2005 Ducati reviews

So this spring I was minding my own business when out of the blue came a voice that said unto me 'You need to check out the new Ducatis'. I don't normally hear voices, but this one was a muse that wouldn't be denied. After much due diligence on the web, I found myself at a brand new Ducati/MV Augusta dealership nearby, staring at the very first bike I saw the ST3. and I knew I'd have to own it. If the design hadn't hooked me, my test drive sure as heck did! Buckets of power, especially at the low end (I knew something was up when the front wheel left the ground and I hadn't dumped the clutch!), performance and handling like I'd never felt in a true sport touring machine (How many bikes allow you to drag a knee and comfortably ride 300 miles or more in a day?), bags included (in matching 'arrest-me' red), unbelieveable gas mileage, all for under $12K. Are you kiddin'? Show less

My new ST3 is really two bikes in one. I bought it looking for a more sport than touring, but discovered that it tours as comfortably as any Beemer I've ever owned. The real advantage is when I get to the twisties -- I'm loving the way it dives into the corners and pulls out of them with such phenomenal power. Three valves per cylinder was a great idea (great on gas too!). The value for my dollar makes this bike the best deal on the market if sport touring is your game. I can honestly say that this is the only bike I'll be needing for quite some time. Anybody want to buy my Beemers? Show less

Just got used 2005 999 and love it, great acceleration, smooth, great ride. First time I accelerated on a country road I burst out laughing with joy. Bike is amazingly easy to ride and handle, I had never ridden a bike like this, and had very little trouble riding. The bike is at its best on twisting country roads, and very stable on highway. In a lot of city traffic, stiff clutch and high gearing make it not the bike of choice for city. Show less

This Ducati has proven its worthiness - it is very dependable, fun to ride and has lots of power for its size. There are times when sixth gear is not necessary - it depends on the RPM. It cruises well at 65/70 on the highway but get ready for a sore butt after sitting in the same position. I recommend the less traveled roads where you twist and turn as one. I have put 400+ in a single day riding this 620ie. It is a passion! The more miles it achieves, the better it runs; it was made to ride. It averages about 51 mpg if ridden easy 48 throttle open. This is a monster of a motorcycle. Sure there are Japanese bikes out there but none can compare to the Desmo engine; it has all the right ingredients... Two wheels up. Show less

I have no complaints whatsoever. The bike is completely reliable. There are no leaks or any other problems as posted by others. My 600 mile service was just completed and I've spent 3-4 times as much on the first service on other bikes. I love the under seat exhaust, but you do experience a lot more exhaust heat than with a conventional exhaust. Of course in the fall/winter it's like having a built-in heating system... nice and toasty. Overall, would highly recommend. Show less

Every ride on this bike is awesome. I agree with most of the previous reviews with a couple of exceptions. One stated that the rear brake is useless. This is not a bad thing. Many riders will drill their rear rotor or remove rear brake pad material to prevent rear brake lockup. The 800's rear brake will slow you down but I don't think you could ever lock it up. The stock rear brake is perfect for trail braking. I found the Duc comfortable as is maybe because I'm a tall rider and I would suggest to a new owner to wait until you get the feel of the bike before making the decision to install Helibars. I have 200 miles on mine only because I was off the bike for 5 weeks due to a sports injury. The L-Twin has a distinct sound one just has to love. It has plenty of power and torque, but it is more forgiving at the throttle than the in-line fours. The best thing I like about the SS800 though is how it corners. It's like surfing the street. It is as stated previously a lot of bike for the money compared to some of the other bikes available which generally cost more. Show less

I bought the 2004 model in July '04 and rode it for 4500 miles until low-siding the bike on a little gravel in an Arkansas switchback in September '04. The bike only had cosmetic damage and I rode it 900 miles home, but the insurance company totaled it! Warning, Ducati plastic and gas tanks cost LOTS OF MONEY. Despite those problems, I really liked the bike so I went out and bought the 2005 model. I've used these bikes for the majority of my transportation needs on a seasonal basis. I ride to work, run errands, go for weekend rides, and have taken longer tours. I initially found the bike to be a little hard to handle around town, with this being related to the gearing and fueling. My previous bike was a Speed Triple which was much more a "city bike". However, after a little time on the bike I understood the quirks of riding around the city. Anyway, this bike was designed for sport touring and that it is what I bought it for. On the highway this thing is solid. I find the riding position to be just about perfect for me, and it is easy to ride from gas stop to gas stop without taking a break. I absolutely love the stock seat on the bike in terms of comfort, but it is a little hard to shift your weight from side to side. As indicated in some of the bike mag. reviews, the suspension is a little soft for hard riding in the corners, but during my weekend and tour riding I only push hard a small fraction of the time, so it doesn't bother me much. The bike turns into corners well and holds a nice line through the apex. I find that the bike does want to stand up a little early coming out of corners and I've adjusted for that. I really like riding this bike through the twisties at any speed except "stupid fast". The bike shines at multi-day touring and the hard bags are excellent. I rode the '04 bike 2800 miles to Arkansas and I rode the '05 bike 3300 miles out to the Tetons and Yellowstone and had a ball both times (except for my little mishap). The bikes just ate up the miles and I was smiling the whole time. As for reliability/maintenance, my 2004 had a fuel leak that was covered under warranty, and I have had no problems at all with the 2005. The stock tires on the '05 lasted 7000 miles and I have to replace the chain and sprocket now at 13500 miles. As everyone knows, the scheduled service costs for Ducati are higher than typical, but I believe the riding experience is worth the extra cost. That being said, I will buy another bike in the near future to handle my day to day riding, and will use the Duc only for longer rides. Show less

Great Bike. I toured with it for 8 days and 3000 miles with one 800 mile day, the other days were all 300-500 miles each. I love this bike, it's reliable, comfortable, has smooth power and sexy styling. I use it for commuting as well as touring. I looked at the Triumph Sprint ST, BMW R1200 ST, and BMW R1200 RT. I chose this one because it is sportier than the RT and more comfortable than the BMW ST. It was a toss up between the Triumph and this bike... the sound and sex appeal won out. All of the bikes I tried were excellent. Show less

As a kid I had many dirt bikes, but this is my first street bike and I couldn't be happier. This bike is great! It is so much fun to ride. I've not really opened mine up either (nothing over ~70 mph), but it has plenty of power to move a guy my size. You get lots of wind around that speed, but no worse than any other naked bike. Excellent clutch, gear box, brakes, steering, etc. Everything about the bike just feels great. The look and sound of the Ducati Monster is awesome too - like nothing else. Also, I think this is a great choice for beginners because it is very easy and forgiving to ride, the ergos aren't too aggressive, and you won't soon outgrow it. Go ride one; you'll fall in love too! Show less

After considering many other bikes - I just purchased a Multistrada 620 (2006 Model). I had not ridden for 15 years - and after test riding the Mutlistrada, immediately knew it was the "re-entry" bike for me. I have put only 200 miles on it over the past few days - but aleady know that the ergonomics of the upright riding postion suit me perfectly. Previous negative comments regarding the position of the Multistrada's mirrors must have been addressed by Ducati - because I have no problem with their placement. The seat height(32.5") could be a little high for some - and there is not a real graceful way to lift your leg over the pillion because of its raised positon above the exhaust - but I wouldn't change anything with the overall look of the bike. I've received nothing but positve comments regarding the Ducati's unique style. I'll follow-up with a more comprehensive reivew after 2K miles - but so far - this bike makes me smile every time I ride it. Show less