If you want more soul, I'd suggest an RC51 over a Duc. One of my best friends had a 748...he was quite fond of it, but it never really grew on me (some rides I couldn't wait to get off it, esp. in the summer when the exhaust cooks your ass). He totaled it recently, and I talked him into an RC51 instead of another Duc. He was reluctant, but bit and proceeded, found a great deal on one, and then dumped all kinds of money on it...it already had Erion Ti cans, and he's added an Ohlins shock, PCII, diff. shock link, Scotts damper, sent the forks to Traxxion Dynamics, etc. Needless to say, it may be the most awesome bike I've ever ridden (close race w/ the GSXR 1000). I've ridden several RC's, and they totally rock, plus respond really well to mods.

The RC may be Japanese and not quite as sexy as a Duc, but it's exotic nonetheless and has TONS of soul! If I was going to spring for a new dream bike, it would prob. be between the RC51 and an Aprilia Mille R. I'm def. more of a twin rider now, at least on the street...though the new CBR954RR and R1 are also tempting. Nevermind, we're getting way beyond the initial $6K budget here!

 

Hey RicsPimp,

Thanks for catching that. I ran a virus scan and found a virus on that directory. It's clean now.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RicePimp
[B]

Uh, is that your server? Might want to get a virus scanner...


Scan type:

 

Nah, the RC51 is all hype and no performance to show for, It's just to porky on the track. If you are looking for a bike with soul you won't find it on a japanese bike. Got to go with the Italians. I think the Aprilia Mille R is the best compromise of performance and reliablilty and has a boat load of soul. Of course we are talking about a $17k bike now.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chris S
[B]

If you want more soul, I'd suggest an RC51 over a Duc.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by r6e36
[B]Nah, the RC51 is all hype and no performance to show for, It's just to porky on the track. If you are looking for a bike with soul you won't find it on a japanese bike. Got to go with the Italians. I think the Aprilia Mille R is the best compromise of performance and reliablilty and has a boat load of soul. Of course we are talking about a $17k bike now.

 

I used to have a R6... fun bike... very FUN bike. Thats the whole reason of riding, to have fun right? Thats why I picked a R6 over a F4. But anyways.. even if you throw $6k towards the S2000 (turbo/nos), it will still won't hold a candle to twisting the throttle on a R6 and ripping it up to 15,5k rpms! Plus this ultra fast s2000 will still get spanked by a R6. Maybe over a 100mph the Turbo/nos S2000 will hang, but you will be doing some catch up.

FWIW, I just picked up a new 01, leftover at $8500. I was plannin on getting the 02 R1, but I couldn't pass this price up. This thing is going to get my into trouble... effortless acceleration. Atleast with the R6 you had to rev it like you mean it to get it to move. With the R1, just twist and go, regardless of Rpms. And you really don't notice how fast you are going because the engine doesn't scream, but when you look back at the car that was once next to you and is now 1/8 mile back after rolling it on around 4k rpms makes me wonder if this bike is overkill. For christ sakes! I haven't even take it over 6k rpms yet or used full throttle yet!

 

Let me add another vote for putting the extra money into a good motorcycle. You have to decide if you want more acceleration and top speed (Yamaha), or a bike that stirs your soul. I've owned many Yamahas, but I get the most enjoyment riding a Ducati.

 

As a matter of fact I did. The RC51 is a very stable bike and has a lot of potential in race form. But in street form the bike is unconfortable just like the Duc but yet it does not have the awesome steering feel of the Duc when pushed hard. When I went for a track day, I rode a RC51 and a 996 and I was much more confident on the Duc. Both bike weighs in about the same but riding the RC51 you can feel the weight when you throw it around a turn while the Duc hides it's weight much better.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chris S
[B]

Have you ridden one, or do you just read magazines?

 

Wow, what an interesting thread! (I'm not being sarcastic!!!!!!!!!)

I am in the very same situation myself. Just last weekend, I sold my 7 month old '01 R1 ($7800) with only 1185 miles. I now have some extra cash and am seriously considering getting the Comptech Supercharger or Speedcraft Turbo. I just ordered some Volk GT-C wheels.

I am asking myself the question about what I want to do with the money. Should I get another bike? In Michigan, there's not a greatly compelling reason to do so as the roads aren't great and it's cold a lot of the year. But when the weather is great............

I've come to the conclusion that a bike is the way I'm going to go (in a few months). I'm going to get a new black/silver R1 or maybe a Gixxer 1000. As has been mentioned elsewhere, nothing comes close to the rush of a sportbike, or the feeling you get riding one. Even if the S2000 were a high 12's car, it is leased and it's not an investment.

So, I'm going with another bike. That's my decision. Then I can have the best of both worlds. SUVh8R, enjoy your new toy! Ride safe, ride smart!

Cheers,

 

One other thing........no offense to the Ducati guys/gals, but here's my take on Ducati's (well at least the one I rode). I had the opportunity to ride a 916 twice in 1995 for quite a long period of time. I had the money to buy one and was seriously considering it ($26900 AUD - about $16,000 USD)....hence the reason for my test rides.

Personally, I didn't like it at all.

"WHAT???" "How can you SAY that?" One might ask. Well, it just didn't impress me. Pure and simple.

It got plenty of 'wow' looks due to it's 'cool' factor, but I wasn't comfortable on it and it cooked my ass. And while it sounded fantastic when I was watching it ride by (it had Termignoni pipes), I couldn't help but feel that I was riding a powerful lawnmower based on how it sounded when I was piloting it! It didn't wheelie easily, it felt heavy, and it seemed to run out of puff really quickly. Basically, the 916 ran out of revs when I expected it to continue pulling like my CBR900 did.

Me, I'm a Japanese bike person. Yes, the Ducati does have 'soul' but the R1, 929/954 and Gixer 1000 do everything so cleanly and for such a saving, that it's hard to justify spending more on an Italian. Then again, that argument could be made with Ferrari as opposed to a Z06 or GT-R Skyline!!! But I would kill for a Ferrari and would spend the extra if only I had it!!!!!!

Don't mind my ramblings!

Cheers

 

It's not my intention to argue Ducatis vs. other bikes either, but I need to add one more comment. If the main use of a motorcycle is riding on straight roads and you're more concerned with drag racing, raw acceleration and top speed, the Japanese sport bikes are definitely superior. Ducatis are not great bikes in the flat lands.

If you live in a big city (Englewood, NJ looks "big city" on my map), a 748 or 996 is the wrong bike. The Monster (my Ducati) is better for city riding.

If you live near lots of twisty roads, hills, and mountains, a Ducati is a more rewarding bike. Of course, I use the same arguments for the S2000. I don't know why anybody would want one somewhere flat like Florida.

I just feel fortunate to live where I can put both my Ducati and my S2000 to best use.