Ducati Scrambler and other things Ducati

[jhwalker]

Since EVERYONE loves Ducatis, I wanted to post the little ducati.org info received today.

This next year may just bring some awesome happenings to the Ducati lineup! We are very excited to see the introduction of the Ducati Scrambler to Ducati Showrooms around the country and the world! We have created a new section devoted to this rad new bike! Check it out, there might even be some spy shots in there for you to oggle:
http://www.ducati.org/forums/scrambler/

I know that most of us are eagerly awaiting the all new Monster 1200! We just had a review of the Monster 1200 S posted today! Check out what Autoblog had to say about this all new Monster:
http://www.ducati.org/forums/monster/56 ... post743541

If you still need a little more out of 2014, we have you covered as well! The 1199 SuperLaggera section is cranking as well! Check to see dealer stock, and delivery dates here:
http://www.ducati.org/forums/1199-superleggera/

The US stop of the MotoGP Season is just a few days away, and the office is a buzz with excitement for race weekend down here in ATX! Check out the latest news on how Ducati is planning on making COTA just that much more red here:
http://www.ducati.org/news/59/2014-red- ... -americas/

As always, if you are looking for the next do dad for your Ducati, please check with the Supporting Vendors on the site to see if they have what you are looking for! Support those that support you!
http://www.ducati.org/forums/supporting-vendors/

Cheers,

Ducati.org Staff

[jhwalker]

I am going to hold off on buying another DRZ400 (probably E) until I see what Ducati is doing with the Scramblers. Way way back while I was still living in Tallahassee, a friend had one of the 250 scramblers and we would switch off on our bikes. I liked it, but all I really remember is how slow it felt compared to the little scrambler I had rigged up using the Diana engine after having a head-on with a Buick -- which ended the road-racing on that bike.

[Brakelate]

I usually like anything with a "Scrambler" name on it, but the few spy shots available are so fragmented and camo'd out, that I really have a hard time trying to envision what the end product might look like.

I had a brief interest in the late model Triumph Scrambler 900's (they even had a limited production Steve McQueen race replica edition) but the wifey put a squash on it.

I will continue to tinker and let the DRZ evolve into something more than it is now. What, I don't know. But it lives.!

[Tetge]

In spite of some opinions that a Ducati would be an inexpensive and low maintenance motorcycle, over my many years of motorcycling, I formed a different opinion. I in fact, am aware of more than one experienced rider who got their dream Ducati and who no longer have it, due to choice, not finances. Even magazine tests say that the Ducati can best be appreciated by highly skilled riders (which, naturally, they all are), but, I am not convinced that a Ducati offers more, pure, balanced, handling than a DR-Z. A Ducati does offer a lot more power at not a huge weight increase, but, this too comes at a price when it comes to packaging everything into a compact and relatively light motorocycle. Servicing a Ducati can often involve a lot of disassembly (I took a long look at current owner's manuals and service recommendations). So, if a person has a good, long standing and reliable, Ducati dealer located close by, and if a person is better off than most financially, a Ducati could be a good choice for an ultimate performance machine. But, it still would be a bit demanding when it came to maintenance, even if a person could do all the work themselves, which, due to computers and electric fuel injection and all, is doubtful. I can not speak knowledgably about the current reliability of Ducati, since I do not roll in the same circles as the Ducati owners, but, I know that every Ducati I see is immaculately clean and shiny so they all appear to be well maintained. I will confess that with the proper million dollar aftermarket exhaust, and a proper tune, they produce one of the great sounds in motoring, which is the real reason that I have looked into them a bit (and, all that power would be nice, I expect). However, I have never been sure about how they handle in the hands of a regular rider, but, there have been reports of front tires losing their grip as they have very responsive, quick, handling, which suits experts, but which can bite the less skilled. I do know that it is nearly impossible to top the entire package that a lowly DR-Z brings to the table. Inexpensive to buy, even, new, dirt cheap insurance and tags, uses regular grade fuel, and, appears to be quite stout from a reliability point of view, and very forgiving and stable when it comes to handling. The only thing that the DR-Z lacks is power, but, perhaps that enhances all the other qualities that it offers? In any case, one finds out, if they own a Busa, that power is not really all that useful 99% if the time when it comes to having a fun ride about

But, what do I know?

[jhwalker]

I usually like anything with a "Scrambler" name on it, but the few spy shots available are so fragmented and camo'd out, that I really have a hard time trying to envision what the end product might look like.

I had a brief interest in the late model Triumph Scrambler 900's (they even had a limited production Steve McQueen race replica edition) but the wifey put a squash on it.

I will continue to tinker and let the DRZ evolve into something more than it is now. What, I don't know. But it lives.!

I agree -- who knows what it will look like. What it weighs, etc... I have stuff going on that would make me NOT want to go heavier than my S.

Plus the old guy emailed me again about his 400 E's to see if I am still interested. I am, but think that maybe I was a little too eager last time so I will cool the jets this time.

[jhwalker]

In spite of some opinions that a Ducati would be an inexpensive and low maintenance motorcycle, over my many years of motorcycling, I formed a different opinion. I in fact, am aware of more than one experienced rider who got their dream Ducati and who no longer have it, due to choice, not finances. Even magazine tests say that the Ducati can best be appreciated by highly skilled riders (which, naturally, they all are), but, I am not convinced that a Ducati offers more, pure, balanced, handling than a DR-Z. A Ducati does offer a lot more power at not a huge weight increase, but, this too comes at a price when it comes to packaging everything into a compact and relatively light motorocycle. Servicing a Ducati can often involve a lot of disassembly (I took a long look at current owner's manuals and service recommendations). So, if a person has a good, long standing and reliable, Ducati dealer located close by, and if a person is better off than most financially, a Ducati could be a good choice for an ultimate performance machine. But, it still would be a bit demanding when it came to maintenance, even if a person could do all the work themselves, which, due to computers and electric fuel injection and all, is doubtful. I can not speak knowledgably about the current reliability of Ducati, since I do not roll in the same circles as the Ducati owners, but, I know that every Ducati I see is immaculately clean and shiny so they all appear to be well maintained. I will confess that with the proper million dollar aftermarket exhaust, and a proper tune, they produce one of the great sounds in motoring, which is the real reason that I have looked into them a bit (and, all that power would be nice, I expect). However, I have never been sure about how they handle in the hands of a regular rider, but, there have been reports of front tires losing their grip as they have very responsive, quick, handling, which suits experts, but which can bite the less skilled. I do know that it is nearly impossible to top the entire package that a lowly DR-Z brings to the table. Inexpensive to buy, even, new, dirt cheap insurance and tags, uses regular grade fuel, and, appears to be quite stout from a reliability point of view, and very forgiving and stable when it comes to handling. The only thing that the DR-Z lacks is power, but, perhaps that enhances all the other qualities that it offers? In any case, one finds out, if they own a Busa, that power is not really all that useful 99% if the time when it comes to having a fun ride about

But, what do I know?

Sometimes I wonder if they are selling a different bike down here. Every Ducati owner that I have talked to in the past 4 years down here loves his bike, says maintenance is no problem, etc. There are two independent repair shops and the owners of both say that they have not seen the Ducatis as maintenance issues, are relatively simple if you are a mechanic, etc. Admittedly the sample is small -- probably 10 owners in the 4 years, but the responses have been 10 for 10 that "I would buy it again". I have NO explanation for the disparity between your info and my interviews...

[Brakelate]

Jeeze. What kind of mind games is this guy playing with the DRZ-E's?

First he wants them gone, then acts like they are family heirlooms or something.

I think as we age, lower, lighter and bikes that posses the potential for making "Fun" rather than pure Speed or performance are the way to go.

We have nothing to prove at this point. No one is watching. Why not just have a good time, on whatever it is.

[jhwalker]

Jeeze. What kind of mind games is this guy playing with the DRZ-E's?

First he wants them gone, then acts like they are family heirlooms or something.

I think as we age, lower, lighter and bikes that posses the potential for making "Fun" rather than pure Speed or performance are the way to go.

We have nothing to prove at this point. No one is watching. Why not just have a good time, on whatever it is.

I don't know, he seems like a good guy but we all get a little strange as we get old and I think he is older than I am.

He is lowering his E's by an inch and a half -- that would be helpful for me to do too. He ended up having some surgery that none of us wants, and I am thinking there might be other issues. The DRZs in general are a handful off-road for us geezers, but his E feels SO much more nimble off-road than my S.

I needed to dab off-road a couple of weeks ago and when I put the foot down there was a dip where I should have touched the ground -- and since I was going pretty slow I just stepped away and survived. The bike is so strong that it showed NO effects of being laid down. I suffered a little damage, strains of wrists, shattered confidence -- but was OK... The thought "smaller bike" flashed thru my head as I was stepping away.

Do you or anyone reading have any experience with the KTMs? The 350 off-road looks a ton lighter than the DRZ -- and I am 75+% off-road and 25% on-road.

[Brakelate]

Do you or anyone reading have any experience with the KTMs?

You are slipping... that is what I rode and raced for the last two years. KTM525SMR

I wouldn't touch one down there. If you can't get goodies for the Suzuki, trying to get a good KTM mechanic or parts would be like mining diamonds in your front yard.

Why not just try a Honda CRF250F or something like that? Off road, but has a little light, etc. Small, but probably more potent than the DRZ when wringed out.

[jhwalker]

Do you or anyone reading have any experience with the KTMs?

You are slipping... that is what I rode and raced for the last two years. KTM525SMR

I wouldn't touch one down there. If you can't get goodies for the Suzuki, trying to get a good KTM mechanic or parts would be like mining diamonds in your front yard.

Why not just try a Honda CRF250F or something like that? Off road, but has a little light, etc. Small, but probably more potent than the DRZ when wringed out.

Yes I am slipping. I didn't even realize that you were competing for the past two years... That is sad.

I want a bike that, at 70-71, I can jump, wheelie over the crap, slide predictably... No quirks, solid handling. I continue to lift, exercise, run.
I'm doing my part, where the hell are the bikes!!!!!!

Honda 250?!

Seat Height
30.5 inches

Curb Weight
357 pounds. !!!@!Q!!!!! WTF Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel-ready to ride.

The DRZ is 320. Am I looking at the wrong model ?