Hello all, I’ve agreed to sell my 2003 Honda sp1 to a dealer for 10k ( yes I’ve tried for more privately) to be honest I bought the bike 18 months ago for £7600, sold the Akropovic cans for £1500, so I haven’t done bad I own a 2015 Multi dvt, which I love riding, I owned a base model 748 for a couple of years, back in about 2003 I’m looking to spend around 10k on either a 996 or 998, I’d really appreciate some advice on which would be better to go for, I’m a fussy bugger, so any prospective bike would need to be pretty close to immaculate as possible, these days, would my budget find me such a bike? ...any advice would be appreciated Steve
for that money you could buy a mint scrambler and a very tidy 748! surely 2 bikes are better than 1!!
Unless you bag a special, like an sps for 996 (good luck with 10k these days!) imho 998 especially if it’s to be ridden and not to just sit in the garage
You might get a base 998 in mint, but not anything else or at least not mint. Yellow ones are cheaper (less desirable).
You can't go wrong with either one,look for a stock motorcylcle with low owners/mileage/half to full service records and just ride it without the worry of trashing the value,IMO
for 10k you should be able to pick up something reasonable enough.. 998 may be a better bet in terms of servicing costs. or get a model with a broken motor and put a 1098 motor etc in even better ( but sleepless nights are included)
i loved my 996s, a bit of a pain to set up right, due to the ECU and Throttle body combination, but when sorted so should have about 125 hp at the back wheel( mine had 128) i'm now in the starting blocks with a spare 996 frame and a 1098 motor/swingarm conversion.... still love working on the old frame bikes its all so much more accessible
998 all day long, preferably a S. I bought an 02 998S two weeks ago in the Netherlands with 24k km and Biggelaar maintain it for €8.5k . It had a lot of bling, ohlins front forks, rcs 16/19 and magnesium rims. The positive thing al the standard original parts came with the bike. So sold the non original parts and made it original again. It will come to you if you have a bit of patiënt....
Try both and you will know. I've owned both and the engine character is quite different. The 996 is more raw. The 998 is more refined. For me it has to be the 996 - I find the more "raw" character is more in line with what I think a real Ducati should feel like.
998 for sure. The testastretta is better engine. And bit cheaper to maintain. And looks better in my opinion as well with those fairing without cooling ducts. Henk!!!
For looks I think 996 with 5 spoke wheels looks best as I like the fairing cooling ducts as I think it breaks up the side, but then I do own one . I own a 996 and 999 (same engine as 998) and on the road the engines are different but I wouldn't say either are better on the road. On track I'd prefer the 998 engine but to be honest for track I'd want a v4 engine . Rockers in a 996 can be an issue but Newman Cams will fix them forever for £40 (odd) each.
i prefer the fairings with the cut outs too.. like you say, it breaks up the sides.. that said i dont find the slab sides offensive, they are all beautiful bikes and id be happy with any of the range.
I love a good old 996 v 998 debate ;-) The 998 engine FEELS less like a Ducati should .... and the slab sides LOOK less like a Ducati should. All IMHO of course
