I think the MV was a better bike then the 996, but I think the quantum leap in advancements in the new bike, make the 999 better ( IMO) than the MV. Not a back breaker...ride all day, smooth ( no glitches) with killer balance and "phenom" brakes. To be fair, you have to take the duc on a long ride...but after 45 minutes, its like you just got on it...I could ride it all day. Amazing The 999 has a big wow factor with passers by ... The Termingioni exhaust is available now, too.

Now, I wont argue the MV was the inspiration, but they did a great job.

What do you think?

-- smcperson (shelbym@palm.net), May 12, 2003

Answers

Here are my thoughts:

1- The duc is not pretty, look at it. It has a French designer (enough said) 2- The engine is superior to a Ducati, the desmodromic design is old as well as limited to top HP i.e.- the MV at 750 cc, out HP's the 999 so one can just imagine when the F5 or F4 Mille arrives with a claimed 180 bhp..... what then? What will the comparisons look like- HINT- order your MV F4Mille now. 3- While the brakes on a Duc are impressive, they should have gold Brembo calipers for the price your paying for. If you really need more stopping power, just install the Brembo brake radial pump upgrade, I had it done and its like having a parachute for brakes. 4- Limited numbers for the chosen few MV owners- well, you know where I am going with here- There are ducs everywhere. 5- The Radial Valve set-up really allows for the engine to sing at high revs where the Duc pulls strong and lacks that 'slingshot' feeling. 6- Did i mention the duc is not pretty.....

Cheers

-- (mv@westfield.co.uk), May 12, 2003.

It's a good bike (the 999), all the papers & mags tell us so! I probably would have bought one myself had it been designed by the genius Tamburini and not that tasteless, clueless Frenchman Terblanche. What's with those god awful lines cut out of the fuel tank? And that cheap sucky windscreen light? Why purposely "cut away" the fairing in order to see more of the mechanics, and then leave ugly exposed matt black painted covers? It's an ugly duckling which will never behold the same level of esteem as the 916, 996, 998. Ducati let their biggest asset go (thank you God) to MV Agusta. Ducati can only dream to ever again produce something as design perfect and beautiful as the F4. Dream on. You have to like what you ride and I would never get that "warm fuzzy feeling all over" sat on a 999.I would be too embarrased, no matter how well it goes. But that's just my opinion and I have ridden Ducati's for 15 years. I was eagerly awaiting my purchase of the 999, and then it came out. It was time to bath again in Tamburini's brilliance. I bought an F4. Enough said.

-- Mark G. Czajka (Czajk00@aol.com), May 13, 2003.

In terms of comfort, low end torque (it's a v-twin), and practicality, then yes, the 999 is a better bike. However, by that logic, the GSXR1000 or an R1 are even a better bike!

In redesigning the 999, I feel Ducati really missed what made the 916 a motorcycle icon: 1) Stunning looks and 2) exotica (low volume production).

In the 999, they focus more toward main stream motorcycles and position the 999 more toward the Aprilla and Japanese bikes, rather than the exotic MV Agusta or Tornado segment.

I still see the 999 as a good bike and would like to have a 999 if it was only $10K. But for the $18K they're asking, I'd rather have a true exotic and keep a cheaper Japanese bike as a "beater bike".

In regards to the Ducati-MV relationship, I see some parallels between Corvette, Porsche, and Ferrari. Corvettes/R1/GSXRs are produced in the hundred of thousands, look nice, are inexpensive, and fast. Porsches and Ducatis are also fast, look nicer (IMO), are more expensive/exclusive, but producted in enough number that values have tanked. The MV/Ferraris are competitively fast, roughly as expensive, but are produced in far less number than values hold relatively well, and are stunningly beautiful.

In short, I think of Porsche/Ducati as quasi-exotics where as Ferrari/MV are true exotics. (This doesn't include rare models like a 999R or Carrera GT).

Lastly, as someone mentioned in another motorcycle forum, the 916 was a great bike that was decades ahead of its time. The 999 is proof of that! :)

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, AZ) (Agibbs996@aol.com), May 13, 2003.

Not to be picky, but I think Terblanche is from South Africa (the obvious center of motorcycle design). Some of his earlier work, the Supermono and 851/888 restyle of 1992 were very good, although that was also under Tamburini's supervision. Then came the Supersport of '98, which to me has always seemed overstyled, but without much style at the same time. Now in '03 we get the 749/999 and the Multistrada. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but in my eye these things again appear overstyled. The 999 has not "grown" on me as it has on some of the magazine writers. The 916 and F4 were so clearly the most beautiful bikes when they debuted that waiting lists formed before they were available. I do not believe this to be the case currently with the 749/999. I currently have an 851 and Triumph Daytona, and a Corsa 1+1 F4 will someday be parked in my garage. I love Ducati's but have to wonder about the future of the company if they continue to ask a premium for inferior products. One only hopes P.T. is not allowed near the Desmosedici MotoGP Strada during styling. As it stands now, if you had $18k to spend and a choice between the 999 and F4, to me its a no-brainer. However, hopefully in the next year or two we can debate the derirability of 1000cc 4's from Ducati and MV.

-- S. Burns (sb509@umr.edu), May 14, 2003.

Well, would I expect to leave such a note on a MV Lovers site.

Ducati is the Ferrari of the Bike world. Ferrari F1 / Ducati Moto GP both under Marlboro. Until MV is in a real race class...its just a novelty bike. In the Car world, and MV is a Masarati. Exotic, and erratic in production. Ducs and F-Cars are proven race products that are sold to the public for a premium. I have owned a MV and 999...the 999. For me, the 999 is a more modern bike (and it is), the MV is showing its age already, since it looks so much like the 916....much better. But that just me. But I still Live MV's, and would love to buy the brutal if i could get my hands on one.

Cheers Allan.

-- Shelby (shelbym@palm.net), May 14, 2003.

Hi Shelby. I was also thinking of the Ducati-Ferrari racing relationship as well.

So would it be accurate to say Ducatis are like Ferraris and MVs are like Lamborghini?

Do you still have the MV?

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), May 14, 2003.

Its funny how people say Ducati is the Ferrari of the motorcycling world and MV is more of a Masarati or Lamborghini. Has everyone forgotten the amount of input Ferrari had in the early stages of development of the MV engine. MV is about as close as you can get to owning a two wheel Ferrari as it gets. I love Ducatis and have owned one, and would consider owning another. For now i will keep my love affair with the MV Agustas. Besides, MV sounds much more closer to a scaled down Ferrari motor at high revs than the Desmo engines.

-- Rob (rpaggen@hotmail.com), May 14, 2003.

I can totally see the Ferrari-MV link when it comes to sound. MV's sound great....I like the sound of my 999 with the new Termi pipe. Allan ...my MV is gone. It was a great bike, but it was a real back breaker....the 999 is not. Smooth....and quick....Ugly, maybe, but you can absolutely lean allllllllll the way over with no fear. It's insane....and this is why I give the nod to the Duc.

Cheers!

-- shelby Person (shelbym@palm.net), May 19, 2003.

I posted a response but it seems like it didn't go through. So, I'll try and re-type the post:

Shelby, I'm sorry the MV didn't work out for you, especially since I encouraged you towards the MV. Hope you didn't take too much of a hit in trading it in.

In truth, the MV really does what it was designed to do very well (handle great, look great, sound great) but comfort and praciticality were never part of the equation.

To anyone who's planning on getting an MV, my advice is to find out and understand what the MV is about. If it's not acceptable, then its probably better to choose another bike.

It's an emotional, irrational, and uncompromising machine...sort of like an Italian mistress. :)

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Az) (Agibbs996@aol.com), May 20, 2003.

Hey 999 guy- You have got to be kidding me, the mv showing its age already? I would liken the 999, and I have had one, to a corvette, sloppy,loose and common compared to an mv.

Do folks stop you wherever you go on your 999 and take pics like they did when you had your mv? Enough said.

-- mike (msoucy@deflaw.com), May 26, 2003.

Hey big boy, come to Atlanta and let the lawyer show you how to ride. Dont hide behind WSB.

I still see you can't stay off the mv chat site. Maybe you wish you still had your mv?

Hey, all this is in good fun...

Cheers

-- mike (msoucy@deflaw.com), May 28, 2003.

Mike - Totally in fun. Anyone is lucky to own either bike.

Cheers!

-- ShelbyPerson (shelbym@palm.net), May 28, 2003.