I'm intrigued by the 748, mainly because I've seen a nice example on sale but I've never ever considered moving away from my 95 900ss, which I still love. I'm just wondering if anyone has made the move from an older carby model to a 748 or other similar duc, and what were your reasons for changing, was it worth it, etc? Is the riding position noticeably more aggressive? Just interested in your opinions. Thanks.
I've had a couple of short runs on a mates 916, too much for my knees and hips, fits him like a glove though.
You get used to the aggressive riding position if you ride it a lot. 748 only makes sense when out on the open road, IMHO, but it is a huge amount of fun as a sportsbike for the road. Nice balance of power, revs and torque.
I had a 900ss for five years, sold it and bought a 1999 Biposto in 2008. I found the 748 riding position bearable for twenty miles, and hopeless in traffic. 900 much more comfortable but not as quick. As I live next to the Yorkshire moors, the 748 is lovely for short blasts. If you're happy with the 900, you might prefer to keep it, as their prices seem to be on the up?
I love my 748s My tt route through the dales is upto hawes from Leeds and round back past harrogate 120 miles and I manage it with only a sore neck ! It is best described a as buzzy IMHO Very stable in bends hard ride though on bumps not especially fast but buttery smooth power and revs very high for a twin i have a 1198s but still kept my 748s I love it so much!
I have both... The SS does have a more sports-tourer riding position. i love both, and find the 748 fits snugly but nice. very different power deliveries, with the 900 easier to ride on the torque. the 748 likes revs.. Both are fine bikes
The thing with the 748 is the more you ride it the more you become acclimatised to it. It was agony initially but then you start to have fun, do more miles, the grin gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Love to be thrashed, but happy enough in the mid-range just pootling around, but town work - forget it. The only thing I will say about mine is, I can't ever imagine selling or trading it. Not even for a really tidy 888/916 They become a part of you
Never ridden a 900 so can't compare but a nicely set up 748 is a brilliant bike and they can be used over decent distances once you aclimatise to them. I took mine over to the west coast of Ireland last September with a Baglux on the tank and a Ventura setup with two 51ltr bags on the back. It was no problem at all and rode like a dream clocking up 1300 miles over the week, the riders on the other two bikes with me (GS1150) both commented on how stable it was when loaded up even at high speed
I would highly recommend the 748, had a 750ss and 900 superlight and its not that bad, i suppose it depends on the build of the rider a lot, ive actually found mine better at slow speeds than my old aprilia rsvr that i didnt get on with round town lol
