Ducati 999 vs Ducati 749

[John R]

Hi,

I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003 999 and
2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is weather the 999
is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the adjustability and suspension
toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there any other differences besides a few
less ponies and perception.

Japanese bike are nice but insurance companies will charge me $250 per year
for a 999 but $1200 for a 600RR due to statistical data.

Thanks !!!!

[p***@nospamindspring.com]

Post by John R
Hi,
I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003 999 and
2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is weather the 999
is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the adjustability and suspension
toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there any other differences besides a few
less ponies and perception.

I'd go 749s. Heck, it now has about as much power as my '99 996.

[Derek]

uhm - why dont you ride them both yourself during a demoday and figure it out?
Seriously - you are going to be riding the bike.

For me I would go with the 999 - since I currently own a 998 and have always found
their 750 bikes to be somewhat, uhm, underpowered. Heck even my local dealer said
that about the 749.

Anyway,
DU
2002 Ducati 998 Mono

Post by John R
Hi,
I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003 999 and
2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is weather the 999
is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the adjustability and suspension
toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there any other differences besides a few
less ponies and perception.
Japanese bike are nice but insurance companies will charge me $250 per year
for a 999 but $1200 for a 600RR due to statistical data.
Thanks !!!!

[Saddlebag]

Post by Derek
For me I would go with the 999 - since I currently own a 998 and have always found
their 750 bikes to be somewhat, uhm, underpowered. Heck even my local dealer said
that about the 749.

The fucking thing weighs like 400 lbs and puts out over 100 hp, WTF?
Why don't you put up your vid and show us how underpowered the 749 is?

[John R]

Thanks but the next demo day will be several months out and it's about 3
degrees outside with 6 inches of snow ( Chicago ). The dealer only have one
999 and 749 s in a 2003 left so I was hoping someone may have ridden both
bikes and could give me some feedback. I don't want to pay the extra cash
for a 2004 seeing nothing has changed

Post by Derek
uhm - why dont you ride them both yourself during a demoday and figure it out?
Seriously - you are going to be riding the bike.
For me I would go with the 999 - since I currently own a 998 and have always found
their 750 bikes to be somewhat, uhm, underpowered. Heck even my local dealer said
that about the 749.
Anyway,
DU
2002 Ducati 998 Mono

Post by John R
Hi,
I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003 999 and
2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is weather the 999
is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the adjustability and suspension
toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there any other differences besides a few
less ponies and perception.
Japanese bike are nice but insurance companies will charge me $250 per year
for a 999 but $1200 for a 600RR due to statistical data.
Thanks !!!!

[Saddlebag]

From: "John R"
Thanks but the next demo day will be several months out and it's about 3
degrees outside with 6 inches of snow ( Chicago ). The dealer only have one
999 and 749 s in a 2003 left so I was hoping someone may have ridden both
bikes and could give me some feedback. I don't want to pay the extra cash
for a 2004 seeing nothing has changed

It's a Duc, very little is going to change. And you can consider that a good
thing.
I recently bought an ST4s with Ohlins suspension, Marchesini wheels, 996 (vs
916) motor, aluminum (vs steel) swingarm, CF (vs plastic) hugger, new brake
rotors...
If the two were colored the same, except for the slightly perceivable
acceleration advantage of the new one, I honestly couldn't tell a difference in
the ride.
Oh well, the new shit gives me something to yack about.

[Saddlebag]

From: "John R"
Hi,
I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003 999 and
2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is weather the 999
is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the adjustability and suspension
toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there any other differences besides a few
less ponies and perception.
Japanese bike are nice but insurance companies will charge me $250 per year
for a 999 but $1200 for a 600RR due to statistical data.
Thanks !!!!

Having not personally ridden the 749 all I can give you is hearsay from
magazines. Basically, it is MUCH torquier than 600's but doesn't have the top
end power. If pulling hard down the straights is a big deal to you get the Jap
bike.
OTOH, the 749 is a much more stable confidence inspiring ride. Personally, I
can't see spending the extra jack for the 999, then again I don't pull your
purse strings.

[triple rider]

Post by John R
Hi,
I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003 999 and
2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is weather the 999
is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the adjustability and suspension
toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there any other differences besides a few
less ponies and perception.
Japanese bike are nice but insurance companies will charge me $250 per year
for a 999 but $1200 for a 600RR due to statistical data.

Haven't ridden either, but I would go to ducati.com and look at the torque
and power curves at both bikes (you can do it side by side). Based on your
riding style, where do you keep the engine running at? do you like low end
power or are you always bouncing off the rev limiter? Just because the hp
numbers are only about a difference of 10, the power delivery is going to be
different for each.

Just my 1/2 cent.

-craigger.

02 Speed Triple

[Inlaw Biker]

Post by triple rider

Post by John R
Hi,
I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003
999 and 2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is
weather the 999 is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the
adjustability and suspension toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there
any other differences besides a few less ponies and perception.
Japanese bike are nice but insurance companies will charge me $250
per year for a 999 but $1200 for a 600RR due to statistical data.

Haven't ridden either, but I would go to ducati.com and look at the
torque and power curves at both bikes (you can do it side by side).
Based on your riding style, where do you keep the engine running at?
do you like low end power or are you always bouncing off the rev
limiter? Just because the hp numbers are only about a difference of
10, the power delivery is going to be different for each.
Just my 1/2 cent.
-craigger.
02 Speed Triple

This is good advice. My opinion: Primarily for track the 749, for street
the 999. Having owned a 916 and 996, I loved the torque but the lighter 749
would have been better on track days. It was real easy to spin the rear
wheel on the big twin coming off corners. At least for my level of
experience, which is 'high' on street and 'medium-low' on track. If my
experience got to 'high' on the track it'd no doubt be the 999.

My opinion above all is to buy one used and save yourself about 5 grand. I
think they have attractive financing now though for the new ones.

GS.

[Saddlebag]

From: "Inlaw Biker"
My opinion above all is to buy one used and save yourself about 5 grand. I
think they have attractive financing now though for the new ones.
GS.

I understand a fellow that goes by "hardcore mike" may have just what the
doctor ordered.

[Andy Burnett]

Post by Saddlebag
I understand a fellow that goes by "hardcore mike" may have just what the
doctor ordered.

Last I heard he was thinking of shooting his up with an HK.

ab

[Daniel Bannon]

Post by John R
Hi,
I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003 999 and
2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is weather the 999
is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the adjustability and suspension
toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there any other differences besides a few
less ponies and perception.
Japanese bike are nice but insurance companies will charge me $250 per year
for a 999 but $1200 for a 600RR due to statistical data.
Thanks !!!!

Actuarial tables strike again.

A thousand bucks per year difference, Jpn to Ita, hmm. Given the
entry cost delta between a 600RR and 999S, it'd take more than ten
years to equilibrate.

Not that you mentioned the 999S model specifically, but the premium
for tasty Ohlins suspension and a few other premium bits easily tips
the scale in my mind. That bike in yellow is to die for. Next time I
have roughly seventeen to twenty-two grand U.S. to piss away, that'll
be high on my priority list.

As for the 749S, now we're down to thirteen-fourteen grand (pre-tax,
setup, etc.). Still roughly double the cost of a 600RR, however. No
tasty Ohlins, but agreeable Showa bits. As I recall from various
magazine tests last year, not quite up to the performance bar of the
600s but respectable in many other ways (more torque, for sure). And
again, there's that yellow point: mmmhumm.

I once bought a used 851 for comparable cost to the then-new CBR900RR
and ZX7R. From a durability and performance-comparison standpoint,
very bad move. Panache and pride of ownership, no contest whatsoever.
Pick your poison.

-=DRB=-
NW WA State USA

[Saddlebag]

Post by Daniel Bannon
As for the 749S, now we're down to thirteen-fourteen grand (pre-tax,
setup, etc.). Still roughly double the cost of a 600RR, however. No
tasty Ohlins, but agreeable Showa bits. As I recall from various
magazine tests last year, not quite up to the performance bar of the
600s but respectable in many other ways (more torque, for sure). And
again, there's that yellow point: mmmhumm.

A few quotes from a recent MO test:

Sean Alexander:
Excellent stock suspension and Pirelli Supercorsas enable the 749 to feel
planted and smooth with no drama whatsoever at the track, allowing the highest
lean angle and corner speed as well as killer drive from the apex with your
choice of spinning
Notice the 749s ability to trail brake deep into a corner, while leaned over

or hooked-up rear tire. Unfortunately once up onto the center of its rear tire,
our 749 was unable to fling itself down the straights with quite the ghusto
mustered by the inline fours, partially due to its heavier weight, lower
redline and slightly lower power.

John Burns:
The "S" comes with Pirelli Supercorsas, and though these had a few hard miles
on them, they still seemed to give the Ducati a slight advantage. Either that,
or the thing is just completely rock-solid, encouraging entry speeds and lean
angles the others can't match--only to miss the bus with too much weight and
not quite as much power down the straights.

Will Tate:
Ducati's 749S was the best bike there for me. I went fastest on it and was
comfortable, relaxed and confident. Not being the great technical guy, I cannot
explain why the 749's chassis/motor combo works so well, I only know I had to
work to keep my knee off the ground. Compared to the other bikes we tested, the
Ducati had less power, but as usual you can get on the gas waaay early for
great drives off corners. This bike had Pirelli Supercorsa DOT race tyres on
it, so some question would arise about its ability compared to the others, if
the others had similar tires on them: I personally think the Duck would still
be the best. The brakes were very good and suspension action the best I sampled
that day. This bike is just in a class by itself, it is unfair to compare it
directly with the Japanese 600's.

[DaveR]

Post by John R
Hi,
I was looking at purchasing a new Duc. A dealer near me has a 2003 999 and
2003 749s available. Both are good deals but my question is weather the 999
is worth the extra $$. The 749 S has all the adjustability and suspension
toys but with 10 less ponies. Is there any other differences besides a few
less ponies and perception.
Japanese bike are nice but insurance companies will charge me $250 per year
for a 999 but $1200 for a 600RR due to statistical data.
Thanks !!!!

Go for the trip 9. You'll save the money in the long run by avoiding the $
associated with trickin' the 749. Its not the HP figures that are the
difference. Think torque. Right out of the box, the nine-nine-niner is a
sweet ride.

DR