Would a Ducati 1098 "show up" a Busa

[Z28McCrory]

Im trying to talk the guy into buying a GSXR 750 or 1000 instead.

What are some good arguments to throw out there other than price? Basically a list of "Pros" of the Gixxer and "Cons" of the 1098.

 

[Scar]

Two points come to mind.

1. He's exceedingly jealous of you and your bike.
2. He feels inferior because of your engine size and your stature.

Be a good friend and don't change.

...and if he's that small; maybe he should stick with the 600.

 

[Z28McCrory]

Two points come to mind.

1.  He's exceedingly jealous of you and your bike.
2.  He feels inferior because of your engine size and your stature.

Be a good friend and don't change.

...and if he's that small; maybe he should stick with the 600.

Well here is the background story.

I have been friends with this guy for years. We were both into cars, and i always was helping him out. I would give him advise, then he would go do something totally diffent. A couple years pass... i end up with a 9 second car, and his is still stock... he kept changing his mind and selling parts he bought, and never got around to put them on. He isn't very mechanially inclined, so he had to wait untill someone would help him.

About 5 weeks ago i went and bought an 04 R1. He saw it and loved it, so he went and bought a bike too. He was going to get a brand new bike, but i talked him into getting a little bit older bike, because these were basically going to be our "learner" bikes. I also didn't want him to get hurt, because he tries to ride/drive beyond his ability... and has ran his car off the road for some (frankly stupid) reasons. He shows up with a 2004 GSXR 600 a few days later. Me and him went riding every day, starting out on backroads, working our way up to the highway and interstate... etc. Within the first week of riding, he had already dropped his bike twice.

A couple weeks pass and i decide im just too big for the R1 (it killed my back and wrists). I decide i want a Busa after sitting on one, so i go trade in my R1 on my 2008 Busa.

Now that i have the Busa, he is afraid everyone is going to say he has a "baby" bike because its only a 600. We have been talkin about takin a motorcycle trip, but he doesn't even want to go untill he gets a bigger bike because he is afraid people will make fun of him for having a 600.

This guys is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, but he is just an air head. He only wants a Ducati because he wants "something no one else has". He didn't know anything about them, he thought i was lieing to him when i told him they were a twin cylinder motor.

He doesn't have money to burn, but he makes decent money. If he wanted a 20k bike, he could have it. I just know he is buying it for the wrong reasons, and he would be just as (if not more) happy with a GSXR 1000.

I dont want to turn this into a pissing match with him. We are good friends and we started this to have fun. He thinks that part of the reason i bought the busa, was to "1 up" him. Not the case... i just wasn't comfortable on the R1.

You ever have a friend that you try to look out for, because it seems like every decision they make is a bad one, and you want to try and help them if possible? That exactly how it is with him.

 

[Scar]

He definitely has an 'inferiority complex'.

Just out of curiousity, how old is he? I'm thinking he'll realize you're a good friend, and grow out of this...kind of like a phase of maturity or something.

Where are you from, anyway?

 

[Z28McCrory]

We are both 23.

We are from southern Indiana.

I was by no means ready for the power of the Busa, so im not trying to say that i could handle it and he couldn't. Hell... the R1 still scared the **** out of me. Im just a big guy, and the Busa was the only bike i really felt comfortable on.

The fastest car he has ever driven was about a 300rwhp LT1 Camaro. The fastest car (and current car) that i own makes 630hp on motor and has two stages of nitrous... taking it to ~930hp. Bikes are a totally different thing, but i have felt power and know how to respect it.

The people that know him, the first thing they say to him is "dude, you are gona get hurt"... the same group of people look at me and say "nice bike, those Busas are badass" ... you just have to know this guys to understand. Because of that, more than anything he wants to "prove himself" but i do everything i can do discourage him. The last thing i want to do is have to bury a friend because he was trying to impress everyone.

 

[Scar]

Sounds to me as though you have the capacity to 'shore him up' and give him the self-confidence required to let the opinions of others roll off his back...allowing him to keep a bike which is most likely better suited to him.

Some would say that even a Gixxer6 isn't the best 'starter' bike...so he's already on something which if not respected, could get him into trouble fast.

As far as the long-distance trips go, the Gix6 is not the best, either, but better than something this is physically out of his league.

He looks up to you...and you seem mature enough to understand your position with him. He'll come along.

 

[Mr Bogus]

argument to buy the GSXR over the 1098?? is there one? I wish I had the skills to ride either at 80% of the bikes ability..

I just compensate with straight line power of the Busa

(would gladly take a 1098 in for adoption)

 

[gtrpimp76]

In straight line, given equal riding abilities, I'll take the Busa over the standard 1098. But...the 1098R or even the homologation special might be a different story (well, the homologation special will definitely take the crown). We're talking each bike straight outta the box.

 

[Z28McCrory]

Im assuming a regular 1098... he wants to buy it new and the 1098R is expensive i hear.

My bike is stock atm, but it will be extended 4-6" with exhaust and some other goodies long before he gets the ducati.

 

[Cblast]

Okay, lets straighten a couple of things out. First off, 3 1098 models.
1st: 1098
2nd: 1098S (Forged magnesium instead of aluminum wheels and top of the line ohlins suspension)
3rd: 1098R 1200cc displacement, very rare and gp spec ohlins suspension + traction control standard
No homologation special.

Now, sport rider and motorcyclist magazine both did the 1/4 mile in under 10 seconds on a bone stock 1098. One did 9.93 the other 9.97. Both magazines said that in its broad power range that nothing today pulls as hard as a 1098 except maybe a Busa or a zx-14. They even tested the pull in terms of a g-force measurment vs. a gsxr 1k and the duc had it beat. Now on the top end the 1k and the big boys pull harder. The 1098 full of fluids and fuel weighs just a tick over 400lbs. Mine weighed in at 409lbs with fuel. Mine dynoed at 156.9 rwhp bone stock with the catalytic converter removed. In terms of power to weight ratio the only bike that has more torque per lb is the 1098r. I rode the crizzap out of my busa and I am currently running the crizzap out of my 1098. No motorcycle (not a busa, not a gixxer 1k, not a r1), has ever been able to get away from me at all when I am going 100%. In fact I have left many riders nothing but the tailights because of this bikes huge handling advantage. When compared to my 06 busa this bike is in a completely different realm in terms of handling. Compared to an 08 it is still a whole different ball game. I will say this, I ride with the guy that bought my 06 busa with a full system and a good tune by goldenchild (171 rwhp), and a another gentleman with an 08 in grey, and above 150mph, they both walk away from me in a straight line. Anything below that and I give them absolute fits. Now, also, the 1098 is nowhere near as comfortable as a busa. I can not sit in traffic or on the highway for very long without feeling like I am on a torture rack. In the twisties the riding position is ideal. But this bike is not a commuter. Having said that, the tank is so small that I fill up about every 90-100 miles. I take that time to stretch and then i am good to go for another tankfull. I currently have 1280 miles on my 08 1098, and I will never ever, under any circumstances, give up this machine. It helps that the fit and finish is head and shoulders above anything else that I have seen or ridden and bone stock the base 1098 comes with absolutely top shelf componentry for everything. NO MODS NECESSARY.

 

[Cblast]

for any doubters out there:
07 1098 review

 

[Shanling]

for any doubters out there:
07 1098 review

Great to see a review from a Duc 1098 owner. I have been thinking about one of these since last year. Not trying to sound pompious but the "R" is not out of the question for me from a price point. Would just have to decide if I want that shiny new sports car in the garage or the Duc....

At this point, the Busa satisfys my bike itch though. Your write up on the bike has really helped me decide to go for the shiny sports car instead. I do have some envy though knowing that you have both the Duc and the Busa in your stable. I have one request/favor though. Post up some more pics!

 

[Cblast]

Can do!

 

[Shanling]

That is really a beautiful bike!!!

 

[Cblast]

Yeah, I rode the "S" version and it was an insignificant amount improved for $5k, more show than go in terms of upgrades.  The "R" on the other hand is a religious experience!  180hp at the rear wheel, and 13 lbs lighter than my bike!  A gentleman just bought one from brothers powersports where I bought mine and we rode last weekend.  We swapped for about 10 minutes (he is the only person that I have let ride my Isabella).  WOW!  I cranked off a power wheelie in 3rd at about 120mph no problem!  Just rolled into it hard and gripped with my knees and hung on all the way to the 4th gear upshift.  My bike will pull it up hard in 2nd and gently up in 3rd to about the 2 o'clock as it rides the power curve to the 4th gear upshift.  His "R" snapped up on me!  Awesome machine.  Wish I had the $$$ for one right now.  Unfortunately, I am trying to buy the wife a new Benz before she gets home in July. Hers is a couple of years old and practically worn out. JK.  

 

 

[Cblast]

Thank you for the compliment bud, I am currently sitting in the garage with her! I never stray too far from her.

 

[Cblast]

another

 

[Cblast]

another

 

[Shanling]

Yeah, I rode the "S" version and it was an insignificant amount improved for $5k, more show than go in terms of upgrades.  The "R" on the other hand is a religious experience!  180hp at the rear wheel, and 13 lbs lighter than my bike!  A gentleman just bought one from brothers powersports where I bought mine and we rode last weekend.  We swapped for about 10 minutes (he is the only person that I have let ride my Isabella).  WOW!  I cranked off a power wheelie in 3rd at about 120mph no problem!  Just rolled into it hard and gripped with my knees and hung on all the way to the 4th gear upshift.  My bike will pull it up hard in 2nd and gently up in 3rd to about the 2 o'clock as it rides the power curve to the 4th gear upshift.  His "R" snapped up on me!  Awesome machine.  Wish I had the $$$ for one right now.  Unfortunately, I am trying to buy the wife a new Benz before she gets home in July. Hers is a couple of years old and practically worn out. JK.  

 

You just had to post that, didn't you??? Now you have me thinking about the "R" again. Dang it!!!

 

[Cblast]

Bud, the very minute I can buy another bike (in addition to, not gonna sell anything), it will be the "R"! I was gonna wait and get an 09 busa if they came out in a nice black, but I rode the Duc to Idaho a few weeks ago and as long as I stretched weel at every gas stop, it was fine. Nothing else on the road gets you through the twisties with more precision unless it is another 1098. I brake deeper, turn harder, accelerate more agressively than on anything I have ever ridden. No bike has the character or the passion built into it like a Ducati. All that crap you hear about them being underpowered is just that. It is all about power to weight ratio. Riding the worlds most powerfull production v-twin has a lot to say for it. Not knocking anyone elses ride but I have ridden most every Japanese bike and Aprillia's and BMW's and KTM's. I rode everything that any dealer would let me before I bought this bike and I have never once looked back. The sound, the torque, the soul of this bike just says...