Cheap Ducati 748, what could possibly go wrong

Cheap Ducati 748, what could possibly go wrong

Author
Discussion

therealsnazbaz

310 posts

194 months

Saturday 30th June 2012
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996 sps said:
On my 2 748's never any services over the 500 mark, on my 996 at 40k I had an engine re build after my second trip to the South of France last year, the amount of rolling burn outs I was doing in St Tropez was ridiculous, so again unless you've owned one you can't really comment.
Why are you so venomous about trying to defend every little detail about your precious bike(s)? No bike is perfect all I've done is pointed out one single disadvantage with 748's which is that they are likely to cost noticably more to maintain than your average bike of that class. You don't offer any kind of balanced opinion on the matter just pointless fanboyism so often seen on the internet by people trying to self-justify their own commitments to <insert particular marque here>.

I'm sure your 40k engine rebuild was *all* your fault for doing all those awesome rolling burn outs and nothing todo with the fact that of the 3 748's I went to look at 2 years ago, two had also had full or partial engine rebuilds also at around the ~30-35k mark.

sam1176uk

158 posts

180 months

Saturday 30th June 2012
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I say go for it mate, I too fancied a 748 for ages but was put off by the horror stories, nearly bought one a couple of times but reverted to jap stuff.
All I ended up doing was change my bike regularly!
Finally got myself a 748 and love it, not had any problems with it and don't find myself looking for other bikes now - I have the one I wanted.
Good luck either way

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Saturday 30th June 2012
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[quote=therealsnazbaz]
Stuff

More stuff

/quote]

Ha ha your joking the rolling burnouts on occasion were shockingly bad, front end skidding clutch burning. But hey great crack, just trying to re-live Fast Bikes videos from back in the day.

Bang on I posted on here I needed an engine re-build and StuB and a few other ex or current Ducati owners said that was the norm for SPS's with high mileage what have been used hard, not heard the same for BP's or S's.

If I'd have come across a 748 with a documented engine rebuild I'd of had it. You seen yourself off you could have bought one.


Edited by 996 sps on Saturday 30th June 21:51

therealsnazbaz

310 posts

194 months

Saturday 30th June 2012
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We did end up buying one with a fairly comprehensive top end rebuild. It was an S with the fancy adjustable rake at the front. was at about 34 or 38k miles and stacks of history/invoices. Pretty much everything that could go wrong or wear out was replaced or fixed! As such it didn't give us any real hassle except needing its 3rd or might have been 4th clutch and new belts!

therealsnazbaz

310 posts

194 months

Saturday 30th June 2012
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In the old fast bikes videos doesn't their 996 end up getting rear ended pretty badly? wink

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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therealsnazbaz said:
In the old fast bikes videos doesn't their 996 end up getting rear ended pretty badly? wink
Yep I believe your right at a set of lights, Frosty blew the 748R up as well on track on the Supersport video. Shakey wheelied the SPS to death, great videos.

Wonder what happened to Rob Frost?

3doorPete

9,912 posts

233 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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996 sps said:
therealsnazbaz said:
In the old fast bikes videos doesn't their 996 end up getting rear ended pretty badly? wink
Yep I believe your right at a set of lights, Frosty blew the 748R up as well on track on the Supersport video. Shakey wheelied the SPS to death, great videos.

Wonder what happened to Rob Frost?
Don't know what happen to him, but he also quite successfully destroyed a ZX9R in France...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMk0VnTkG1Q


AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,818 posts

190 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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Going to see one on Wednesday biggrin Hopefully its as good as it sounds!

kev b

2,708 posts

165 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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Forget Ducatis, have a look at an Aprilia Mille instead, they are cheaper, faster and orders of magnitude more reliable than any Ducati. You might be happy to overhaul your Ducati in winter but I bet you won't feel the same having to repair it in summer when you should be out riding it. Ducatis are wonderful bikes but the evidence suggests they are way less dependable than the competition and parts are not cheap either which doesn't matter if you don't need many but you'll probably be on first name terms with the parts counter guys.

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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kev b said:
Forget Ducatis, have a look at an Aprilia Mille instead, they are cheaper, faster and orders of magnitude more reliable than any Ducati. You might be happy to overhaul your Ducati in winter but I bet you won't feel the same having to repair it in summer when you should be out riding it. Ducatis are wonderful bikes but the evidence suggests they are way less dependable than the competition and parts are not cheap either which doesn't matter if you don't need many but you'll probably be on first name terms with the parts counter guys.
I owned a Mille found it no different in any reliability issues to a Ducati. I did find it really top heavy in the bends though, that was a 2000 model though.

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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3doorPete said:
Don't know what happen to him, but he also quite successfully destroyed a ZX9R in France...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMk0VnTkG1Q
He was a genuine lunatic, I download that music on my I Pod for South of France.

kev b

2,708 posts

165 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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I will concede my Mille does feel a little top heavy at slow speeds especially with a full tank but better riders than I say it makes the bike change direction more quickly at speed. I've had my bike 6 years and it has had steering head bearings,clutch seal and a battery. Valve clearances were checked at 14K miles and were still perfect as was the maintenance free camchain. I like the fact that it only needs planned servicing like a Japanese bike and is unlikely to give me regular expensive, inconvenient, wallet workouts.

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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Yep I personally think they are great bikes, the Edwards and Haga Reps look great to this day, was your Ducatis valves out at 14k or have you not owned one?

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,818 posts

190 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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I did have a look at the Milles but they just don't get me fired up like the Ducatis. The 748/916 series are a real dream bike for me. I still have models of them on my shelf at home from when i was a kid hehe

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,818 posts

190 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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Also talking of Ducati valve clearances, I serviced the 750ss last August at 15,000 miles and all of the clearances were spot on and in spec.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

redtwin

7,518 posts

181 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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I had a Mille, also had a 900SS. If you want a fast Italian V-twin, the Mille is hard to beat. If you want a Ducati, a Mille is a very poor alternative.

OP seems to know what he is getting into, willing to do the work himself, not someone who will neglect maintenance and repairs. I say go for it, for me, bikes are toys and a toy should give you enjoyment. No-one goes looking for enjoyment thinking "This will be the most cost effective and need the least amount of attention".

Bikes are emotional purchases, buy what your heart wants. Save the compromises for the other aspects of life.

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
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AceOfHearts said:
I did have a look at the Milles but they just don't get me fired up like the Ducatis. The 748/916 series are a real dream bike for me. I still have models of them on my shelf at home from when i was a kid hehe
Exactly I had a poster of a 916 on my wall in 93, tried the Jap thing Mille etc etc, can't beat them, I haven't really noticed anyone who owns one or has done put them down. All 3 I've had have been spot on.

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
AceOfHearts said:
Also talking of Ducati valve clearances, I serviced the 750ss last August at 15,000 miles and all of the clearances were spot on and in spec.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
So have mine been that's why I queried the question why a Ducatis valves shouldn't be the same. Scare mongering.

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,818 posts

190 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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Picking it up Wednesday nuts

gareth h

3,503 posts

229 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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On the subject of Ducati did anybody see the superbike programme on ITV4 last night? Some great footage and interviews with Foggy and Whit.