Potential owner looking for advice

Ducati Forum

Help Support Ducati Forum:

I'm sure you could trade a lot of battle-scar stories on here with almost everyone. After having been riding since I was 5 years old, I balled up a perfectly good Ducati Monster going +90 chasing some guys on a road I'd never been on before and broke my neck. That's what your ego will do for you. Then I started studying seriously.
Helmet rule #1: "If you have a $5 head, get a $5 helmet." AGV is top in my book. They fit like shoes though. You tend to either be a Nike guy or an Adidas guy for example. Each brand tends to make different shapes for different heads.
The thing I like about the top tier of AGV is they are rated in the EU, US, and UK, across the board max safety rating. That's the only helmet I've found that can make that claim, though I'd be happy to see more as IMHO, the US DOT rating is a joke. Some are made for high-speed crashes, others for low-speed crashes. It's been a compromise for many years. AGV covers both with a variety of cushion layers, top materials, hand made, and very great design. The AGV Pista GP R - if it fits you really well, that's what you want. Also the most aerodynamic helmet I've ever had as well. (When you get on the highway with a bad helmet, you get "head bobble" as turbulance makes your helmet flop all over the place. It's hard to see. Not this helmet) When you see the price, refer to Helmet rule #1. Otherwise do your research and get what fits you best. They'll be pretty tight on your cheeks until they break in, but they need to be the right shape for your head, I would recommend NOT buying online. Go try a bunch on. They should not be tight on your skull, just snug.

Stylo328 said:
Thank you for the incredibly thoughtful reply. I hadn’t considered how the road bike would factor in to riding the motorcycle. Part of my “responsible” nature results from a significant road cycling accident that occurred over a decade ago. I was in an organized ride down south. I came around a corner doing 23-24mph in a bit of a lean when I encountered wet grass clippings in the road. I lost traction and when traction was regained I was catapult head-first into the asphalt. I was wearing a Bell Sweep R race helmet, which was one of the best at the time. The helmet was crazed and cracked internally in several places. I wound up with altered consciousness for 45-minutes and a grade three concussion. That was followed by 18-months of post concussion syndrome. I keep the helmet and riding glasses I was wearing, to remind me... This is why I have spent months researching helmets and have narrowed it to the two mentioned above. I never want to live through that again.
Click to expand...
you're welcome!
 
Riding pants and riding gloves were delivered yesterday. Mesh riding jacket is expected today. Will order the helmet next week - going to go get measured at the local Ducati dealership.

Unfortunately shoes will not ship until early may. Will schedule the rider safety course once all the gear is received.

Still leaning towards a 2021 V2.

Thanks for all of the advice.
 
Stylo328 said:
Riding pants and riding gloves were delivered yesterday. Mesh riding jacket is expected today. Will order the helmet next week - going to go get measured at the local Ducati dealership.

Unfortunately shoes will not ship until early may. Will schedule the rider safety course once all the gear is received.

Still leaning towards a 2021 V2.

Thanks for all of the advice.
Click to expand...
Where ya at florida guy? Come ride my V4
 
Stylo328 said:
Southwest Florida.

I appreciate the offer, but would be concerned that I would lay your bike down. That’s very cool of you to even offer though. That V4 is a whole lot of bike.
Click to expand...
Sweet man, Stop in at Gulf Coast Motorcycles (BMW/Duc)
Their service department is top notch but the sales force doesn’t like giving discounts so I ended up purchasing from Ducati Sanford at a discounted price
Good luck w it and maybe we can meet up for a photo shoot at some point. I’m in Venice, take lots of trips to Tampa, St Pete and Ft Myers
 
DucatiKev said:
Sweet man, Stop in at Gulf Coast Motorcycles (BMW/Duc)
Their service department is top notch but the sales force doesn’t like giving discounts so I ended up purchasing from Ducati Sanford at a discounted price
Good luck w it and maybe we can meet up for a photo shoot at some point. I’m in Venice, take lots of trips to Tampa, St Pete and Ft Myers
Click to expand...

Thanks. That’s who I’ve been working with. That is also where I am going to order my helmet later this week.

As much as I’ve looked at 1299s or V4s, I keep thinking that I would be overshooting the moon at that point and really exceeded any reasonable decision making for a first time owner.

I plan on keeping this thread updated. For sure we can connect once I get a bike. Was also considering getting riding lessons. Have any recommendations for anyone in our area?
 
I look at a bike like this and think, everyone writes “buy a cheap bike that you are willing to drop, because you will”

Is it worth getting a bike with a rebuilt title for significantly less that a new V2 will cost me and “if” I drop it, the “pain” is less - at least on the wallet.

Check out this 2016 Ducati 1299 PANIGALE (REBUILT) shared from the CycleTrader iOS App.
https://m39t6.app.goo.gl/VbnKc

Would appreciate your thoughts.
 
Look, I'm not going to sugar coat it despite the stories that essentially amount to my first bike was an ex motogp machine but I took it slowly for the first couple of times lol! Getting a 1299, V4 or a V2 as a first road bike is a stupid decision. Get something small for 6 months, and get you head around roadcraft plus all the other element that go into road riding. When you train people in sports etc, natural talent is super impressive as it spikes but more often than not tumbles as the basic drills that are the foundations for true success are glanced over, but some talent plus a diligent work ethic just keeps on improving.Same with bikes, do your time going from moto3 to motogp you will be a better rider and far more likely to still be alive next year. These are "superbikes" not learner bikes.
 
Gotta say, l agree with Paul. These bikes can wipe the floor with a lot of supercars. You loose focus for a second, or on a wet junction touch the brakes or throttle a bit heavy and you're down. There are better bikes to learn on. Not as beautiful, though!
 
Heres a real story with real consequences- death and a manslaughter (culpable homicide) charge. The short version is some middle aged guy who last rode a dirt bike when he was 19 (37 years ago) goes and buys a Busa. Goes riding with his mates, panic brakes instinctively using only the rear, crashes and dies.

That is what I'm talking about, its all well and good cruising to your local cafe or going around the block but when it gets real on these bikes you need the ingrained skillset to kick in otherwise you are up .... creek in a barbed wire canoe.
 
Last edited:
Take it to the box = Trial by jury

Christ apples = my nutz

RWA’s = rich white ........

Oh that was a different thread : )
 
If I did not put hands on dude (or have him whacked) I would not plea bargain to get outta a murder charge

That’s crazy
 
Paul G said:
Look, I'm not going to sugar coat it despite the stories that essentially amount to my first bike was an ex motogp machine but I took it slowly for the first couple of times lol! Getting a 1299, V4 or a V2 as a first road bike is a stupid decision. Get something small for 6 months, and get you head around roadcraft plus all the other element that go into road riding. When you train people in sports etc, natural talent is super impressive as it spikes but more often than not tumbles as the basic drills that are the foundations for true success are glanced over, but some talent plus a diligent work ethic just keeps on improving.Same with bikes, do your time going from moto3 to motogp you will be a better rider and far more likely to still be alive next year. These are "superbikes" not learner bikes.
Click to expand...

V4Missile said:
Gotta say, l agree with Paul. These bikes can wipe the floor with a lot of supercars. You loose focus for a second, or on a wet junction touch the brakes or throttle a bit heavy and you're down. There are better bikes to learn on. Not as beautiful, though!
Click to expand...

Paul G said:
Heres a real story with real consequences- death and a manslaughter (culpable homicide) charge. The short version is some middle aged guy who last rode a dirt bike when he was 19 (37 years ago) goes and buys a Busa. Goes riding with his mates, panic brakes instinctively using only the rear, crashes and dies.

That is what I'm talking about, its all well and good cruising to your local cafe or going around the block but when it gets real on these bikes you need the ingrained skillset to kick in otherwise you are up .... creek in a barbed wire canoe.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the posts and for the link. I’m researching and trying to find lower displacement motorcycles that will work for 6’5” 265 pound riders. The pickings are pretty slim. I don’t want to buy something that I won’t enjoy or ride just to check a box.

I will also say, having worked as a senior executive over trauma programs at multiple hospitals, bad things happen on or in just about any motorized vehicle. I accept and acknowledge that the likelihood for an unintended poor outcome is exponentially higher on a superbike, especially a liter bike.

I am open to suggestions on lower displacement bikes that might be a good fit for my size. I think stomping on the back break on any motorcycle is likely to not end well. Accidental overuse of the throttle in the high displacement bike is a whole other story.

Reading some of these posts has had me contemplating whether or not I should get one of those three wheel Can-Am bikes.
 

Similar threads

A
New Forum member from Spain
Replies
1
Views
104
Tech Admin
T
E
Track Day Hand Numbness
Replies
12
Views
325
SuperDomestique
SuperDomestique
B
Advice for potential '23 buyer?
Replies
19
Views
902
NYCV4S
NYCV4S
N
Looking for advice and tips
2 3
Replies
41
Views
966
baggerman
B
mayhan1980
Panigale to Streetfighter?
Replies
7
Views
404
baggerman
B

Register CTA

Register on Ducati Forum! This sidebar will go away, and you will see fewer ads.

Recent Discussions

Back
Top