A response in another thread got me thinking There's an early Varese 916 for sale on eBay, needs recommissioning and TLC, bearing in mind the value these early ones seem to be fetching these days in relation to later 916s, and assuming you have the confidence to recommission it yourself what would you do and why? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-Duc...253059?hash=item4219e49803:g:93YAAOSwSK5e2Qbo @Android853sp to start
As time progresses, the factory trained mechanics who cut their teeth on the 916 are getting few and far between as are the parts managers who can quote chapter and verse on which parts can be sourced and those which cannot. I have limitations in both knowledge and skill and would choose to hand the package to someone I know and trust to do an outstanding job. The only 2 people I currently have history with and trust implicitly, happen to work for a main dealer. Andy
I'd go with franchised recommissioning, but saying that i think it comes down to what your going to do with it, as in keeping it or just investment or a quickish flip!!
Re commissioning yourself will not lower the value. Recommissioning is only a service at the end of the day. Restoring is different - get it restored by a dealer or an independent and your next 10 years of price increase has gone before you start.
Unless franchised has some seasoned pros, I wouldn’t go near them. They are technicians: diagnose by computer, fix by replace. Ducati specialist every time if it’s belts etc, as I can’t do that. But the rest is just bolting shit on
If you have the time and skills do it yourself, if you have the cash, then an independent but one you trust
Passion is what counts. I agree with @bradders above. Most just stab parts at problems. If you have the passion and skill there is nothing better. Rex
If you have the patience and skills, diy all the way, you will really get to know your machine, intimately if you're gonna do belts desmo or full strip and rebuild. You will end up bonding with the machine. I still don't understand why so many believe that because a machine has been rattle gunned and malleted in a dealer workshop is then deemed more desirable than a geezer who has loved that machine and knows said machine better than his wife of 33 years LOL
LOL . Thankfully, this is an academic thread. However, I will have everyone know I am THE expert in the removal of seized front sprockets. I am even helping some random misfortunate individual on the PB Forum who is suffering the exact same problem ps. Where you been lately, I was getting worried about you. Please don't tell me you had me on Block
No paul your not on block i have been bonkers busy after lockdown ended and I have also gone to the dark side and now have an additional motorcycle in the garage the same color as ducbirds jumper !! I will eventually own up to ownership and face the collective
I would trust Iain Rhodes at rpm Northampton far further that most working at ‘dealers’ yes his history is all Ducati ...Baines racing(another with a good reputation) DUK and so on but he has the pedigree! reputation is everything
Ah yea I thought you were referring to my ginger hair !! F**k thought I had my first stalker !! But your rite I've had a gs for years so took the next logical step and bought a ktm1290r superduke and I love it ... There I said it .........
Has to be a D.I.Y job if your mindset is in the right place for this application,or phone a friend that's good with spanners & technical knowledge,as he can hold your hand when it all goes south.
If it is an “Investment Object”, why not Just clean it, coat it in wax, buy up the missing parts ready for future use and leave it in a dry barn to accumulate value for you. There’s no point starting it up if it isn’t going to be used regularly. If it’s for riding, why not sell it “as is” to an Investor and buy a 998S in its place?
