I was convinced to re-evaluate SSS

This is a nice, no drama bike. Everything about this bike has been resolved on other Ducati's. The engine, in various configurations, has been in production for 30 years (15 years with the current head configuration, 4 years with the 11 degree cams). Chassis and swingarm have been in use since 2013 on the Monster, they just tweaked the geometry for different handling characteristics. The only "new" item on this bike is the ECU and the unique things like the fairings and various brackets, etc. Mirrors are buzzy, but that doesn't mean you have to do anything about them. Missed shifts (false neutrals are also a form of missed shift) are 99% cured with proper shift pedal adjustment and the other 1% with time on the bike to break in the transmission, have your dealer adjust the pedal before you take the test ride.

Everything else is just people pursuing their own personal perfectionism or trying to create their ideal bike.

It's not a Japanese bike, it never will be. Bikes from Japan may have reliability, but bikes from Europe have character. This doesn't mean anything until you test ride one and see for yourself what having "character" means.

hi_sink said:

I set my sight to SS since last year. I liked almost everything it offered, riding position, single swing arm, low RPM torque, and of course, pretty shape. Until now I read, re-read, and re-re-read a lot of posts here. It seems the fuzzy mirrors got no solution. And people talked about false neutral, skipping gear and trouble of shift down in DQS, etc.

I just want a nice bike for fun without drama. I want to spend my off time on a bike instead of figuring what's wrong of it. Is it a lot to ask? Or I was just spoiled by the Japan-made? Never owned an Italian before, got cold feet.
Sink

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What you have read are true reflections of the issues that people have had and are having. 1 Fuzzy mirrors yes this is an issue which at this point has not got a suitable fix although I know that a simple shock absorbing plate at the fixing point would make it much better or make the problem go away. 2 the false neutrals are only an issue while the bike is bedding in (a lot of new bikes have this even Jap bikes). The DQS works fine yes people have had issues me included but once you have the lever adjusted to your foot position it works fine. ( if you use it how it was designed it works perfect i.e. change up while on the throttle and down while off the throttle.) Now ask Anyone who has bought one if they are not happy.............even though they were not aware of the mirrors etc........ most if not all will say they would not give it back for a full refund.:grin2: I bought a brand new Suzuki GSXS 1000 What a great bike Sexy Fast Insane amount of Torque and power reliable etc etc etc but this bike is better (I would like more power but that's just me as the bike doesn't need it) Good luck with your decision whichever way you go

hi_sink said:

I set my sight to SS since last year. I liked almost everything it offered, riding position, single swing arm, low RPM torque, and of course, pretty shape. Until now I read, re-read, and re-re-read a lot of posts here. It seems the fuzzy mirrors got no solution. And people talked about false neutral, skipping gear and trouble of shift down in DQS, etc.

I just want a nice bike for fun without drama. I want to spend my off time on a bike instead of figuring what's wrong of it. Is it a lot to ask? Or I was just spoiled by the Japan-made? Never owned an Italian before, got cold feet.
Sink

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The minor issues which you have seen on here are absolutely blown out of proportion, as they are on most bike forums. The "grin factor" of this bike far outweighs any minor issues it may have. I have had a collection of Japanese bikes and previous Ducatis and I can assure you that if you're looking for a bike which is truly rideable and practical on an everyday basis then you will NOT be disappointed with the SS. Tell me that you've never heard of any problems at all with new model rice burners. I bought a brand new GSXR and that model were all recalled due to front brake reservoir problems, but I still have the bike and use it as a track bike. Personally I could never imagine my stable of bikes without a Ducati. As a rider training organisation we have around 30 motorcycles of different types, makes and sizes, but the Ducati is always my personal choice. Mate, do yourself a favour and ride it before you ****-can it! You won't regret it and you may even find it puts a smile on your dial :wink2:

Fredinfrance said:

Even if only 5% of people had fuzzy mirrors and 95% didn't then reading a forum would make you think that they all had fuzzy mirrors. The simple reason for that is that people don't splash all over that something is working as it should.
Mine does not have fuzzy mirrors.
Mine does get hot, we have had a long spell of 35c to 40c here and the bike gets warm, but I had an 848SBK and that was even hotter.

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What we all don't have fuzzy mirrors? You have to get out of the garage more.

Never buy a bike based on magazine write-ups - ride it first!

hi_sink said:

I set my sight to SS since last year. I liked almost everything it offered, riding position, single swing arm, low RPM torque, and of course, pretty shape. Until now I read, re-read, and re-re-read a lot of posts here. It seems the fuzzy mirrors got no solution. And people talked about false neutral, skipping gear and trouble of shift down in DQS, etc.

I just want a nice bike for fun without drama. I want to spend my off time on a bike instead of figuring what's wrong of it. Is it a lot to ask? Or I was just spoiled by the Japan-made? Never owned an Italian before, got cold feet.
Sink

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Ducati has been building some really solid bikes for a while now. My problem is that my last two Ducs were so good that my Ducati bar was set pretty high: a 1992 750SS road race bike (my avatar) and a 1998 ST2. Both bikes were ideal for me, but both had gone through a long process of development to suit their mission. One a race bike capable of winning in Vintage classes or modern LightWeight classes, the other a civilized, sporty touring bike…actually a retired Iron Butt bike.

The Supersport is wonderfully satisfying to ride...most of the time. It feels tiny, handling is instantaneous and precise, looks gorgeous and injects those Happy Hormones directly into your brain...unless of course you're tiptoeing through city traffic on a hot day, trying to figure if that vehicle behind you is Police Car or a Mini Van etc etc.

But most of us know that no bike is perfect, but don't see that as a failure, but as an opportunity to realize the bike's potential. The basic bike is amazing, it's the little crap that gets added on by lawyers, accountants and non-riding designers that get sorted out in the 'bonding' process with any bike, from any country.