I got excited about that keenly priced R until i finished my discussion with the vendor... as they say if it sounds too good to be true and all that
Everyone loves an optimist. Was a 748r in a dealers about 12 months back for £4200 with low miles and looked good. Knew I should have bought it blind but couldn't justify/lack of balls.
Think this could be ok, looks like it needs a good strip down and some painting/replanting. Depends if the buyer is any good/enjoys that kind of thing. If you pass it straight to a dealer would cost a fortune. Would suit as a project bike but I'd need another on the road to keep me sane. My 999 I bought blind from a guy emigrating to NZ the next day. It looked like it had gone down with the Titanic and stayed there. Amount of snapped/broken fixings and rounded off bits nearly had me in tears. But I've now got a smashing bike and feel I really know her. I wouldn't have thought it would cost much over £1k to fix up if you do the work yourself and take the time. Engine needs to be good though.
Or just save a load and buy a basic one while you wait for the right bike: Ducati 748 Motorbike | in Glasgow City Centre, Glasgow | Gumtree
That's a good point. But rather than a basic 748, I think I'd tick another off the bike bucket list; an RC8. Looks like an alien, cool as hell, goes like the clappers and generally full of adjustable, orange loveliness.
I've always loved them but in the last few months I've started to think they are not aging well. Just personal opinion of course.
I think they look brilliant, if distinctly odd. One droned past me this morning on the south bank, and it was awesome.
What ever you end up getting will be a labour of love and for the most part a leap of faith. You will never find the exact bike that ticks every box. There's always something to do to 'rub your own scent on' and that's what makes you love your ride more than anything. Look beyond the cracked mirrors and foggy headlights, most stuffs an easy fix and winter here is long which gives you plenty of time to spruce the goose
The RC8 was known at one point to suffer gearbox troubles. Many were used in the RC8 cup and did not fair well with broken gearboxes and also problems with not being able to get through the noise test. I was at a track day where there was a meeting including RC8's the next day, they all failed the noise test. Good history required I would say if looking at one, definitely don't want an ex cup bike.
DUCATI 748 SP, GENUINE SP, CARBON KIT, GOOD CONDITION 17k MILES! | eBay hello...... Mr Red, if you have a moment to cast your eagle eye. Or anyone else for that matter.
This one has clearly got several carbon extras, it would be good to get any original replaced parts with the bike. Rear sprocket looks original and the Termi's do appear to have the original weave and no Termi stickers, which is what they were like. Screen screws look like Allen screws and the screen appears to be some sort of double bubble type. The photos are not that good to see real detail, I notice it has a Centigrade Temp. gauge when most were Farenheit and the early ones really should be if it is a genuine UK bike, this is not definitive though. It may have cracked and been replaced at some point. Speedo is correct for the year, I note it has a carbon cover on the rev counter\temp gauge so the original foam part might be pretty poor and dirty. The rev counter seems correct and should have Ducati Racing on the face. Carbon airbox is OK but original should be supplied, assuming it's the full box and not just covers. As he mentions it has carbon air tubes, so you would need to know what air filter it has probably some sort of internal type as these look like one piece air tubes. Some of these are prone to catching fire so check for damage and any seriouc backfire that's caused singeing of the filter. He states Ohlins shock replaced with a newer one, the spring rate on this bike needs to be for a solo so that needs checking. No doubt someone with an Ohlins chart could tell what the spring is as it's marked on it in the photo. Mirrors seem quite shiny, they could be just polished up originals or they may have been painted or they are pattern replacements, can't tell. The brake discs are not the originals and should be cast iron floating discs. They may have just worn out though. Discs are from a later model. Original tyre size would be 120/60 and he has fitted a 120/70 which actually is a plus point although he has only said the back tyre needs replacing. Not a bad little bike and probably needs to be seen in the flesh and examined much more closely. Forks could well be pitted and they do erupt badly if corrosion gets into the stanchions. I still think these bikes are being sold overpriced and there almost seems to some sort of a glut of SP's and SPS's on the market at the moment. It's true there are not many left but I am guessing he has just checked the DVLA site and no more. I suspect seeing it in the flesh it may not actually be as good as it looks in the photo. He is correct in saying some of the carbon is period, vented front mudguard could have come from the defunct Casoli Moto. Possibly someone can add to my comments if they spot anything else.
Mate, you are genius. If I ever meet up with you, I'm buying you a beer. The question is, how to approach someone and tell them you think the bike they're selling is over priced, without seeming rude. I'm crap at this sort of thing.
