6k Service/ Duc ride

[LennyZ87]

no offence to anyone who owns a ducati, but i cant wrap my head around spending so much on a bike that seems to need constant maintenance. it seems like in every comparison the valve adjustment interval on the ducati is 7,500 miles compared to 10,000, 12,000, or more on everything else, of course ive never rode one to know, but it just seems like they get hyped up a lot.

[MacBandit]

I tend to agree with that. Though the new Desmond system is suppose to increase valve adjust intervals substantially and they've gone to a cam chain with a long life as well.

I'm absolutely convinced that they sell because they are considered a near affordable exotic. I've heard it said by many a uneducated or novice rider that Ducati is the Ferrari of motorcycles. I don't know about you but as someone that feels they are fairly knowledgeable about cars as well as bikes I wouldn't own an exotic anything. It's like a brand thing where they can charge more then its worth. It always seems like exotics despite being powerful or fast are harder to drive that way and less refined then other regular sportscars or bikes on the road.

[spike_africa]

There is just something exotic and nice about Ducati's and Aprilla's. You look at the build quality of the Ducati vs Triumph and its clear the Triumph is better made. Though the 696 is their base/starter bike.

Oh and before I ment to say that being I own a ST3 and a 696 I can tell you the Ducati has better brakes. And mine are upgraded with better pads and fluid. Her's is still on stock everything.

[MacBandit]

ST3R or standard ST3?

[spike_africa]

Shes black mate so its a regular.

[Tronix]

Brakes are good enough for me. Maybe its the brake feel and you think they are better. Any brake that can lock a front tire is pretty much as good as it gets lol

[MacBandit]

Being able to lock a brake has nothing to do with the power or ability of the brakes. You can shove a pipe in the spokes and it will lock the wheel as well. Good brakes offer tremendous control. You can stop faster without locking with good brakes because you can hold the tire right on the edge of traction.

I could see why the Duc brakes feel better then the standard Street brakes. The Street R brakes are much much better.

[Tronix]

blah blah technical reasons :P

[JDub]

I can lock up drum brakes. Doesn't mean they stop worth a damn :)

[spike_africa]

Plus you have to look at brake fade etc... but honestly they are much better.