I was about to say this exact same thing, then I saw your comment. They really do freaking cool today! The 1098 looks amazing, but almost looks "old fashioned" next to the 999 today
My first Ducati was a 999s and I absolutely loved it. Everywhere I went people came over to look at it and I always received great comments. But I used to say the same thing about it being ahead of its time. Ducatistis didn't appreciate it, so when I decided to sell it, it took a long time to sell, and it was immaculately maintained with low kms. I found someone who specifically loved the 999 look, thank God. In hindsight I should've kept it, as now they're sought after models.
Bikes like these always end up in the hands of people that know what they are talking about, whom we all admire , who deserve to review them properly like this. I can imagine this one hugging up with your gsxr in the garage as special.
I said the day these bikes came out that they were not only the most beautiful Ducati ever, but possibly the most beautiful bike ever. I was ridiculed left right and centre, but I still hold that view. Great to see it getting some belated praise.
I bought a 999 as my first bike. Spent two years going through the bike by myself. You get so much confidence from the handling. Pushing the bike, you would think it should feel chaotic but it very much at home. always wants just a little effort from the rider.
These old ducatis are so special, i got to see a 916 SP3 with termis recently, and the sound it makes is stuck in my soul. Ground shaking, thunderous roar with that dry clutch clank that tells you to wake the f@#! up. Absolutely amazing.
Love this format - hope there are more reminiscing retrospectives on the way. Been reading you since I was a kid, so this hits the nostalgia feels. Thanks Neevesy
A great retrospective, thanks! My enduring memory of the 999/749 series is of the 2004 WSBK season and specifically Frankie Chilli. He really disliked his 999RS and modified it to run a single-sided swingarm to try to improve feel. When that didn't work, he bought one of the road-going 998R homologation specials with the same testastretta engine as the 999. After tuning it with the bits from his discarded 999RS he had the power of the 999 and the handling of the 998, calling it his "998.5". It obviously suited him as he finished fifth in the championship that year with nine podiums including a win at Misano. I seem to remember that Ducati top brass were none to happy to see his mongrel creation beating their thoroughbred racer. Happy days!
We're loving this series, Neevesy! Keep up the good work and there's no doubt many people will continue contacting you wanting their bike featured. A win-win for everyone!
I Remember when these were new. I test rode a std 749 back then. Wasn’t that taken by it. Fwiw, my daily bikes then were a ‘93 888 and a ‘91 900ss. This 749r is really a spectacular modification of the std 749. Jaw dropping list of racing mods. What a bike! Wow!
I remember the old 750SS - my dream bike at the time (mid '70s). The shop where I bought my starter bike (250 mk3 in blue/gold with clip-ons) had one in for servicing. The sound when rev'ed and the pressure from the exhaust hitting the legs still lives in my head. That 250 was also an awesome bike to ride. Being a learner at the time, I never got to ride a 750SS. When I did have my full license, I was too poor to own one! Had to 'make do' with a Bonnie 750.
Wonderful machine, unique and stunning design, great engine, perfect handling and racing history. It will become the most look after Ducati classic with the 996R.
For the true sport bike aficionado you just never ever get this out of your system and video is testimony to our visceral passion! All the discomfort tales are trumped by one trip on a true ride like this one! Rock on St. Neevesy and thank you for another great video!
I had the big brother the 2005 999 R limited to 500 to Australia if I remember correctly & which was the full “race” version and full carbon fibre the Termi’s etc etc. Was great to ride and was very sexy, every time I stopped people always admired it. However, at the same time I had a Hayabusa. More often then not I would ride the Suzuki as it was a much much better road bike. Comfortable, smooth, practical, could pillion -everything the Ducati couldnt do. In fact the 999 made me a crappy rider as if you stopped for long enough you would literally burn from the heat! So therefore I never stopped if I could help it, ran lights and the like. It really is a track machine and nothing much more in my view. I sold it and never looked back. In saying that the 749/999 in my view is the best looking Ducati ever made and was a great experience
I built and tuned these for racing back in the day. They would really make some nice power once uncorked. Truly special engines. Be mindful of the kilometer limits on the cases and valves however!
Another great video Michael. I love it when you do your "what makes this bike great" series. One request - if possible, can you please make a playlist on your RU-vid channel specifically for you "what makes this bike great" videos so it's easier to retrieve them? Keep up the great work - looking forward to the next one.
I always loved the looks of this generation, maybe it's because of a mate of mine bought one new back in the day and he let me have a go at it in the French Alps.
Also too, I was working at a mall and employees had to park on the bottom of the garage, the administration let me park on the first floor because I was setting off too many car alarms, and they were getting too many complaints
Thank you Michael for a wonderful video, please know is very much appreciated and enjoyed! (2022 Panigale V4s owner, which is waaay too much bike for the vast majority of us...)
I owned the 749s which I absolutely loved. Single seat mono with Termi's under seat. Prior to that I owned three 748's both Red and Yellow. My nick name is Ducati Tony..😊
Always loved the 749\999 bikes. Had a Nero 999s many years ago. Was epic! Bit more of a pain to work on around the air box compared to the 996sps but other than that, glorious to ride. Still miss it, wish I never sold! 🙄
Owned a 749S and could keep up with the R on most tracks when it was working. The 749 R and S did have major problems and sold mine as soon as the warranty was up.
I had a 2005 749 (not R) and it was a great bike. I only rode it on the track, and it was bulletproof over almost 100 track days. Unfortunately the same could not be said for the 1198S I had later. :-( It was what finally pushed me over the edge and made me a serial GSXR 1000 owner. ;-)
I have the 749S, with a bunch of upgrades, Love it and don't care about the "Cyclopes" headlights.......... It is a joy to ride that's all that really matters...😎
Really nice vid & I agree, this bike is indeed great! Remember these well as used to regularly lust after them back in the day. I always preferred the 749 over the 999 as it made more sense to me with the less is more ethos. Ducati also used to do the standard version in yellow which I always thought looked so nice too.
Neevesy, I've got a recently recommissioned 996R, I'm up in Derbyshire, more than happy for you to borrow it for another 'What makes this bike great vid'. Hate when these bikes just end up mothballed!
I had a 2006 in 2007 - I traded in my '06 S2R1000 Monster for the lightly used (800 kms) 749R, and loved it. It had the race kit - ECU, airbox mod and race filter, plus the full Termi system, and mine here in Canada came with the forged Magnesium Marchesinis. Sadly I sold it on after 1 season to go drag racing on a ZX-14. I will always have fond memories of riding my 749R. It was the purest bike I have ever owned, out of 43 machines since 1969.
4:13 well, on this specific bike suspensions are not actually fully adjustable.... because I see the front axle wasn't mounted properly and the screw for the compression is not accessible 😄
I too owned a 749, not the R though. I really liked the bike, its sound and especially the stability in (higher speed) corners. It wasn't just all great though, some words of criticism as well - found it to be a quite heavy bike, slightly underpowered. But the worst for me was the stalling of the engine when in idle waiting at a traffic light, time and time again. It is a feature of all 749 bikes, caused by the throttle bodies supposedly and can be fixed at the cost of several €. Also the coating at the back of the engine behind the back cilinder - and other parts of the engine - comes off sooner or later and is just extremely ugly. And of course, the heat coming through the seat is not desirable but that's quite common with Ducatis. Great stuff though, keep it up!
9:20 Neevesy, you should email that sound clip to Revzilla Highside Lowside podcast for the engine sound guessing game. Better yet, you should invite yourself to be their guest for a next podcast.
I think the 749/999 shape has aged really well, I didn't have a problem with their look when they came out, nor their motogp swingarm......my car has single sided swingarms and that's nothing too special !
Those 848s were lovely bikes, but were pretty standard apart from chassis and styling goodies. They're not homologation specials with all the engine/geometry etc mods seen on the Rs. Great question, though!
…shame about the EBC disks, fantastic rotors but not great to look at. Other than that, agreed, a stunning looking bike now. Strange how time has been kind on this model particularly. Could snap these up for a song about 15 years ago.
I have to confess I really did not like the look of these era of Ducati and was pleased when the 998 style returned ….however I found myself changing my mind when I saw this ….it has definitely grown on me ….but still prefer the single winded swinging arm masterpieces of old and new.
Yep, I had been riding for a couple years had one on hold, but @23 yrs old could not satisfy the financial bit,😢 ended up with 03 749’s, fun bike but ugly compared to the 916 era of bikes!! It was good on track then the 848’s came out, and you down 25BHP 😂
