BMW vs Ducati: brake or swerve, which is nimbler/safer?

[MThomas]

The R1150r is the best handling bike i've ever been on (fairly new so not many to compare with) - never been on a Ducati but they're 100 lbs lighter ... which do you think is easier to maneuver?

[gregor]

Lightness counts for a lot. I'd an R1200R on loan for a day and that felt very light and was as easy to manoeuvre as my old XT350 Yamaha.
The only Ducati I've ridden was a Pantah 900 iirc and it felt very long. But exciting while it lasted.
On the whole I prefer my R1150R, apart from the weight that is. I try to avoid BMW showrooms as I fear for my wallet.

[peels]

ducati 998, most maneuverable bike Iv'e experienced. But I have NO interest in riding it 500 miles in a day like I do my bike, which I can also ride fast and corner tightly if i want to, just not nearly as serious.


With the 1150r, the aim is balance. A little less adrenaline, but you can experience it for longer.

[MThomas]

ducati 998, most maneuverable bike Iv'e experienced

With an impending job change I'm looking at commuting for 30 mins in moderate traffic so I'll need something maneuverable just in case.
In general I don't ride on long trips, my rides never last more than 30/40 mins.

My concern however is frequency and expense of maintenance on a Ducati. When I bought the R1150r the shop told me that not only is is a simple design that's reliable and easy/cheap to maintain but he also told me "you cannot kill this bike!" and thus far all of the above have proven to be the case.

So if a Ducati is a maintenance and an expensive nightmare then I may have to take my chances on the R1150r

[peels]

All things considered... with info from your post as well as other youve laid down here.... and Specifically maintenance and your ""rides never last more than 30/40 minutes" comment. R1150r is not the winner. And the Ducati. NO way. lol

IF you're going to get rid of the 1150, Go with a Japanese Motorcycle. I strongly suggest a Yamaha FZ1. 2nd gen with Fuel Injection. 1st gen too, but the carbs can be goofy. Its way more comfy than a ducati, and nearly as fast and nimble. I owned an FZ1. but it was more sporty than I really like. New FZ9 is cool I hear too. A coworker just bought one. Though hes having some remorse, because its not much better than the FZ1 he traded.

lets say we have a bike rating system 1-10. 1 being full touring. 10 being fully sporty.
ducati would be 9.
1150R would be around 4.
FZ-1 is a 7.

the 1150 works or me. I use it every day for commuting PLUS use it for touring, and even drag my knees sometimes. The system cases make it unbeatable. I grocery shop with it too.

[Jed]

Well said Peels. A quite balanced comparison of the three bikes.

cheers,
Jed

[sweatmark]

The R1150r is the best handling bike i've ever been on (fairly new so not many to compare with) - never been on a Ducati but they're 100 lbs lighter ... which do you think is easier to maneuver?

BMW versus Ducati - is impossible to answer without specifics, e.g. bike models, riding/physics scenario, etc. My best advice is to focus less on motorcycle, and more on motorcyclist. Take advanced training where offered in your area (VA or MD?), sign up for beginner track days, and practice. If experience and training can yield the following results, give yourself the opportunity to become the nimbler/safer rider, and keep your Roadster - we enjoy your participation here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9MVY8swO5M

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#m_course.asp
http://www.mva.maryland.gov/safety/motorcycle/training/

[MThomas]

R1150r is not the winner. And the Ducati. NO way.

lets say we have a bike rating system 1-10. 1 being full touring. 10 being fully sporty.
ducati would be 9.
1150R would be around 4.
FZ-1 is a 7.

This is hugely valueable. This almost makes it seem (for me at least) that Ducati is the choice since it's 9/10 on the sporty side (where sporty = easier to handle) ... is the maintenance and failure rate on Ducati's that bad?

[gregor]

I'd not sell the BMW until you were very sure that you preferred the Ducati. Very different in purpose and comfort. Unless you go for a Multistrada adventure tourer, which is the least sporty of a sporty range. Ducati sell a wide range of bikes in Europe.
The advice above is good stuff but difficult to make bald BMW v Ducati comparisons, the characteristics being very model specific. Training and experience is also very important in making a choice.

[peels]

R1150r is not the winner. And the Ducati. NO way.

lets say we have a bike rating system 1-10. 1 being full touring. 10 being fully sporty.
ducati would be 9.
1150R would be around 4.
FZ-1 is a 7.

This is hugely valueable. This almost makes it seem (for me at least) that Ducati is the choice since it's 9/10 on the sporty side (where sporty = easier to handle) ... is the maintenance and failure rate on Ducati's that bad?

10 on my scale, full sporty, would be a race bike. Thusly, Ducati being a 9, isnt for someone whos unsure. Id say you need to go ride one, before any decisions are made. I only test rode the 998 circa 2004. My lord I wanted that machine...SO much fun to ride, hear the engine exhaust... but it was impractical, uncomfortable and FAR too serious for commuting for me. I need a one stop shop bike, and as of yet, there isnt one better than the BMW roadsters... I have No room for multiple bikes. Now, If we had a track ANYWHERE nearby, Id have bought it. And like sweatmark said. this is really difficult, because you haven't specified a model. Monster, streetfighter, 1098, motard, multistrada.

very different machines. I like them all.

If you do your own work... same thing as BMW id say. Parts are expensive.

[towerworker]

When I was working....pre-2010....I rode my R everywhere. I was safety manager for a tower construction company. They paid me mileage to use it on the job. I took it up some fire trails to job sites (a bit of a mistake but got up the mountain and down) and otherwise rode it everywhere. Now that I'm kinda sorta retired I still ride it everywhere and I'm doing my best to wear it out. It's a great machine to pull the cases off and hit the twisties on the BRP or blast up interstate and the beltway around DC. It's a great do-it-all bike. Easy to work on and maintain. And it gathers a bit of attention if that is important to you. It's not a cookie-cutter bike like so many of the popular cruisers on the roads today. I like the fact that in it's stock state it's quiet. I want to hear music in my Sena headset and if I want to hear the world around me I can do that too. Great all around machine.

[sweatmark]

Combining two of MThomas' topic threads: BMW vs H-D, and this one (BMW vs Ducati)... in my Facebook stream this morning:

http://www.bikeexif.com/harley-davidson ... ide-review

Not really my cup of tea, but I'm sure some may like the new direction for H-D. There were lots of H-D 750 customs at this year's 1 Moto show in Portland (sponsored by H-D).

[peels]

Combining two of MThomas' topic threads: BMW vs H-D, and this one (BMW vs Ducati)... in my Facebook stream this morning:

http://www.bikeexif.com/harley-davidson ... ide-review

Not really my cup of tea, but I'm sure some may like the new direction for H-D. There were lots of H-D 750 customs at this year's 1 Moto show in Portland (sponsored by H-D).

not exactly my cup of tea either, but I dont hate it. it looks different, and noticed, pleasingly, the lack of GINORMOUS primary drive.

[MThomas]

http://www.bikeexif.com/harley-davidson ... ide-review

Not even 70hp (I believe the R1150r is 83hp),
516 lbs (I believe the R1150r is 480lbs),
Made in India but charging made in USA price,

I don't have high expectations but I'll go ride one with an open mind.

[peels]

http://www.bikeexif.com/harley-davidson ... ide-review

Not even 70hp (I believe the R1150r is 83hp),
516 lbs (I believe the R1150r is 480lbs),
Made in India but charging made in USA price,

I don't have high expectations but I'll go ride one with an open mind.

In bold is the most annoying part of that. I could live with the tech specs.

at this point, in my motorcycling life, the ONLY reason I would consider a Harley, would be to try something new, in order to support american workers and ingenuity.

gone completely is my desire to check out that bike. What is harley thinking? Do they think people are still really THAT enamored with the image of riding american iron, they'll completely forego the fact that it actually ISNT? lost me on this one.

edit: looks like bikes destined for America and Canada will still be "assembled in the USA" so its only partially true. but still...

[MThomas]

I guess for a cruiser (read long distances), wouldn't Victory be the way to go? You can get a brand new USA made Victory Octane for $10k out the door.
1200cc, 548 lbs, 104hp, not bad specs if you like the look:
http://www.victorymotorcycles.com/en-us ... tane-white

Now what I had thought about especially since I only ride short distances, was this:
http://bigdogisback.com/motorcycles#Mastiff
Wichita KS and a look that will jack up your coolness factor ten fold but the cheapest model starts at $27k, pocket change for the folks on this forum but certainly above my pay grade.
Getting a used one could also be the way to go:
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/mcy/6103019754.html

The thing for me to consider is being a new rider I feel a lot more comfortable sitting high up on the 32" R1150 seat where I can see around me than low to the ground on a H-D or other cruiser seat.
Also I hear the extended fork makes the bike tougher to handle/turn.

I still practice tight circles and figures 8s whenever I can but now I'm doing them on gravel/dirt roads which makes pavement much easier. Once I get to the point where I can handle a big dog I may peruse the used ads and offer to trade a car for it

[sykospain]

Hello MThomas - if you're going to be doing a 30 minute commute to work and back, IMHO just buy a Honda NC750S-DCT. Or the 700 if the 750 is still not marketed in the USA.
It's designed for the job. And HALF the price of a new Beemer. Take a test ride - it'll blow your briar pipe out, and the fuel economy is astonishing. I get an average 85mpg from a 750cc parallel twin with 270 degree firing, 6 gears and the option of full auto-transmission with four drive options plus full manual if you prefer. All in the same bike..

[peels]

Cool doesnt mean good. and sadly, Victory Motorcycles is shutting down entirely....for good this year.



I'm with you on your thought, about sitting upright. After riding my friends FatBob i was reminded of this. VERY comfortable to sit on, HATE the position underway. (it's hideous monster of a bike that looks like a Triumph Street Triple had a thalidomide baby with a 70's chopper)

Happy to see the overdone chopper fad go away. But...if you like it, ride it. Personally, Choppers have no use for me other than to say "hey look at me" And they generally, and not all of course, ride like trash.