Can anyone advise off what to look out for on a 748. Will trading my 999s in on Tuesday for a new multi s touring but still like the older dry clutch ducatis s wouldn't mind a 748 or 916 for short blasts and to look at. I've seen a red one on a 98 plate on ebay with 24000 miles on the clock with decent history. Belts and service and so forth done end of 2012 it has termis and appears standard in good condition and reckon I could get it for 2k. With the miles at 24k is there anything major that need doing?
Flaking rockers can be an expensive problem, enquire when they were last checked, wiring from gen to reg/rec can be a week point but easily corrected otherwise they are quite robust. Steve Ps mine has done 34000 miles without problem.
thanks mate I've asked about the rockers just waiting for a reply and the wiring and reg has been replaced as part of last service.
24K is no issue assuming its been run with good oil given a smattering of tender love (Red ones are generally faster too).
A decent service record would persuade me - it's probably at the cheapest price it'll ever be for a decent 748. I've got a 1999 748 with nearly 14k miles but it's been looked after, and I wouldn't consider less than £3k (bloody thing just cost me £410 for belts/service/mot tho')
It has had the below done to it and valves and rockers were checked when belts done. New battery 10/06/13 New tyres BRIDGE STONE BATTLAX BT023 front and rear 10/06/13 only covered 100 miles Oil and filter change 6/11/12 HT leads and spark plugs 6/11/12 Ignition relay (old one still worked ok but changed to prevent failure) Timing belts changed and valve clearences checked ok 6/11/12 Looksmgenerally very clean for its age and very tempted. The owner said he woud accept 2.2k but when asked if the price had any movement he has said that he is very flexible so reckon 2k possibly below.
Just a thought - as I understood it the 748/916 series is even more hard on your wrists and back than the 749/999...? You might want to at least sit on one before you buy, given that you were uncomfortable on the 999? Sounds like a tidy example though... Cheers, Dom
I second this ^^^^. I commute on mine during the summer (140 miles a day, fo three days a week!) and tweaking the levers position and dual compound grips made a world of difference to me. I have heard that a Helibar conversion is a good buy too (flattens them and lifts them too)
cheers mate, I'm under no illusions it will be bad in my wrists. Love my 999s but its an expensive bike to be sat around doing 500 miles a year max. I could justify spending 2k for something to be used for similar miles just in summer for short runs out. Plus it's cheap enough for me not to be to precious about it and use it in the rain and over winter ect wheras the 999 would only come out on sunny days with no chance of rain due it ony having done 4000 miles. and like srad says could always get some risers on it or similar
I only do 1250-1500 miles on mine each year but i enjoy everyone of those miles as i only use it when i am in the mood.
Likewise mate that's what I was like with my 999s but for those miles I cat justify it sat there doing nothing losing value. Wheras can't see the 748 losing any more
