what 748 is the better deal

[lwszabo]

Ok i narrowed it down to 2 748 bikes.

Bike #1 *** $5100***is a 1997 748 bi-postal that has been converted to mono. The bike has under 7000 miles, had major service including belts, updated collets, updated rockers, hub service,new regulator,full exhaust and chip (FBF)new front brake pads, new stainless brake lines, new clutch / brake fluid, aftermarket slave cylinder, and seperate race body work, also 5 spoke marchesni (sp?) wheels.  (not including the side fairings) (I would sell this, dont need it laying around!) I have seen the bike and met the owner...def a motorcycle guy but like the smaller 250 bikes and older honda cb1's. pretty clean with a mark here and there, nothing sticks out unless you look hard.

Bike #2 ***$3800*** 2001 748s mono 100% stock. has around 12,000 with no service history, needs the 12K and the owner got it last year and really dont know much about it other than it rides goo, looks good, and runs good.  he is also including  ahelmet and Ducati leather jacket in the deal. He is selling because of  a baby on the way. I know before long I would want a exhaust and chip.

[Scottish]

If I had the cash I'd go with the first one. The price difference sounds bigger than it is cause you're jumping from the 3K to the 5k range but it's actually just $1,300. You could offer him and maybe get it lower anyway.

Look at it this way though. If you're gonna take bike #2, chip it and put an exhaust on it anyway that extra 1,300 is gonna be ate up anyway, evening the price difference out. So what's the difference between the two? One is higher mileage with incomplete history, owned by someone unfamilar with a Ducs needs. The other is low miles and sounds lovingly maintained with a couple good bits on it already. Buy the nicer bike now, with lower miles and don't look back.

I vote bike 1 for $1,300 more.

[lwszabo]

Also $5100 is the bottom line, I tries to get it for $4800..he started at $5300.

[jerryz]

Definitely go for the 1st one as its had all the important jobs done ,  748s eat the rockers .

the 2nd bike is an unknown service history so it will likely cost you a couple of thousand bucks to get well sorted .

[Howie]

If you go for bike #2 make sure it does not have flaking rockers.

[teddy037.2]

1st bike!

[fastwin]

Me too, first bike, without a doubt. All the above advice is good advice!

[lwszabo]

OK sounds like #1 is the better deal...just what I thought. I am going to give it 1 week and try as hard as I can to find a 800, 900, 1000 dss monster in dark...or maybe red, if not I guess its superbike bound.  I love monsters but always wanted to experiance a superbike.

[Desmo Demon]

If the rockers in #1 are Megacycle (or other aftermarket) and NOT OEM Ducati rockers, and especially if all 16 have been changed, Bike #1 wins, hands down. If he cannot prove that they were replaced, that they are not Megacycle rockers, and that at least all 8 openers were changed out, go with #2 but expect to have as much money into it (or potentially more) once you are all done with it. As stated previously, 748 bikes tend to eat rockers and a full set of Megacycle rockers will cost you around $1600 with exchanges, and that doesn't include labor. In 18k, I've changed out four rockers at 6k and then replaced all my openers with Megacycle rockers at 18k. Fortunately, all my closers look good, so far.

I generally take service histories with a grain of salt. Personally, since I can do the work myself, I'd buy bike #2, expect to put $800+ in rockers (openers - the most prone to flaking) and replace the belts, and then work from there....and I'd tear it apart before I put more than 1000 miles on it (and during that 1000 miles, I'd constantly expect to have a belt break).

Edit - Bike has seen the rack if it comes iwth track bodywork. I know from personal experience that the 748 SCREAMS when on the track. I bounced mine of the rev limiter a few times during track days, and.....those high rpm's really seem to tear up the rockers, from what most people report. Some of the extras may come in handy and be nice with Bike #1, but the bike may actually suffer from the probablity that it has been tracked.

If you aren't too concerned with the condition of the rockers, Bike #1 may beat out Bike #2 just in the 5-spokes and slip-ons as a cost comparison if it does not have Megacycle rockers.....but, you can get into the potential of having $7000+ in a 748 that is only worth $5000 in resale. Do you plan on keeping it for a good while? Is it a bike you've lusted for, for years? If not, maybe you should watch out for a good deal on a 998....those are the most desireable of the series, and I kinda regret having not bought a 998 when I got my 748. Now, I think the extra $3000+ would have been well worth it (I bought my 2002 748 new).

[lwszabo]

If the rockers in #1 are Megacycle (or other aftermarket) and NOT OEM Ducati rockers, and especially if all 16 have been changed, Bike #1 wins, hands down. If he cannot prove that they were replaced, that they are not Megacycle rockers, and that at least all 8 openers were changed out, go with #2 but expect to have as much money into it (or potentially more) once you are all done with it. As stated previously, 748 bikes tend to eat rockers and a full set of Megacycle rockers will cost you around $1600 with exchanges, and that doesn't include labor. In 18k, I've changed out four rockers at 6k and then replaced all my openers with Megacycle rockers at 18k. Fortunately, all my closers look good, so far.

I generally take service histories with a grain of salt. Personally, since I can do the work myself, I'd buy bike #2, expect to put $800+ in rockers (openers - the most prone to flaking) and replace the belts, and then work from there....and I'd tear it apart before I put more than 1000 miles on it (and during that 1000 miles, I'd constantly expect to have a belt break).


WOW! you have really got me thinking...thank you for posting.  I lust over a 800, 900, 1000 Monster in dark with the full Termis system (ecu & airbox) I dont dream big, its just the bike i want again. I am going to forget about  asuperbike and get the bike I really want!
Edit - Bike has seen the rack if it comes iwth track bodywork. I know from personal experience that the 748 SCREAMS when on the track. I bounced mine of the rev limiter a few times during track days, and.....those high rpm's really seem to tear up the rockers, from what most people report. Some of the extras may come in handy and be nice with Bike #1, but the bike may actually suffer from the probablity that it has been tracked.

If you aren't too concerned with the condition of the rockers, Bike #1 may beat out Bike #2 just in the 5-spokes and slip-ons as a cost comparison if it does not have Megacycle rockers.....but, you can get into the potential of having $7000+ in a 748 that is only worth $5000 in resale. Do you plan on keeping it for a good while? Is it a bike you've lusted for, for years? If not, maybe you should watch out for a good deal on a 998....those are the most desireable of the series, and I kinda regret having not bought a 998 when I got my 748. Now, I think the extra $3000+ would have been well worth it (I bought my 2002 748 new).