B747

After combing through this forum and reading and watching videos about the 1199 I'm starting to be on the fence about owning one. It has been a dream to own a Ducati, but from the things I read here on the forum I'm starting to lean towards buying a BMW S1000RR. Some of my concerns:

1. Heat issues from the header
2. Needs to be ridden aggressively on the street to have any enjoyment or feedback.
3. Bolts coming undone.
4. Starter issues.
5. Almost $9,000 more than BMW

All of these things almost become meaningless, when I look at it, so my heart says get it but my brain says buy the BMW because I'll enjoy riding it more. This is not a thread to figure out which bike is better because that's subjective but am I making too much of these issues? When you add up all of these "negatives" and add on top of it the cost difference, brain says BMW heart says Ducati. What do you guys think?

rm4two

1. Heat issues from the header
A. Yes there is heat but it's relative to what you think/feel is hot or bothersome.

2. Needs to be ridden aggressively on the street to have any enjoyment or feedback.
A. Disagree. However, if you frequent track day events you might agree with the statement above.

3. Bolts coming undone.
A. Take 20min and just check'em. I haven't lost any bolts but I did lose the rear brake reservoir cover.

4. Starter issues.
A. Sporadic at best. Hasn't affected my base

5. Almost $9,000 more than BMW
A. Not if you get the base + it's 10x better looking

Regardless, buy what you want and ride the snot out of it

Yama1yzf

I would say ride one first if you can and then it becomes a preference.....I love my 1199 and think it is one of if not the best looking street bike available. Yes it gets a bit warm but there are ways to deal with it and the other things you mention. Go to the S1000rr forum and read some of the gripes there as well....vibration, heat coming from the frame etc.

Not sure where the pricing thing is coming from but the beemers that I see go for 15-16K. A base 1199 is $17.9k

vo2

1. Heat issues from the header
Overrated. Read my signature.

2. Needs to be ridden aggressively on the street to have any enjoyment or feedback.
Ha ha maybe if your name is Rossie. I relish every second with it.

3. Bolts coming undone.
Loctite blue is your friend. For me - havent't lost anything yet..

4. Starter issues.
Don't know what they talking about.

5. Almost $9,000 more than BMW
Are you making money with riding? For me a motorcyle has nothing to do with brain. It is always a heart thing. I owe 3 BMW but i would never buy a S 1000 RR

duckyduc

was in the same situation in 2011 when i was trying to decide between a new CBR1000RR or a 848 EVO, i went for the CBR, that was a mistake! the fix: Panigale
in short, bike purchase are not like car where you weight pro and cons with your brain, i DONT need a fast reliable practical bike, i NEED something that make my heart race and laugh stupidly inside of my helmet.
hope you dont make the same mistake as i do
1,200 miles of heaven time with the Duc, and never looked back on the CBR

capnjack52

I think you've answered your own question ... "been a dream to own a Ducati" ... "heart says Ducati" ... rm4two summed up your reservations as non-issues, really.

Unless cost is truly a concern, there's no question in my mind, sir: you WANT the Ducati ... and doubt you'll regret it!

ttkarp

Honestly, you should probably get the BMW. This bike is really about passion, and if you're not feeling it, then save the money and get the shootout king.

MadeinItaly

+1 strongly agree

DZbum

Sold S1 to get 1199. NEVER looked back. Totally different level. S bit hot sometimes, but nothing to worry about. Both are way faster than my skill level so absolute performance numbers are irrelevant. 1199 costs more to get, but u will get more selling it. Did I mention looks?

zvez

get the bmw, you won't be happy with the duc, all ducs have eccentricities, it just goes with the bike.

Also, as mentioned above, it's not reasonable to compare the S model pani with the bmw. a more fair comparison is a base with or without abs. then the price difference is not huge.

Also, this is my 6th or 7th duc, loved em all. Knock on wood, nothings fallen off it yet, no issues and at around 2k miles right now, done two track days with it.

Also, don't buy a 2012 BMW, remember they had the large recall on the engine conn ride being over/under torqued - bmw as they've been known to do is doing it on the cheap and expecting individual shops to do the fix (a similar issue when the RSV4 first came out and aprilia REPLACED the engines on 200 or so bikes!). The BMW recall is paying shops something like 8 hrs labor for the job, but the shops are saying it's closer to 10 hrs work.

That said, the bmw is a wonderful bike and I spent a two day superbike camp on one. It's just not a great looking scoot.

Gunny Fitz

None of the aforementioned issues are severe enough NOT to purchase the most revolutionary superbike out there!

bostonrider

buy both.....

Vicious

WOW, well said!

chsnprodigy

Well said Gunny. This is one of the main reasons I know im going to hold on to this bike. The 1199 is going to change the way that other manufactures are going to design their bikes. Sooner or later other companies are going to get rid of the "frame" to save weight.

And all of your worries about heat, things coming loose....dont worry about them. Buy the bike, ring its neck, and ride off into the sunset with a stupid grin on your face!

CaliDuc

Before I heard about the Ducati 1199 I was going to get a BMW S1000RR. Here is the deal, trying to compare the two bikes is simply an apples and oranges comparison and that pertains to right across the board.

If it is not VERY obvious Ducati owners are a different creature to BMW .. I am not saying better I am saying DIFFERENT. Due to the high cost of ownership for a Ducati the first hurdle is money.

I think everyone is getting really pissed off with people circling around to the BMW vs Ducati talk. They are both great bikes. Take your pick.

Trident

FWIW, I have a '12 BMW S1000RR and it is an AWESOME machine. It has a few mild quirks but nothing that's major. However, I test rode a Panigale a few days ago and to me the 1199 has more character than the S1K. In fact, I'm looking to sell/trade my bike so I can get a Panigale S.

rm4two

Don't let the S1krr forum get wind on this they'll revoke your membership LOL

zvez

the mild quirk like the engine recall on some 12s??

jyli19

Get the BMW, you're the master, you own the bike. Get the Ducati, the bike owns you.

George Villar

Sure there are no problems at all with the S1000 rr BMW:

there is no recall at all that has the dealer technician tearing your NEW bike completely apart to warranty "replace and re-torque" the CONNECTING ROD BOLTS…..then carefully putting it all back together.

Hey - go buy one. Vie via.