Does anybody else have an unhealthy addiction to these?

"jkm7680" (jkm7680) 04/11/2014 at 18:37 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good

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Or own one, because I would lust after it.

Oh yeah, Which one would you choose?

SRSvictor > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 18:40

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Well,I'd take the Ducati 848,although I've never been fascinated by bikes at all.Sure,it's nice to see them accelerate from stop lights sometimes,but I'm somehow not interested in them.That said,if I had a bike license I'd like to have a go in one of these.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 18:44

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I've always wanted a black Ducati Monster. I think they look so aggressive and minimal. But of the choices above I'd go with the 848. I've never really loved the way the Diavel looks.

yamahog > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 18:46

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A friend of mine has an 848, and that was the only time I've ridden as a passenger since getting my license.

jkm7680 > yamahog 04/11/2014 at 18:54

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Awesome! I've never carried passengers. Probably if I did, my top speed would be around 65

Alex Murel > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 19:00

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I've got a '02 Monster 900, is that close enough?

jkm7680 > Alex Murel 04/11/2014 at 19:12

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Yeah, I'm jealous. Haha.

I'm addicted to basically any Duc.

yamahog > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 19:45

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I think he kept it under 3 digits on the Ducati :) And for some reason, my boyfriend doesn't want to take a ride on my passenger seat, can't figure out why!

jkm7680 > yamahog 04/11/2014 at 19:51

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Haha, I try to discourage passengers as much as possible. If there is a way to remove the grab bar, I will find it.

The only thing about passengers, is they have to have the right gear also. I've seen passengers just wearing T-Shirts, while the driver is wearing a full race suit.

Alex Murel > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 19:53

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If you ever get one it will be the best purchase of your life, just get used to repair bill being insanely large. Also, it draws attention. I just got mine back from the shop on Wednesday and this morning I woke up to find that some piece of shit smashed out my indicators. I had it for two days before something was broken again.

zx6rob > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 20:17

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I've certainly got an unhealthy addiction to motorcycles, but I don't think I'd be real thrilled about any of these three, for very different reasons. When I first started getting into bikes, all I could think (or, to my parents' dismay at the time, talk) about was getting a Hayabusa. "It's the fastest production bike ever made!" I'd say, excitedly drooling over another magazine comparison article. My tone definitely changed as I got older, and realized that bragging rights on paper do not necessarily make a very good motorcycle in person. Plus, the 'Busa's... I'm going to say "controversial" styling and testosterone-addled user-base somewhat soured me on it as I discovered other bikes. As for the Ducatis, I've tried a few out here and there, and I have to say, I've never, ever been even remotely comfortable sitting on one for any length of time. The 848, in particular, just crushes some rather sensitive parts of my anatomy every time I sit down on one. It's a shame, too, because it is achingly beautiful, standing behind only the MV Agusta F3 in terms of best-looking sports motorcycle ever built.

Still, riding is riding, at the end of the day, and you should ride what you like and be happy with it. If your goal is to get a Ducati someday, by all means, I encourage you to do so! A co-worker of mine has had several, and loved each and every one of them to death — partially, I think, because he's proportioned a bit more normally than I am. Sadly, a new baby put an end to that whole thing, but he's told me that he'll definitely get another Ducati if he ever gets to ride again.

When it comes to me and bikes, though, give me a good, clean, easy-to-ride, difficult-to-master 600-class supersport, or a classic UJM muscle-bike from the late '70s or '80s. These are more my style:

And just for looks...

jkm7680 > zx6rob 04/11/2014 at 20:29

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Very nice words! I enjoyed the read.

I've got one of these currently. It's not fast, it's rather unrefined, and brash. But it's my ride to work most days where it isn't freezing cold. I'm looking to upgrade soon to a Sportbike,rather than a Standard. When I think of it, I should have started on the gateway drug Ninja 250, but I was able to pick up a Gw for $500 off Msrp. They already are pretty cheap, but I got a hell of a deal and couldn't let that pass. I've been looking at the Duc Monster, Ninja 600, Cbr650F Honda, and the Yamaha R6 if my wallet is feeling it. Which is currently is not.

f86sabre > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 20:36

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R1150RT-P. Good fun.

jkm7680 > f86sabre 04/11/2014 at 20:38

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That's the Police bike isn't it?

I've always liked the lines, and they probably go fast also.

zx6rob > jkm7680 04/11/2014 at 21:01

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Ah, that's a nice little bike, and you'll get plenty of miles from it. Great starter bike, too; I see too many folks on R1s as their first ride, and it just kills me. Then, shortly later, it usually kills them, too. Keep it around for a while and get your miles out of it. It pays great dividends in the long run! When you do decide to move up, I'll tell you that the co-worker I mentioned had a Ducati Monster as his last bike and just adored it, so that wouldn't be a bad way to go at all.

I started out with a Ninja 250 a few years ago, and I still think that it — and now, I suppose, the Ninja 300 that replaced it — is one of the best starter bikes on the market. I moved to a 600 supersport after about two years on the little guy, but I'll be honest, I was sad to see it go. Wish I could have kept it; the gas mileage was great, and it was terribly fun to wring out on the back-roads.

In the interest of sharing, here's what I'm riding these days. This'n's my daily rider, a 2012 ZX-6R, although I've gotten rid of that ugly rear fender in favor of a sleek undertail license plate kit from Yoshimura since this picture was taken. It's dependable, reliable, and more than fast enough for me.

This one, meanwhile, is sort of my new pride and joy. I am, as you've probably figured out by now, a bit of a Kawasaki enthusiast. That's an original '84 Ninja ZX900R, first year, and one of the first batch ever built, too. It looks and runs damn good for a thirty-year-old bike, and it's still got enough grunt to keep up with a lot of modern bikes, too! Of course, they don't have to deal with a temperamental cooling system, fidgety carburetors, and an anti-dive system that hasn't been considered cutting edge since Reagan was in office, but still, what a fun bike to ride! I have a huge soft spot for bikes from the 1980s, the sort of boxy, slab-sided progenitors to today's knife-edged race replicas, and I think this is the best of the lot (you GSX-R 750 fans can just go away, I've nothing to say to you here).

jkm7680 > zx6rob 04/11/2014 at 21:20

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I'm loving that 84 Ninja, and your entire fleet for that matter, Haha.

I've always liked the Boxy, simplistic lines of those early Kawasaki bikes. The first bike that I ever wanted was a Ninja, I was around five at that time. I'm still feeling a Ninja though. Possibly a 600 once I'm done with the Gw.

I agree that starting on a very powerful bike is complete suicide though, not for a second I thought of anything above a 250. I needed to get the ropes down before I get into power. Speaking of power, I'm not sure where to go after the 250. I try to ride at least three times a week.

Definitely once I've got a more powerful main bike. I'll either end up with a Dual sport, or a Older Kawasaki or a Honda Vfr, sorta like this one. That's if I can find one in decent condition. But who knows, a project might be nice.

f86sabre > jkm7680 04/12/2014 at 08:02

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It is. It has special gearing for improved acceleration from a stop. I move out really nicely. Big, heavy thing though.

jkm7680 > f86sabre 04/12/2014 at 09:06

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Awesome! You can pick them up for quite nice deals I've heard.