Is is just my imagination or are........

H,Is the 250 4L0 and the 350 4L1 I can never remember.Did you get it in that condition cos it's one of the best I have seen for a while?Is it still on the standard bore .25 .50 .75 or is it overbored now?I PURE LOVE IT SO AH DAE!!!!:cool:
 
Not sure B - frame and engine numbers start 4L1. Mine wasn't registered until 1984 (imported last March) and because the German authorities didn't allow modifications she's bog standard - done 22000 miles. The photos actually don't show the odd blemish which Mav will sort out for me next month. Stan Stephens is doing a full strip down and rebuild.

If you're at Raid the Lakes next year you can have a go - I'll be bringing her up in a van :)
 
Scunnered

I've owned Ducatis for the last 30 years. 200ss, Daytona/Diana, Sebring Cafe racer(Bruno Spag rep) Pantah, 749 and now 999s.

I love all the Ducatis I have owned and think that all Ducatis look fantastic, form follows function in my view, well maybe the 860 range looked a bit strange but I would never slag them.

The fact that Ducati themselves (see Bike December) are slagging the 999 off is unbelievable and very desperate. And maybe due to US ownership and the death of the Master.

I think the new 1098 has great statistics, ie it is a whole lot lighter with a lot more power. The look to me is totally unimportant and I am very glad that they are competing hard in a hard market. Note that I bought the 999s for its Ohlin suspension rather than its 140 bhp.

But I feel very alienated by Ducatis comments on the 999 (4 times world champion) and it took me a while to uncover my bike and ride it after hearing the comments attributed to a Ducati employee in Bike. When I did uncover it I drew breath as usual and took it for a run which did the usual thing of injecting life into me. Just like the Sebring Cafe racer did when I was young (18).

I used to love the fact that all the Ducatis I rode in the 70s and 80s were unusual and enjoyed speaking to other bikers and informing them and showing them how good Dukes were.

I knew that Fabio Taglioni's ideas and designs would one day conquer the world and that they would always look a bit different. That guy on his Suzuki 250 two stroke who I raced and beat soundly with my Sebring on it's standard 23 mm carb must still be scratching his head some 30 years later.

Rusty pieces of depreciating crap were words oft heard in my early days of Ducati ownership. Bl??dy hel? we were viewed in the same way as CZ's at one point. But some of us kept the faith, not many but enough.

Happy new year
 
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I too was a ss200 owner in the late sixties and absolutely loved it even though I sometimes could see it far enough when it let me down, which was quite often (wish I still had it now,Value wise)so I say what John says but with even more passion and with one amendment,I will always be here.:D
 
john said:
I've owned Ducatis for the last 30 years. 200ss, Daytona/Diana, Sebring Cafe racer(Bruno Spag rep) Pantah, 749 and now 999s.

etc etc....
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That makes interesting reading, its maybe time someone started forwarding some of the comments about the current attitude on the 749/999 ( and now multistrada) to Ducati in Italy......
 
I am fairly new to Ducatis, my first being a 900ssie bought in 1998 and my second a 748 bought in 03. I am disappointed Ducati have stopped making the ss which first appeared (to the best of my knowledge) in the 70's. Maybe this is because they were not selling enough but Ducati are depriving us of the choice by deleting it from the range. I found it a really good bike two up that was brilliant when solo and I don't think I am alone in seeing the removal from the range as a backward step. Ducati spend money improving it engine wise, suspension and comfort and then a year or so later they drop it without any run out model or end of an era special. So all the Ducatisti that have been faithful to the line for years suddenly have no alternative in the Ducati range. I suppose Ducati would point to the Sportclassic as the alternative but IMO it isn't really an alternative that is an improvement on the SS1000ds.
I understand Johns feelings and I feel a bit the same in the way Ducati just 'forget' a line or a model ever existed I still believe that they could sell a 748 and a 998, just one model available in one colour.

As for his comments about comments on this site being w*** (I can't think of a word that starts with a w that would apply) and calling this site a 'rag' as in the red tops, totally uncalled for and his failing to see the humour of us on the site is a poor reason for slagging it off like that.
I for one am glad I joined this site, I have met some really nice Ducati owners and look forward to meeting more and getting back on a Ducati this summer :)
 
Well John, if you see this site as what you say, its a damn shame, banter, well the majority of it is and I am sorry you feel the way you do. One thing is for sure though, whatever site you go on, just as in life there will be dis-agreements - on here though it is normally informed and is debated in an adult manner.

Perhaps what you have written is tongue in cheek, I don't know, perhaps you were looking for a reaction, again I don't know and never will, in fact I don't really know why I am writting this as you won't be around to read it, shame you flounced would have been nice to meet you on a rideout this year. Nevermind, take care fella.
 
Sheepish..

Sorry guys I was innappropriate towards the end of that post due in the main to too much Ardbeg. And about the R1.

I have cut quite a bit out and hope it now reads more reasonably.

What a horrid year 06 was for me, that issue of Bike was one of the last straws coupled with the squabbling that seems to go on about our favourite marque.

I woke up this morning with a new sense of optimism which I intend to carry on with. Mostly probably due to getting the bike out and having a blast yesterday.

I sell stuff too and I still can't understand the way the factory seem to be trying to sell the new model. Wouldn't it just be best to present the new one on it's own very great merits rather than trash what is in many peoples opinion a very fine looking bike. It creates negativity and makes one wonder what they'll say about it when the next one comes along?
 
ack dont worry my man, its all good !

i still love the 749 even if ian thinks its a pile of poo !

i think thats what counts tbh. dosnt matter what others say about the 749/999, it still owns them all.

troybayliss_wideweb__470x297,0.jpg


WSBK Champion !

/ian
 
john said:
Sorry guys I was innappropriate towards the end of that post due in the main to too much Ardbeg. And about the R1.

I have cut quite a bit out and hope it now reads more reasonably.


Hang on a mo. That was the edited version???? Holy Cow! What did the un edited version spout???
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