Ducati 749

Regarded by many as the poor mans choice, but is actually more the thinking mans choice. Good ones can be found as cheap as 4500 pounds and can be bought brand new for as little as 6500.

Apart from the engine the rest of the bike is identical in every way to it's bigger brother the 999, sharing all the top draw chasis components and most of the street cred as well.

The smaller motor is only a few mph down on top speed (as little as 5mph if you get a good one) and is not much slower off the line either. The power delivery is less tractor like and smoother making it easier to use, it also helps the chasis to steer sweeter than the triple 9's too.

Useable power starts at about 3ooo rpm where torque through the mid range is comparable to an early fireblade, it carries on to the 11250rpm rev limiter quickley to give acceleration and top speed thats comparable to an early carb model R6.

Wet weather riding is where the engine and chasis really shines as the twins engine helps the rear tyre find grip where other four cylinder bikes just spin. From point too point this is one of the easiest bikes on the road to go fast on in relative saftey.

The down side is tyre wear is excessive, expect front and rear tyres to be well past their best by 2000miles, handling goes from sublime to barge like overnight as it will refuse to turn in and hold a line once this point is reached. The engines will often refuse to tick over properly in colder weather (super unleaded fuel helps) and fuel consumption goes through the roof, but when the sun shines and the weather is hot it all comes together again.

Reliability is the key issue that will decide wether or not this is the bike formost people. S and R models are definatly far more prone to problems than biposto's as their motors are more highly tuned and far more stressed. Avoid anything with race exhausts and super chips as these almost always lead to trouble. Look for bikes with decent warranty left, full history and in standard trim. Servicing is expensive so a bike thats just had it's 6000mile service and preferably an oil change at 3000miles is best secondhand buy. Beware sellers offering just serviced bikes with 3 or 4 thousand on the clock as it probably won't have had a proper service which is every 6 thousand and includes belts, chims etc, hence the expense.

Also beware bikes that have had new tyres at 2000miles as the first set should last at least 3000. 749's have a 1500mile run in period so new tyres early on indicate that it won't have been properly run in. New bikes are a good option on this model because things such as rocker arms and chims that need replacement on the 6000mile service won't be covered by warranty and are veiwed as general wear and tear. If you buy an abused 2nd hander the next service could cost over 1000 pounds so depreciation may not be such a hard option for peice of mind.

Don't be fooled by polish and check owners carefully, many Ducati owners really do have more money than sense when it comes to looking after their bikes.

Last of all if you've never owned a Ducati it's something that every true biker should do once, it is an experience, but like everything special it will cost you one way or another.