2003 Ducati reviews

I bought my '03 M1000DS last September and rode it home the next day, clocking 500+ miles. It's not perfect but if you make mods (bars, seats, etc.) to make it fit you, you'll love the bike. This is my fourth Ducati and I get bored with bikes pretty quickly (six bikes in the last 4 years) and I can honestly say I plan on keeping this bike for many, many years. Show less

First of all, I must confess that I am a sport touring person more that a sport bike rider. In fact, previously I was riding a BMW R1100SA. I decided to change bikes for 2 reasons: First I was not riding that much, so it did not make sense to ride every now and then with a brand new sport tourer just sitting in my garage. I initially got it for commute purposes. Also, the BMW is a bit heavy, which makes it difficult or challenging to just take it out just to get coffee in the neighborhood. Anyway, initially I was reluctant to get a sport bike because they are not comfortable. (My BMW was a 2004 with just 1000 miles on it and I traded it in for a Ducati). However, when I saw the Ducati 998 Matrix in dark green that perspective changed. I did not want a typical red sport bike because I felt that over time I would get tired of looking at it. Also, everyone has a red Ducati or sport bike. At first, riding the 998 was uncomfotable and I felt sore and tired. However, with each time that I rode the bike I adjusted more and more to its riding position. The bike is so much fun and fast. It looks so cool! This is the one bike that I enjoy looking at as much as riding it. Sometimes, I just go out into the garage with my coffee and just look at it and sit on it and start the bike up. Some nights I can't sleep knowing that I am going for a ride. I assure you 15 minutes on this bike and you feel completley satisfied. Show less

I'm not a fan of the cookie cutter Japanese bikes. Ducati's have personality. I love my bike, the only complaint I have is the seat. Not too comfy on longer rides. When I tell people I have a "Ducati", their faces light up with interest. Show less

I've owned a 999 for over a year now. Early models had a problematic dash. Mine was replaced. I've ridden other makes with similar early model "opportunities" so I'm forgiving. Maybe the real reason I'm forgiving is the bike simply over delivers as a sporting ride. Cornering, handling, suspension, thrust, and performance -- it all comes together on this bike. So do the looks. Not a me-too. The ergonomics are friendlier than the 998 Superbike model it replaced, but the attitude is still aggressive... this also makes sense when the Ducati comes into its realm -- at speed on a sporting ride or at the track. Show less

I wasn't planning on buying another bike but my every day ride a 2000 VFR with 38,000 miles died (fire). I ride every day year 'round and also do a couple track days a year. I wanted something reliable with better suspension and brakes. I purchased a 2003 ST4S at Speeds Cycle. I knew the bike had lots of grunt but fell in love with the suspension and brakes. Ride position is fine and it chugs along at any speed you wish. I drove straight to Daytona this year with no problems. Plug in power is great for heated clothing. Only maintenance issues were a dead battery (my fault) and it burned a quart of oil when new. Hard to get into neutral when stopped but you get used to it. Fully loaded with passenger and bags it rides the same as unloaded. It gets lots of looks and I love it. I'll drive it to the track, tape it up and ride this summer, can't wait. Show less

This is an awesome looking bike in fully faired in dark. Very sexy. Goes very nicely, but exhaust too quiet for a Ducati (It will make the neighbors happy). On taking the bike in for its first 1000km service some swarf from the airbox had screwed up throttle settings. Apparently it came that way from the factory! Typical Italian quality. Other than that, no problems. Ride is uncompromising, so as usual wrists and neck can get sore if you are in stop/start city traffic, or on long straight roads! Eats up the windy stuff! Show less

I purchased my red 998 on March 15th 2003. Pulling away from the shop on that warm sunny day as a dozen other bikers looked on wishing that they were me, was something I'll never forget! Make no bones; while I do like to ride a bit, I'm absolutely in awe of the looks of this bike. Everywhere I go on it, people stare in an almost rude fashion. Looks wise, it don't get better than this in my opinion! I ran the bike in carefully, but in a record time of about two weeks, I had some time off work, the weather was good and I couldn't stay off the bike. Last summers riding was ace; the bike's handling is better than any bike I've ever ridden. Going through town is a bit of a pain at times but at the end of the day, whoever bought a 998 to poodle through town? I have no drama's getting my knee down and twisties I used to love on other bikes are simply awesome on the 998. I seem to find myself getting very frustrated at times due to other traffic such as cars, its then I realize that this bike is just so quick you tend to catch up with absolutely everything on the road! Reliability wise, I had one minor drama only 2 weeks after I bought the bike and god knows to this day what happened. Basically the bike wouldn't start. A bump start sorted this in a matter of seconds and its never failed to start again. Reliability superb in my opinion!!! In summary, this is one sexy sports bike and pose wise, it simply has to be near the top of the pile! To ride it leaves me an excitable, babbling buffoon as its precise handling and power rush absolutely thrills me to the core every time I take it out! Lads, the proof is in the pudding, my bike is 11 months and 1 week old; it's absolutely immaculate, still looks brand new but has 11,497 all dry miles on it already! I can't stay off it. Show less

I'll tell you this bike is fantastic. My yellow 998 Testastretta is the ultimate combination of engine and classic good looks, You can keep your 999 and I'll keep my 998, forever; especially with cycle cat adjustable bars, Ducati Corse rearsets and Carbon Fiber Termignoni's with chip, Carbon Fiber airbox and better breathing air filter, Carbon Fiber intake runners with no restrictors, add a liberal sprinkling of carbon, and some black 10 spoke Marchesinis and this bike will keep me entertained for the next 10 years and then it will be a classic. I kid you not. Show less

Absolutely phenominal! Torque is beyond comprehension. Very easy to ride and handles like nothing else. Higher costs of ownership are forgotten everytime the throttle is twisted. Just over 3k in 3 months and no complaints. Show less

I have loved the Ducati for many years. My first Ducati I saw was a 750 Paso. It was beautiful with the huge fairing all in red. I then got heavly into Superbike / 500 GP racing and following all manufactures and riders. I saw the Ducati 851 materialize into 888, 916, 996, 998, and the 999. I knew I wanted a Ducati when in 1994 the Ducati 916 was released. Was there any other bike in history that made more of a impact than a Ducati 916? I think not. Anyways, I have had many new motorcycles with 88' Suzuki GSX-R 750, 91' Suzuki GSX-R 750, 95' Honda CBR900RR, 97' Suzuki GSX-R 600, 03' Yamaha R6 and now a Ducati 999s. I still have the Yamaha and what a great bike that is but there is something magical with the Ducati. It doesn't only say that it is beautiful but that it has class as well. All of the Ohlins components work great. The Brembo brakes stop fast with great feedback. The bike pulls like a John Deere tractor from idle and screams like a Banshee on top. Transmission is flawless. My only complaint is adjusting the desmo valvetrain for the first time. I have vast experiance working on motorcycles but if you don't have a STRONG understanding of the way things work mechanically then I suggest that you not even attempt it and take it to your local Ducati dealer for the valves intervals. With Eric Bostrom representing the US Superbike Series on a fully factory backed Ducati 999 things are looking a little better here in America. The WSB series is really the Ducati Cup anyways so I am not worried there. Lets just get Caparossi, Baylis, Hodgson, and Xaus ready for the MotoGP season to challange the Honda RC211V and Rossi on the Yamaha M1. It will be a wonderful year anyways. Show less