The Truth About Ducati...which is?

[Cruisecontrol]

All of these coupled together with no steering dampner made the bike a handful. Later years, mine was a 2001, were fitted with factory dampners to correct the headshake problems. Even then, it was not a novice machine as it had a pronounced tendency to spend most of the time in the first three gears on the rear wheel alone.

The '97 was the first and only one to come without a stock steering damper and they were recalled here in Aust to have them fitted.
I had a '99 that was a beautiful machine that suffered a design problem you failed to mention. The small problem of the frame cracking. I had mine a few months, put it in for a service and was told it needed a new frame because it had cracked. Suzuki paid for it so it was all good.
I loved that bike...

[Desolation Angel]

Speaking of Intruders, I've been watching this one for days.  Very tempting as a companion to the Bandit.

An '02 with only 1,400 miles.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-INTRUDER-1400-ONE-OWNER-LOW-MILES-PRISTINE_W0QQitemZ4606278289QQcategoryZ50031QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[banditII]

Yeah, I've always liked the looks of the 1400 Intruder.  Should be a low maintenance bike too.  I've also heard it's pretty quick for a cruiser.

Warren

[Daytona]

Hey they are as trouble free as you have heard! Chrome is not the best, spoke wheels are a constant challenge to keep up. Other coated aluminum parts (brake cyl reservoir etc) can get funky peely lookin. The seat is too soft but a $225.00 corbin will fix that. They handle as good as some sport bikes on corners. With a performance set of pipes and just needles in the carbs with the pilot adjusted they rip! Not too many H.D.'s can hang with em!! Those folks always have nice bikes at a great price i see...  

[Bazza]

I don't know about Ducati reliability first hand, but I recall reading an article in Cycle World (or one of those) and they took a ST3 and ST4 for a cross country ride.  I recall them talking about stuff breaking on the trip and they were new bikes.  I also recall that while a friend of mine met up with a guy with a new ducati 998 (I think).  Anyways, he had problems and they had to push start him every time they stopped.  Also I have heard of very high prices when it comes to having the dealership do work on your bike.  

I worked at a Ducati dealer of several years.

So what does it cost to have a dealership check the valve clearances?  Or how about a tune up?

I saw the same article, and in it they mentioned that the rest of the staff joked that they must be off their rocker, doing a Ducati road trip without a chase truck.

I have also heard electrical problems are an issue with them.

They are sexy, handle very well, not as fast as Jap sport bikes, a small fortune to fix, and at least where I live, a very limited supply of dealers to choose from. Oh yes, and you better check insurance rates, as where I live, they share the same insurance dilema as BMW, due to very expensive parts if you happen to drop one. And also, the salesman at my local dealership tells me they really don't hold up to depreciation any better than a Suzuki.

It's like comparing a Ferrari to a Toyota I figure, Both will get you from point A to point B, only one will do it with practibility, the other with style (and grief)

I just did never see the reason to spend huge dollars on a bike that at the end of the day, will not do things any better than lets say a Suzuki.

[aussiebandit]

I've got to agree with you Bazza.  But before I go any further let me check that my M750 riding wife isn't near by......

Good she's not.....

the Ducati's are like Harleys....a status symbol....hey look at me I can afford an Italian bike.....

Although, if it weren't for Ducati my wife would be stuck riding Jap cruisers which really aren't her style.....the Monstor range of bikes are good for those that are on the short side of average hieght.   The M750 is actually shorter than a Honda VTR250 but, unlike the VTR250, it keeps up with most of the sports bikes particularly in the twisty stuff.

The wife has had her M750 for 3 trouble free years and probably won't part with it until she can afford an Aprilia Tuono or a Triumph Speed Tripple....Yes my wife has expensive tastes when it comes to bikes.

Oh, and by the way your analagy of the Ferrari and a Toyota was fairly close to home.....we are the proud owners of a Toyota Camry - makes sense since she now works for the local dealer.