[everydayhonday]

I have been considering a 999 or 999s for a while, but am intrigued by the RC51. As both bikes are now discontinued, I am looking for a long term keeper. I am 6ft 3in, 210lbs and the Duc seems to be more easily configurable from the ergo perspective.

Here's what I am looking to do so please offer your opinion accordingly:

1. Twisty roads in New England for the most part.
2. 2-4 track days a season
3. Daily commuter (must be mad?)
4. Most weekends do around 500 miles over 2 days
5. The very occasional big trip. (Can the ergos be made to work for me?)

The alternative I am looking at is another inline 4, the CBR1000RR, but am really interesting it that v-twin experience. .....

Is the RC51 a candidate?

[msalser1000]

For long trips neither will be comfortable, the duc will reqire regular valve adjustments which are expensive. For your height both bikes will have you folded up like a suitcase.

[robfromsc]

Originally Posted by msalser1000

For long trips neither will be comfortable, the duc will reqire regular valve adjustments which are expensive. For your height both bikes will have you folded up like a suitcase.

Im gunna have to call you on the "folded up like a suitcase"
Im 6'3" and my 51 fits fine, have done a few 3hr+ days. its no Goldwing but its fine...stock seat and controls.

[championsound]

I'm coming off a 749S and am now on an RC. The differences?

Apart from outright speed and HP (which the RC has in spades), I have to admit that the Duc handles better (at least for me). It turned in faster, was more stable in the corners, and stopped faster. It was also virtually effortless to ride.

The RC takes a lot more effort to ride and you need to enter a corner with more intention as opposed to the Duc where the handling was telepathic.

I normally ride 20k miles a year and the service on the Duc was KILLING me. 2 major services within 1 year (at more that $1k a pop) was definitely not cool, hence the reason why I sold it. Overall, I still love my RC, but sometimes when I'm out riding I have to admit I miss the Duc every so often.

[skwyd]

I have never owned or ridden a Duc, but I have been riding for about 17 years and absolutely love my RC. I am 6'2" and well as for weight, no comment (werking on that issue now). As for ergos on any supersport bike, they will all be made for someone more Nicky Haden's size when he was racing 250 cc two strokes 15 years ago. I have switched my seat to a Seargents seat (same as Corbin really) and it has made a ton of difference for me. I know that you could put Heli bars on it too if you wanted to, and these are the same two upgrades that were mentioned in Honda's Red Rider article two months ago for the CBR1000RR in an article about long distance riding on a supersport. From what I have heard you dont need to modify anything for either upgrade and can go right back to stock whenever you want.

For me the decision between a Duc and an RC was that for less than a stock Duc would cost, I have built a Duc Killer.

[slickwill]

Why the 999? You won't pay that much more for a 1098 and would have a much better overall bike. The next major difference is that the service interval on all 2007 and newer Ducati's has been doubled so you have half as much service to pay for. You will make up for the extra cost with what you save on the new service intervals. The new Ducati 848 has almost as much performance as the old 999's and it retails for $12,900. With your size the 1098 would probably be the better choice and the '07's are going for around $15,000 even.

[vitzaa]

id take a look at the hp2 sport
BMW HP2 Sport - webBikeWorld