Ducati Monster Forum

It is a 1989 851 w, just shy of 35,000 miles in immaculate condition.

Was it a fairly trouble free model or was it from back in the day when Ducatis really needed lots of tender loving care ?

What should I have to pay for this bike ?

Is there anything about this bike that makes it " Special ? "

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0477.jpg)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0478.jpg)

Dolph      :)

http://www.cycletrader.com/find/listing/1991-Ducati-851-Superbike-96984737 (http://www.cycletrader.com/find/listing/1991-Ducati-851-Superbike-96984737)

It was ducati's first *true* superbike and their first foray into 4valves.

It's considered the granddaddy of everything on the road that bleeds red and does 160+.

4k service intervals and only starts when it wants. Sometimes, it will leave you stranded for no reason at all. You can't even think about tipping it over bc every single part on that bike is made out of pure unobtanium. A measly lowside will cost you a few months and several thousand dollars to find the parts.

Some can fetch up to 30k depending on condition and how rare they are. An 888SPS will not be less than 20k, no matter what condition it's in. Every now and then a set of special spaghetti headers will pop up and fetch no less than 3k.

This bike is my dream bike. I would do anything for it. I'm insane.  

Jesus,
 If what you say is true , it sounds like a........ woman !

Dolph     [evil]

Such ecstasy and such heartache.

[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

This bike is the closest thing to a mechanical woman that has ever been made. Honestly, if I had the funds I would own one already. If only for collection purposes. I understand that all bikes deserve to be ridden, but this is one of the few that I would put up in a pedestal in my living room and call it a day. A bunch were unloaded during the recession, at bargain prices. Someone with patience can make a lot of money if he were to hold on to one of these babies for a while.

So I should buy one just for investment purposes you're saying.

Dolph

You should buy one to ride it. Unless the bike is destroyed, its value is only gonna go up from here. I guess you could buy it for purely investment purposes, but then I'd advise you to look for some of the rarer models.

If you buy it....


.....don't go racing up the road on it.

If it's an 89 model then they are later forks, front guard and possibly brakes than what was stock to an '89 model. It could be a genuine upgrade (so the vendor should have the original Marzocchi front end, guard and black Brembos), if not then maybe it's had a front end smash.
The '89 851 was a monoposto and had pankl rods standard. Probably one of the most sought after of the 851s that wasn't an SP version.

EDIT

It's not an 89 model unless its had a complete makeover. It looks like the last 851 that had the 888 bodywork, forks, brakes, tank, guard, rear sets/footpegs, (better heads!), before they enlarged the motor. It's got a monoposto tail piece like the SPs. It could be a monoposto 1991/2 model. Hmmm. Last of the 851s or a 1989 with a makeover?

EDIT #2

The tank could be an original 851 as could the front fairing panels but it's not clear to me from the angle of the photo. The sea of beautiful red is blending in and I can't make out whether it has the rounder early tank and panels or the more angular later ones.The rear bodywork is definitely from the last of the 851s and the 888s, as are the forks, brakes, rear sets and front guard. If it's an 89 model it may have had a smash and the guy couldn't get original parts. Mind you the later parts are functionally better.

I'm gonna check my Desmoquattro Superbike book by Ian Falloon.

Yep, later 851/888 tank. Cant tell with the front fairing panels and not sure if they were different enough if at all besides paint which changed. The pre '92 models had a black section at the bottom rear of the body panel.

Brad Black has owned both an 851 and 888. You might want to check with him.

Where is Brad Black ?

Dolph       :)

The bike is suppose to have 100 hp .

Does that sound right ?

Dolph      :)

93 claimed.

Thanks bro.

Dolph      :)

Brad has the site bikeboy.com. He is in Melbourne Oz. You could email him.

Cheers.

Your should PM ScottRNelson on this board......


I'm pretty sure he has a '93 851 for sale

Thanks ,

Dolph       :)

Awesome bike.  Totally dog market for them right now, I saw one with 4500 miles that was in Guggenheim condition (a '92) go for less than $6 grand... Another one to check out is the 888 SPO

Cheers,
Adam

Thanks for your input Adam.

Dolph       :)

Dolph -

If you have the means and are looking for a slightly more exclusive example of that style, the SP series (851 SP3, 851 SP4, 851 SP4s, 888 SPO, etc.) always seem to have a market.  Kind of like an RC30/RC45 8)

Can't really go wrong, but given the overall market for bikes I wouldn't be parting with cash for anything short of a screaming deal, an exclusive SP model, or absolute perfection.  Just my 2c  [thumbsup]

This is a fantastic forum for learning all about these awesome bikes: http://www.ducati851and888.com/ (http://www.ducati851and888.com/)

Cheers,
Adam

The bike piqued my interest but it's probably like an old Ferrari or Maserati in that you would have a reliability issue and parts would be hard to come by.

Dolph      :)

No worse than any other bike IMO - the only X factor with the early SBK's is bodywork... So I'd recommend not crashing  ;D  Rearsets, piston kits, clutch packs, etc etc etc. is all a non-issue IMO (from experience with friends with 851's / 888s)

Cheers
Adam

Exactly. Unless of course you have the bright idea to race an 888 SP0 in opem twins and make a very rare and expensive paperweight out of it ;)

... I like the way you think  [evil] [evil] [evil]

i like how the gauges are well thought out right in front of the rider also that the fuses are right there and not underneath the faring for easy access.. now why can't ducati do that with current bikes, you know for actual convenience?

Maybe that just speaks to the inevitable electical issues the early SBK's had?  [laugh] [laugh] jk, my Falco has the same setup  [thumbsup]

Cheers,
Adam

Because of how the racing panorama has changed. Back when the 851 was designed most riders did all the work on their bikes with one or two master mechanics. You were expected to know how to tear into your engine and work on your machine. Now, you can't be competitive unles you have a tractor trailer full of tools and 50 mechanics that consult a computer to tighten a bolt. Now you have a specialized suspension team, a specialized engine tuning team, a specialized aero team, et al. The rider is like the stig, all he has to know how to do is turn the throttle and tell the 50 mechanics what he feels

Inaccurate.  The Stig has no concept of "feelings" or "emotion."  ;)

Cheers,
Adam

and that is a good thing?  lol

just like on the early monsters the fuses could be accessed without lifting the tank, great for if you had a problem you could easily just check the fuses without moving anything. oh well.. gone are the days of "convenience".  [clap]

Haha, no not really, it's just the reason why. They've sacrificed convenience for aesthetics.

ummm...aren't the fuses for the Terbortion 749/999 easily accessable on the right side next to the headlight?

If I were to buy the bike (that is if I can even fit on it ) I'd ride it easy since it's suppose to have about 100 hp so no need to go strafing.

I 'll do that w, the " R " and the " RR ."

Dolph      :)

Dolph, I think that they are beautiful, classic Superbikes. [thumbsup]

I think they are beautiful ...just don't know how much riding I would do on it since I already have 3 late model bikes that I struggle to put miles on.

If I could get it into my sound room I'd just admire it. May be sit on it while I blast " Born to be Wild."

Dolph      :)

More photos of the 851.

It has Showa Forks.

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0496.jpg)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0497.jpg)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0498.jpg)

Dolph    :)