Baby Duke
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From: Andrew Gun (andrewgun@optusnet.com.au) Subject: Baby Duke Newsgroups: aus.motorcycles Date: 2000/06/23 Still on an international license pending the RiderSafe course, I'm looking around at mid-size bikes that fit: 1. my budget; and 2. my limited experience (I have an unrestricted Hong Kong licence and have ridden sporadically for about four years). The SV 650 looked perfect, and eminiently sensible but then, oh dear... Pushed my nose against the glass at the local Ducati store one Sunday afternoon (thank God they were closed!) and there's a very clean half-faired 600ss for eight grand. Immediately the little angel on one shoulder starts arguing with the little devil on the other. "Go on" says one, "you only live once". "Yes," says the angel, "but do you want to spend that life with a bike with that reputation?" I told them both to shutup and I'd put it to the collective wisdom of Aus.moto. So, what do you all reckon? Is the 600ss a dog? I know it's underpowered compared to the competition, but for the next year or so that's not a concern. AG
From: Anthony (abonna@one.net.au) Date: 2000/06/23 Remember one thing! The 600 Duke is only under powered when you compare it to other bikes like the ZX6, R6 or the CBR600 (and a lot more bike too I guess) but is it under powered when you consider your riding ability. Maybe not. I was out of riding for about 3 years and the Duke is great for me. I'm now looking for something bigger only because I'm taking a pillion more. Dukes are sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bonna
From: FatBoyCrash (patrickriver@hotmail.com) Date: 2000/06/24 I've got a1994 600ss ducati. I love the damn thing. Its my special little bike. But I would not recommend that you buy one. Go the 750ss. The 600 is just a little underpowered. Also see if you can get a twin disk front end, the single disk just doesn't cut it. I got lucky and scored a second caliper and disk but overall I've spent at least $2000 sorting out the suspension and brakes. And I'm about to spend more getting a ride height adjustment added to the swing arm. The SV650 is an excellent motorcycle. I've got a coupla jap bikes as well and for ease of ownership they are streets ahead of the Duke. But then again, Dukes ARE special. Its a emotive thing. Regards FatBoyCrash
From: skroc (trigarti@iinet.net.au) Date: 2000/06/25 you are getting plently of pro's and con's. probably the best thing to do - 1. take the duc for a spin if suits you then good, remember tho any "larger" bike will feel fast to you compared to what you have been riding - will it excite in 6 months time. 2. are you prepared to spend the money and time on maintenence,- from reports i dont think dukes are a simple oil, water, petrol and ride bike. 3. have a look at alternatives - the sv650 is a good bike , nice note, okay power - prolly more than the 600ss (not sure), others could be a honda hornet, yam fazer, suz bandit 600 or maybe yam yzf600, kwaka zzr600 or zxr6, honda cbr600. buy something that suits you most of all
From: Danny (danny@bloke3000.com) Date: 2000/06/26 > For sure, the 600 SS Ducati would be lucky to pull the skin off a rice > pudding. The SV650 has nearly twice as much power. > > Trev based on what? The SV is making about 65 rwhp (70 claimed) , does that mean the 600ss is putting out 32 hp? I have a vague recollection it was 50 something, anyone know?
From: Iain Chalmers (bigiain@mightymedia.com.au) Date: 2000/06/26 Ducati claim 52hp for the Monster 600 which has the same engine, though it _may_ be tuned differently (the Monster has 2 into 2 exhaust, I think the 600SS has a 2 into 1 system, it probably wouldn't make much difference...) (Just checked the Ducati website, theres no 2000 model 600SS, but for comparison, the 750SS has a claimed 64hp, 2hp more than the 750 Monster, so 53hp would be a pretty good guess for a 600SS I'd say...)
From: Zebee Johnstone (zebee@zip.com.au) Date: 2000/06/26 >Nothing like asking a question about Italian bikes to get people all worked >up. Why is that? I dunno. To me the answers are all obvious.. ON paper, the bikes are outclassed. I don't ride paper. I ride bikes, and Italian bikes do it for me in ways that others don't. Some people don't get bitten by the bug which is fine... more for me! I think it's something about Italy. Friend of mine lived there for a few years and talks about it all the time, it's clear it got to him. Like my bikes got to me.
From: Adam Harrison (adamhZEROSPAM@thehub.com.au) Date: 2000/06/26 > Anyone in Perth have a 600SS, I will dyno it and a SV650 back to back if we > can arrange a time etc. > > Trev FatBoy's 600SS makes around 45bhp. Not quite half an SV650 but who really cares right? They are a very sweet handling bike though so you just leave it pinned and steer it. Good fun in the tight stuff...