it for a Aprilia

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This is what I ride when I want to log the SERIOUS miles. Heading for Colorado for the 100K Foot ride...........

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I figure if I put it in LA, I could do no more than 2-3000 miles a year even if I really, really tried (I'm probably there 1/3rd of the time). I also have a buddy with lift & air tools there, so this bike probably will wind up out west. I'm expecting that there will be a little work up front, so hopefully I can find a dealer who will give me 90 days of used warranty, as I have heard from a lot of folks that component lead times are pretty long. Are you riding an Aprilia right now? That looks like it travels well! Is that one of the ABS bikes? I've always liked the idea of a touring bike, but just don't have a very accomodative lifestyle at the moment! My buddy loves his K1100 (maybe R1100?) and another friend's Interceptor is amazing. Maybe when I get tired of crawling all over a 916 I can trade in for an Aprilia Futura/RST1000!

The 996 is absolutely beautiful, but compared to the more modern bikes it's somewhat lacking in several areas. (This is just my $.02) If you are set on a V-twin (I've had several so I know the addiction) the Aprilla is a good choice and if you are on a budget check out an RC-51. Al ittle on the portly side but can still be a joy to ride. After going through several inline 4's and then switching to V-twins (916 and a RC51) it was hard to decide on my next bike. I wanted the V-twin torque/sound but loved the quickness and weight of the modern 600's........ so I ended up buying one of these a year ago and have absolutely had no regrets: 2 year factory warranty, decent torque, lighter than jap 600's, as fast/faster than a 996 or RC51, and the sound of a triple at WOT is unbelievable....

Actually I am 05 Mille R I bought it new in 05 and have logged about 17k on it. It has taken any abuse that I can give to it. Several track days a year, I throw givi bags on it and ride to the inlaws and I can still wheelie with the best of them on the weekends. Funny thing is I bought a built TL1000R for a track bike and I just cant bring myself to ride it because I enjoy the Priller so much. I guess being fat and lazy has increased my addicition to V-Twin sport bikes

My first sportbike was a '98 Triumph T595 (955cc). The thing was beautiful to look at (single swing arm, twisted sculptured frame tubes), handled really well, and had superb brakes. There were 3 flaws that made me launch it rather quickly. It was underpowered (100-110hp), heavy (435 lbs I think), and it got real hot between your legs in the summer. The heat radiating off the frame was a widely known drawback to the bike. I loved the fit and finish but hated how gutless it was being a 955cc. My friends '98 CBR RR900 would waste it in a straight-line. I went Jap after that. I do have to say though, I miss that bike. It had so much character. P.S. - At a 9000-9500 launch, slight wheelie on the launch, and full throttle shifting, it could only muster an 11.60 in the 1/4 mile. I was consistent though.

riding position and maintenance keep me away from Duc's 996 - looks great though

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such an incredible looking change for the daytona, was the first year of that shape '06? Nice! but a built TLR collecting dust is such a shame!

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yeah I figure I'm only ever going to get to ride so much, so it better look good at least! haha This is such a slippery slope (the bike thing). I know I'm in the irrational "have to have one" mode on the 996/8 but if it gets me started on bikes again I think I'm going to wind up with another one to join it on the other coast sooner than later. I'm trying to be at least somewhat responsible and put this off until the end of the quarter after summer's long gone.

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Just got in from the trip to Colorado (rode straight through from Denver to San Antonio). Yes, this one has ABS. I used to ride a Honda CBR600 RR, but needed something for the trip to work. I still ride my 1984 Kawasaki ZX750-E1 Turbo.

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Ahhh the "have to have one" bug~ I've had quite a few bikes, all sport or sport tourers & even now I'm trying to quell an itch for a bike..but, I'd seriously suggest some mods to the Duc even if you ride only short distances, they are painfully uncomfortable to me (I'm 5'10" with 33" inseam), my wrists, neck and hips were burning after an hour or so - that Daytona is great looking, never put a leg over a Daytona - how uncomfortable are they? After years of contorting, I'm so much happier with the G/T bikes myself