please convince me...

[picard]

Interesting comparo. Have you gone on an FZ1 forum?  I see there are several.  If there is a concern with the suspension, I am sure those on the forums have found a way around it.

Yes I have - thanks for suggesting - and asked them the same question. Obviously most of the folks there are biased the other way but many said essentially the same things that were said here (and some of them are obvoius enough - one just has to hear them spelled out).
The consensus there seems to be that setup is critical and may fix my issues and of course there is always the aftermarket.
Performance-wise the FZ should flat smoke the S4R anywhere it's just that it does not feel that way because the Ducati motor is so much more raw and the FZ is so smooth and stealthy.

[RC Fan]

Are you leaning one way or the other?  Are your dealers in the area decent?  My Ducati dealer also sells Yamaha, so I am eagerly awaiting the FZ8.

[picard]

Are you leaning one way or the other?  Are your dealers in the area decent?  My Ducati dealer also sells Yamaha, so I am eagerly awaiting the FZ8.

The Yamakawazuki dealer in town is decent, and we have Boulder Motorsports - supposedly a very good Ducati shop. The main reason I'm leaning FZ is that - if it became my only bike - it would still be a decent perch for my wife - once in a while - and probably be more worry free for everyday use...

[Scottish]

Why do you think the Yamaha should be winning the hp battle so hugely? The s4r puts out 117hp or 130hp if this is one with the Testastretta engine, this is something worth looking into.

The Yamaha makes 150hp but weights 487, the Duc weights in at 390lbs. That is almost 100lbs of difference... or to put it another way the difference in weight of riding 2up with your wife all the time.

Consider also the torque curve on the bikes, the reason the Yami feels sneaky fast is that it isn't hitting as hard or early as the Duc.

Here's a couple sites to open in your browser to look between and ponder... yes ones a wiki, it seems no one wants to post the Yami hp numbers.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/s4r/testastretta.htm

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2007/146_0609_2007_ducati_s4r_testastretta/specifications.html

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_fz1%20fazer%2010.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_FZ1

[RC Fan]

The main reason I'm leaning FZ is that - if it became my only bike - it would still be a decent perch for my wife - once in a while - and probably be more worry free for everyday use...

The half fairing on the FZ1 is definitely an advantage if it will be your only bike.  I get a lot of windblast on the Monster--a freeway bike it is not.

[picard]

Why do you think the Yamaha should be winning the hp battle so hugely? The s4r puts out 117hp or 130hp if this is one with the Testastretta engine, this is something worth looking into.

The Yamaha makes 150hp but weights 487, the Duc weights in at 390lbs. That is almost 100lbs of difference... or to put it another way the difference in weight of riding 2up with your wife all the time.

Consider also the torque curve on the bikes, the reason the Yami feels sneaky fast is that it isn't hitting as hard or early as the Duc.

Here's a couple sites to open in your browser to look between and ponder... yes ones a wiki, it seems no one wants to post the Yami hp numbers.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/s4r/testastretta.htm

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2007/146_0609_2007_ducati_s4r_testastretta/specifications.html

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_fz1%20fazer%2010.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_FZ1

It's not the testastretta for 2004.
390 is dry weight, 487 is wet (all fluids, tank full) - new rules about that in 2009.
I would expect the Duc still to be about 40 lbs lighter but not a wife's worth.

[krolik]

AS many others have said, get the bike that you like. Of course we're biased towards Ducati on this forum, as the members on the FZ forum are biased towards the Yamaha. Another thing is to check out the local board for your area. I believe that you said Boulder was your closest Ducati shop so check out: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=23.0. 

I know that the Ducati riding hooligans in Colorado are a fun group, the trip I took to Ouray in '07 was a blast.  [moto]

[arai_speed]

When i bought my bike I threw caution to the wind.   I bought the bike that I liked and always wanted, simple as that.

[Scottish]

It's not the testastretta for 2004.
390 is dry weight, 487 is wet (all fluids, tank full) - new rules about that in 2009.
I would expect the Duc still to be about 40 lbs lighter but not a wife's worth.

Hey I'm trying to "convince" if it takes a little fudging to get the right bike so be it. 

[Scottish]

Ah yes and an excellent point, from Krolic if you get the Duc we have Ducati in the Rockies...



















It's not just a motorcycle... it's a lifestyle. An adventurous lifestyle with curvy roads, and a lot of Starbucks.

[picard]

ooohh Telluride. Yes a lot of nice riding around there. And between here and there :-)

[Statler]

go look in the action pics thread.

then test ride a big Duc twin at your local dealer.

then find your local guys and go have a drink with them and talk bikes.

then go buy the damn thing and start riding the snot out of it and doing track days.


(although I have to throw in my normal caveat about if your local dealer sucks your Duc ownership experience has the potential to suck too if you use them for anything)