Could use some opinions on this one.

[Nairb]

Never ever buy new.. you lose so much money it's not even funny. Unless of course, it's a 1M Coupe.

[z31maniac]

You'll save on gas mileage, but the other maintenance costs of a sport bike will make it much more expensive per mile.

$350/pair of tires? ~4000 miles if you're lucky, I averaged about 2800-2900 out of Michelin Pilot Powers.
Chain and sprocket every 10-12k miles, less if you don't take good care of it.
Fork/shock rebuild once per season, $~400-500.

Etc, etc etc.

If you want and can afford a sport bike, get one. But don't be fooled into thinking you will save money because they can pull 35+mpg on the expressway.

[Ryan...]

The Ducati is a) Italian so right off the bat it sucks ass. and b) its 160 bhp and 381 pounds with a dash you can't see in direct sunlight. Good job you ginny's.

The zx10r is a) Japanese so it'll last and take the abuse. and b) its 170 whp (rumors of 194 bhp) and 386 pounds.

Go ahead. Pay too much for your bike, I'll still take you.

A) Sucks ass? Tell that to the riders and crew chiefs of the multiple WSBK Ducati teams. And the riders/crew chiefs of the MotoGP teams :)
B) Thats 160bhp and 100ft lbs of torque avaliable from low down in the revs, not first coming on after 7k. And honestly, the dash is not hard to see at all. Reviewers are fucking nitpicking sissies lol

The zx10r is japanese, so it'll look/sound/ride like every other jap bike out there ;)

Go ahead, take your neon green hornets nest, you'll take me in a straight line, but I'll take the inside every time :)


*PS: I almost bought an 09 Zx10r last year, I've ridden plenty of liter bikes, and the zx10r was the best. However, given the chance I'd take the Duc without a moments hesitation. I've been bitten by the Vtwin bug, and in that division there's no competition for the Ducati :)

*PPS: A better comparison to the newest Zx10r would actually be the 1198, which has 170hp, 97ft lbs, and weighs 377lbs :)

[Vince30]

You'll save on gas mileage, but the other maintenance costs of a sport bike will make it much more expensive per mile.

$350/pair of tires? ~4000 miles if you're lucky, I averaged about 2800-2900 out of Michelin Pilot Powers.
Chain and sprocket every 10-12k miles, less if you don't take good care of it.
Fork/shock rebuild once per season, $~400-500.

Etc, etc etc.

If you want and can afford a sport bike, get one. But don't be fooled into thinking you will save money because they can pull 35+mpg on the expressway.

Oem fork seal kit on a 2010 r6 cost about $60, and they last around 3 seasons on a dirt bike, I cant imagine an r6 having more suspension abuse than a dirt bike. My friend was getting 60mpg city on his ninja 600. I don't think your numbers are entirely true.

[JamesE30]

I'd get a cheaper 2nd hand bike for your 1st road bike. Like you I've been riding dirt for years, I recently got into riding on the road for similar reasons.

I just bought my second roadbike yesterday (a suzuki GSF250 bandit) and promply dropped it in the fucking garage while turning it today. This has nothing to do with anything other than the fact im glad it wasnt a brand new ducati, triumph or gsxr etc..
Damage wasnt too bad, thank god.. Fuck Im so pissed though!!! haha
I'm still just not used to the weight and turning circle of roadbikes..

I guess my point is, no matter how experienced you are on two wheels, shit can still happen. And untill you're comfortable emotionally and/or financially with that happening, id recomend something cheaper, that your not too attached to.

[z31maniac]

Oem fork seal kit on a 2010 r6 cost about $60, and they last around 3 seasons on a dirt bike, I cant imagine an r6 having more suspension abuse than a dirt bike. My friend was getting 60mpg city on his ninja 600. I don't think your numbers are entirely true.

Your boy is flat out wrong about getting 60mpg in the city, sorry. That's just wrong. You might get in the 40s possible 50 with a ninja 250. I didn't own a sportbike to hypermile, but something else if you want an economical commuter, because a sportbike isn't it. Commuting you can pull down aroud 40, kicking ass in the twisties will drop that number down in the 20s.

And my numbers come from having owned an R6 for approaching 30,000 miles, about 10k/year. And yes, if you want the suspension to be proper, you rebuild it at that interval. You can feel the oil start to go around 5-6k.

I was talking about parts and labor for the shock/fork, I'm lazy. I'd pull into the dealership, sit up front and bullshit with Norm/Lucy/Sam McDonald while they rebuilt the stuff in back. Then leave in the afternoon.

Like I said, if you want a sportbike, get one. Just don't fool yourself into thinking it will be economical. And if you're under the age of 25 your insurance is going to be sky high. My R6 went from $90/month at 24 to $12/month at 25..........full coverage.


Don't believe me? Then go buy one, actually use it and see how much it cost to run.

[b*saint]

A) Sucks ass? Tell that to the riders and crew chiefs of the multiple WSBK Ducati teams. And the riders/crew chiefs of the MotoGP teams :)
B) Thats 160bhp and 100ft lbs of torque avaliable from low down in the revs, not first coming on after 7k. And honestly, the dash is not hard to see at all. Reviewers are fucking nitpicking sissies lol

The zx10r is japanese, so it'll look/sound/ride like every other jap bike out there ;)

Go ahead, take your neon green hornets nest, you'll take me in a straight line, but I'll take the inside every time :)


*PS: I almost bought an 09 Zx10r last year, I've ridden plenty of liter bikes, and the zx10r was the best. However, given the chance I'd take the Duc without a moments hesitation. I've been bitten by the Vtwin bug, and in that division there's no competition for the Ducati :)

*PPS: A better comparison to the newest Zx10r would actually be the 1198, which has 170hp, 97ft lbs, and weighs 377lbs :)

Yea but he posted a 1098. And you can't compare racing engines to street bike engines. The Honda RC211V is a V5 and the RC212 is a V4. You don't get that on the street. And I hate to tell ya I see more Ducati's in my area than Jap crotch rockets.

And there is NO WAY the duc corners harder. No way. The geometry is way more aggressive on the '11 zx10. And it has better electronics and better suspension. Ill take Showa over Bilstein any day. And Ill take Tokico over overpriced Brembo any day. So go ahead and pay out the ass for what you think is a rare bike. Ill take you on the straight lines and corners and the back roads anyday.

[Ryan...]

Your boy is flat out wrong about getting 60mpg in the city, sorry. That's just wrong. You might get in the 40s possible 50 with a ninja 250. I didn't own a sportbike to hypermile, but something else if you want an economical commuter, because a sportbike isn't it. Commuting you can pull down aroud 40, kicking ass in the twisties will drop that number down in the 20s.

+1

My 600rr in the city, stop and go traffic, was getting about 25 max IIRC. Highway I could see around 38-40mpg, but that would often flucuate depending on how much crap I had crammed in my backpack, wind, gas type, etc..

My girlfriends 09 Ninja 250 will get about 35 city with her on it, and about 65 highway. She weighs about 120lbs and stands 5'3. If I get on it, 170lbs/6'1 the fuel drops significantly because of the added weight and aerodynamic disadvantage. Pretty sure I got around 45 highway with it the one 2 hour trip I took it on..

Yea but he posted a 1098. And you can't compare racing engines to street bike engines. The Honda RC211V is a V5 and the RC212 is a V4. You don't get that on the street. And I hate to tell ya I see more Ducati's in my area than Jap crotch rockets.

And there is NO WAY the duc corners harder. No way. The geometry is way more aggressive on the '11 zx10. And it has better electronics and better suspension. Ill take Showa over Bilstein any day. And Ill take Tokico over overpriced Brembo any day. So go ahead and pay out the ass for what you think is a rare bike. Ill take you on the straight lines and corners and the back roads anyday.

I posted the 1098 becuase thats the bike I'm going to get. Have you ridden a Duc? Just because the geometry on the ninja is more aggressive doesn't mean its a better handling bike. Unless you're on a track its pretty hard to discern the difference in handling between a properly set up showa/bilstien suspension package on a street or back road. The brembo brakes were probably the best brakes I'd ever felt on a street bike, insane would be the best word to describe them.

As for paying out the ass, 1098s can be had today for around the $8/9k mark with under 5k miles. Ebay prices are super inflated, but the Duc and WERA forums have them pop up at least every month. For that price I'll take one in heart beat.

And honestly, I have no desire to get into the jap v italian debate. I know the jap bikes are better bargains, but as of now, after owning 3 honda sportbikes, riding with gixxers, R1s, R6s, Ninjas, and anyone else that wants to ride, I'll take the Duc and be a happy camper :p

[CincinnatiKid]

Buy used, chances are if this is your first bike you'll lay it down.

[NigelStu]

My '05 Speed 4 gets 36-38 mpg. Seemingly, no matter what I do. Commute, HWY, twisties, 'fun' trips. :D


Everyone is gonna like certain bikes that others are going to hate. I looked at the numbers and the Speed 4 made more sense than the Honda 599 and SV650 I was also looking at. Ducs are cool and have some prestige, but are sort of like a Range Rover - Too many posers who buy them for the look/name but don't use them as they are truly intended.

In the end, all of these bikes are so close in performance that it shouldn't matter for a street-driven bike. Get what you like/want. But do it without financing.



Hell - if I was going to buy a bike purely for a commuter, it would have an engine smaller than 250cc and most likely have a big V on it somewhere... Not that the OP said anything about his buy being purely a commuter, but the topic went that way...

[Ryan...]

My '05 Speed 4 gets 36-38 mpg. Seemingly, no matter what I do. Commute, HWY, twisties, 'fun' trips. :D


Everyone is gonna like certain bikes that others are going to hate. I looked at the numbers and the Speed 4 made more sense than the Honda 599 and SV650 I was also looking at. Ducs are cool and have some prestige, but are sort of like a Range Rover - Too many posers who buy them for the look/name but don't use them as they are truly intended.

In the end, all of these bikes are so close in performance that it shouldn't matter for a street-driven bike. Get what you like/want. But do it without financing.

100% agree. I refer to Ducs sometimes as the "rich man's gixxer" because of that issue. I'm yet to meet a single gixxer owner that actually owns, and wears, a helmet or jacket. Standard issue items with any gixxer is as follows: white oakleys, white tank top, plaid shorts, and girl's flip flops.

[NigelStu]

^ I LOL'd. Flip-flops.


Its a stereotype because its true....


I like that MI has a helmet law. I think it creates a 'cool helmet must match a cool jacket' so there are less of these guys.

[b*saint]

+1

My 600rr in the city, stop and go traffic, was getting about 25 max IIRC. Highway I could see around 38-40mpg, but that would often flucuate depending on how much crap I had crammed in my backpack, wind, gas type, etc..

My girlfriends 09 Ninja 250 will get about 35 city with her on it, and about 65 highway. She weighs about 120lbs and stands 5'3. If I get on it, 170lbs/6'1 the fuel drops significantly because of the added weight and aerodynamic disadvantage. Pretty sure I got around 45 highway with it the one 2 hour trip I took it on..



I posted the 1098 becuase thats the bike I'm going to get. Have you ridden a Duc? Just because the geometry on the ninja is more aggressive doesn't mean its a better handling bike. Unless you're on a track its pretty hard to discern the difference in handling between a properly set up showa/bilstien suspension package on a street or back road. The brembo brakes were probably the best brakes I'd ever felt on a street bike, insane would be the best word to describe them.

As for paying out the ass, 1098s can be had today for around the $8/9k mark with under 5k miles. Ebay prices are super inflated, but the Duc and WERA forums have them pop up at least every month. For that price I'll take one in heart beat.

And honestly, I have no desire to get into the jap v italian debate. I know the jap bikes are better bargains, but as of now, after owning 3 honda sportbikes, riding with gixxers, R1s, R6s, Ninjas, and anyone else that wants to ride, I'll take the Duc and be a happy camper :p

After being on the track with gsxrs and ninjas and a balls out RC51, after riding a new 848, Ill stick with the jap bikes.

[Ryan...]

After being on the track with gsxrs and ninjas and a balls out RC51, after riding a new 848, Ill stick with the jap bikes.

The 848 isn't exactly the benchmark of Ducati engineering :)

[Vince30]

I think I am going to go with a used enduro/supermoto bike, cheapest to buy, cheapest insurance, and keep me out of speeding tickets. Just have to keep the front tire on the ground. And my "boy" is a tech at a powersports shop so we do any work in his garage and I get big discounts on parts so maintenance is not a huge concern of mine. Even if the bike got 100mpg, if I was paying 10k for a bike it would take quite a while save $10k in gas. So gas going up is more of an excuse for me to get a bike than practical thinking.