1998 Ducati 748 MonoPosto - $2200 CL

[Shorty]

Near Little Rock, Ark.   https://fayar.craigslist.org/mcy/d/little-rock-1998-ducati-748-monoposto/7093658882.html




No idea if this is real. Might be a nice play racer.

[oldbike54]

 Not far off the book value , which of course now means nothing . The problem is , as lovely as those are , they are a younger man's motorbike . The last of that era of Ducatis .

 Dusty

[SmithSwede]

Well, it’s a good thing I hate under seat exhaust systems.   Otherwise that would be really tempting for this sensible young man.

[Tusayan]

With prices of 916s and close relatives currently at extreme lows, it may be that the ideal situation is to buy a really nice one when it comes along.  A few years ago I bought a 996 with 700 total miles for a fairly reasonable price and although I don’t ride it a lot it makes me happy to know I have it.  One like this is certainly a super thoroughbred ride for very little money, but it may take more than its worth to maintain over a couple of years.  Consumer choice 

PS A few years ago I was in line to board a ferry to Corsica and a similar bike was also there, ridden by an Italian guy of at least 65 who had been riding it since new.  The roads on Corsica are tight and technical and would be physically exhausting on a bike like this.  He seemed unperturbed, and I was impressed.

[LowRyter]

The valve adjustment/tune up could exceed the price of the bike.

A great deal for someone that has the time, knowledge and equipment.

[nc43bsa]

"This posting has been deleted by its author. "

<sigh>

[Perazzimx14]

The valve adjustment/tune up could exceed the price of the bike.

How would it cost $1900 and what special tools are required. Ah you mean the uncommon hand tools like a rachet misc. sockets, allen wrenches and a screwdriver.

Yep Everyone is keen on perpuating these mistruths like loud pipes saving lives, especially those who've nevermaintained one. Kind of like everytime you mention BMW you get the speech about how high cost of ownership from the guy on a UJM that's never been into a BMW shop.

[tazio]

My son's 2001 748. Bought a few months ago. $3500.



Wish I were a younger man.

[LowRyter]

How would it cost $1900 and what special tools are required. Ah you mean the uncommon hand tools like a rachet misc. sockets, allen wrenches and a screwdriver.

Yep Everyone is keen on perpuating these mistruths like loud pipes saving lives, especially those who've nevermaintained one. Kind of like everytime you mention BMW you get the speech about how high cost of ownership from the guy on a UJM that's never been into a BMW shop.

The guy that I know that works on them pulls the engine do the valve adjustment when working on that series of bike (916/996/748) and has mentioned a cost close to that price.   (I've also heard an experienced fellow on another Guzzi forum take a counterpoint that they are easy to work on.  I've only personally encountered a few folks in the former category.)

Also, it looks like the bike has an odd paint job on it, so there might be other issues regarding the condition. 

[Perazzimx14]

The guy that I know that works on them pulls the engine do the valve adjustment when working on that series of bike (916/996/748) and has mentioned a cost close to that price.   (I've also heard an experienced fellow on another Guzzi forum take a counterpoint that they are easy to work on.  I've only personally encountered a few folks in the former category.)

Also, it looks like the bike has an odd paint job on it, so there might be other issues regarding the condition.

Your local mechanic could take the engine out of the frame to check the oil because he's to lazy to bend over and look at the sightglass. Just because he's adding labor hours to the bill for his convenience doesn't reflect the true cost of maintenance. 

[Tusayan]

How would it cost $1900 and what special tools are required. Ah you mean the uncommon hand tools like a rachet misc. sockets, allen wrenches and a screwdriver.

Yep Everyone is keen on perpuating these mistruths like loud pipes saving lives, especially those who've nevermaintained one. Kind of like everytime you mention BMW you get the speech about how high cost of ownership from the guy on a UJM that's never been into a BMW shop.

If I were (for example) to find the typical 748 rocker situation, lots with damaged chrome, the cost for rework could be quite high especially if paying somebody else for labor.  748s are the worst of the Desmoquattros for rocker issues, due to higher RPM.    If the front brake discs are warped, which is common, it is expensive.  And so on. 

I have four desmo Ducatis including two Desmoquattos and maintain them myself. The 916-series is notably easy for maintenance in many ways, the designer was very, very good, but valve work is still fiddly and some parts on the bikes are expensive.  Access to the heads is however easy on these bikes, hugely easier than for example my ST4.

I also have a BMW and have been good friends with the owner of the local, very successful US BMW shop since the early 90s.  My BMW is stored by a very large factory owned dealership in Germany, and the head service writer there (a 30 year BMW employee) is a personal friend who works on my bike at home. I’ve ridden with BMW groups on long European trips many times over the last 20 years.  Having done that I don’t buy new BMWs. I’ll let you figure out why. Hint - it’s not lack of experience.

[cliffrod]

If I were (for example) to find the typical 748 rocker situation, lots with damaged chrome, the cost for rework could be quite high especially if paying somebody else for labor.  748s are the worst of the Desmoquattros for rocker issues, due to higher RPM.    If the front brake discs are warped, which is common, it is expensive.  And so on. 

I have four desmo Ducatis including two Desmoquattos and maintain them myself. The 916-series is notably easy for maintenance in many ways, the designer was very, very good, but valve work is still fiddly and some parts on the bikes are expensive.  Access to the heads is however easy on these bikes, hugely easier than for example my ST4.

I also have a BMW and have been good friends with the owner of the local, very successful US BMW shop since the early 90s.  My BMW is stored by a very large factory owned dealership in Germany, and the head service writer there (a 30 year BMW employee) is a personal friend who works on my bike at home. I’ve ridden with BMW groups on long European trips many times over the last 20 years.  Having done that,  I don’t buy new BMWs. I’ll let you figure out why. Hint - it’s not lack of experience.

Was the problem of headstock/frame intersection cracks resolved in these bikes?  When I had my 95 900SS, it seemed there were problems with is.  Many frames were replaced or in need of repair by the time I had mine around 5-10 yrs ago.

[Tusayan]

The 916-series have completely different frames than the bikes that had issues with cracks around the headstock, or the bikes that had rear engine mount bolt issues, and have no similar problems.

[Perazzimx14]

Was the problem of headstock/frame intersection cracks resolved in these bikes?  When I had my 95 900SS, it seemed there were problems with is.  Many frames were replaced or in need of repair by the time I had mine around 5-10 yrs ago.

The SS's did have some issue with the frames cracking at the headstock. It was thought from frame was flexing under hard repeated front braking fatiguing he metal until it failed. Gusseting the frame is easy if you have too and this was not present in the latter years 1996+. The 900's also did have some cylinder stud issues but is was not a rampant as the people would lead you to believe. The 900 is a sweet motor.

As Tusayan says the SS's were a whole different animal from the 748/916 

[Perazzimx14]

If I were (for example) to find the typical 748 rocker situation, lots with damaged chrome, the cost for rework could be quite high especially if paying somebody else for labor.  748s are the worst of the Desmoquattros for rocker issues, due to higher RPM.    If the front brake discs are warped, which is common, it is expensive.  And so on. 

I have four desmo Ducatis including two Desmoquattos and maintain them myself. The 916-series is notably easy for maintenance in many ways, the designer was very, very good, but valve work is still fiddly and some parts on the bikes are expensive.  Access to the heads is however easy on these bikes, hugely easier than for example my ST4.

I also have a BMW and have been good friends with the owner of the local, very successful US BMW shop since the early 90s.  My BMW is stored by a very large factory owned dealership in Germany, and the head service writer there (a 30 year BMW employee) is a personal friend who works on my bike at home. I’ve ridden with BMW groups on long European trips many times over the last 20 years.  Having done that I don’t buy new BMWs. I’ll let you figure out why. Hint - it’s not lack of experience.

I thought we were talking about 22 year old motorcycles?

[SmithSwede]

The 900 is a sweet motor.

Yes.  Yes it is.  Just delightful.   I am loving the heck out of your former 900.   

[LowRyter]

Your local mechanic could take the engine out of the frame to check the oil because he's to lazy to bend over and look at the sightglass. Just because he's adding labor hours to the bill for his convenience doesn't reflect the true cost of maintenance.

Hey.  If you're an expert, fine.  The guy was talking to me about his own 996.  The conversation was me saying those bikes don't seem to have big resale because they have a reputation for being expensive to maintain.  Then he told me how he maintains his own bike.  He mentioned these bikes are actually designed for regular engine changes because of race track maintenance. 

Before he started his own shop he was chief wrench at a Ducati shop.   Then we talked about doing my 939 SS which is (hopefully) considerably less time consuming but not cheap either.

As I mentioned in my original post, others besides you have disagreed with that.  But whether it's an advantage to remove the engine or not, I'll stick my original statement:  "those bikes don't seem to have big resale because they have a reputation for being expensive to maintain."

See above, and there's a collectible Senna Model purchased at reasonable cost even compared to Guzzis.

[Perazzimx14]

Hey.  If you're an expert, fine.  The guy was talking to me about his own 996.  The conversation was me saying those bikes don't seem to have big resale because they have a reputation for being expensive to maintain.  Then he told me how he maintains his own bike.  He mentioned these bikes are actually designed for regular engine changes because of race track maintenance. 

Before he started his own shop he was chief wrench at a Ducati shop.   Then we talked about doing my 939 SS which is (hopefully) considerably less time consuming but not cheap either.

As I mentioned in my original post, others besides you have disagreed with that.  But whether it's an advantage to remove the engine or not, I'll stick my original statement:  "those bikes don't seem to have big resale because they have a reputation for being expensive to maintain."

See above, and there's a collectible Senna Model purchased at reasonable cost even compared to Guzzis.

Not an expert just a normal guy with a few hand tools some mechanical aptitude and the willingness to try.



 

[LowRyter]

Not an expert just a normal guy with a few hand tools some mechanical aptitude and the willingness to try.

so what is the average value of those bikes?

[jpv7]

If I were (for example) to find the typical 748 rocker situation, lots with damaged chrome, the cost for rework could be quite high especially if paying somebody else for labor.  748s are the worst of the Desmoquattros for rocker issues, due to higher RPM.    If the front brake discs are warped, which is common, it is expensive.  And so on. 

I have four desmo Ducatis including two Desmoquattos and maintain them myself. The 916-series is notably easy for maintenance in many ways, the designer was very, very good, but valve work is still fiddly and some parts on the bikes are expensive.  Access to the heads is however easy on these bikes, hugely easier than for example my ST4.

I also have a BMW and have been good friends with the owner of the local, very successful US BMW shop since the early 90s.  My BMW is stored by a very large factory owned dealership in Germany, and the head service writer there (a 30 year BMW employee) is a personal friend who works on my bike at home. I’ve ridden with BMW groups on long European trips many times over the last 20 years.  Having done that I don’t buy new BMWs. I’ll let you figure out why. Hint - it’s not lack of experience.

+1.  I purchased a fairly beat up 1995, and owned it for about 15 years.  Ran the hell out of it on the track.  Over that period, i did all maintenance myself, and can tell you that the valve clearance was actually only adjusted once, right when I got it.  After that, i only ever checked them (fairly easy - beautiful design - try that on a jap bike).  I checked the valve clearance mainly to have a look at the rockers which was my main concern.  I had to replace 2 flaking rockers over that period (about $200 each).  Other than that, only needed to address some weak connectors. I wouldn't be scared of these.  They are simple compared to what's out there these days...

[Perazzimx14]

so what is the average value of those bikes?

Average value for for who? The guy looking to flip for a profit or the guy who always lusted after one?

[LowRyter]

Average value for for who? The guy looking to flip for a profit or the guy who always lusted after one?

Some of your recipes seem pretty good.