Ducati Monster Forum

Ok, since no one likes threadjackers here's a nice easy way to vent our differences about

 European vs. Jappanese  motos.

Say what you will at will. This is a healthy way to vent, discuss, compare or just praise your fav moto.
Remember this is a sane attempt to have a valid conversation about the facts, thoughts, memories or anything relateing to said title.
Thanks.
RED

P.S. - This thread should not be monitored by a mod for fear of funny and unruley behavior this thread may encourage.

I like all bikes. Harley even finally made a bike I could possibly be interested in. Never thought I would utter those words. [laugh] The XR1200 is pretty cool. At least with the proper mods. Took 'em long enough. People have been wanting an XR street tracker bike since the first XR750 rolled out of the race shop in the 70s! Demand has been there to the point that people like Storz Performance, Mert Lawwill and others have created a niche industry offering kits to convert Sporters into street trackers. Harley dropped the ball on that big time. They could have owned that market for years had they stopped thinking about cruisers and baggers and Fatboys for a minute or two. Maybe now they will offer a MV Agusta street tracker!!! [laugh]

ps   Does it count that my RC51 is a Jap/Duc? ;D

Who cares where the bike comes from... as long as it's the bike that fits your needs/wants in a bike [coffee]

I guess I better get back to work

if you ride and love to ride then I welcome you with open arms.  all bikes have defects and are expensive....well, most anyway.

I personally don't care as long as its not a frickin Hyosung.....


I'm admittedly not a huge fan of v-twins.. but thats not a slam against Ducati. I think they are gorgeous bikes and I could rattle off more than a few that I'd love to own including the old SBK 888 I used to ride from time to time... I'm also a HUGE fan of the 1050 Speed Triple... what a blast that bike is to ride. And the MV Brutale 910R....


I apologize for my comment in the other thread... it just seems that all too often some riders (usually Euro owners) seem to have somewhat of an elitist attitude based solely on how much a bike costs... not pointing fingers.. no need to get worked up...

My personal opinion when it comes to riders and bikes... I dont care what you ride, I'll respect you for riding as long as you aren't making an ass of yourself... then you're just asking for it...  Look on a broad enough spectrum and you'll find some squid morons on Ducs too....

/shrug yeah they seem cheap, but they are essentially a Suzuki SV.  Not really all that bad a bike.  I wouldn't own one, but eh.

I love bikes of all makes and models.  I'm not a particular fan of cruisers, but they have their place with the moto crowd.  The point is that motorcycles are fun no matter if you own a scooter or an 1198R!

Also btw, /wave to all of you!  I'm alive and one of these days will make an appearance again!

/hides back in the shadows once more.

-Jacob

 [thumbsup] Glad to see you again Jester! I was wondering where you've been.

I certainly do agree with you here man, that new XR is a nice bike. I think the suspension is where the mods could take place the most. I'd love to ride one with Ohlins front and rear with the Termis we've already seen. Can't buy one now but I'd take it for spin down some HC twisties.  [moto]

For me, desirability is more based on design, character, features, and build.  Sure some nameplates carry a lot more romance and snob appeal, but everyone makes something in the line that looks cool and rides well.

I once saw an opinion posted somewhere that all Ducs were is a bunch of parts stuck on a frame. In so much that Ducati doesn't make the parts they use on their bikes. True Brembo, Ohlins, and such are added but I like that. Showa's are ok, Ohlins better. Stock good, Brembos better. In some instances parts aint just parts. That said do you suppose (like Fastwin said) one can make a Jap/Duc out of an RC51? That is one bike I'd love to have their. I pulled up beside one on my last ride before surgery last month and took a long look at it. Sounded really fine and the 'parts' list looked pretty good too. Fastwin how do they sort out between the two?

I was sitting at a light one night (about 11:30Pm) and a Hyosung "sport" bike rolled up.
I was on my 4-month-old 1098S (it was May of '07)

Dude was totally wigging out "Holly shit! Wow! a 1098! That bike is Sooo cool!!!..."

...and then my bike stalled idling at the light.   [roll]


When the light turned green only one bike rode off  :'(

Dude, that took a lot. 

 8) I'd ride a bicycle with a Whizzer on it if that was all I could afford/get/find ! But no Urals - I hate Urals  !! :-X  [cheeky]

the engines are actually made by a subsidiary of Zuk from what i understand... or same factory.. or something... there is a connection between the two somewhere... BUT the materials are way cheaper. I've known a few hyosung owners  who bought them as cheap first bikes... one of them went through 3 engines melting before they finally just gave her her money back

Thanks for that I needed a laugh today! That is funny.

And just to think the U. S. put the country on line to produce such crappy shit in order to sell it right back to us! What a concept!

Dude, that just makes it worse  [laugh]  [cheeky]  [laugh]    Jok-ing! 

The RC51 is an awesome thing.  Saw it over at Randy's when the fairings were off; totally top shelf components and some incredibly serious engineering.  Any motor with gear-driven cams gets my respect, no questions asked  [laugh]  Another V-Twin sportbike that I really like is made by Suzuki, I think it's a TLR1000R... super bad ass with a 'Busa Bustle on the tail.  And then then there are the Hayabusas themselves... an R1, or...  I digress.

From the comments I've heard people make that I've ridden with over the years, I think most people on this forum have a healthy appreciation of Japanese motorcycles and most have owned or ridden quite a few.  While I can't say with total certainty that snobbery or elitism about Euro bikes from around here NEVER happens, I'd have to think it's rare.  This group is seems to be very open minded when it comes to motorbikes.  (Plus, that whole "exclusivity" attitude thing doesn't hold any water with me anyway when you consider that any nice "pre-owned"  [roll]  motorcycle from one of the "high end" Euro manufacturers costs about the same as a new Asian bike.)

But strictly from my point of view, I think all modern motorcycles are impressive from a performance stand point alone.  So given that, cutting-edge technology or racetrack performance are not the exclusive  territory of just one manufacturer over another; they're all really, really good! 

I guess it's just a matter of what spins your prop  [evil]

When's the next ride?

 [beer]

I agree with that Cher that all bikes are super these days. A point that Kieth Code made in his 2nd book is that over the past 30 years bikes in general have improved 60-80% over what they were in 1978. Riders on the other hand have only improved maybe 15% at most. I think what he's saying is that most people who ride new ones today can use the technology on new bikes only marginally better. All bikes have gotten better much faster than we have become better riders to use the bikes produced now. So it doesn't matter if you have a Jap a Euro or a Ural if you can't ride the pants of it you're not gong to notice if it's better or not. That is why my focus this year is to become a better rider from the inside out.

The next ride can't be soon enough. Too bad we keep having great week day weather and now the weekend looks like it's back to normal 50 degree temps. Why can't they figure this out? Maybe this should be part of the big stimulus plan. OK weather during the week, awesome sunny 70+ degree weather on the weekends!!

The RC51s are nice bikes. But they are very different from the 998s and 999s. They were bulit only to compete with Ducati on the track given the current rules at that time in World SBK. Same for the TLR1000 Suzooks. They were Jap/Ducs built to the current rules. Why else would they exist? The Suzooks never made it but at least Honda won a World SBK and an AMA SBK championship out of it. They are an anomaly. Something that would have never existed if it were not for Ducati's dominance and the rules that favored them.

Funny... Ducs still seem to dominate. [laugh] Given all that they are still great bikes. I love my Hayden Rep. Those Sato pipes sound freaking awesome!! That alone may be a good reason to own it!! [moto] [beer]

Hell, I'll tell ya what the next ride ought to be is to ride over to the place that shall not be named and help maintain  [bow_down]  Fasties  [bow_down] bikes!! Yeah! Do a little polishing, a little tire wearing etc. I'd like to check out that Hayden and all the other eye candy assortment I keep hearing of. Just let me know when that ride is and I'll put 'ol RED there.

Of course I don't think anybody should ride anywhere until I can go with you...er...that is when I'm able to pull in the clutch again.  :-[

you missed it Fastwind, it is part of the "stimulus" plan.  All $286 million to study global warming.  Didn't they already sell that to us?  odly, the conference on global warming was snowed out.....hahahaha a little threadjack.  [leo]

now, I love my Ducs and love some Jap bikes but am scared to own the Busa because I know I'd go WAY too fast on it.  [moto]
If I had the money I'd own them all damnit!

In my experience, I've found that riding a Jap bike is like getting a BJ from a girl who doesn't swallow, it's fun and it gets the job done, but in the end, something is missing. Riding a duc, on the other hand, is like getting the full treatment.

Wow, should we label that last one nsfw?
Cant say b**bies but clinton and monica are ok to use in a shitty analogy?

Hmmm...... to put this in experienced 20 year old lingo.....  I'll try
When I ride my "jap bike" it doesn't bust a nut at 9k rpms, it continues to please a lot longer.  It's always hard to compare the 2 bikes, some might say apples to oranges, I say $$ to $$.  I love Duc's, they are beautiful, and if you have the cash you can make them sound cool too.  But no doubt in my mind that $$ for $$ they are not as good.(Not saying they are bad either, so quit hating)  Hard to compare Monsters, SS and SC to any jap sport bike for the same year and price range, because unless the track is a 40 yard dash, you will lose in every race.  So take a $21K 1098s and compare it to a 2008 GSXR1000, R1, etc with $21k invested in it and you will find that the jap not only "swallows", but brings 2 girlfriends too......

my first Duc (besides Bonnie's M600) was a 2006 SC1000.  I loved it.  It was beautiful.  It was cool looking (except for the ugly ass exhaust that cost $2K to replace) and I liked owning.  But it was a swift kick in the balls when you compare it to a inline 4 that was new.  I bought the SC new from AMS around $10.5k plus exhaust, so about $12.5-13K total.  If I was to compare that with a new inline 1000cc bike, I would find that I bought a bike that would get beat in every comparison test you coould throw at it.  I would have to keep telling myself that I didn't buy a sport bike/superbike.  If I was to to do that, I would have to spend around $13-14K on an 848 and still wouldn't have a bike that could keep up with an inline for a few grand less.......

I buy Duc's because they appeal to me.  Not because they are faster or better, because they aren't.  Because I realize no matter how fast you are, there's someone else faster.....  I could ride a D16RR and get spanked by Rossi on Hyosung 250 on the track.

I was only trying to make a funny statement, Obviously my humor failed.

I've yet to ride ride a Bike who's "busted a nut" at me, but it certainly sounds like an unpleasant experience.

You and I have had this conversation before, we came to an impasse. It doesn't seem like either of us is about to change our point of view.

If I am to be banned for referring to oral sex, then something is terribly wrong in this board (Cue up double standard).

i almost busted my nuts on the tank of an Aprilia RSV with i found out where the rev limiter was with the front wheel in the air..

Does that count?

My point exactly.  [thumbsup]

I propose we ban all banning.
 [coffee]

motion on the floor...........I second that

everybody look at my dog conor for a second and chill out.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/946136705_038a1effd2_b.jpg)

carry on.

Valid points all EM and T, cost vs cost always goes to lower dollar amount.
Why is it then that japs cost so much less and as you say outperform a Duc better? I'd like to know cuz I'd like to make a stripped-down 'rat' bike out of your R1. I'd like to put some nice suspension mods on it and make some crazy power from that bike and put it out on the street or track for fun. No, no stunts just smoking tires and knee scraping corner performance. If it's that cheap then I don't think I'd have a problem with pushing it into corners and fearing  a lowside. since you have always said that you were able to buy the 1098s but not fix it, it seems a reasonable compromise.

I gather Conor is the one in the picture right?  ;D

ok I'm calm  :P

now, can we have a motion to vote?  :-*

 [roll]  There are two choices IMHO - Group Hug or Motorcycle Jousting where whoever wins the Asian VS Euro bout takes on the Harley crowd !  [laugh]  I vote for group hug ! ( it can be a virtual hug - unless we can get more ladies involved !  [bacon] )

(http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticon-critic/hug-and-kiss/images/yellow_smiley_hug.gif)

I thought Connor was the "skunk" dog on the left? Isn't he? By "skunk" I mean blk/wht not stinky. ;D

seriously guys, who gives a flying crap what you ride?  it's obvious we all love Ducs on this board for one reason or another.  that said, whatever you ride just ride well and within your limits and we will all have fun together.  if we're not careful we will start behaving like some of the Harley crowd.  Yes I have the right to say that because I've owned two of them but chose not to anymore and when I'm with my cruiser group this crap always comes out.  two wheels and smiles, nothing else matters IMO
 [moto]

+149845187987651641

huh?

it means he agrees wholeheartedly

must be behind on this abbreviation and text thing.

Good seeing C-dog again  [thumbsup]

Its like a +1 or a  [thumbsup] ... but alot more enthusiastic

 [beer]

To all:

This topic was not intended to inflame anyone's anger toward or against any genre/make/color/creed of any bike, bike rider or any other personal interest anyone has on the board. I thought (at first in a humorous manner) that we could intelligently engage each other in some fun banter like sitting around a few beers discussing this and that about this passion we all love. It seems that no topic these days is tame enough or without character enough to not offend people here. Therefore in an atempt to bring some harmony at this time I am going to lock this thread from further discussion. This because I do not want to be saddled with the harness of being the one who started a controversial thread and made everyone mad thus giving rise to being misinterpreted. I am truely sorry if that is how it has been perceived. Peace everyone.

Topic re-opened. No need for hate here. It's all good!

I never saw any nastiness. It's a good thread. [thumbsup]

On a related matter, it looks like the DFWM/jap bike family is growing!! [clap] Thank God... now Damien, Dax, T and I won't have to worry about taking so much s#@t from the Euro crowd!! [laugh]

I never take shit from anyone  [popcorn].  I can go 160 miles, sometimes more, so if they start their crap I'll keep riding along with radio, ipod and all the trimmings while they scream bloody murder for a prostate break.  [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

i dont care what you ride as long as you ride... and those that think "my bike is better/faster/ worth more money/is more exotic etc" have Small (http://images.askmen.com/toys/interview_150/pictures_150/157_dick_clark_small.JPG) syndrome

Now that's funny!! Thanks GMan!! [laugh]

I never say my bike is better than another.. unless its a real piece of shit...


I have been guilty of calling out squids as being inferior riders

this thread is very simple...... ford vs. chevy; foriegn vs. domestic;  for every 1 person that says x is better than y there's another waiting in line to say y is better than x. that is why there are choices. every choice fits a different need, want or personality. i owned several suzuki's and have ridden others makes. the zx-6r sitting in my garage (not mine only bike sitting) has INCREDIBLE power but i don't find it very comfortable. for me it wasn't about power but comfort, fun and great looks which I FEEL i got with my monster. a guy at my work bought an 06 gsxr 750 because it was bike of the year and he has no qualms about letting you know it was yet ha can't ride it longer than an hour or his back starts hurting him. he bought his for a different reason than i bought mine. right now some guy is buying a hyosung because it fits his need financially and looks like a higher priced japenese bike. it's an arguement never won. because if you say the japenese bikes clearly outclass the italians then the italians say "bayliss and stoner". 1st in wsbk and 2nd in motogp only to the greatest ever put on two wheels (who just happens to be italian). does it mean they have better bikes not necessarily because how many everyday joe's have a 1098r or a d16rr. not many. does that mean the japenese have a better bike than the italians because they have more on the road. not necessarily because how many times has a guy on a japanese bike said how much he is dieing for an italian yet can't afford it. the japanese make incredible power with great pricing. the italians make great power with incredibly sexy looks. matter of need, wants or whatever it's still the never ending argument. now can we all just shut up and ride!!!


IMO!!

I think all bikes suck if they are parked and not being ridden.

there, that should end this.  [evil]

I'll bet someone smarter than me (shouldn't be hard) can apply this to bikes:

HEAVEN is where:
the Police are British,
the chefs are Italian,
the mechanics are German,
the lovers are French, and
it's all organized by the Swiss.    [cheeky]

HELL is where:
the police are German,
the chefs are British,
the mechanics are French,
the lovers are Swiss, and
it's all organized by the Italians.   [evil]

bravo  [clap]

That's a good one George! Never heard that one before. [clap]

Great one George  [thumbsup]

HEAVEN is where:
the Motorcycles are British,
the Leathers are Italian,
the Pace Cars are German,
the Umbrella Girls are French(preferably ones that shave), and
the Lap timers are by the Swiss.

HELL is where:
the Motorcycles are Swiss,
the Leathers are German,
the Pace Cars are French,
the Umbrella girls are Brits, and
it's Lap timers are by the Italians.

HEAVEN is where:
the Motorcycles are British,
or Italian,
or German,
or Japanese

HELL is where:
the road is in Kansas.

See?  The Talent Pool on this site is bottomless.

Now I would have expected that someone might've thought HELL included bikes from China and leathers from Mexico, but hey...

Pura vida!
George

Very cool George!

Well, while I'd love to take credit for this little gem, it's actually someone else's "signature" on a Guzzi forum:

"Italian bikes are like Italian women; sometimes they'll stab you for no reason."

 [beer]

I think that was meant for Spanish women.  ;D  :P
I know from personal experience.  :'(

Yipes  :o

back stabbing that is.  metaphors don't work in email threads  [beer]

Well the more I ride my Scarabeo 50 the more I want one of these!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycles___Aprilia-RS250-2000-Track-Bike-Race-Bike-No-Reserve_W0QQitemZ330309961016QQddnZMotorcyclesQQddiZ2283QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item330309961016&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycles___Aprilia-RS250-2000-Track-Bike-Race-Bike-No-Reserve_W0QQitemZ330309961016QQddnZMotorcyclesQQddiZ2283QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item330309961016&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)