Why did you choose a Ducati?

[justinrhenry]

i don't remember why i chose my ducati.   

[NFG]

I've always wanted a bike, and whenever a Ducati passed me on the freeway I'd roll the windows down and keep pace as long as they'd let me, just listening to that wood-inducing rumble and noise.

When it came time recently to consider actually buying a bike, I didn't really know what I wanted.  I wanted simple, a real bike, not a plastic-covered race replica, not a cruiser (ye gods no!) and not a naked...  I wanted a man's bike, like Steve McQueen rode in Great Escape, but ...  modern.

And then I saw a 1993 Monster 900 at a local dealer.  Oh.  My.  "Sweetheart, we're going for a little drive."  When the dealer brought it out and fired it up, my wife and I looked at each other and smiled, big shit-eating grins.  I rode it, and I wanted it. 

That was October last year.  It's my first bike, and I think I've chosen very well indeed.  I have that confirmed by everyone who asks me what do you ride?  I tell them, and they're always envious.

Hell yeah.

[ungeheuer]

So why did you choose Ducati...?

I didnt.  It chose me.  I keep trying to find other bikes I'd like to own....  Guzzi almost got me a coupla times recently.... Love the Griso.....  But when Ducati dumped that boring round headlight.... there was no question, a new monster had to be mine  .

[ID_DUC_MON]

I got tired of the Ninja and the GSXR I had getting lost in a sea of identical bike every time rode with a group. I threw up a CL add asking to swap for a V-twin bike, Buell or Duc. A guy with a Duc answered the add.

[Chucko9-696]

I was reading a motorcycle mag. when i saw a picture of the monster. wasnt till 97 when i saw one in a parking lot. i knew i had to have one.

[dropstharockalot]

I had a cruiser when I was in college, which I sold for rent money when I graduated.  I regretted it immediately and everyday thereafter, but it was a long time until I had the wherewithall to get another bike.

Once I finally had the funds, I started looking at bikes that were naked/standard seating positions... I knew I didn't want another cruiser, but the typical I-4 torture rack didn't appeal to me.  I'd checked out a couple Buells (that didn't quite trip my trigger, dunno why...) and was ready to put down a payment on a nice low-mileage SV1000 with stainless D&Ds (a bike I'd still consider buying...) when my current M900 showed up on CraigsList.  The price was right, it was fully functional, ran as advertised, and looked and sounded more appealing than that SV that I was leaning towards.

Then I dropped it on the test ride, so I had to buy it or the guy was gonna make the beast with two backs me up.

[muskrat]

I saw one while in the UK, heard first of course, and fell in love with the sound.  did some looking around and riding and proceeded to drink the kool-aid.

[Desmo Demon]

So why did you choose Ducati over all of the other brands out there?  The engine?  Their racing history?  The bike design?  Friends?

Hmmm....I'll try to keep this kinda short...

I like having things that usually aren't cookie-cutter or the "in" thing. I bought my Harley back in '93 just before the craze where everyone had to have one. I bought it because I had wanted one as a kid, and back then, I was living in a flat area of South Carolina with straight roads. Back then, I would have told you that there was no reason for sport-bikes to be sold to the general public and there was no need for that kind of performance.....

In '96 I relocated to the Upstate of South Carolina and started riding in the mountains and having a LOT of fun, but I was constantly dragging hard parts and figured I'd kill myself. A buddy of mine told me about Ducati motorcycles after he bought a Yamaha FZR-600 (a replacement for his sold Harley and at the opposite end of the bike spectrum as to not compare it to the Harley he had to sell due to a divorse). I figured I'd kill myself if I continued riding the Harley in the mountains, and his FZR looked like a lot of fun in the mountains....

For some odd reason, I wanted a yellow bike and full-fairing, and I narrowed my choices down to a Ducati SS750F because it was not something you see every day and a 2000 CBR929RR in yellow and black. Since I was coming from a V-twin that was air cooled, and I liked the simplicity of NOT having a liquid-cooled bike, I was leaning toward the Ducati (and for the scarcity factor). Then, I finally decided that 65 HP was more practical for my first sportbike than 130+ HP. I found a left-over 1999 SS750F in yellow at a pretty good deal, and I've been pretty hooked on Ducs ever since......but I am itching for a liter Jap bike.

[Autostrada Pilot]

My brother lived in Italy for a few years and told us he was buying a Monster as a college graduation present for himself.

We went to visit Italy in 2006 (and went to the olympics) and we toured the Ducati Factory while we were there-and I knew I had to have one.  A few months after touring the factory, I bought my 620. My brother never ended up buying a Monster, but I let him ride mine.

[lawbreaker]

I was hooked on th looks of the old cafe racers as a kid. Then I saw the 916 years later and was floored by that beautiful machine !


... several years later I was looking to buy a motorcycle and heard a Monster blast by me while at work....

Then I saw DucStew thundering down the road in my 'hood.... he came to a stop right by my car    .... I was hooked !!! ( Cafe bike)


So its Stu's fault 

Thanks Stu . I couldn't be happier

[akmnstr]

Because chicks dig ducks.   Almost as good as puppies. 

My wife has told me that back when we were courting she found me to be more interesting when I got my bike.  So, maybe there is just a bit of truth to the notion of Ducatis as a mate attractant. 

[hadesducati848]

Because chicks dig ducks.   Almost as good as puppies. 

My wife has told me that back when we were courting she found me to be more interesting when I got my bike.  So, maybe there is just a bit of truth to the notion of Ducatis as a mate attractant. 

i have to agree, my R1 never got the attention that my 848 gets from the ladies. and i love how most woman associate things... Ducati = Italian, Italian = wealth, wealth = power

giggidddy gigggidddyyy

[grunte]

my first duc was the only bike that I felt part of when riding, the rest is history.

[Mark0matic]

I had an '02 Triumph America that I'd been riding for about 4 years.  It was my first bike (I hadn't ridden since high school and never owned one - ex wouldn't allow it) and I really liked it but decided I wanted something with a bit more pep. 
The Triumph dealer that I frequented here in Denver, Erico Motorsports, sells Ducatis as well and I would always be drawn to them when I went in for anything regarding my Triumph.  Being of Italian decent might have something to do with it but I think mainly it's because they are just so cool looking.
So I just casually started looking at Ducatis for sale, having never ridden one (I decided not to test ride anything I couldn't afford - which eliminated all new Ducs).  My '02 S4 came up shortly thereafter, on eBay of all things, at a small vehicle seller close to my house.  I went over to check it out and fell in love at first sight.  THEN I rode it and it was all over - The power, balance, handling were all just incredible by comparison.  Bye Bye Triumph, HELLO DUCATI!!


(FYI above pic is from day I bought it, has had some upgrades/mods but don't have any new pics)

[duc_poultry]

Well I got my first street bike back in october (96 Katana 600). When I was still getting used to the bike I was invited on a ride with Stu. On this ride I saw (or should I say heard for those of you who have been lucky enough to hear one of his bikes) Stus BEAUTIFUL green custom monster, at that point I was hooked. about 2 weeks ago Stu approached me with a bike he was selling and my dream came true .