* Updated 1 Feb* Daytona 675 vs Ducati 848

[Quo Vadas]

The new.............So, I sold my 848 last week and picked up this 2008 Daytona 675SE with fuck all k's and it had pretty much just been broken in. Got it for a real bargain and it is the colour scheme that I have lusted over for a long time so I was lucky enough to find one almost new.
Just wacked some new tyres on the weekend and will put some LED indicators, fender eliminator and maybe some levers. Bike came with an Arrow prototype race exhaust that howls like a fucking wild banshee and I must admit I find the induction sound of these triple engines rather intoxicating.

The old............so, after just one week of having this bike I am finding so much easier to ride around town as well as up in the hills. The Duc lumbered around and didn't like going at suburban road speeds but just a quick twist of the throttle and the bike picked up and all was forgotten momentarily. The heat from the Duc's pipes beneath my ass has pretty much rendered me sterile and my nut's look like little baseball mits - all gnarled and worn. The Duc had that lumpy v-twin sound that only a deaf person would not be able to put into words - the 675 has it's own whining drone and although I love it, my penis quivers in a more loving fashion when a Duc is fired up.......that will never go away.

Comparison................ The Ducati is undoubtedly the best looking bike that I have owned and combine that with the intoxicating exhaust note, the insane torque/power curve and superb handling (at speed) it is truly and amazing peice of machinery.
In comparison, I have always liked the look of the 675 and loved the exceptionally high seat height, the sharp rake, the howling exhaust note, induction sound and styling.
The power delivery on the 675 is silky smooth and linear and the power curve starts when you open the throttle all the way up to redline. I can putt around in 4th, even 5th gear at 60 and when I crack the throttle the bike just launches. I could never do that on the Duc and for that fact, it makes it so much more pleasuarble to ride around town.
I took the 675 for a 6 hour ride yesterday through the mountains and the biggest difference that the bike had over the 848 was the sublime, smooth power delivery that absolutely spat me out of corners and the way that the bike just fell into corners with oh such ease and held it's line with pinpoint precision was amazing. It was almost like I just had to think about going through a corner and the bike just intuitively took over and we both sailed through together with the utmost confidence and ease.
The Brembos on the 848 - albeit just the cast model - pulled the bike up on a dime and the 675 which has the Nissin's, although not as bitey, stop the bike no problem.
For me, the 675 wins hands down through tight and twisty stuff and I felt so much more confidence in hitting corners hard and getting on the gas earlier.
I must make mention that the suspension setup on the 675 is pretty much perfect for me where as the 848, I had to work on getting the bike setup to a point where I was happy with it without spending a wad of cash on getting a softer rear spring and changing fork springs. In all fairness, I probably never got to really feeling how the bike should feel as it wasn't setup 100% for me but I tweaked all the settings and got it to a place where I could still ride it with confidence.

I am doing PI this coming Monday and I have both read and spoke to people who say the 675 is a beast on the track and it will be very interesting to compare it with the Duc. The 848 is a totally different bike on the track than it is on the road so I am looking forward to hopefully the same thing happening when I take the 675 out.
Whatever happpens, I am happy with my new bike and although it doesn't have the same sex appeal and booming sound of the Duc, the ergonomics and overall package of the bike suit me much better.

I'll update this thread after the trackday.

d

[loslogo]

mmm conflicted jealousy, super nice bike. can you hide a go pro or something at pi?

[Jashdown]

Well. I just jizzed.

[jlyall]

Fuck-en ay-eeee

[evster]

Love the black and gold bikes, nearly got the r6 in that. Enjoy it!

[i have a bike]

Good review and pleasurable to read. Sure I will be booed and hissed for this this but I hate the sound of Ducati lumbering unexciting drone(sound of commuter bikes). I4 ftw sounds the best imo or maybe 2 stroke with just about any other bike sound over Ducati.

[Jashdown]

(23/01/2012 14:00)i have a bike Wrote:  Good review and pleasurable to read. Sure I will be booed and hissed for this this but I hate the sound of Ducati lumbering unexciting drone(sound of commuter bikes). I4 ftw sounds the best imo or maybe 2 stroke with just about any other bike sound over Ducati.

Did you just put a Ducati in the same class as scooters?

Get out.

[loslogo]

(23/01/2012 14:06)Jashdown Wrote:  

(23/01/2012 14:00)i have a bike Wrote:  Good review and pleasurable to read. Sure I will be booed and hissed for this this but I hate the sound of Ducati lumbering unexciting drone(sound of commuter bikes). I4 ftw sounds the best imo or maybe 2 stroke with just about any other bike sound over Ducati.

Did you just put a Ducati in the same class as scooters?

Get out.

+ 1 Honorary ban

[i have a bike]

(23/01/2012 14:06)Jashdown Wrote:  

(23/01/2012 14:00)i have a bike Wrote:  Good review and pleasurable to read. Sure I will be booed and hissed for this this but I hate the sound of Ducati lumbering unexciting drone(sound of commuter bikes). I4 ftw sounds the best imo or maybe 2 stroke with just about any other bike sound over Ducati.

Did you just put a Ducati in the same class as scooters?

Get out.

Nah scooter are more high pitch and electric sounding. My opinion but yeah Ducati sound bad. Don't get me wrong I think Ducati bikes are beautifully made and engineered, talking from a pure sound perspective.

[Jashdown]

(23/01/2012 15:27)i have a bike Wrote:  

(23/01/2012 14:06)Jashdown Wrote:  

(23/01/2012 14:00)i have a bike Wrote:  Good review and pleasurable to read. Sure I will be booed and hissed for this this but I hate the sound of Ducati lumbering unexciting drone(sound of commuter bikes). I4 ftw sounds the best imo or maybe 2 stroke with just about any other bike sound over Ducati.

Did you just put a Ducati in the same class as scooters?

Get out.

Nah scooter are more high pitch and electric sounding. My opinion but yeah Ducati sound bad. Don't get me wrong I think Ducati bikes are beautifully made and engineered, talking from a pure sound perspective.

Out!