749, 749S and Dark question

[d3vi@nt]

Wasn't sure to put this in General or Tech, but I'd like to know how to easily tell these models apart for the 2005 year? For instance, if it's flat black, does that mean it has to be the Dark? Are the Dark and the 749 biposto only and the S and R monoposto only? Is it safe to assume that if it does not have an 'S' on the fairing that it's the standard 749 or Dark?

Reason for the questions is that I'm looking at what I believe is a 749 Dark, that the seller is advertising as a 749S. It's flat black with a silver/satin frame, no 'S' on the fairing, and appears to be biposto. I only have pics to go by at this point.

[NAKID]

The Dark is the only model that came with the flat paint job...

[He Man]

the gold nitride forks, the Showa shock and if its monopostal its an S for sure i think.

[d3vi@nt]

Thanks for the quick replies. I found Ducati's bike archive and gleaned a little info; the R only comes in red and monoposto only. The S came in bi or mono and only red and yellow. As Nakid (thanks for the beer thread, btw) pointed out, the Dark is the only model that came out in flat black.  Also, the Dark only comes biposto. The 'S' series has the TiN fork treatment.

[sofadriver]

i think i saw this ad and was curious, too.
ad says "S" but there's no S on the fairing.
looks like a decent buy. 

[Ratfink749]

American S models are Monoposto only. Ti coated front fork sliders.
all R models are as well.
S and R have adjustable steering head geometry.
Dark models were all Biposto and all Flat black, 04, 05 had sand cast swingarms and 06 had the boxed aluminum swingarm.
Regular 749's IIRC have non adjustable steering heads, no steering dampers, and came either Mono or Biposto's
Another way you may be able to differentiate, when you turn the key on, the dash display normally displays Ducati 749 with an S, or R, or.. Nothing.

[d3vi@nt]

i think i saw this ad and was curious, too.
ad says "S" but there's no S on the fairing.
looks like a decent buy.  

This is a local (to me) e-bay auction. I sent a few questions to the seller; he got it at auction, has only one black key (no red key and code card) and doesn't know the service history. He said it started and ran at auction, but he can't get it to start. It's a *potential* good buy, depending on how the dice roll. I'd be smart to walk away, but then I've never claimed to be smart and sometimes I just like to throw the dice if the price is right  

[froggert]

i've seen a couple of biposto s models.  very rare, but they are around. 

base model came with non-adjustable steering dampers.  dark, iirc did not have a steering damper.

[DanTheMan]

i've seen a couple of biposto s models.  very rare, but they are around. 

  dark, iirc did not have a steering damper.

or a mount for one, it was a bolt on option instead of a welded on protrusion from the frame.

[OT]

Friend's got the Dark ('04, I think) - it's got passenger pegs (that he took off)