Living with a 748 everyday

Advantages: stunning looks, feel, brakes and grunt
Disadvantages: Its crashed and I need a new one

...A truly awesome bike. Having had to wait a good ten years to get my own Ducati I wasn't going to be disappointed. Doing the usual getting the 125, 400 it was time to step up. Ducati Manchester was the place I found a Second hand 748. Insurance was the main reason for the 748 not the 916ect I wanted a stretch as it was. Being used to biking on a budget previously a Honda VFR400 in less than perfect condition, the mint 748 was amazing. The increased power was obvious on that first ride home and the grunt I read about was wot I had hoped. It isn't all smooth sailing with a Ducati tho as I found out. Within a week after couple of stalls and bump starts then rear wheel lock up I found mine had a faulty alternator. This was an easy fixed problem under the warranty. I never bought this bike as a second bike or a toy this was to be my main...

andrewmc83 18.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ducati Superbike

I swapped my rice for spaghetti

Advantages: Raucous, rebellious, reliable....brings out the rascal in you
Disadvantages: It aint 'alf hot mum

...the wheel rims, they?re alloys and as with any alloy can get damaged. A mate with a 748R recently shelled out 600 quid as a result of a damaged front wheel (claim pending with the local highways authority) ? plastic panels can be bought as pattern parts from a variety of sources and there?s always someone advertising fairing bits on e-bay. The 996 of my era has a ?dry clutch?, i.e. the clutch is designed to run in an environment not surrounded by motor oil and as a result will, quite legitimately, make some rumbling and rattling noise when on tickover ? the noise should stop when the clutch is pulled in. If you?re buying a Ducati check or ask whether it?s a dry or wet clutch - (for instance the Ducati Monster in it?s evolution has featured both) - if it?s a wet clutch and rattling that might be a cause for concern, if it?s a dry clutch...

Epoc 27.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ducati Superbike

Monster Mania

Advantages: Looks gorgeous
Disadvantages: Reliability

...At one time a Ducati was one of the motorbikes to have. I can?t tell you for certain what made the Ducati name so prestigious, but it was probably a combination of things. Back in the early ?90s when Kawazaki?s green team were winning all the races, Ducati were lucky if they could get a bike to finish a race and if they did they were nearly always last. But even then the Ducati still held an attractive quality. I?m not sure whether it was because it was Italian or (which is more likely) because of it?s distinctive twin cylinder rumble which meant you felt it coming (clean those dirty minds!!) before you saw it. When all the other bikes were whizzing past with their high pitched revs, you could barely make out the different makes, but the Ducati was always recognisable just from the sound of it. Some years later the 916 started...

Ankes-un-amun 27.09.2002 · Read review
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Review of Ducati Monster

Oh really...that fast officer

Advantages: Super cool and sexy
Disadvantages: How Much!!

...I love Ducati?s and the 998R has to be my favourite. It has a larger bore and shorter stroke than its predecessor the 996 allowing it to rev higher than before. It also has some very pretty jewellery supplied by the likes of Ohlins (forks and rear shock), Brembo (brakes), throw in the Marchesini Corse wheels and a spot of carbon fibre and well you get the picture. It also has throttle bodies similar to those used in F1! It still retains the old bum up head down sort of position which puts quite a bit of pressure on the wrists, but that?s because it?s a racer and means you get a lot of feedback from the front end. The seat height is fairly low on this bike so it does suit the shorter bikers out there and since I?m quite short myself I know what I?m talking about. If your looking for an armchair go and buy a goldwing because as my...

grantwes 20.08.2002 · Read review
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Review of Ducati Supersport

Best of the breed

Advantages: look, feeling,handling
Disadvantages: noise, vibrations...if you can call it disadvantages

...perfectly with the light looking frame.The back swingarm and the twin rised exaust give the bike a sporty look.bellipan and carbon accessories( you can find tons on the market) are a plus, but i prefer the standard look.Open cluch cover , possibly from Ducati corse, gives bike a personal touch.The front section remembers 70's 80's bikes. **riding** You turn the bike on,the fun start. just listening to the noise makes you feel happy. You can feel quite some vibration on the handlebar, but you will forget them as soon as you start your ride.The position on the bike is very confortable for me, i can have both feet safely on the ground when i stop, and all comands/lever etc ect are where they are supposed to be. Now what you want to do is...meet that friend of yours that just bought the latest Jap that goes 200mp/h, sound like a Philipshave razor...

starmanx 17.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Ducati Monster

Excellent value package

Advantages: Cool display, solid feel, motorized front panel, remote, Sound quality
Disadvantages: Stereo imaging not the best, not good with female vocals

...One of the first car amplifiers I ever owned was a small 40 watt CLARION, and I was thoroughly impressed with it. That was 19 years ago, and I've never forgotten the name CLARION since! CLARION still produce quality gear, and the DXZ748RMP is no exception. I got the clarion for a very reasonable price, and for what I paid the features and quality are far above what you can expect from other brands. For just over £140 delivered the radio came with a remote, motorized front panel, huge colour changing display, and a rated 53 watts per channel x 4. A similar Alpine would cost twice as much with very similar sound quality. But how does it sound? There is a lot of debate, if you read through a couple of reviews, about the sound quality of the Clarion. Some like it, some love it, and some hate it. Generally though most reviews I read...

alan_amy140 18.06.2006 · Read review
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Review of Clarion DXZ748RMP

Technology at its Finest

Advantages: Ease of Use, Cost, Components
Disadvantages: Colourscheme - not good for see through panels on PC's

......

leannerobotham 06.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of ASRock K7S8XE - motherboard - ATX - SiS748

Cheap as chips performance

Advantages: Cheap with onboard sound and LAN ideal for budget performance
Disadvantages: No dual bios

......

paulccarey 26.06.2005 · Read review
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Review of PCCHIPS M848LU - motherboard - ATX - SiS748

cowboys

Advantages: there is none
Disadvantages: my bike is wreaked

...had my pride and joy a red ducati 748 with all the extras on her , she was running great but was due her service so rather then tempting fate even tho she was running great i booked her in to the so called ducati dealer shirlaws (you can guess where this is going) so all going well the trouble started took them nearly 3 weeks to get the bike back to and when i did lets just say i wasnt happy , i had an oil leak from the front of the engine which was never there before the bike in and the new barnet clutch and basket that they fitted started slipping at 5000rpm , so took it back and they tried saying it was fine untill i told them to take it for a run so that all sorted took the bike for a blast 100miles later the pullys sheared in the engine causing the valves to hit the pistons . this happened at blackburn just outside aberdeen yet...

offshorebiker 21.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Shirlaws Ltd

Shirlaws bike service.

Advantages: local
Disadvantages: Cant be trusted

...I have just read the article about shirlaws and there Ducati service. I bought a 748 R from them for big money, it was meant to get a full service, new rear tyre and the slipper clutch checked for a problem that came up on the road test. I picked up the bike and the tyre was not changed, but was told to bring it back at a later date to get changed. The bike had been fully serviced and the clutch had been checked and all was ok (well that?s what they said) I covered 300 miles before winter hit and I removed the bike from the road. I stripped off all the body work and tank etc to clean the bike and on doing this I noticed the air filter tubes were full of dirt and the filters were blocked, I removed the filters a took them back to shirlaws, they cleaned them for me but there excuse was that they did not know the R model had air...

JAY748R 05.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Shirlaws Ltd