By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Ducati 999R (MY2005) vs 749 R (MY2004)
Ducati 999R vs 749 R: one garage spot. Here's what should decide it.
Deep in a fast bend, the Ducati 999R's already pulling smooth and strong toward the exit. The Ducati 749 R stays pinned to a tight line.
So which one do you buy?
The 749 R has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Slight edge: 749 R
For a day at the track, the 749 R makes slightly more sense. Most of that is a sportier chassis and more suspension adjustment.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: 749 R
The 749 R nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Credit lighter steering and more feel through the bars. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
What makes each one tick
999R
Up top, the 999R's L-twin builds into a hard rush, but there's torque on tap well before that. Corner entry brings the race chassis alive, and the bars don't stop reporting what the front tire's doing. In town, you'll find the tall first gear and the twin's low-speed stutter wear thin.
749 R
The 749 R's race-bred chassis carves corners with a razor's edge, and its Öhlins suspension doesn't get knocked off course by a mid-turn bump. The fork keeps talking throughout.
Nils rode the 749 R in Andalusia in 2004 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 999R makes more peak power: 150 hp (110 kW) vs 121 hp (89 kW).
- The 999R makes more peak torque: 86 lb-ft (117 Nm) vs 60 lb-ft (81 Nm).
- The 999R has the larger engine: 999 cc vs 749 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not built for this
Hours in the saddle won't flatter either of these. They're happier on shorter runs.
There's no real gap on commuting and running costs. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
999R
What owners say
Strengths
- Explosive yet linear V-twin
- Exotic build and exclusivity
Trade-offs
- Compromised comfort and ergonomics
749 R
What owners say
Strengths
- Race-bred chassis and handling precision
Known problems to check before you buy
999R
- Fuel pump relay failure The fuel pump relay, located in the same vulnerable area as the wiring harness, fails with regularity due to heat and corrosion, leading to a no-start condition.
- Wiring harness corrosion and connector issues Heat from the rear cylinder and water ingress corrodes the wiring harness, particularly near the battery box. This can cause intermittent electrical faults, starting problems, and relay failures.
749 R
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Seat height
- 30.7 in (780 mm)
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Wheelbase
- 55.9 in (1420 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| 999R | 749 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 999 cc | 749 cc |
| Engine | L-twin | 90° V-twin |
| Power | 150 hp (110 kW) | 121 hp (89 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,750 rpm | 10,500 rpm |
| Torque | 86 lb-ft (117 Nm) | 60 lb-ft (81 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,000 rpm | 8,250 rpm |
| 999R | 749 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.1 US gal (15.5 L) | 4.8 US gal (18.3 L) |
| 999R | 749 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 190/50-17 | 180/55-17 |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
