Yeah I ordered a 1299S when it first came out. When it arrived I decided I really didn’t want it after all and never even rode it. I left it at the dealer and they sold it for me. I never really embraced the “new” Ducatis without the trellis frames. The new V4 versions will be even better race bikes, but I still don’t want one. I just bought a brand new 0-mile 2015 Honda CBR 1000RR SP Repsol for a steal though. It’s the last of their Superbike line that doesn’t have all the electronic rider “aids”, although it does have an electronically controlled steering damper.
Honda hasn’t been on a WSBK podium in forever, but they truely build the best street bikes. The old Ducati built race bikes that were barely street legal and only needed a good rider to win at the track. Honda has always built relatively heavy street bikes that were solidly reliable for the long term and required serious modification to compete at racing.
My 2 Ducatis are the last of their respective lines to be race ready bikes with trellis frames and dry clutches. The are stupid fast and fun, but not really great street bikes. My Aprilia is the Italian bike that is closest to Honda in smooth and easy to ride on the street. My new Honda is “old school” as well and a great street bike. I’ll need to spend more on it to lighten it up and access the power it has locked up in their ECU.
I’m still just a kid at heart in an old man’s (broken) body!
Honda hasn’t been on a WSBK podium in forever, but they truely build the best street bikes. The old Ducati built race bikes that were barely street legal and only needed a good rider to win at the track. Honda has always built relatively heavy street bikes that were solidly reliable for the long term and required serious modification to compete at racing.
My 2 Ducatis are the last of their respective lines to be race ready bikes with trellis frames and dry clutches. The are stupid fast and fun, but not really great street bikes. My Aprilia is the Italian bike that is closest to Honda in smooth and easy to ride on the street. My new Honda is “old school” as well and a great street bike. I’ll need to spend more on it to lighten it up and access the power it has locked up in their ECU.
I’m still just a kid at heart in an old man’s (broken) body!