So my friend just got a new cycle...

"Firewrx234" (firewrx234)
08/16/2013 at 16:18 • Filed to: Two wheels bad

It's a Ducati and I know nothing about it other than it's gorgeous, sounds great, and is insanely fast.

What does oppo think?

DISCUSSION (13)

doodon2whls > Firewrx234
08/16/2013 at 16:28

"...gorgeous, sounds great, and is insanely fast." I think you pretty much hit all the important points. It would look so much prettier in pearl yellow. ;-)

KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb > Firewrx234
08/16/2013 at 16:29

The 848 is pretty rad. Good tasta.

Firewrx234 > doodon2whls
08/16/2013 at 16:34

He saw a matte black one with red details but had his heart set on all matte black and had them order it for him lol

Firewrx234 > KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb
08/16/2013 at 16:35

Yeah I don't usually like bikes but I like this one.

KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb > Firewrx234
08/16/2013 at 16:36

Out of curiosity, and the desire to change your mind, what don't you like about bikes?

TJSquirrel > Firewrx234
08/16/2013 at 16:49

Ducati's are amazing bikes and really not 'that' much more expensive than the Japanese competition. Yes, more maintenance because of the desmo valvetrain but that noise high in the rev range is amazing. They also hold thier value much better so I think you come out about equal in the end. My only hang up with the 848 was that they went with a wet clutch instead of the uniquely Ducati dry clutch used on everything up to that point including the 1098. That being said; the new Panigale is wet clutch so the dry clutch has died altogether.

Firewrx234 > KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb
08/16/2013 at 16:51

To be honest, I've never ridden one. Mainly because I have a fear of death and catastrophe. I have an overwhelming urge to go fast and my car provides a shield to protect me from stupidity. However, a bike does not.

And more to the point, I have terrible luck with cars and electronics in general and I feel that this would be one of those things that would turn out quite badly for me and my bad luck.

Seriously, I have had the worst luck with cars and things in general of anyone I know.

Firewrx234 > TJSquirrel
08/16/2013 at 16:53

I feel informed. I honestly don't know anything about bikes until you told me this. I didn't even know it was an 848 until these comments in here.

KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb > Firewrx234
08/16/2013 at 17:02

If it makes you feel any better, when the Hurt report (where all the statistics come from) came out in the 80s, 66% of accidents involving motorcycles involved an inebriated rider (biker gangs were big back then), and riders who had gone through a training course were faaaaaaar less likely to get in an accident (I forget the exact numbers, it's been a while since I've had to convince my parents to let me get a bike). Really, all those statistics you hear are twisted to make motorcycle riding seem a lot more dangerous. As long as you're alert and not a dumbass, the odds are pretty damn good.

TJSquirrel > Firewrx234
08/16/2013 at 17:25

No problem. There is a lot of pretty crazy tech in motorcycles too; stuff you don't see in cars. Take a look at Ducati's desmodronic valve train. Think of a standard overhead cam arrangement. . . with NO VALVESPRINGS. . . This design comes with a unique sound higher in the rev range because of the purely mechanical actuation of all the valves. That and they are twins (2-cylinders) giving them that deep exhaust note. And the new Ducati 1199 Panigale? NO FRAME! The rear swing arm attaches to the transmission, the steering head and seat frame mounts to the engine. That bike also has state-of-the-art ABS, traction control, and electronic Ohlins suspension.

Firewrx234 > TJSquirrel
08/16/2013 at 17:34

Traction control and ABS?! That's pretty cool!

Casper > TJSquirrel
08/16/2013 at 18:01

I like the 848, it's a good bike. Pretty much you described the whole Ducati sales pitch with "it's gorgeous, sounds great". They are just a fun bike to own... I just wouldn't put miles on it like I would a Japanese bike due to the maintenance/parts cost.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Firewrx234
08/17/2013 at 01:04

I mean...it's no 748/916/996/998 but it's not bad