This just popped up on BaT (bike is in Italy): https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1999-ducati-996-sps-2/ The bike has its issues, like get a load of the corrosion on the LH headlight mount, ouch. I don't even know how the accessory box got crushed, its plastic missing from the lid, the manuals warped, the windscreen has been removed from its plastic, the mirrors too, etc. Weird. This goes to show why, IMO, its always better to display them out of the crate so you can care for it properly as a display bike keeping it clean, circulating air and controlling humidity, etc. Thankfully the surface corrosion isn't worse and no animals made homes inside. On the flip side, I've seen zero mile bikes out of crates with insane sun damage, cooking grease from the kitchen, etc. and much worse corrosion than this one.
Thing is your have to leave it in there which seems bit pointless to me. If I bought such a bike it would be recommissioned and ridden.
Good thing is that a brand new period correct headlight mount is indeed provided with the sale it seems. What puzzles me more is why the Swede owner/collector of the 996SPS didn't list his bike on his own direct (and rather opted to sell it first to a reputable Italian reseller of Ducati used parts and for that reseller to list it in an US auction site). I'll agree with @cookster in that I'd recommission and ride it. To add to that, the way things are moving with tech and digital innovation/civilisation overall, I sincerely doubt that crated bikes would mean anything to anyone in two decades time (including, that is, by way of investment). We are already witnesses of that detachment
Quite astonishing! From its current condition I wonder if it was ever displayed, or simply kept in the crate somewhere as a potential investment. Will be interesting to see what it eventually goes for.
Yeah, no sale at €56,500 - and that, of course, doesn't include what the seller fees would have been on top, or any shipping/import duties. UPDATE: July 16th, 2025 - It was posted on FB that the bike sold to a museum in Cyprus per Desmo Market for €63K through BaT, which will have an additional €4K buyer fee.
My understanding is that the auction ended at 56.500€, with reserve price not met. It was then sold by Desmo Market to the Cyprus museum for 63k€.
Right you are! I hadn't paid much attention when checking it again to notice that BaT updated from the not met to the sold price. Thanks for pointing that out, I corrected my post.
