Am I selling out? or crazy? ........

[needtorque]

So I was a member of the original DML ages ago.  I joined in 2002 when that site was still pretty small.  I owned a 2001 m750 which due to my own misguided ambitions is no longer operable.  Well, thta being said I have not had a running motorcycle in nearly 2 years and my wife has said that I can use the tax return to get another.  I am in school so getting brand new with a payment is out of the question right now so I am limited to whatever the tax return will afford.  I know that I prefer the 4v monsters as I have ridden a friends' s4r and the looks/power is much more appealing to me than the 750.  However, i have been searching like crazy and have come to realize that I can get a much better 996 SBK with less miles and in better condition.  I hav e always loved the looks of the older SBKs but thought I would wait until after I fiish with school and get a 1098 as that is probably the best bang for you buck Sk ducati has made and I love those as well.  Now I know this is a monster forum and I will own another monster no matter what.(I loved my other monster) but I am really leaning towards the 996 route right now because from what I can tell I can get a much better condition/milage 996 for my money than an s4r. 

Am I crazy for thinking this?  Should I just be very patient and get an s4r in my price range? 

P.S.
I still cant figure out why the 999 carries more value than the 998/996/916 series because I think the 999 series looks like shat compared to the older line.

[swampduc]

Well, the looks of the 999's are a matter of opinion, just as with the new Monsters. I think they run expensive because the starting prices were somewhat high.
As far as SBK vs Monster, what kind of riding are you looking at doing?

[needtorque]

Well, the looks of the 999's are a matter of opinion, just as with the new Monsters. I think they run expensive because the starting prices were somewhat high.
As far as SBK vs Monster, what kind of riding are you looking at doing?

Dont get me wrong I dont hate the looks of the 999 but comparing it to the 996 series its not even close.  As far as the riding goes I live in upstate South Carolina so there are lots of good roads(mountains) to hit.  I know the SBK is a LOT more aggressive than the monster but I had my m750 set up with very low clip-ons and raised rear sets so I am used to laying down a bit to ride.  I really just want to ride again so bad but cannot see myself on anything but a duc.  I do not want to settle for just anything and I was never really satisfied with the power out-put of the 750. ( I'm a bit of a fatass over 250lbs with gear).  For the power and looks I prefer a 4v monster or a SBK but am torn as to which to go with.

[zooom]

I still cant figure out why the 999 carries more value than the 998/996/916 series because I think the 999 series looks like shat compared to the older line.

Desmoquattro valve train has more inherent problems with flaking rockers than the Testretta valve train and is therefore more reliable and therefore more valuable...you want Testretta and the 916 looks, then look for a 998!

[TAftonomos]

Get yourself a S4Rt/S then.

I had a 999, a pretty darn tricked out one too.

I knew when I brought the S4Rt home, the 999's days were numbered.  It does everything on the street that the triple 9 did, but is more comfortable.  Changing a few items such as the triples and adjusting the suspension can give you SBK geometry as well.

The biggest difference would be track/racing, where the monster chassis is compromised compared to the SBK.

And you're right not to compare a 999 to an older bike.  It's 100% better in every category except looks, and thats just opinion (I actually like the 999 better in the looks department).

I wouldn't touch another quatro with a 10 foot pole.  Just the thought of dumping in hundreds if not thousands of dollars into ROCKERS because of some bone headed move on ducati's part.....no thanks.

Testa motors or T/evo only for me (4V wise)

[fastwin]

I have a 999 and a 916SPS and 996S... oh yeah, a S2R1000 and a Sports1000. The Terblanche 999 and the Tamburini 916, 996 and 998s are just different bikes. Sorry you don't like the looks of the 999. I also like the looks of the Tamburini bikes more. To each their own. But the 999 is a better, more advanced bike in my opinion and I have learned to love the looks of the 999 over time, just not as much. I have no interest in the 848/1098 line also for aesthetic reasons and the fact I have too many damn bikes. I am also sure those bikes are "better" than the 999. I guess the point of this is don't poo poo the 999s until you ride one, if that's possible. The other point is you can't go wrong with any Tamburini... Monster board or not, who would disagree? Just be sure of it's service history and the dreaded rocker arm flaking issue. Like the Monsters they are classics. An easy expression to toss around but absolutely true none the less. [moto]

[needtorque]

Well as I have already clarified.  I am not against the 999 I was only stating that in my opinion if I am comparing the overall looks of the two bike I think the 996 series looks better but that is my opinion.  I still like the 999 and I am also fully aware that the 999 is a better performer.  that being said I am also fully aware of my level of riding ability and not being anywhere near a professional I will never be able to push either of the SBK lines to maximum potential. 

Basically the one I choose will not be the limiting factor when it comes to my riding it "fast".  My own common sense and knowledge of my ability will be the limiting factors so I am really not looking at this like I need the absolute most I just want enough power so that I dont pin the throttle and feel very unexcited.  Besides all that my wife will do some limited riding with me and that really put a strain on the 750 with my fatass on the thing then adding her (small tho she is).

[ducpainter]

I like my 996 on the track. I've only had it for a while so I haven't had the rocker 'experience'.

I don't think I'd like it as much on the street.

[Monsterlover]

To the op- what's your price range?

[needtorque]

To the op- what's your price range?

Well as stated it will be based on the tax return.  This year will be a little odd as wife was the only one working since im back in school and she changed jobs and now gets bonuses that get taxed very harshly.  Her boss said that the high bonus taxes help a lot when she does her taxes but we will see.  From previous years if I had to make an educated guess I would say I have a range of $5500-7500 depending mostly on what happens with those bonuses.

I dont like to count the chickens so to speak but somewhere in that range should be close.  Unfortunately, that range can exclude/include many options. 

[LA]

I know you can find a good deal of a 996 monster - an 04 or 05 that's spent its' life in a garage and barley broken in.  Up to 8000 rpm the 996 hangs nicely with the 999 engines and if you're  in the Carolina Mts. you're out of road by the time the tach has swept much past 8000 anyway.

Heck, I bought an 04 s4r with 1000 mi on it from Touring Sport in 04 for $10,500.  I'm sure you can find one cheap by now.

LA

[needtorque]

I know you can find a good deal of a 996 monster - an 04 or 05 that's spent its' life in a garage and barley broken in.  Up to 8000 rpm the 996 hangs nicely with the 999 engines and if you're  in the Carolina Mts. you're out of road by the time the tach has swept much past 8000 anyway.

Heck, I bought an 04 s4r with 1000 mi on it from Touring Sport in 04 for $10,500.  I'm sure you can find one cheap by now.

LA

I agree and there are a few I have seen in the past it just depends which end of the range the tax return falls into lol.  You are in the upstate SC area?  Touring sport has a 999 on ebay right now claimed 166 rwhp they are trying to sell for $21,000+

I love the roads down here.  Was from MI originally and the roads there are straight, flat, and poorly maintained, so being here for a few years has been incredible.  Just need a moto now to feel complete.

[TAftonomos]

I've seen 05-06 999s bikes sell for sub 10K for the last few months.

[the_Journeyman]

The Ducati dealer here in Asheville has a spotless & showroom perfect 2001 M900 for $5300

http://www.myersmotorcycles.com/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=show_ad&adid=162&catid=1&Itemid=72

JM

[LA]

NeedTorque,

Yep, that 166 RWHP at Touring Sport is 999R and certainly should have an honest 166 RWHP - wish I could afford it.  That bike belonged to Mark of "The Duc Shop" in Atlanta.  It is a low miles 999R 104 mm bore that he put a 66 mm stroke crank in to yield a 1120cc stroker with 13.5/1 pistons and a blue print assembly. 

Jorunymans right about Myers in Asheville, NC too.  I bought my last bike there. Good, trustworthy folks. Less than an hour from Greenville too.

We'll be throwing a spring "ride in camp out" in Walhalla this June.  Stay in touch and come over.

I'm in Clemson  - work at the University.

If you want a little laugh, google "Motorcycle Hippies". You'll get a hit for Clemson Cafe.  Look at the pics in gallery and read the paragraph on the home page.

LA