Well, dang. Who knew?

 I've been riding supersport bikes and specifically Ducati Superbikes
for years.  I owned a 1992 Ducati 851 Superbike, and have ridden
friends'  916, 955, 996, and 998 models.  Great bikes for the track,
lousy streetbikes.

I traded a guy in Arizona my flat track replica 916 even up for his
2003 999 Superbike when he agreed to pay the shipping costs for both
bikes in the cross country swap.  I planned (note the past tense) to
put the 999 on consignment at my race sponsor's Ducati dealership in
Winchester, Virginia, where the 916 has languished for the last four
months or so.

The 999 arrived this morning, and after assessing the damage from the
moving crew DROPPING the bike as they unloaded it from the truck (Yep,
toppled right over!  Luckily, the guy fell UNDER the bike as he
dropped it, limiting the damage to a broken windscreen and a chipped
mirror/turn signal unit) I put air in the tires, donned my helmet, and
took it for a brief and highly illegal (untitled, unregistered,
uninsured, uninspected, unlicensed) ride.

Holy moley!   This thing is like no other Ducati Superbike I've ever
ridden.  First, it's comfy.  As in, narrow seat at the front, wide
seat at the back, smooth, flat, easy to move around on.  As in, low,
narrow fuel tank, easy to straddle and even easier to get down into
when tucking.   As in - and this may not be indicative of a stock 999,
since this bike has a set of aftermarket Fast by Ferraci clip-ons -
less weight on wrists and heels of hands than any other "hypersport"
bike I've ever ridden, including the previous champion, my race
partner George's 2004 Suzuki GSXR1000 street/track bike.  As in,
tractable down to 2,200 rpm in fourth gear, with the throttle barely
cracked, no surging, no shuddering, no drama at all rolling on the
throttle, just smooth, linear thrust.

The engine is mechanically quiet, the slip-on Termignoni canister is
throaty and deep and mellefluous without being loud and obnoxious.
The only really annoying thing about the bike is the Ducati
Performance ventilated carbon fiber clutch cover, that allows the
annoyingly loud clattering of the dry clutch to overwhelm the other,
prettier sounds the bike makes.   Okay, that and the aftermarket rear
fender eliminator kit that features J.R. Squidly clear L.E.D. tail/
brake light and rear turn signals.  Ick.   Luckily, the box of stock
parts that came with the bike contains the oem rear fender, taillight,
turn signals, and clutch cover!

That same box also includes the stock Showa shock, because this bike
has had an Ohlins shock/spring installed.  Nice.

I think I'll keep this bike just to have something to play with at
track days when George takes out his gixxer.....

 
Sounds good, Tim. The 2200 in 4th is impressive for a race breed twin.
My SV-650 will essentially act the same at 3000 RPM in OD 6th gear.
It's obviously geared lower than a 999 but I'd be curious just how
much. My ind 80MPH is 6000 RPM with new tires & about 6100 with um'
worn.

Also, is the dry clutch noise bearable and where does the rev limiter
kick in?

Bob Nixon, RZ-350, SV-650, Chandler, AZ.

 tomorrow@erols.com wrote:


Sounds like a nice bike.

 
<snip>

Can I hate you now?  <g>  Congrats on yet another superb acquisition
from the other side of the pond.  Did he include the stock clutch
cover?  Change it back and sell the "CF" part for $$.

 

I knew.  I rode one a couple years ago, and I was more than impressed with
it, though I liked the 749S better.
Congrats on the new baby!


--
Andrew
00 Daytona
00 Speed Triple
71 Kawi H1
05 Kiddo