Ducati Experiment is over!

Well after nine months with an Italian mistress (Ducati 748) I have pulled the plug. The duc has a new owner and I'm coming home again to the VFR ranks, as soon as I locate the right ride that is!

I'm probably relocating to eastern Ontario in the next month as well so change is on the menu for this summer. Looking forward to chatting with everyone again!!!

 

Glad your trip to the dark side was a short one. Everyone comes home at some time in their life!! :wink:

Make sure you send pics when you find the new one. If you need help finding one, I'm sure we can help you out.

 

I'm curious too although I think I know the answer(s).

 

I did the same experiment last year. The Ducati is gone and I'm back on a VFR! (And I'm much happier!)

 

Don't feel bad. Starting with a new 84VF700, I've "come back" 7 times over the last 22 years!

 

Fill me in! I am deciding between a Fifth Generation VFR and a Ducati ST3 or Multistrada. Why the pattern of one-year affairs with Ducati, only to return to the Honda?

 

When my best friend told me of fogging under guages, munching batteries and other sundry stuff popping off his 16k Fogarty Monster, I was done, Honda it is!

 

Well it has been quite a ride since last fall. I bought a 2001 748 monoposto off of a squid here in Chicago, assuming that it would need attention. It didn't phase me as a technician I looked forward to opening her up and learning the ways of the desmo. It was a good winter project getting the top end redone and all back together with some porting, valve and DVRS shim work. I had one bad rocker (flaking is an issue on these motors). This spring she was ready to rip with some new dunlops installed so I hit the track with her. The bike didn't feel quite right even with extensive adjustment done to the suspension. I felt better at speed on my VFR 800 dragging the pegs! It did work pretty well and I got bumped to the advanced group with SBTT. Then I ran it at Road America and damn she was weak!!! Her legs are just too short for a track of this size.

It is sexy and sounds amazing but it is a pain to ride anywhere but the track. I need more flexibility and the V4 800 has way more power which I kinda like as well. It also requires way too much maintenance. If I didn't do all the work myself it would have put me in the poor house. Just a valve check is close to a $1k in labor.

It was fun and I will cherish the good times but it is time to be more realistic and with the VFR I'm not giving up much.

 

Yep, sounds like the answer I was expecting. Kinda' reminds of a "fun" blonde I used to date. Outstanding for the ego, horrible on the maintenance requirements which eventually eroded the joy of ownership.

Good for you for trying though. You have to try everything at the buffet before the good stuff stands out.

 

I just picked up a 5th Gen VFR that replaced my Monster 900Sie. Here's why:
I was seduced by the idea of another naked bike. No plastic to worry about, the look and sound of sitting on a big motor with wheels attached, not to mention the "Ducati" street cred. This one was way cool with the small headlight fairing, fuel injection, carbon front fender, clip ons, steering damper, bar end mirrors and big Two Bros titanium pipes. But riding it... It was course (not corse but course). It felt like I was fighting the bike. It was also loud-too loud. Finally, it was starting to take me to the repair shop too often despite having under 10K on the odometer.

As for my 2001 VFR. It feels like home. It is smooth, (not sewing machine smooth like an inline but a more muscular smoothness), it feels just light enough yet heavy enough that I'm not being blown around, and I'll take the sounds of gear driven cams to a dry clutch any day of the week.

 

So, jethro911, your main problem with the Duc was with the power delivery, suspension setup, and the ergonomics? These issues wouldn't necessarily arise with the ST3 or MTS, so I am still undecided - pre-VTech VFR, ST3 or MTS?

Anyway, sorry for hijacking the thread. Congratulations on your decision.

 

ooo sorry to hear, happy you got the chance to try her out...Glad to have you back, so pre Vtec as in 200-01 huh? Hmmm

 

Mate, you just perfectly described my second marriage...! Also great fun to ride, but too hard and edgy, no comfort like a VFR...

 

I failed to mention the flaked rockers, toasted clutch basket and clutch and oh yes the flywheel nut that backed off and ate the stator. This stuff shouldn't happen on a premium product. The list goes on and on but I don't want to start a rant. The VFR guys complain about bad RR units at $200,,, haaah that is chicken poop compared to the cost of Duc maintenance.

She's a hottie but at a pretty hefty cost. The ST3 uses the same basic powerplant so it is not imune to these woes. Try one if you must, there are redeeming qualities, who knows, you may get a good one.

 

Good to see ya back, I'm always tempted to go the pure sportbike route but the pure all around abilities of the VFR and the Honda reliability will probably keep the VFR in the garage for a long time :thumb:

 

Glad you're back to the ranks! I had a lust affair with a Triumph Speed Triple until I saw my 05 VFR sitting in the corner beconing me to take her home... :smile:

Don't knock the V-TEC! It's a great bike even without the gear driven cams! :biggrin:

 

Re Ducatis -

like Clint Eastwood said, "Well, are you feeling lucky, Punk?"


By the way, Ducatis are relatively straightforward to work on, once you dig through the bodywork. I have a VF750F that, frankly, is a bit of a nightmare to work on. Even installing sparkplugs ticks me off! And don't get me started on the location of the oil filter . . . .

 

Yes they are prety easy to access but they require an unprecedented number of special tools especially when you get into the engine.

 

I dont want to sway you either way but I just went to a Ducati demo ride yesterday and altho I didnt enjoy their "sport-tourer" (ST3), I had a blast on the MultiStrada. Powerful (1100cc), very comfortable as of course you're sitting more upright and the handling was awesome. Ideally I would need at least a few hours with this bike to find some of its true capabilities but the 25 min. ride around the city gave me a good taste.

If I ever sell the VFR, this bike would be on my short list.