Harley to Ducati

[flynbulldog]

How many people  here are new to Ducati and came from Harley Davidson bikes?

Tell us your story and why you  chose a Ducati as your next bike instead of buying another Harley or even another brand. 

[superjohn]

I bought my first bike in 2001 and like a lot of people I was suckered into the whole H-D thing. I bought a silver 883c Sportster that looked fantastic.

Unfortunately, I never got comfortable with the bike. Having my legs out in front of me with a solid mounted engine and a rock hard suspension meant my back was destroyed in very short order. I was new to riding again, having been off a bike since high school, so I was also lacking in basic skills. Add in that I had to store it at my friends house since I lived in an apartment and it quickly became a pain in the arse rather than a joy to ride.

I sold it and used the money to pay my closing costs on my house in 2002.

Fast forward to 2005 and I've got the itch to ride again. This time I took the MSF course and learned to do it right and was looking for a street bike. I looked at an FZ1, a Buell XB-12 and a Triumph Speed Triple but my insurance company said I must be insane, so I started looking at smaller bikes to satisfy their lack of confidence in my capabilities. The smaller versions of the previous bikes I looked at didn't really appeal to me, however the bright red M620 did. The price was right. The insurance was right. And I loved the look.

I have always liked the look of the Monster since I first saw one back in 94 or 95. Until then I had only known Ducati for the then little known feelings that pictures of the 851 in Cycle magazine stirred in my teenage loins. In 2006, the Monster immediately reminded me of those days. I have yet to outgrow it. Even though I added a 900SS to the stable, I still love the Monster. It's familiar and it's easy to ride. It handles well without a lot of "Oh Shit" moments. In short, it my bike. And it always will be.

[ROBsS4R]

How many people  here are new to Ducati and came from Harley Davidson bikes?

Tell us your story and why you  chose a Ducati as your next bike instead of buying another Harley or even another brand. 

I am thinking about buying a Nightster but I also plan on keeping my S4R 

[Rambler1982]

How many people  here are new to Ducati and came from Harley Davidson bikes?

Tell us your story and why you  chose a Ducati as your next bike instead of buying another Harley or even another brand. 

What about Ducati to Harley?

The M696 is my first motorcycle, and so far I am happy with it. However, I find it to be quite uncomfortable at times. As a result, I think my next bike might be a cruiser.

[MostroS2R]

I came from a kawasaki mean streak to a ducati. Always wanted a monster.

I had an SV650S and sold it for the mean streak. Peer pressure to get a cruiser and off a sporty bike.
I freaking hated it, couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

I love the the monster, no regrets. Confortable, fast and handles great.

[Major Slow]

I have both Harleys and a Ducati. (small brag) I am looking at making it Ducatis this spring with an 1198. They are totally different bikes. I love my S4R in traffic and when I want to fly. If I'm travelling there is nothing like a cruiser to go cross country. I notice the sport bike owners say a couple of hundred miles is a long trip. I have drive that far for lunch on a nice Saturday on the Harley.  Last year I put about 15K on the Harley and 5K on the ducati.

Last night we were chatting about the differences in the bikes. The Harley has a low center of gravity and is very heavy. It has solid bits that scrape when you turn. Compared to the Ducati it has no lean angle. But it also has nice soft shocks and a big wide seat that allows this fat old a$$ ride all day long.

I also get asked which bike I would choose if I could only have one motorcycle. The fatboy gets better mileage. The s4r goes faster. I'm glad I don't have to make that choice.

The reason there are so many motorcycles made is that people want different things out of their toys. My wife says Sportsters rule, but I love her anyway.

[Drunken Monkey]

Oddly, I've been thinking a Harley wouldn't suck.

[hcomp]

What about Ducati to Harley?

The M696 is my first motorcycle, and so far I am happy with it. However, I find it to be quite uncomfortable at times. As a result, I think my next bike might be a cruiser.

Try the DP touring seat, that makes a big difference in "comfort"....

[Raux]

What about Ducati to Harley?

The M696 is my first motorcycle, and so far I am happy with it. However, I find it to be quite uncomfortable at times. As a result, I think my next bike might be a cruiser.

i rode a little cruiser style bike for a little while a month ago. HATED IT. couldn't get comfortable with my feet forward felt like i had to PULL myself up with the bars the whole time. really really felt like i was goignto crash the whole time. PLUS crap for brakes. ever compared what we have for a 355lb bike with what harley or anyone else puts on a 600+ lb bike?

[bluemoco]

I've been riding Ducatis since 1986, but bought a Harley bagger in 2004.  I now have an S4Rs and a Street Glide.  Both are great bikes.  Of course, I like all bikes, but these two are the best combination of streetbikes for my needs and desires that I've ever managed to come across.

If you are a Ducati fan, you might be surprised to find that you also (someday) like Harleys.

Good choice on the Harley - I like those Street Glides a lot.   

I own a Duc now, but I could easily envision adding either a Harley bagger or a BMW touring bike to my fleet.  Especially in the current market - lots of lightly used Harleys on Craigslist these days...

[bigiain]

Oddly, I've been thinking a Harley wouldn't suck.

Hit DuckStew up for a ride of his next time he's around - it's fun. Different to riding a Monster, but fun in a different way.

big

[Speedbag]

Generally speaking, if it's a bike I like it.

That said, I've been involved one way or another with Harleys for years. Built my first ground-up 'Harley' in the mid 90s, and have another nearing completion now after several years of on-again/off-again progress.

I had an obsession for a Monster since the mid 90s when a friend bought a barely used, black 1994 M900. I loved the design and how it rode and vowed to own one. I bought a minty red '94 M900 in 2004 and loved it.

Then in early 2007 I bought my '06 Harley VRSCR as a hold-over. Suddenly I found the M900 sitting a lot, as I found over time that the 'R is a much better all-around bike despite the weight difference. The Monster went down the road in spring of '08, to the fiance of a Harley engineer out in Milwaukee.

I plan to have another Duck though, but I'm thinking it's gonna have to be a 4V. I've been amazed at how most Harley enthusiasts also appreciate Ducatis.

[Desmo Demon]

How many people  here are new to Ducati and came from Harley Davidson bikes?

Tell us your story and why you  chose a Ducati as your next bike instead of buying another Harley or even another brand. 

I made the addition (not a switch) to Ducati in 2000.

I had bought my Harley in 1993, and in 1995, I had considered a Buell, but living in flat land, I quickly discarded the idea. In 1996, I had moved from the flatlands to the mountainous area and finally realized why sportbikes were available to the public as I was dragging hard parts on the Harley routinely. My buddy had sold his Harley around '97, couldn't afford a replacement, and went to the other end of the spectrum with an FZR600 so he wouldn't compare the new bike to his old Harley. Anyway, I got the bug for a sportbike, but was in the mood for something a little different (originally when I bought my Harley in 1993, they were not EVERYWHERE, like they are today). I also had this strong desire for a yellow bike. I eventually narrowed it down to two bikes....a 2000 Ducati SS750F or a 2000 Honda CBR929RR (both yellow). I really liked the yellow 748 at the Ducati dealer, but wasn't going to shell out $13k for my first sportbike.

Eventually, I decided I didn't want a 100+ HP bike as my first sportbike and also was hesitant to go with a liquid-cooled bike. I wound up choosing the SS750 because I found a new, left-over '99 model for $7600 OTD with full fairing, but I also liked the idea of an air-cooled bike (more simplistic) and I thought 65-HP at the crank was something that would keep me out of trouble. Three months and three thousand miles later, I smacked the side of a mountain with the SS750....totaling the bike and breaking my right femur in three places.

Riding the SS750 had me get bitten by the sportbike bug pretty hard. I was still on crutches when I made the deal on my new, left-over '98 ST2, and the obsession has continued to grow. I still have the Harley. It now has over 102,000 miles on it, and other than using the bike for cross-country trips, it is now used as a daily commuter. I bet I haven't had the HD in teh mountains more than five times in the last five years.......it just isn't comparible to the enjoyment of riding a sportbike in the mountains.

Now, with six Ducati purchases under my belt and still owning five of them, I'm always looking for deals on more Ducatis and have even been looking at the possibility of buying a Bimota.......but the purchase of a Japanese liter bike is awefully appealing after riding my wife's R1 a few times......man, that is one sweet bike!

[NYCmonster]

I bought my Duc as an addition to my Sportster. I had owned a SV650 before so I missed riding a sportbike. So when time to buy I was looking for an SV or preferably a Monster 620. Luckily, I found a good Monster for a good price. 

I prefer naked bikes, so I loved the fact that you can see most of the Harley engine and the way it oscillates back and forth. I also love the sound even with the stock  exhaust. Use the Sportster for long trips and on leisurely cruises. Monster for short day rides.

[Rambler1982]

Try the DP touring seat, that makes a big difference in "comfort"....

I actually bought the seat with hopes that it would help make the bike more comfortable. But I found that I didn't like it, so I returned it. The DP Touring seat made me feel as though I was sitting on top of the tank. It was also much more narrow than the OEM seat.

I guess I didn't realize this at the time I purchased my bike, but I'd like to do some long rides. So when I say "comfort" I meant it in terms of spending 4 or 5 hours on the bike. I've heard that 200 miles is "pushing it" on the M696, so that's a bit disappointing.