[lyjw88]

I'm drooling over Ducati 1198 or 1198s for a while and would like to know how difficult and costly it is to own a superbike like Ducati?
And is this bike too dangerous for beginners?

[imported_mega]

I wouldn't recommend a literbike to a beginner, start with something like a sv650 you can sell it and get your money back when you move up, the sv is also a v setup so you'll get used to the power delivery

ducati's are expensive to run, you really cant diy the maintenance and it's fairly expensive

[MisterSkiMask]

I owned a 996 back in the day, I commuted on it every day. They are more expensive to maintain then a bike from Japan Inc. but totally worth it. They do need their valves adjusted, and then need timing belts, everything else you can do yourself.

As long as you are not an ass you can have any bike as a first bike, the grip on the right is not an on off switch. You know yourself better then anyone else, as long as you have respect for the power that the bike has you can be just fine.

[mtla4]

You will drop your first bike. I still do after all these years of riding it can happen. Get a japanese bike so you can buy cheap parts of ebay in case you go down. Start with an SV650 like imported_mega said. My recommandation would be a DRZ400 supermoto are so much fun on the street. Honestly I'm not a high on Ducati people always think that they're like Ferrari but thats not the case.
V-twin liter bike is the worst idea for begginers (RC51, TL1000) the power delivery is too instant and abrupt.

[1N54E92]

Originally Posted by lyjw88

I'm drooling over Ducati 1198 or 1198s for a while and would like to know how difficult and costly it is to own a superbike like Ducati?
And is this bike too dangerous for beginners?

Yes !! very dangerous for beginners. I love the Ducati bikes. I was looking at the 848 for myself.

[BRDHNTR]

For a first bike try to stay under 500cc's. That way when you dump it, it will be a less expensive accident and hopefully a less severe one as well. Everyone I know that can really ride a bike has dumped at least one in the learning process. It's a terrible consequence of trying to find the limit.

[Jaypod]

Originally Posted by lyjw88

I'm drooling over Ducati 1198 or 1198s for a while and would like to know how difficult and costly it is to own a superbike like Ducati?
And is this bike too dangerous for beginners?

Too dangerous? That really depends on you...definitely a lot of bike - if your set on a Duc, IMO may want to consider a Monster to start

[mtla4]

Put it this way you can kill yourself on a scooter. But bottom line replacing broken fairing is usually expensive on a (regular bike) now on a Ducati it can get pretty expensive+a lot of downtime since no nobody carry those parts in stock.

[Spec 1]

DO NOT BUY THIS AS A FIRST MOTORCYCLE! I repeat this is NOT a bike for beginners!!!! You will most likely kill yourself, injur yourself badly, or scare yourself and not like riding it. I'm an insurance agent, rider for 5 years, racer for 1 year.

The costly portion isn't that bad, say $15-16k for the bike, plus Ducati maintenance is always somewhat expensive and frequent, but not horrible. The big concern that this bike is considered an expert bike. I wouldn't recommend a current 600cc racebike to start let alone a 1100cc racebike. My 636cc racebike will rip itself out of your fingers, flip you over the top, spit you off and call it a day. The Ducati will do this in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears. Again, it is considered an expert bike.

Ducati also makes an '848' with a smaller engine, which is a experienced/expert bike, which will still rip you through tomorrow and I wouldn't advise to start on, but it looks similar and wont kill you AS FAST as the 1098. If you'd really like to get yourself one of these, find youself a Ducati Monster 600cc and ride it for a year or two, then from there move up to a Ducati 848 (or 749) and ride another year or two, THEN go 1098.

Otherwise you'll honestly scare yourself into not using it, kill yourself, or wad it into a wall shattering your body. I see it happen much more then people would like to admit. If you have any questions on bikes I'd be glad to help. PNWRiders.com would be a good place to ask questions and find information.

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by Spec 1

DO NOT BUY THIS AS A FIRST MOTORCYCLE! I repeat this is NOT a bike for beginners!!!! You will most likely kill yourself, injur yourself badly, or scare yourself and not like riding it. I'm an insurance agent, rider for 5 years, racer for 1 year.

The costly portion isn't that bad, say $15-16k for the bike, plus Ducati maintenance is always somewhat expensive and frequent, but not horrible. The big concern that this bike is considered an expert bike. I wouldn't recommend a current 600cc racebike to start let alone a 1100cc racebike. My 636cc racebike will rip itself out of your fingers, flip you over the top, spit you off and call it a day. The Ducati will do this in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears. Again, it is considered an expert bike.

Ducati also makes an '848' with a smaller engine, which is a experienced/expert bike, which will still rip you through tomorrow and I wouldn't advise to start on, but it looks similar and wont kill you AS FAST as the 1098. If you'd really like to get yourself one of these, find youself a Ducati Monster 600cc and ride it for a year or two, then from there move up to a Ducati 848 (or 749) and ride another year or two, THEN go 1098.

Otherwise you'll honestly scare yourself into not using it, kill yourself, or wad it into a wall shattering your body. I see it happen much more then people would like to admit. If you have any questions on bikes I'd be glad to help. PNWRiders.com would be a good place to ask questions and find information.

You forgot a lot of people ride for a year and eventually sell them. My friends were all squids and would not push their bikes. Their bikes were useless for them(chicken strips) using them only to go pose on the main street to pick up chicks. Riding is not for everyone most of the riders hang up their helmet within 1-2 years. Like said above go with something cheap unless you just want to pose.