Hi all, As title suggests - I've waited a LONG TIME to buy my dream machine.... a gorgeous 1997 916. They've always just been too far away from my budget and always getting further away. I bought one that has been stood for a few years - so will be getting her back into use. Oddly the V5 has the Engine number and VIN swapped places and the VIN isn't 17characters. The decode websites don't seem to understand it either. Anyhow - it exists and will be breathing again soon. Stu
Congratulations on purchasing your 916. I was lucky enough to own one of the very first ones back in 1994, still rate it as the best bike I have ever owned. These days I am old so the knees and body in general put paid to ever owning/riding that style of bike again.
Echoing others here - the late 1990s 916 is the best bike on the planet… My first Duc was a 1995 Bip, took it for a (long) test ride and ride a bit of twisty country road, came round a bend on its ear where there was grit all over the road and it telepathically tramlined the car tracks - I was gobsmacked.. If I’d been on my 91 gixxer at the time I’d have very likely lost it.. went straight back to the showroom and signed on the dotted line, only been Ducs for me since then and my favourite is the 97 SPS - just love the SPS DQ engine it’s a peach!
Welcome to the forum. My best mate rides a 996, has had it for over 15 years and will probably want in buried with him when the time comes. His forever bike that he had. Like you, wanted for years. He's an ex classic racer inc. Manx GP. He tours on it with me every year and it's now on about 55k miles. He looks after it and it still runs well. We've swapped bikes for a few miles previously, in all honesty it's not for me but I can appreciate what its appeal is. Welcome to the forum and enjoy getting it back on the road and riding it once you've done that.
