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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Scout63 on April 24, 2021, 09:36:26 PM
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I’d never ridden a Ducati until today, when my good friend John traded his 916 for my Commando for a few miles. I folded my 6’2” frame into it and rode off terrified and feeling like I was staring down at the front wheel and pavement. After a few miles I loosened up and it was surprisingly not uncomfortable. A quick roll on the throttle in third gear had me at 80 mph in a heartbeat and the exhaust note was wonderful. I’m grateful for the chance to ride it and so glad I turned it back over without incident.
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Sounds like fun. I try to ride any bike I can. :bike-037:
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916's and 748's are two of the most beautiful more modern Ducati's made.
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They are glorious sounding .
Dusty
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The venerable and legendary 916! What a beautiful bike. Sort of like what a LM1 is to Guzzi.
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Ducatis have the best sound. Of anything on Earth. I just took my lowly Scrambler out for a short afternoon ride, since I didn't have time for the long day ride I'd originally planned on the Guzzi -- a.k.a the real bike -- and it was glorious.
Members of my tribe envy you those moments on that 916!
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I’d never ridden a Ducati until today, when my good friend John traded his 916 for my Commando for a few miles. I folded my 6’2” frame into it and rode off terrified and feeling like I was staring down at the front wheel and pavement. After a few miles I loosened up and it was surprisingly not uncomfortable. A quick roll on the throttle in third gear had me at 80 mph in a heartbeat and the exhaust note was wonderful I’m grateful for the chance to ride it and so glad I turned it back over without incident.
The 916 engine wise is pretty pedestrian compared to later iterations. I basically let the rego lapse on my 1198 as the reality is it's too much bike for the road with probably around 80hp more than a 916, so its for bigger race tracks these days like Phillip Island. Its even to much bike for smaller tracks really. Imagine what a V4 Panagale is like on the road. The 916 was a seismic shift in the Ducati world mainly because it was such a leap forward from a mechanical design perspective. Really well thought through and integrated design and much easier to work on than the old 851/888 series of bikes.
Crankcases only lasted 1000klm of racing at WSB and national level though.
Ciao
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I'll be taking mine out this afternoon.
As for riding comfort, it's my most comfortable bike - far less of a torture rack than the LeMans and, for me at least, better than the Monster - probably because I've had it so long (23 yrs) so I've moulded to fit it...
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I have a 96 Monster 900 with Marvings mufflers, not too loud but noticeable .I believe 96 is the last year of the V2 heads with larger valves and longer duration cams..The engine sounds like a drag race V8 at idle with the off cadence aggressive 1200 rpm lope. As Cook Nielson called it, a Ducati surges forward like it has hydraulic power, an unique experience of sound and feel. I like the older two valve belt cam drive engines...There are better or faster bikes but a Ducati is in a class of it's own...
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Oh yes, the sound... When the guy I bought my Monster from started it for me and I heard it for the first time I couldn't get the cash out of my pocket fast enough. The looking at the ground feeling went away after some miles and it has proved to be way more comfortable than I thought it would. I would describe the acceleration as the feeling of being hurled forward by an irresistible force. Keeper!
Larry
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I have a 96 Monster 900 with Marvings mufflers, not too loud but noticeable .I believe 96 is the last year of the V2 heads with larger valves and longer duration cams..The engine sounds like a drag race V8 at idle with the off cadence aggressive 1200 rpm lope. As Cook Nielson called it, a Ducati surges forward like it has hydraulic power, an unique experience of sound and feel. I like the older two valve belt cam drive engines...There are better or faster bikes but a Ducati is in a class of it's own...
The 2V air cooled 900 is my favorite motor from Ducati. Had it in my 900ss's and perfect for the street. I've had later watercooled 4 valve stuff but just never like it as much as the air cooled 2 valvers.
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The 2V air cooled 900 is my favorite motor from Ducati. Had it in my 900ss's and perfect for the street. I've had later watercooled 4 valve stuff but just never like it as much as the air cooled 2 valvers.
Yes, a fine engine, about 74 HP stock at the rear wheel with strong midrange is more than adequate in a 430 pound bike. Not difficult to work once you learn the quirks....I installed new clutch plates with a Barnett clutch drum that cuts down on the rattle in neutral. I might be one of the few that dislikes the clutch noise..I spend time on the stock carbs and the engine runs nice at lower speeds without the surging trolling through town at 2500 rpm..Oh,and the sound.....
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I owned a new 996 for about 3 yrs back in the day.
Dead sexy engine silky smooth trans but I always was very uncomfortable after a short stint so it spent most of its time quietly in the corner being drooled over by myself and others.
Have ridden many Ducs since then but no question if I was to take a run at another it would be a Desmo with a dry clutch for sure. Those newer versions just don't have what the older ones had and that's a shame IMHO.
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I have a Duc 939 Supersport. It is the most comfortable bike I own (vs V11 EV and V11 Sport). It's the best handling, balanced and braking bike I've ever ridden. It's light and responsive yet very stable. It also has saddlebags. It has great styling and close to the same power as the 916. I wouldn't call it fast but a nice balanced package.
(https://g1.img-dpreview.com/A0D091AB7A8B4291B052B0FF774E3C61.jpg)
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My bride picked up a 2003 Duc ST4s last spring for cheap money. The headlight is terrible and the front-end styling is meh, but it's a comfortable bargain way to get a 996 motor. The Remus titanium cans make it sing the song of the sausage creature.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CrTbnDm/0/89756e91/X2/i-CrTbnDm-X2.jpg)
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There's one motorcycle my wife can pick out without seeing it , and yes, it's the 2 wheeled clutch rattler :evil: ! Peter
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An Executive Chef friend of mine bought one when they first came out. We were both out on a local ride. We pulled over at a scenic lookout. In both directions open lava fields and light traffic. We switched bikes. I brought my Daytona 1000.
We head out in opposite directions. I nailed the throttle and shifted gears slightly below redline. WoWsa!!! :thumb:
About 30 minutes later both of us return to the scenic lookout parking lot. He's got a grin on his face too. :grin: We were both impressed. My impression with the 916 and his with the Daytona.
It seems that after those bikes were made both manufacturers split in philosophy and went in different directions.
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I might be one of the few that dislikes the clutch noise.
I’m not especially a fan. I put a cover on my previously open clutch on a 900SS. Now it’s fine. What I find especially amusing is the number of people who hear it and then solemnly tell me there is something seriously wrong with the bike.
Glorious exhaust note. Love the bike—a very unique motorcycle experience. Visceral
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My bride picked up a 2003 Duc ST4s last spring for cheap money. The headlight is terrible and the front-end styling is meh, but it's a comfortable bargain way to get a 996 motor. The Remus titanium cans make it sing the song of the sausage creature.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CrTbnDm/0/89756e91/X2/i-CrTbnDm-X2.jpg)
Two questions..
What’s the “sausage creature..”
and
When will you stop hanging your freaking helmet on the mirror..!
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Probably never. Bad habit. IMHO
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Two questions..
What’s the “sausage creature..”
Hunter S Thompson - The Song of the Sausage Creature
Read it. You'll like it.
G
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Nothing wrong with a Ducati.
Especially a homogolated one with a sandcast engine and a plethora of carbon fibre and titanium parts :cool:
(https://i.ibb.co/cL3sShD/5512-F8-DE-A557-44-C0-B419-35-DB05-AF4275.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cL3sShD)
3 sided coin (https://freeonlinedice.com/)
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:thumb:
(https://i.ibb.co/yhcbGbD/20171217-212215.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yhcbGbD)
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My bride picked up a 2003 Duc ST4s last spring for cheap money. The headlight is terrible and the front-end styling is meh, but it's a comfortable bargain way to get a 996 motor. The Remus titanium cans make it sing the song of the sausage creature.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CrTbnDm/0/89756e91/X2/i-CrTbnDm-X2.jpg)
I for one never want to hear the sausage creature sing. That being said all I could think about in the first ten minutes of riding the 916 was that the super bike was the crazy fast version that Ducati wouldn’t send to Woody Creek. I remember reading that essay in the Art of the Motorcycle book while sitting on a wall outside the Guggenheim. It is still brilliant (the book).
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The 916 engine is sweet, a really nice thing to ride and somehow nicer than the 996 and later iterations that have more power. I have the 916 engine in my ST4 and it’s probably my overall favorite bike to ride, especially because of the engine. I also have a 996, a 916 with more power. The 996 is a great engine for sure, more torque, but the bike is brutally uncomfortable for me. It’s a race bike made for a few laps then stop. The 916 chassis etc is a compete and wonderful work of art in detail design which is why I have it, but mine has only 2400 miles on the odometer which says all I’d say. I’ve ridden a bevel SS on 600 mile days and they’re hardly a luxury ride, but I wouldn’t do the same on a 916 or 996.
The 2V belt drive SS is a completely different and less refined bike than the 4v bikes of the same era. Fairly easy to own and maintain, inexpensive then and now, and a great tool on a twisty road as opposed to a race track. Valve maintenance is much easier than the 916-style engine. Mine’s a CR which is a bit cruder than the up-spec model but I prefer it for its lighter weight and more durable steel swing arm.
The Guzzi Daytona (mine is an RS) is a charging rhinoceros, a wonderful machine that goes pretty well and gives you all the right feelings. Very different and less silky smooth than the 916 or 996, not as fast either, but I enjoy riding it a lot more... mine has many times more miles recorded in comparison to the 996.
If you forced me to choose one between them it’d be either the 916-engined ‘99 ST4 or the Daytona RS.
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I owned a 1998 916 for a couple of years and loved it. As I was approaching 50 years old I got the crazy idea that I really didn't need such an all out committed sport bike and sold it. It was a real sweetheart.
(https://i.postimg.cc/25fTTZbx/Scan-20210425.png) (https://postimg.cc/pmqDLyB9)
Within a year of selling it I was missing the superbike performance and bought a brand new 2003 CBR954RR at a killer price as the new CBR1000RR was in the dealerships. I must admit that the CBR did everything just as well and in most respects a bit better than the 916, but it didn't have the amazing sound of the Ducati.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qRJwHHGh/1188-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJYTVw6c)
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(https://i.postimg.cc/25fTTZbx/Scan-20210425.png) (https://postimg.cc/pmqDLyB9)
What kind of front stand is that?
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I owned a 1998 916 for a couple of years and loved it. As I was approaching 50 years old I got the crazy idea that I really didn't need such an all out committed sport bike and sold it. It was a real sweetheart.
(https://i.postimg.cc/25fTTZbx/Scan-20210425.png) (https://postimg.cc/pmqDLyB9)
Within a year of selling it I was missing the superbike performance and bought a brand new 2003 CBR954RR at a killer price as the new CBR1000RR was in the dealerships. I must admit that the CBR did everything just as well and in most respects a bit better than the 916, but it didn't have the amazing sound of the Ducati.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qRJwHHGh/1188-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJYTVw6c)
Ha, the one that got away Dave. We've all been there.
Ciao
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Ha, the one that got away Dave. We've all been there.
Ciao
Ha! Yes. From time to time I have looked for another 916 and I must admit this thread had me doing just that, but at 66 I know that my body wouldn't enjoy being that folded up for long. It would be a great bike for grin producing short hops though!
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Two questions..
What’s the “sausage creature..”
and
When will you stop hanging your freaking helmet on the mirror..!
You tell her...
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Two questions..
What’s the “sausage creature..”
http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html
One of my favorite lines.
Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better. I've always believed this, in spite of the trouble it's caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba....
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These are my fave bikes; I'll never sell the Sport1100i, had it since new, this will always be the one. Might sell the Sport Classic though. A really beautiful bike with nice manners and handling but after 25 years on Guzzis, my muscle memory just can't get used to the difference in torque. I stall it more than I stall the Sport, and that's saying something, haha.
(https://i.ibb.co/kX0JSvp/Duck-and-Goose.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kX0JSvp)
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http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html
One of my favorite lines.
Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better. I've always believed this, in spite of the trouble it's caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba....
I've always liked this quote: 'when we ride very fast motorcycles, we ride with immaculate sanity'.
Or we get to meet the Sausage Creature.
G
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Not a 916 but I just picked up this Superlight a couple weeks ago. Man it sounds amazing!!
(https://i.ibb.co/Yj2HqZN/63984602332-D3-B7-CCCA-87-CF-4-A37-B24-A-4-C4-FBA0-E7-EEB.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Yj2HqZN)
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I've always liked this quote: 'when we ride very fast motorcycles, we ride with immaculate sanity'.
Or we get to meet the Sausage Creature.
G
"That nasty bugger looked like it was doing 90 mph when it was standing still in my garage."
"Never mind the track. The track is for punks. We are road people. We are café racers."
"My bike is so much faster than yours that I dare you ride it. You lame little turd."
I'd say the Doctor was in one of his moods when he wrote it. Certainly loaded with bravado and great turns of phrases with humor and with perhaps exaggeration to the point of self deprecation.
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So long as we're talking about the Dr, I just remember that I recently took a photo that was tribute to the Song of the Sausage Creature. Here's my Supersport.
(https://i.ibb.co/C27s0JJ/P1060438.jpg) (https://ibb.co/C27s0JJ)
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Not a 916 but I just picked up this Superlight a couple weeks ago. Man it sounds amazing!!
(https://i.ibb.co/Yj2HqZN/63984602332-D3-B7-CCCA-87-CF-4-A37-B24-A-4-C4-FBA0-E7-EEB.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Yj2HqZN)
That’s the one I want. Great color too.
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Yeah I kinda got bit by the Ducati bug a few years back. In 1995 I bought a 900ss to go with my 907 and from then until a couple years ago it was all Ducati all the time.
(http://teamyikes.com/Guzzi/Garage.jpg)
The time came to simplify and everything in that picture except the 851 is gone now. The 996 is the only bike I regret selling, probably should have gotten rid of the 851 instead. I bought the 996 new in 2000. It was a love/hate bike. Low miles because on a lot of days when I walked into the garage planning to take it out, I'd change my mind and take something else instead.
I've also had a '95 900ss/cr and '97 900ss/sp. I came very close to buying a 900ss Superlight when they were new. I wish I would have, I'm sure I'd still own it.
Anyway, yeah, for real world use I liked the 900ss better than the 996 but for some reason I didn't keep either of the 900s all that long. The 996 was the worst street bike I've ever owned, but I still kept it for 17 years. When it was good it was SO good... but there were so many times it just was not the right bike to have.
After market clip ons with a slightly different angle made a huge difference in comfort. The seat a bit of difference. It was still never what I'd call comfy though.
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I got a chance to ride a 999s years ago. Great riding bike, but the exhaust heat was brutal.
I'm on my third Duc.
(https://i.ibb.co/wrwCH1P/paso-907.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wrwCH1P)