Ducati 916 and 748 Owners, Opinions appreciated.........

[GSTEEL32]

Firstly, why did you choose one over the other ?. What sort of state is bike in after all these years ?, do you use it for summer or all year round...

I think the time has come to sell the 2002 900ss. It's a truly excellent bike, sounds great and handles superbly. But, in the back of my mind, I've always fancied stepping up 30 - 50 bhp.

My current bike does 50 miles round trip a day from south london to Canary Wharf so the bikes got to be able to commute one day in all weathers, and scratch around over the weekend.

I do my own servicing, so the cost isn't an issue. But these bikes are now getting on a bit, so how are you finding them ?should I consider a 998 etc ? I'm looking to spend about 4k.

This same question was asked on bcf 4 years ago, but a lot can happen to a model once it passes a certain age... thanks in advance.....

[rac3r]

I looked into them a while back and from what I've read is the 748 is very revvy and slightly underpowered by today's standards. 916's are demanding quite high prices now and 998's are just crazy priced.

Obviously the usual applies: The newer the better and service history is a must. Check if the rockers have been replaced/how many times.

I've seen loads on the Ducati forum with over 40/50k miles and some used regularly for commuting.

Having said that I would go for a 749/999 as they are more solid and cheaper to buy. Plus they are also one of my favourites

You are probably on here already but if not https://ducatiforum.co.uk/
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[chris-red]

I've ridden a 916 SPS great bike but fuck commuting on it.
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[Noxious89123]

As said, 998's are silly money. 996's are a little more reasonable though. Know a fella with a 996SPS. Gorgeous bike, but those are very silly money.

Got to say though, whilst I understand that Ducatis are something a little bit "special", they're not (in my eyes) so special as to warrant the retardo price tags they carry. Especially as they seem to have a reputation for being uncomfortable, unforgiving and unreliable.
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[colicabcadam]

current 1098s owner and ex 748 owner.....

50 mile round trip will cost you a FORTUNE in maintenance

rockers (16 of them, £80 each when the plating wears off), shims, belts, tensioners and then the usual maitrnance on top of that, cluches don't last long in the cirty, horrible riding posistion for slow riding

if you are going to buy one, buy a scooer to commute on and keep it for weekends

it'll only piss you off cleaning it every week and getting all the corroding salt off in winter !!
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[colicabcadam]

also don't believe all this unreliable crap, i did 25k on mine with only the rectifier needing to be changed !

it's the engine internals that cost an arm and a leg to run !

my first service cost over £1,150 and that did not include anything like tyres / brake pads / sprockets - just fluids and engine internals (rockers and shims) and belts !
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[.Chris.]

I quite fancy an ST2/3/4. Can't say I really know anything about them but they seem cheap (ST2 particularly, presumably as it has an older motor) and would probably be more comfy for a commute than a full-on sports machine.
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Chris
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[rac3r]

[garth]

Er, yeah, 748 = rockers made of tin foil.

Go for a testastretta later 749.

[Jefr0]

[neatbik]

As people have hinted at, you may be better off with an ST4s. According to Wikipedia -

[Rockhopper]

[rac3r]

[Rockhopper]

Even a Ducati main dealer was convinced the ST2 in their showroom was aircooled untill I asked him what the plastic coolant header tank was for

Check out the Monster forums, the S4 does have the rocker problem, infact I've even heard of a couple of two valve motors suffering as well!

The issue is that rocker inspection isn't covered under the standard Ducati service schedule so main dealers or other garages with no Ducati experience will never look at them untill they are so worn that they damage the cam shaft and the correct clearance can't be achieved come valve adjustment time. Bike that don't do many miles or never visit an indi don't get them looked at.

Ducati have changed the part number of the closing rocker 17 times which means they have changed the design 17 times and still not totally cured the problem! Clean oil and spot on valve clearances are the answer from my experience. The 'stretta engines have an additional oil feed pipe directly into the head which seems to have done the job.

[rac3r]

I remember asking the exact question about the rocker problem on the Monster forum and the general answer was they don't really suffer from it but obviously I'm sure some people have suffered from the issue. I guess it's just not as widespread as the issues on the superbike
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Philly46]

Had a 916 and now own an RSVR. Preference lies with the Aprilia over everything on the Ducati.
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[crm250]

[rac3r]

Just get one of these and be done with it!

https://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/avanirose/ducati_999_lhf_1024.jpg
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[johnsmith222]

[panrider_uk]

[Valentino Mossy]

My 916 is over 40k and i aint killed it yet. Just done 1500 miles to germany and back and it didnt miss a beat.
If your handy with a set of spanners,a bag of tools and can do a bit of wiring i wouldnt even bother with main dealer for servicing tbh...esp with the older bikes.
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