Ducati's most hated motorcycle
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- Опубліковано 11 січ 2024
- When Ducati unveiled the infamous 999, the motorcycling world lost its mind. How could this ugly motorcycle continue the upward trend brought about by the 916? Is there more to the story of this failed Italian superbike?
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![How Ducati made the Best [looking] Motorcycle Ever](/img/n.gif)
Believe it or not, but I actually like how this bike looks. First time seeing one when I didn't even know much about bikes. I didn't think it was ugly. I liked it a lot and still do
Same, I’ve always thought it looked great!
Ditto. I think it's nice.❤
I mean, I can see those headlights are pretty weird.
If they keep those dual headlights, maybe the opinion isn't as divided as have been for overall bike.
Same! I was about 18 when it came out, and I thought it was absolutely stunning. I still do, headlights and all!
@BoobyMagrew dang I was like 1 when it was out, 21 right now but im in love with that bike lol
the headlight design even though was hated but with leds now it has aged well and now it seems to be actually be ahead of it's time
Yes, the stacked headlights were the real styling problem. BMW did similar with their R1200ST. Styling is very important to most of us.
Aged very nicely actually.
I will not tolerate 999/749 slander
❤
Oddly one of my favorites from Bologna, that’s why I have one 😂. Terblanche was certainly tasked with a hard problem, build a flagship replacement for the iconic 916.
Pierre Terblanche's 999 looks have grown on me, the 916 not so much - this is the mark of a good aesthetic.
I was a young rider at the time and thought the 916 was absolutely fugly. I seriously had no idea how someone could get past that face; I would have genuinely been embarrassed to be seen on one. Lol. I had no idea until now that people loved it so much.
@@yayinternets All the many reviews that I read went totally nuts over it.
@@kalaharimine I wonder if it was just a small number of loud mouths who somehow had the ear of Ducati, or maybe just stodgy execs afraid of change? I seriously had no idea it was so controversial. I still think it's a work of art.
Hated it when it was launched couldn't actually believe they had replaced the 916 series with something so hideous, 20 years later i think it looks fantastic was just ahead of its time 👊
No, it’s still hideous 😁😁
The 916 seems ubsurdly overhyped. I know beauty is subjective and all but I just don't get it.
@@-Eternal-Damnation-look at the other bikes front the same time period. The 916 was revolutionary looks wise and changed the design direction for all companies. We got much better looking bikes all around because of it. Just look at the big bulky seat section before and the much sleeker and lower profile that came afterwards.
I can't agree with you, bro... the 916 is still looking sick while this will go down in history as Ducati's biggest failure.
@@seashackf1 Ok, I can definitely appreciate it for that.
Someone once put it perfectly: MV Augusta is the "PAGANI" of motorcycles, Ducati is the "FERRARI" .
I remember as a kid first seeing the 999 in many racing video games and magazines of the time when the bike was first released. I might be in the minority but I think the 999, as well as its 999r variant, is and always has been a head turning and stunning bike to look at. It's a sleek, forward looking design and philosophy for its time and it will always hold a special place for me as my favorite Ducati motorcycle. Thank you for covering it bart.
Totally agree with you.
I rode a 999r, it's was horrible at slow speeds but got better and better the harder you rode it,
I remember it feeling very long
I was barely walking upright in 2003, but I find this crazy. To me that design is striking, beautiful, and cool, even if it dropped as a new model tomorrow. Maybe it was very literally just ahead of its time.
I was 11 or 12 when it came out and the first thing I thought was how much it looked like some of the mecha heads on the PS2 game Armored Core 2. I immediately loved it.
Motorcyclists as a whole are a bunch of whiners. People always say they want X until they can and X doesn’t sell. Guys are just looking for excuses.
I was 2 when it came out. Growing up, I thought it was the best looking Ducati. I still think it looks good
Well, you also grew up with alot of ugly designs.
Its kinda like somebody from the 1900's doesn't know why some people don't like hats.
@@DaroriDerEinzige you make a good point. Everyone just likes what they grew up with. My grandpa thinks anything made after the late 60s is ugly and trash
Guess i'm weird but this is my favorite ducati to this day. Loved this design on day one, still love it now. Great that i seem to be one of few actzally liking it, you can still get this bike really cheap. But it has to be with that utra cool termignoni exhaust!
Me too...yes,the RAM single sided swingarm conversion looks great on these,apart from that, beautiful!
Thoroughly despised the 999 road bike when it launched but liked the race bikes though... Now, I find the design has aged gracefully, it's a stunner that's well engineered also. Really like working on them too, on the rare occasions when they turn up at work.
Being lucky enough to own a 996SPS , and a 2005 999R, which are my two favourite Ducati’s of all time. And Ducati’s most successful WSBK’s . I have to say that the 999R in race trim is probably the best looking Ducati race bike in history. My opinion anyway. Enjoyed the video 🎉
Being born in 1990, and thinking the Triumph Speed Triple is peak litre bike, I think the 999 actually looks better than the 916... I guess I am a product of my time.
You are wise for one so young. As Chris Rock said, "I 49 [then] and i still LOVVVVE rap music, but I'm tired of defending it. But whatever music was popular and playing on the radio when you lost your virginity BAM--locked in, that's going to be your favorite music for the rest of yo life."
Can not say I dislike any Ducati, let alone this beauty.
I always thought this bike was better looking than the 916.
A friend of mine had a new 916 and it was a nightmare! Nothing but electrical issues. It lived at the dealership being repaired under warranty.
I traded one of these 999s in 2007 on a 1050 Speed Triple when I was working in a Triumph dealership. Follow up call with the owner elicited the comment that the Speed Triple was "Slow".
I was surprised as the Speed triple was a pretty punchy bike, so I took the 999 out for a quick spin to check it out. That 999 Testastretta had so much torque and so much top end... Incredible engine. Later I bought an S4R monster with the same motor.
In 2003 I picked up my first motorcycle magazine as a young man, and leafing through it. Not knowing anything about the 2 wheel world, I saw a big spread about this very bike and I loved how it looked like nothing else in that issue and all the other mags. The red was very alluring, and I had no prior knowledge of what DUCATI or a 916 was. This was just what I thought a sport bike was supposed to be.
Fast forward to about 5 years ago, a black 999S with 900 miles rolls into our consignment shop and and the boss wants me to try to get it started, since it seemed to have not run in long time. It had a termi exhaust and when I first got it cranking inside this antiques shop, you could feel the compression from engine resonating off the walls. Everyone in the front office was poking their heads out wondering what was going on.
I relocated my efforts to the back alley behind the shop, fiddling with the choke lever on the handlebars, which confounded me since the bike was fuel injected. It finally fired up and made all that lovely L-twin, dry clutch racket. My boss asked if it was supposed to sound like that, so I revved it and he gave me a thumbs up.
I took it for a spin, but with no plates, insurance, and registration, I couldn't leave the parking lot. But I had been lusting for one of these bikes for literally decades now. It sold a few weeks later at auction for about $9k which was more than I could afford or else I would have tried winning it. But got to have a small taste.
The 999 is my white(red) whale. I still see them come up on cycle trader occasionally. Even the 749 versions. I still want one. Hopefully the hype after this video doesn't make the price skyrocket😂
Oh, sorry to hear you didn't buy it there and then after 'unsuccessfully' trying to start it.." this thing is a pile of junk but ill buy it off you cheap" 😂 good luck in your search 🤞
@@ENLSN77 The thought had crossed my mind 😇
The 999 is, and forever will be my dream bike. I saw one on my way home from elementary school when they were new, it was shooting flames and had a sound like it eats babies for breakfast. Nothing will ever change this.
If it runs like a Duc, sounds like a Duc, costs as much to maintain as a Duc; then it’s a Duc.
People don't like the 999?! I think it's one of the most gorgeous bikes ever made, and I'm not even a sportbike guy! It's smooth but aggressive! Looks fast af! And those exhausts!
I find most people can be quite ignorant. My 2004 749S was by far the best Ducati I have ever owned and ridden going back 35 years of riding only Ducati .
Going from the 916 through 998 some of the most beautiful moto cycles ever made to this eyesore is still something that baffles me to this day
I loved the 999 when it came out, i liked how different it was. I ended up owning a 2004 999 Monoposto. I loved that bike, fun to ride, handled amazing, sounded awesome with a Temi exhaust. I actually regret trading it for a 2010 1198s Corse. Given a chance i'd love to have my triple 9 back. Here's hoping someday i will.
The only bike i had as a beginner and later on was the 749. What a masterpiece.
Watching Ruben Xaus and Neil Hodgson flatten everybody in SBK on these was something special. Those high and square (well, oval) exhaust pipes looked so incredibly striking compared to the 998/Honda/Suzuki pipes. Coming after the 916 series it was always going to be doomed and Ducati went right back to making bikes look like the 916 with the 1098, but I always thought the 999 was gorgeous.
Great video👍. Nice to see the 999 getting the credit it deserves. People still claim to this day that the 999 nearly bankrupted Ducati, but one quick look at the first year sales chart tell us otherwise.
Any decline from there on out definitely wasn't the fault of the bike. Its sublime to ride (I'm on my second one) and it was a massive success in racing, like you mentioned. I blame the hate on the bike media of the time for putting it in peoples' minds that the 999 was ugly compared to the 916. Whether they want to admit it or not, people generally care what others think, and nobody wants to be on the "ugly" Ducati.
As far as design language goes, this bike fits in right after the 851/888 bikes.
Personally, I've loved them from the beginning.
Excellent report. The 999 is one of my favorite bikes of all time.
Please can you send me the link to the podcast where they talk more about the designer?
i love how you sound like youre reading bullet points instead of an essay word for word. it always sounds like im just listening to a friend talk about something theyre really interested in.
The 916 is fairly pretty for a modern racing-styled bike, but I think the real looker in Duc's history was the old bevel-drive 900SS, in particular the MHR. _That_ is what a perfectly proportioned bike looks like IMHO.
Flame war to commence in 5...4...3...2... 😁
i may sound sacrilegious but i like the 999 much more than the 916 for me 916 looks old from the begining and the 999 still looks new for today
These were excellent bikes at the time, I actually found myself arguing with guys about the looks and I didn't even have any problems with the NON single sided swingarm. It has a long wheelbase which does make it hard to steer in tight corners but it's a great bike, ride one and it'll change your mind. Another great thing about them is a mid condition one with a few scrapes is very affordable and it has no rider assist and I love that! Raw and fun!
The 999 looks like a supermodel next to the previous model and aged so well.
The 999 isn't just my favorite Duke but it's also one of my favorite Bikes, period. Being completely honest though, I have mixed feelings about the Headlight design, but everything else is flawless, an given that I've never ridden one, its very humbling to know that I'm drawn towards one of their most ergonomic/rider performance focused designs. I spose one could say that would essentially be seeing the inner beauty.
I always loved the looks of the 999/749. When getting my monster serviced at a small Ducati specialist, I noticed that he was working on a 999R, really good looking. He said the owner brought it in every few months for a replacement clutch; what a hooligan!
These have been my favorite for years. Every once in a while one comes up locally and I wish I had one - my problem is simply that as a big man it’s too small for me.
They are very adjustable. You might be surprised.. Ruben Xaus was 6'4".
@@somestupidwithaflaregun7149 might mean big as in round
I am so mad, I was the only kid on school who thought it was beautiful. How did anyone think this was ugly. The bikes later were so plain, this was was so good
I still have the magazine when it was launched. Me and my pals loved it and we still do.
I liked it when I saw it in 2003. I was riding the yellow 600RR back then. I’m still on a Honda though, 2019 1000RR.
I recently saw a 749 on the city and I couldn't stop staring at it. I think it's a beautiful design that is more than 20 years old! IMO, it's a classic.
The negative response at the 999 on launch was even bigger here in Australia. We'd already suffered the indignity of the 916 being sold here with a hideous single rectangular headlight that ruined the beautifully sculptured look, thanks to Australian design rules at the time. When photo's came out of the new 999 design it was perceived as Ducati ruining the look of their own flagship bike just like the Australian Government had done on the 916.
Holy shit, I hadn't seen the Australian 916, I just looked it up. What a travesty
The 999 saved Ducati from going bust
Would love a great video on the 915 and the story. Most beautiful bike ever designed and has a terrific story. Love the content.
I loved this bike, my first bike was an 06 749. Never understood why people didn't like it. Its different and stands out in a crowd and I always got compliments on it. I sold it and now have a Monster but I still look through the used market to see if I can find a good condition 999 to put back in my garage.
The trouble was they departed too far from the existing lineage 916. They didn’t need to do much to make it look just fine and continue some of the design elements of the old bike, and the swingarm was just a mistake. It was a great bike, but those things did put off a LOT of buyers who only returned for the 848/1098. Just think how many more 999s they might have sold if it didn’t look like a slapped ass…
I'm absolutely in love with the 999
Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed it. My first Ducati was a 999s and I actually test rode the 916 before settling on the 999. The 916 in comparison was an absolute pig to ride. The 999 was nimble, responsive and just a joy to ride. I loved the look of it too, but I knew at the time it was not a popular bike. I just loved its style and the way it rode. I loved the things that other people hated, for instance the headlights, and i still think the tank is the most beautiful tank on any bike ever made. I agree the bike was not photogenic, but it's how you photograph it. I had a professional photographer take pics and he made it look amazing. Anyway, I miss my 999s. If it wasn't for the timing belts requiring changeover every 2yrs, this bike would've been perfect.
It's not a bad looking bike, in fact quite stunning, especially in R spec (they have a beautiful one at Barber Motorsports Museum). It was just such a radical change from the Tamburini design 916-998 family, which was so iconic, that alot of people over reacted at the 999's looks. I'm guilty of it at the time but the looks have grown on me. Escpecially once I saw a 999R in the flesh at Barber. If the 998 had been followed by the 1098 design, I don't think it would have been loved as much as the 998 but the negative reactions wouldn't have been near as much. The 1098 was obviously an evolution/modernization of the Tamburini design.
The first time you saw a 999 back in the day, the image is stuck in your head but I'm glad I actually live with a sv1000s
It was polarizing in West but an Indian manufacturer Bajaj took design inspiration from 999 and made a motorcycle in 2007 which they are still producing to this day despite numerous attempts to discontinue it. In my opinion 999 looks much better than the current generation of Ducatis.
As a Subaru guy, this thing looks like 2002 Bugeye impreza WRC that came with morette headlights. Some say that 2002 bugeye is ugly and its the worst looking impreza but when you see one with morette headlights you see the true beauty of that desing. And I have the same feeling about this bike, first time i saw ducati was in the matrix movie when I was just a kid. From then on the 748/996 has been the dearm bike for me, but this one is close to my hear too after I saw it irl.
That car Looked Unique to me I liked The Headlights 👍🙂
It was too futuristic for its time, that's all.
I was in the car business in the early 2000's. I sold the very first Pontiac Aztek, which was considered very ugly at the time. But now, that style has become popular.
Hi Bart, Thank you for your Videos! I'd love a series about Motorbike designers and how their design-concepts developed over time. Designers like Pierre Terblanche who designed the first Ducati Multistrada but in contrast also designed the Himalayan. Both in their own way quite radical bikes. I always find this intriguing. Just an idea. Thanks again!
Can’t be the most hated now that the new “monster” was released. That is a UGLY bike.
This was the first bike I ever rode on. My dad used to take me out on rides around rural New Zealand when I was about 9 or 10 years old.
That thing used to absolutely fly, I remember after one ride he said we had gotten up to 185kmh, and I'm sure he went much faster on his own. Remember this isn't on interstates - New Zealand roads are windy, one lane in each direction with no middle divider...
He was extremely reckless, at times other cars would wind down their windows at traffic lights to yell at him, that he was going to kill both of us. I don't think he would've cared if that happened, to tell the truth.
I was greatly fascinated by this design as a kid and I still do like it a lot❤
749 in yellow was my first test ride on a Ducati. I wasn’t convinced at the time. Today, I like to own one as a 2nd bike, somewhere it found a special place in my heart
Pier Ter Blanch - You owe my respect 🙌
Two things i wanna point 👉
1. THE PRACTICALITY-
The thought of changing the solid statement of a sports bike, by lowering the seat height, changing the aggressive riding stance, sleeking the tank, in short making it more comfortable was a great idea. Who don't like comfort. A Designer is a problem solver. And he did his job pretty well.
2. THE DESIGN -
I had the poster of this Yellow coloured 999 on my wall when i was small . I always looked at it and imagined what a beauty it is. I've always loved this bike from its 1st glance.
So on that note, i want to say that this bike was literally way way ahead of its time.
The AIR INTAKES on the front panel & the side winglets are what we're seeing today in current superbikes.
The SWINGARM this time was two sided but it was completely blacked out, so it nowhere disturbing the looks. It still was mixing good with the body.
Also the VERTICAL TWIN-POD HEADLAMP setup, the sharper front was although new in terms of design but what i knew about DUCATIs that they have produced beautiful motorcycle with UNIQUE ELEMENTS, from Monocoque chassis to single sided swingarm, L- twin engines to underseat exhaust setup. Everything was still carrying foreward by the 999 and as a designer he did pretty well by maintaining the FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION statement & carrying the traditions.
If Ducati will launch this bike today with miner tweaks to meet current feel. It will burn the Market. I'm also a automotive designer and believes BEING UNIQUE IS BETTER THAN BEING PERFECT, just what you did Pie Ter Blanch 🙌🙇❤
I got my motorcycle endorsement around the time this bike was released as a young man and I thought it was gorgeous! I remember someone coming to a group ride in a 916 and while I loved the color, I thought the front facia was absolutely atrocious.
I had Honda money at the timeand not Ducati money so I didn't really know much about them nor was in that community at the time. I had no idea that it was hated; it reminded me a lot of the Enzo and loved it.
Exactly why I havent sold my 749. This design was great. Beautiful, futuristic, but actually has an classic elegant aspect to it, in the flesh. If you have both bikes sitting side by side, its obvious its the 999 thats the more beautiful. But both have their own allure. 916 and 999 ride so similarly. And yes 999 is better just like anything that supercedes prior models. And 749 than the 748. Also 749 is more tractable on the road. Small tweaks make these bikes better for riding...which are: larger clutch slave cylinder, modern 48 tooth clutch basket, power commander, 42 tooth sprocket and the R1 throttle tube mod. Now its much smoother and pliable, with more feel, less hesitation, less jerky. Honestly the hate was only from the press and people who never rode these bikes. Im so glad there were so many that cherished this design. The negative views meant that when the 1098/848's came out...we had something uniquely beautiful. All the models after, up to now, are cool and striking looking. 999/749 was beautiful in it own way. The performance of these on the road is all anyone will ever need....as the new bikes get more and more lightning fast. All these bikes since the 851 were meant for the track and they proved it in WSBK over the years up to now with the V4. Remember "the ugly duckling" turned out to be the beautiful swan. I compare the 999 story to the F40 and F50. Everyone said the F40 was better. But in reality, it wasnt. Mainly just build quality. F50 was better and much more beautiful, and tractable for the road. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, but again, put an F40 and F50 next to each other and see in person. The F50 and 999 were in my opinion the most beautiful. I was always happier being in the minority for loving them. Now they are appreciated. And now videos are being made. I guess some people weren't ready for drastic change. And in the future people will look back at Panigale's and feel the same, its cyclical. Every brand has some version of this story over the years. But remember, timeless design is timeless. And some models just hit that mark perfectly.
Some one told me that they found Hitler hiding in the Brazilian Jungle before he died, they asked him what his favorite motorcycle was and his answer was...999
I had one. It was the most reliable of the several Ducatis I've owned. It was comfy, felt similar to the 888. I did love my 916, and 996. The MV was way more uncomfortable than the 916 and its derivatives, but for me it was the most beautiful bike ever.
It was named the first time a German saw the prototype and hollered “NEIN NEIN NEIN!” I actually liked it and wouldn’t mind owning one. In a few decades it is sure to be a collectible bike.
999R is still one of my dream bikes.
I work as a designer in a different industry. I remember walking into the Ducati dealership to see this bike. I was wowed! Different, innovative design. Sadly, most people don't want that. They want what they know, only changing in increments. The later 1098, 848, etc., were attractive bikes but just variations of the 916. Terblanche as a designer was ahead of everyone else and was pushing the motorcycle esthetic forward. We need more like him to break up the monotony of the current "pointy bike" design language that has been going now for over 15 years. The worst being KTM whose showroom floors look like a blur of orange and black shattered flat shapes. I dare you, go to a KTM dealer and squint a little while looking at the bikes and see if any stand out. Terblanche was a visionary.
I've owned my 749 for 10 years plus. It's heavily modified. I love having something different from ducati. I don't run across many 749/999. I've ridden it cross country 2 times, and I daily it to work a few days a week. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. It's incredibly fun in the mountains and on the track. Just recently got a part's list for a single sided swing arm upgrade.🎉
I upgraded from a 748 to the 749 when I saw this at a shop. I loved how it looked then, still like how it looks now
Back then I loved how it looked, and I dislike Ducati's. I even wanted to put the headlight on a custom streetfighter. It looked very cyberpunk, but that wasn't mainstream yet.
I’ve loved these since they were released.
Fashion Passes; Style Remains...The 999 with its unique design is outstanding.
New Ducati's are amazing bikes but to me they all look like race/track bikes, thats not a bad thing. Where the 999 I always thought looked very classy. I wish more bikes had the smooth side fairings and clean paint scheme. It looks very nice out on the street. At least to me.
Great video, thank you😁🤗
Riding with a buddy on a 70 degree day, I swapped out my Seca 400 for his Ducati 998. I didn't last 4 miles and had to get off the thing. So relieved to be back on the sleeper scrambler. What a torture rack. The rider triangle plus the heat...it was only seventy out!
I have a 748 and a 999 among other Ducatis and Mv Agustas. My fav is the 999.
Outstanding Video!
Great video Bart.
It stood the test of time because below the body work is the beating heart of the 2002 998r, the same third gen testastrata 999cc short stroke motor that would go on to win World Superbike in 2003, and one more time before they decided to alter the body style, and when they pulled the cover off in 2006, it was a let down. That's when I looked at MV, the other Ducati with good looks to match.
fire vid as always bro!
This was my dream bike when I was in High School. My first bike at 18 was the 900s since I couldn’t afford the 999, 20 years later, still my favorite looking Ducati!
Loved it then, love it even more now. Still looks fresh and futuristic.
When it came out it was following the 998, which is a design classic, and it not only had a very unusual appearance but also ditched the single-sided swingarm. It looks a lot better in race trim and did very well on track. I still don’t like the lights but it has aged well and seems to look less offensive now than it did at the time. The funny thing about the 999 is that it was designed by the same guy who designed the SportClassic, which is a stunner and was well ahead of the retro cafe racer trend.
I know you're 'over the pond' but you had me in hysterics at 46seconds........remember the song, "you say potato, I say potato", try listening back ..... you say "Baloney", I think the rest of the world my say "Bologna" ....... nice sausage, sorry nice video.
I love my 999. It's simply a work of art and it's on display as such in my shop when it's not being ridden.
Interesting. I have always thought the 999 was the standard for Ducati. I still like seeing them around on occasion.
I always loved the look of the 999. The center headlight as opposed to two symmetrical headlights has always looked better to me. I think my 06 Gsxr1000rr was the best looking bike ever made. Hell my current Talaria XXX technically isnt a motorcycle but still has a great looking headlight.
I don't think I've ever seen a 999 in the wild. But... I have had an ad print on my wall for years!
I read somewhere (forgot where it is) that the 916 was copied from the Honda NR-750, could you please shed some light or make a documentary about it, thanks!!
A complete work of art in every way
I’ve got one. Thought it was going to be bad, but I love it in person. Rides like a dream too
I had the last year of production, 2006. It came with radial brakes, and ABS. That was it for technology. Super easy to ride, and to ride fast. Unfortunately, the heat it generated limited my rides. I would soon sell it, picking up a 2006 Bimota DB5S. Not the “R”, but still a formidable sport bike. Later, local shops would take race track refugee/ discarded 999/748 frames and shove the air cooled 1000/1100 engines into these frames. They were sold uber expensive in this setup, as they were real nice bikes, not junk that was simply put together. This was the perfect use of this fine, hand made frame.
As with most new designs, they take time to digest, look the new m3/4 twins. Everyone hated them but now they grown on people and look great
I never got to ride one. I got to see one at Barber Motorsports track, man it was so cool.
The 999 is a bargain. I like the look and at 6'3" get on one and you realise they are one of very few bikes that you can feel instantly at home and at one with the bike. They ride like they're on rails. Truly an awesome bike.
i wanted to have this bike from the date they release the FL model (2005), puchased it back in 2008 (999 S mono) and still have it (had many different bikes next to it but this is the one survived at least 4 years in my garage, i think that tells a lot). Love the bike how it looks, how it rides. Would never trade for anything else. Great design by master Terblanche!
Never knew anyone that hated it. Maybe it didn't photograph well but it looked just fine in person. Had a Ducati shop down the road and loved going to look at things I couldn't afford. It was just the head lights that weren't great then and now. A little too small and characterless, just two small round holes with too much faring around them. It didn't have a face like so many great bikes and cars do, it just had a blank stare. Made it seem like it had no personality when in fact it had lots. You just needed to own one to find out which as we all know with Ducati not many get that chance to appreciate all it has to offer other than a article in a magazine
Yeah, my dad hated it so much he bought one… lol we love the way the 999 looks.
Still their most successful racer. My wife who hates bikes was with me when I was choosing between 748 and 749 and immediately preferred the 749. I think the original fairing was better aerodynamically but I love my 999s, what an engine! But I have just won a KH400 triple in a raffle, first 2 stroke . 999, the David Bowie of motorcycles - ahead of it's time although still current to me.
I have personally owned 34 motorcycles now, and 9 of them have been Ducati's... My favorite was a 2007 999s Parts Unlimited edition... 1 of I think 150 that were made, that were hand signed by Bostrom and Hodges... I loved that it was different and unique and didn't look like anything before or since.
I think of the 999 as being a huge success. It won so many WSBK races.
And it's my favorite-designed Ducati, after seeing the flat laid-out drawing from Pierre Treblanche's interview on a magazine.