Harley forum compairing Monster 1000s and HD XR1200!

[NYCmonster]

You are making my point.

But you missed mine. Why compare? I don't know, for shits and giggles. There's nothing wrong with comparing and backing it up with numbers, instead of just spewing this bike sucks, that bike sucks. If anything it's an interesting read, just like we all know that the Predator can kick the Alien's butt.    HDForum compares the XR1200 to several sport bikes and even to its own classic Sportster. In all of the comparisons, the overall outcome was that the other bikes were better performers and priced better (I think with the exception of the BMW for the latter). No surprise there, but this is coming from a HD site!

You may as well compare a dogsled to a Ducati, you'd get the same result.

True, but maintenance on the dogsled is much lower. 

[Monstermash]

True, but maintenance on the dogsled is much lower. 

 

[somegirl]

The main reason why I hate Harleys is the whole "me too" attitude associated with most of the owners. It always makes me laugh when some rich doctor or lawyer (no offense Statler) goes out and buys the biggest most expensive HD they can find and then act all high and mighty and look down their noses at anyone who doesn't ride one.

And Ducati owners never do that?   

[Speedbag]

And Ducati owners never do that?   

In some ways Ducatis and Harleys are very much alike. 

I have to admit that my Street Rod makes me somewhat of an outcast with the "real" H-D crowd too. Whatever.  Ride what you want and fill the garage with all flavors, that's my motto.

I inherited a '66 Sears/Puch 2-smoker that I mean to get back on the road next summer. If you want slow and silly.....

[akmnstr]

You may as well compare a dogsled to a Ducati, you'd get the same result.

True, but maintenance on the dogsled is much lower.   

Not true at all.  I have both a Ducati and a kennel of huskies (which is how you power a dog sled).  I can testify that the huskies do require much more
maintenance.  They require my attention every morning and night whether I run them or not.  My Monster (also know as the Desmo pregnant dog) is likely
one of the most demanding and temperamental motorcycles on the planet but she is largely content to sit ideal for weeks or even months in
her shed.  However, when out on the road the huskies will almost never break down, and they start up at extreme temperatures.  The same cannot be said of the Desmo B*tch.

Performance wise the Duc has a greater top speed and great cornering in dry conditions.  The huskies have awesome bottom end torque and can hang extreme corners in dry, snow, and ice. 

Both perform well attracting the opposite sex although the appeal of the duc is limited during the winter whereas the appeal of the cute IZ_ huskies
is ever present. 

Visits to the shop for scheduled checkups runs about the same for both. 

Overall I'd say it is a toss up between the two and I wouldn't want to be without either. 

Well there you have it, a comparo between a dog sled (team) and a monster.    In a later issue we will be doing a full blown test where
we hope to get both on a dyno and add some head to head competition. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

but most of the models available from HD are just warmed over from decades ago with no new technology. They paint it a different color and bolt on different bars and presto, they have a new model. How well do you think Ducati would be doing if they were wrapping old bevel motors in different bodywork and selling them? Just a guess but probably not too well. 

So.....do you like the 696 then? 

[Statler]

Funny...there are lots of people on this forum who talk about riding their bikes as cruisers and not wanting to go to the track, and arguing with people when we say riding means performance riding.

Look through some threads and see how many people just ride their bike to the store or commute to the office, etc.

And yet in this thread it's all about performance and how the HD sucks because of that comparison.

So what's the difference between riding a Duc at 50% it's capability or a sportster at 75% at the same speed doing the same thing?  Nothing. (I'm taking the ease of doing things and the weight of the bike into account which is why I put the percentages where I did).


A gixxer 1000, an s2r, and a sportster are all the same commuting (except for comfort and ease of riding slowly where the HD may be much better).   Methinks more folks should try different kinds of bikes...especially those who don't ride pretty hard.

[Monstermash]

So.....do you like the 696 then? 

Wow, I left myself wide open for that one didn't I? 

Truth is, I am not enamored with the 696. That being said I like the 1100 a little better, at least from an aesthetic stand point but you wont see me at my local dealer plunking down a deposit on one.

At least Ducati is trying to move forward rather than just sitting stagnent like HD. They have made some improvements with the new bike such as more power and less weight. The addition of radial brakes is a big plus as well.

[bigiain]

<mod hat>Come on guys simm.... Hang on, it looks like you have simmered down already... Good work, carry on...</mod hat>

big

[Drunken Monkey]

While that is probably true for the most part it doesn't change the fact that HD's are big heavy machines that have not evolved past about 1940 and perform horribly compared to other bikes.

Yeah, but you say that like it's a bad thing.

My ideal, realistic to obtain, bike stable has my current Monster, a motard of some sort, an R-6 and some form of classic, oil-dripping, Pig of a bike.

[Centerline]

Shoot, shuffle on over to the nearest Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki or Yamaha dealership.  Not ONE of their flagship 2008 STOCK  liter bikes puts down less than 157 HP at the rear wheel. Not one of them has an MSRP over $11,700.  Not one of them has the high maintenance intervals or $$$$cost associated with Ducati motorcycles.  All of them can corner with most any stock Ducati, whatever the price.  All of them have a top speed far in excess of what a stock 1098 has, and a 1/4 mile drag race time faster than the mighty 1098.

Go visit any of their forums and proclaim the superiority of your Ducati because of the high dollars they cost in comparison.
HD cruisers are not about the latest technology (is the Ducati Desmo twin ?)  HD builds comfortable, nostalgic replicas of a bygone day for their cruiser range.

Forgot to mention the performance available from Japanes 600cc sportbikes.
Again, to the average guy on a Japanese sportbike, they consider Ducatis the Harleys of the sportbike world.

[M(*)nster]

Again, to the average guy on a Japanese sportbike, they consider Ducatis the Harleys of the sportbike world.

Bingo!

HD:cruiser = Ducati:sportbike

Sometimes, it's hard to look in the mirror only to see your own ugly mug staring back at you.

[Dave R]

Not one of them has the high maintenance intervals

If all you compare is numbers I agree, there are better deals out there. 

Here were our findings when we checked with a local Suzuki Only dealership in 2007 and asked for the "recommended" service intervals and alloted hours for all factory services up to 30,000 miles, this is what they told us.   Please read that this is the "recommended" services from both Ducati and Suzuki.  Most owners of Japanese bikes will admit they tend to ignore many of the "recommended" services as long as it's running ok...  Ducati's admittedly do not like to be ignored...   Here are some hard numbers that may shed a different light.. 

Last comment, what is the value of a well maintained used 2007 1098 with 30,000 vs a 2007 GSXR1000 with 30K  ??  What percentage of the original MSRP will be retained ?   

[Monstermash]

If all you compare is numbers I agree, there are better deals out there. 

Here were our findings when we checked with a local Suzuki Only dealership in 2007 and asked for the "recommended" service intervals and alloted hours for all factory services up to 30,000 miles, this is what they told us.   Please read that this is the "recommended" services from both Ducati and Suzuki.  Most owners of Japanese bikes will admit they tend to ignore many of the "recommended" services as long as it's running ok...  Ducati's admittedly do not like to be ignored...   Here are some hard numbers that may shed a different light.. 

Last comment, what is the value of a well maintained used 2007 1098 with 30,000 vs a 2007 GSXR1000 with 30K  ??  What percentage of the original MSRP will be retained ?   

This is an interesting take on the whole cost of ownership thing. The big difference isn't that the owners of the Japanese brands are not doing the recommended services but rather doing them themselves. At least in regards to the regular maintenence. How hard is it to change the oil and adjust the chain etc.
With a Ducati it's considerably more involved with regular valve adjustments etc.

[Centerline]

With respect to the above mentioned schedules.  The vast majority of Ducatis DO NOT fall into those recommended schedules.  Only in 2007 did Ducati step up and increase the mileage for required maintainence  schedules and some required part replacement intervals.  Anybody read any stories around here of some Ducati dealers not going by the new recommended procedures that reduce by appox 50% the maintainence cost.  And, though the recommended maintainence schedules may now be a little less for the most recent range of Ducatis in comparison ...... there is still the factor of expensive engine components that need replaced in the Ducati, but not so for the Japanese rocketships.