VTR1000.ORG

Looking for some advice.
Have any of you good people out there owned or currently own a Ducati 748?
I have been offered one today, and must confess to be very tempted. I would only let the VTR go for another V-twin and have always hankered after this bike. Am I buying through heart and not head? Are they that expensive to run?
Top speed is no longer an issue for me but will the bike feel lacklustre compared to me VTR?
Any info would be much appreciated before a decision is made.
Cheers

cant speak for the 748 personally but I had an 851!!
all I can add is that I went to a local bike shop years ago on my spanking new Fireblade, one of the first. the comment from the shop was, oh!, if it was Italian or British we might of had a look at it!.

personally the Duke would win every time , if it wernt for the fact I only paid £1400 for the storm 15 months ago, I probably wouldnt have it.

But then, the older ones had dodgy electrics (storm cdi's werent that reliable), the Duke is a lower revving bike and may keep stalling it at first. on the other hand, service intervals have got better, and the Storm is probably more reliable. so ride it and see what you feel like, it might not suit you.
My eldest cant fit on my storm but he can fit in a 996!!!

If its a minter and your heart tugs at you, I'd seriously consider it.

The 748 will be a good investment if its well looked after.

Stunningly beautiful and a great bike.

Personally, I wouldn't get rid of my Storm for one, but I'd snap one up as well as if I had the money.

I would say it very much depends what you use your bike for

If its for going out for blast when the moods takes you and you are fairly fastidious about looking after it then, yes get the Ducati and love every minute of it
If you use it for everything (commuting, trips to the shops, boring motorway stuff), only clean it once in a blue moon but expect it to start first time every time then I would say no, stick with the Firestorm

Ducati's are lovely bikes but they take a bit of looking after
They are prone to silly faults that just dont seem to affect Japanese bikes (like the front plug lead being directly in the path of spray from the front wheel, electrical connectors being mounted in water traps, cables not routed in the most sensible manner etc)
Its not that they are unreliable (yes the earlier ones were a bit but still nothing like as bad as the bikes of old) its just that they are thoroughbreds and need to be treated as such

As far as the experience goes, the following is actually based on the 916, but its identical to the 748 apart from engine and rear tyre size

Power: They make a realistic 90bhp so not much down on the Storm
Comfort: Some people malign them as wrist killers that are horrificly uncomfortable. I'm 6'3" and didnt find it uncomfortable at all, even on longer trips eg to France
Handling: Sublime. In a totally different world to the Storm
Servicing: Treat service intervals as maximums, not 'think about getting it services around' especially cam belts. That said, a lot of it can be done by the reasonable home mechanic but the major stuff like the desmodronic valves is best left to the experts who get paid to have more patience than us mere mortals
Mileage: Dont ever, under any circumstances, be tempted to buy a high mileage one coz its cheap -it wont be. Over about 35,000 miles they just wear out. A dealer friend reckons that any he has in as part ex with this mileage on are better broken for parts

Hope this helps
Ben

Thanks for that, it would be a weekend toy only. I used the VTR through the winter in the past but got a wee 125 for that now.
Bob

so thinking of adding a bit of Italian exotica [ your third bike] to the stable eh bob..wassamarrer won the lottery or summat??

My 2 pence worth. If you have deep pockets you should be OK

Iirc cam belts don't fair very well if unused over the winter

Chris.

Nicked the holiday money Marty!!

It all depends on selling the VFR, having just put it on Autotrader last night.

Feedback so far has been positive about the 748, which is a good sign I must say. If the VFR goes then to hell with it.......lifes too short to worry.

like I said to the dealer when I got my firestorm. "it's a poor mans ducati". If money was no object I would be riding a 998r on weekends and a blackbird for long distance. (and i woulden't need to go to work!!!!)

The storm fills the gap between the two for very little money!

bob the builder wrote:Nicked the holiday money Marty!!

It all depends on selling the VFR, having just put it on Autotrader last night.

Feedback so far has been positive about the 748, which is a good sign I must say. If the VFR goes then to hell with it.......lifes too short to worry.

A good freind of mine has three! One road and two track bikes. He swears they are reliable and on a recent trip it was one of the Aprillia's that fell by the wayside. But...... he is v meticulous and they are immaculate. Like has already been said, if you love the bike you will live with its problems as and when they occur.

Bob,

Here's a link from the past but worth a look IMO
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB2/viewtopic ... highlight=

Chris.

Bob, buy the 748. Nothing wrong with treating yourself to something tasty and if you dont like it, storms are cheap enough for you to come back again quite easily.