[Guest]

Fellas (and the ocassional Duc chick),
I'm heart broken and at the same time time enthused. My Foggy is at the Ducati Frankfurt shop where they are attempting to sell it. This all due to the fact, its a pain to get it back to the states because its Euro spec. I'm looking for a replacement and had my heart set on a 999S or base model depending on year and price. This is the lust. Now in this process I started thinking ergonomics, horse power, looks, etc....the whole gambit. I'm now confused. OK..here it is.....don't cream me..somehow the K1200S BMW came into the equation

alright the 999 has the beemer in looks, sound, weight and exotica. The beemer has the comfort, torque, power, and i'm pretty sure longer less expensive service intervals. I started thinking about real life and the everyday aspect of motorcycle ownership. I'm not a racer but appreciate driving light nimble machines. Even my cars. I'm still living here in Germany, trying to enjoy some of the best riding in the world. In doing so my service intervals on my Ducati would just pop up. Quite expensive when you are paying in euros and get paid in U.S. dollars

choices.....

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (r-t-r)

This is just something to think about before you make that final decision. BMW's are not perfect and all makes have their problems.

from http://www.k1200s.com

BMW has recalled every K1200S made so far. Sale of the sportbike has been put off until later in 2005.

BMW recalled all 900 machines sold in Europe, and all deposits have been returned on undelivered bikes. The major issues were identified as unpredictable fuel injection and erratic power delivery.

BMW will modify the combustion chamber, ignition mapping, injection levels, and airbox. BMW is also adding a steering damper.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by r-t-r »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The beemer has the comfort, torque, power, and i'm pretty sure longer less expensive service intervals. I started thinking about real life and the everyday aspect of motorcycle ownership. I'm not a racer but appreciate driving light nimble machines. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (r-t-r)

It looks to me that you are leaning towards a BMW,,,,then why not look at the Boxer Replica.

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (blkhalo996)

I find the boxer engine, ugly as sin and the performance lacking. I normally don't like BMW's. Its simply that the K 1200S, almost comes within the boundries of being small enough and sporty enough. I'm not sold yet. Danst4, thanks for the info on the recall they had. I was aware they had a delay but didn't know they recalled 900 european units. I'm still looking at the 999. I want to shop around for some '03 or '04's that are still on dealer floors. My thing is, if I decide on a bike at a stateside dealer I'll have to have it shipped over to Germany. If I go with the beemer I can get a factory discount from military sales, the same place I bought my Z-4. I'm 60/40 towards the 999.

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (r-t-r)

I had an R80RT back in the mid-80's and I loved it. Boring boxer engine, but a nice ride, great wind protection, and it was very reliable.

You'll make the right decision. If I could... I'd have both in the garage!

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (DanST4)

Never grow up Peter!! Ride that Ducati to the first star on the right and straight on till morning. For God's sake man a BMW? You might just as well get a Harley and ride it off a cliff, don't do it!

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (Sagerider)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sagerider »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Never grow up Peter!! Ride that Ducati to the first star on the right and straight on till morning. For God's sake man a BMW? You might just as well get a Harley and ride it off a cliff, don't do it!

</TD></TR></TABLE>
ok....now I'm 70/30 towards the 999

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (r-t-r)

r-t-r,
Man, BMW products are awesome. Anybody who ever had one knows they are.
But hombre, getting off a Duc and into a BMW sounds odd, unless you are not capable of riding a true sportbike anymore. BMW bikes are jewels and ride like a dream ( very smoothly ), but you won`t get that race feeling on the Beemer.
If you want to ride smooth, B-M, if you want the rest, you know what to get.
Don`t forget the kids man, the kids, What are the kids going to say when they see you on a BM ? You won`t be their idol anymore. Get a Duc, period. Perhaps both will be even better, but if only one you can, go get a satin-black 999 ASAP.
Respectfully, JT

 

[Guest]

I believe the BMW sportbikes also had a problem with the crankshafts.

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (r-t-r)

r-t-r:

If you want to keep the Foggy, maybe you could ship it down to Ducati so they could make it U.S.-legal. All the lower-priced Fila 999Rs that flowed into the country in the past two months were originally shipped to Eastern Europe; when they weren't selling quickly, Ducati brought them back home to Bologna, modded them to make them U.S.-legal, then sold them to us here in the States (because it is a known fact in Europe that we Americans are all filthy rich and will buy anything).

Just my

, but it sure wouldn't hurt to at least contact the factory and check.

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (spezjag)

Spezjag!!

r-t-r:
All the lower-priced Fila 999Rs that flowed into the country in the past two months were originally shipped to Eastern Europe; when they weren't selling quickly, Ducati brought them back home to Bologna, modded them to make them U.S.-legal, then sold them to us here in the States (because it is a known fact in Europe that we Americans are all filthy rich and will buy anything).

Tell me the information, Tell me what you know! ( in gruff Bulgarian accent)
I am one of the filthy rich,ok maybe only slightly soiled, Americans that will buy anything. If you know what the story is on the Fila Replica fill me in. What changes were made for our market here in the US and how many were sent over. I had heard that they where not selling well in Europe and they did reduce the price to the tune of $7,000.00.
Any information would be very much appreciated.
Sorry R-T-R but I just got to know.


Modified by Sagerider at 11:46 PM 2/7/2005

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (r-t-r)

500 lbs...110 hp the new R1200ST in this march motorcyclist is blippin my radar but the same issue has the new harley street rod...650 lbs...110 hp and upright egros with brembo brakes, inverted 30 deg fork...tasty...

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (slightly ducatic)

From what I've heard, the new Street Rod is putting down close to 125...at the wheel. A 9000 RPM redline, mid-mount foot controls that are more like "conservative rearsets", low bars, and a dry weight close to 600. Buddy of mine demo'd the bike and said it rocks...

Different strokes, and all that...

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (r-t-r)

You have to have 2 bikes, one for cruising down the road with a honey on the back, say a Victory for example, and something to go carve the heart out of the mountains, that would be a Ducati any model will do. BMWs are great, I have owned 3, but they are not cool on either front. And IMHO the maintenance costs easily approach that of a Ducati.

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (Sagerider)

Sagerider -

Approx. 65 Fila 999Rs were brought into this country after they failed to sell briskly in Eastern Europe. I see that you're up in Montana - you might want to contact BCM, Section8Superbike, or Ducati Seattle (all members of this board) to see if they have or can get one of these bikes. The dealer near me in No.VA sold two of them and moved a third to another dealer in PA.

When they first arrived, it looked like they might not seel fast here either, but my sense is that they are starting to move pretty quickly. One of the things they did was, as you noted, mark the price down on these bikes from the $30K for the '05 999Rs, down to $24,995. That's a pretty big savings. The biggest difference between the '04s and the '05 999Rs is in the cylinder heads, I believe, which results in a good bit more power. Other than that, they are pretty much the same, including the new swingarms. The changes at the factory included adding the new swingarms, ensuring that the VINs were added and complied with DOT requirements, and generally making sure they met U.S. standards (for streetable racebikes

).

Hope this helps!

 

[Guest]

As for cheaper service, check the cost and freqeuncy of lubing the inpur/output shafts. Maybe they've improved this, but the cost, if you followed the recommended intervals, was pretty high for airheads.

 

[Guest]

Re: (ccolwell)

This is good information guys, the dealership here in Germany already spoke to the head of Ducati imports for Germany, heck I even spoke to him. His thoughts were it was simply to difficult to get it converted. I'm now wondering, since they converted the FILA'S, maybe I should attempt to get a hold of the factory myself. Cut out the middle man so to speak. The only thing that truly matters is the VIN #. Just get it past U.S. customs and I'd have my baby for life. I highly doubt the Ducati factory would even consider helping though. Its not in there interest. One S-4 Foggy thats already been sold, VS. 65 999R FILA'S on the U.S. market. Since the VIN is stamped on the frame they'd have to strip the bike and gin up another frame against the Foggy line ( more paperwork ). Who would I even talk to? I'd love to keep the Foggy and have another bike. I'm even interested in the FILA, but i would probably buy another set of fairings. Don't think i could ride around with all those graphics and stickers. But....GOLLY that would be a nice package wouldn't it?

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (r-t-r)

I'm over here in Germany as well and some day I hate to say but I will have to go back as well. My Ducati is euro spec but I'm willing to bet if I take my bike apart and have them pack it as "motorcycle parts" I can avoid the whole customs all together. Then comes the problem of registering it in the states but if you have the typical USAEUR registration I'm willing to bet it might work

 

[Guest]

Re: Lust or sporty common sense? (bruntr)

Don't think I haven't thought of it. The deal is, the dealership said they would make my bike U.S. spec. The whole and entire reason I plumped down $ 15,900 U.S. dollars is because I believed them. I regret that to this day. I looked them in the eye and they coolly... lied to me.

 

[Guest]

r-t-r,
if you want to talk to a competent dealer (which Ducati Frankfurt is not imho) ping me offline.

Cheers
Martin