Ducati DARK reviews

I came from an HD and just never knew what I was missing. If you want a cruiser with power, then you need to ride this bike!!! Show less

This is my first Ducati ever - bought it used. I upgraded from a Ninja 250, and it is a blast. The performance on this bike didn't get a five star due to having to down shift to lower gears when wanting to open her up. Comfort is a little rough, but you will get use to riding her after a while. I have ridden for 5 hours straight and my wrist were a little sore. I would recommend this bike to someone who has some experience under their belt. The torque on this bike is a amazing and not for the timid rider. Remember, ride safe. Show less

I've had my Dark for about a year now and it's been good fun. On the positives, the bike gets a lot of attention while cruising especially downtown with the renown Ducati rumble (you have to 86 the cat to get it though) or when it's parked. You definitely get a Wow factor from people when owning a Ducati, more so than any other manufacturer. Ducati dealerships often have open houses when new models come out. This is a great opportunity to demo all of their models. How many manufacturers let you demo their entire line at one sitting? There are tons of aftermarket parts to customize. The motor is very un intimidating with good pull, solid shifting. Plenty fast enough for this type of bike. I've had it up to 120 with some room to spare. This is a great bike to start on or transition to. The downers are the suspension has limited to no adjustability, small fuel tank gives you limited range. In town riding the low fuel light comes on around 75 miles. Hwy mileage is better but your range is around 120 miles. Maintenance is going to cost you so be prepared. I was quoted $500-$700 for a 6k service between two different Ducati dealers. Keep in mind Ducati recommends this type of service every 6k miles. Bottom Line: While there are faster and more powerful bikes with less maintenance considerations this Duc makes the right sounds, has the look, has enough torque and hp to get the job done. If you want to stand out from a sea of rice-burners and Harleys you can't go wrong. 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

I had the bike since April no problems so far. Very fun to ride and peppy. A head turner expecially after upgrading he exhaust. The stock system is too quiet. Show less

It was scary buying this bike because I couldn't test drive it. Well now I can say it was worth every penny. If I ever buy another new bike it will be a Ducati. Go ahead, by the time you get passed your break in you will be part of the machine. Show less

haven't put a lot of time in the saddle, rain won't quit! The riding I have put in tells me I made the right decision. I spent at least 3 months looking at every bike in this size class. Nothing really came close to what this bike had to offer. Performance is rock solid though it is still breaking in and hasn't revved too high. Handles like it is on rails. The only drawback is that the engine prefers the medium rpm range and tends to chug if you let the rpm's get low. Let's face it, you can't beat the style...cool points galore! Show less

I have had nothing but a smile on my face from day 1. I bought the bike with 2 miles on it and it has broken in quite nicely. What I really love about the bike is the torque and power in the low gears. This bike was made to carve corners. With that said the only draw backs I have found with this bike is the stock pipe set up. I find myself scraping the pipes when I am leaning into sharp corners. This problem can be cured with the installation of high mount pipes. Also I know they went with a 6 speed tranny in the 2004. Very smart, because I find myself looking for 6th all the time. Show less

After a long period of indecision between the Ducati Monster and the Kawasaki Z1000 I finally made a decision. At first I wanted the Ducati, then I heard a few ugly things about them, and decided to look elsewhere toward the Z1000. The Z1000 is faster and has a nice array of after market items, but the colors are horrible. The Ducati is slower and less comfortable but the design is superb, and the handling is incredible. It was a tough choice, but I don't regret going with the Ducati. Some people say the engine is underpowered, but I strongly disagree. Low and midrange perform well within, if not surpassing, the region of acceptability. However, it does top out around 120-125mph, so do not expect to keep up with your friend's GSX-R. Then again for what it's worth, I think it's worth a whole lot more than other bikes, and so will the women checking you out as you fly by. 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