Is it normal for the Japanese machines to seem to "ricey" after owning the Duk for a while

Hey guys:

I have had the 998 for about 8 months now, have put 3000 miles on it and I never thought I would like it SO much. Of course it was (for me) the bike of the century, the most beautiful bike ever produced (IMHO)..but I never thought I woudl like its hardcore seating position, the thunder of the Twin etc etc..
I was always a Japanese bike lover..I used to think the Duks were over priced, slow, underpowered but good looking bikes.
I didnt understand why someone would pay 15,000 plus for a bike that made less hp than an R1 or any liter bike. Even the Jap twins made more or same hp, handled pretty good and cost 5000 less.
THAT ofcourse, has changed.
The japanese bikes are of course an amazing value for the money. Their Hp figures, light weight and good handling makes them a great bargain. Apart from going through all road/track testing archives, its safe to say that the Japanese bikes usually handled as good or better than the Duks. They still do, in fact now they are getting rediculously fast and light.
BUT there is something about the duk I CANNOT explain.
Dont get me wrong, if I resumed my so called racing career in the local clubs like WERA or CCS I would def go with a Japanese bike...for the most part because they are faster, lighter, and more reliable(no flamming please) and cost far less..not to mention that their aftermarket parts cost less as well.
But for the street..the Duk is the way to go..
I want to use the example of a couple of cars to explain what I mean.
The recent versions of the Subaru WRX STi and Mitsu Lancer EVO MR are simply amazing strret cars..they are fast, handle great and are litterally a beautiful piece of engineering..but the crowd attracted towards them has faded their real value..
I think the same goes for the Japanese bikes, even though in spirit and flesh, they are absolutly great..the crowd (namely the Street SQUIDS) have totally tarnished their image and potential. I see these street kids running up an down the highways at triple digit speeds acting like morons..and the same kids would show up at a track day and wont know how to take a simple corner ( I volunteered as a control rider at a few MAARC track days for free track time before a race weekend)..I guess the fact that I refer to those guys as "kids" makes me an old timer..but I am not even 35..
I guess the Duks are for a more experienced and mature rider..who else woudl pay 50% more price for a heavier, slower and less relaible machine...
Anyway..I hope you can see what I am trying to say...
I guess a simple "I love my bike " woudl have been enough...heheheeee

I drive an RX-8, which is NOT the fastest car out there for sure, but I love it's stying, handling, and all-around package so for me, it's not about the fastest 1/4 mile and all. It's about what pleases me. Same goes for my 749.

Exactly..
Not long ago I test drove the S2000, RX-8 and the 350Z all at the same time within an hour..Had a great time..
and my choice would have been the S2000 if it was a weekend car only..and the RX-8 for its built qulaity and and styling. The engine, though a bit weak revs up north of 8000 rpm..That can never be a bad thing..

Kam, I agree completely. I was in the market for a bike after being without for two years, and started my search with my usual choices, the Japanese 600's and 1000's. After three solid weekends of looking at them all, I came to conclusion that none of them stood out from one another and it really didn't matter which one I chose. They were all the same thing, really. And for me about as exciting as my Mom's new Camry.
Plus, as you pointed out, I felt funny about buying a new 600 and joining those ranks again. I'm 43, and felt as if I'd outgrown that. Silly, I know. Makes no sense at all, I know.

So I bought a 749!

2 years from now a Japanese liter bike will still be an excellent machine.....but a Ducati will always be a Sex Machine! LOL

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hearing8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">.....but a Ducati will always be a Sex Machine! LOL</TD></TR></TABLE>

So... when I'm on my Ducati it's sort of a redundant system.

Shite Mental with all of your scars you are a "Sex Machine Cubed"!

Actually... I think the only women I’d attract would be from the Borg collective.

Hey.... 7of 9 was a Borg.

Mmmmmmmmmm..... 7of 9.

Same reason I drive a VW and not a Honda.

Yeah 7 of 9 could assimilate me anytime!

i haven't been ridin jap bikes that long(about a year) and am already tired of them . and i agree ducs are sex machines, im in south florida and i'm positive i can get more chicks with a duc than a suzuki or honda bike . i dont care if the duc is slower on the straights thats not where they shine, you see them at their best on the twisties, which is what they are made for. but thats just my

I was introduced to 7 of 9 (Jeri Ryan) at an art gallery opening a few years ago by the owner of the gallery. I didn't have my Ducati yet back then but if I did, the Ducati being a "sex machine", who knows what might have happened... [wishful thinking]

When you guys go to a salad bar, do you get lettuce, pepperoni slices and black olives and leave everything else on the serving line?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RichardC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you guys go to a salad bar, do you get lettuce, pepperoni slices and black olives and leave everything else on the serving line?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmmmmm.... this sounds like a question right out of a psychology test.

Let me think on it..... the answer is.... yes, that looks like a picture of my mother.

Did I pass the test...?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by REDRIDER666 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...im in south florida and i'm positive i can get more chicks with a duc than a suzuki or honda bike...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Is that your main riding goal?

"and i'm positive i can get more chicks with a duc " i just love this stuff. the topic was started by a guy talking about the duke has a more mature unsquidly crowd and a few posts later----bam i can get more chicks(squid)

Women are smart. A rider with a Ducati has clearly reached the peak, and will no longer be spending cash on trying to upgrade his 5 year old and obsolescent Japanese bike. Plus if you can afford a Ducati then diamonds, and Remy for your lady are no stretch. Meanwhile us poor rice riders are out hand welding exhausts together, or just plain riding.

Squids are universal, and our local ones have platinum cards.

True story. We have an Italian car/motorcycle/bicycle show every year on fathers day. It's put on by the local Alfa club, free to show & it's been sunny the last 3 years. There's lots of US cars but not many bikes. In fact the last few years the newest Ducati was a 97ish 996. No 999's, no Aprilia's. On the way home from the show (me on a RC51, and my buddy on his 78 Lemans) there's a Bostrom rep parked down at the titty beach. We've got a few shops in town selling lots of Duc's so the bikes are out there.

You WA guys should haul up to North Vancouver this June. It's a nice ride, it's on a Sunday, and the local Italian crew is frozen in the early 80's. Not that there aren't some nice bikes (prefect 750 SFC), but something newer would be OK.

hey i didnt mean fot it to sound like that was the only thing i'm concerned about, its just one of the perks. im lookin at a monoposto right now so i wont be "picking up" any females on it any time soon. i want it for its riding capability and torque.

Yum, 7 of 9

I've ridden Japanese since 1970. My current 99 Busa has almost 35 thousand miles.

I've ridden my 749 since last March. It has almost 2200 thousand miles. It's spent a goodly amount of time at the dealer getting stuff fixed, rather than under my butt.

Rice is good. Pasta is good. It's all good.