749 (2002 - 2006) review
As a Sunday morning and occasional trackday plaything we would all have one in our garage
Although most Ducatisti wouldn't consider owning the baby 999, that's their loss, 'because this bike is sorted. The Ducati 749 is ace.
Alright, it lacks a few bhp on its bigger brother but it also weighs less, costs a lot less and looks identical. On track the 749 is brilliant, superb mid-corner and a real lean machine. Compared to the Japanese sports 600s, it turns in a bit slower but it makes up for it in mid-corner poise.
As a day-to-day bike the 749 isn’t hugely practical though. It has a crap turning circle thanks to virtually no steering lock, the mirrors show only elbows and the seat is bloody hard. But get it on a twisty road and who cares about little things like these?
Although most Ducatisti wouldn't consider owning the baby 999, that's their loss, 'because this bike is sorted. The Ducati 749 is ace.
Alright, it lacks a few bhp on its bigger brother but it also weighs less, costs a lot less and looks identical. On track the 749 is brilliant, superb mid-corner and a real lean machine. Compared to the Japanese sports 600s, it turns in a bit slower but it makes up for it in mid-corner poise.
As a day-to-day bike the 749 isn’t hugely practical though. It has a crap turning circle thanks to virtually no steering lock, the mirrors show only elbows and the seat is bloody hard. But get it on a twisty road and who cares about little things like these?
| Seats | 0 |
| Suspension Front | Showa 43 mm upside-down fully adjustable fork |
| Suspension Rear | Progressive linkage |
| Adjustability Rear | Fully adjustable Sachs monoshock |
| Wheels Front | 3.50x17 |
| Wheels Rear | 5.50x17 |
| Wheels Made Of | New Y-shaped 5 spoke design light alloy |
| Tyres Front | 120/70 ZR 17 |
| Tyres Rear | 180/55 ZR 17 |
| Brakes Front | 2 x 320 mm semi-floating discs, 4-piston 4-pad callipers |
| Brakes Rear | 240 mm disc, 2-piston caliper |
| Chassis | Tubular ALS450 steel trellis |
| Cubic Capacity (cc) | 748 |
| Valves | 8 |
| Max Power (bhp) | 103 |
| Max Power Peak (rpm) | 10000 |
| Torque (ft/lb) | 57 |
| Torque Peak (rpm) | 8500 |
| Bore (mm) | 90 |
| Stroke (mm) | 58.8 |
| Valve Gear | DOHC |
| Compression Ratio | 1107 |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 |
| Cooling | Liquid cooled |
| Fuel Delivery | Electronic |
| Stroke Type | Four Stroke |
| Drive | Chain |
