916 biposto

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Discussion

TonyF

Original Poster:

2,300 posts

275 months

Friday 27th November 2015
quotequote all
A friend of mine is selling his 916, it's a 1997 p reg in red and white with 20k miles and has a 955 engine fitted. It has lots of carbon inc termis exhaust, full service history with 4 cam belt changes done on time rather than mileage, It is in mint condition and I am wondering what it might be worth, any ideas ?

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Friday 27th November 2015
quotequote all
It's worth as much as you will give and as little as he will take.

Don't think the 'incorrect' engine fitted will help the value.

StuB

6,695 posts

238 months

Friday 27th November 2015
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The BiP tend to attract lowest value. Also the quality of carbon accessories can be a bit variable. Do your homework on what's in the market this time of year & just remember how long buyers remorse lingers.

poo at Paul's

14,116 posts

174 months

Friday 27th November 2015
quotequote all
£2-£3k?

£3.5k will get you onto a 999 Bip, nto everyone's cup of tea styling wise, but later bike and nicer to ride in all honesty.

10penceparalyzed

229 posts

123 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
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trickywoo said:
It's worth as much as you will give and as little as he will take.

Don't think the 'incorrect' engine fitted will help the value.
I think you could be a little wrong smile, I never knew this bike existed, found this on visor down

Ducati 916/955 SPA AMA special £32,980

This 955cc 916 was created by Ducati Corse to take full advantage of the AMA rules. It's essentially an SP with a larger motor. AMA is some american race series I assume.

StuB

6,695 posts

238 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
10penceparalyzed said:
I think you could be a little wrong smile, I never knew this bike existed, found this on visor down

Ducati 916/955 SPA AMA special £32,980

This 955cc 916 was created by Ducati Corse to take full advantage of the AMA rules. It's essentially an SP with a larger motor. AMA is some american race series I assume.
But it's not an SP, it's a BiP with an engine swap. Authentic originals are collectible and hold value. Plenty of bitsa's out there. Not many original factory homologation bikes. It might be something a bit special, it might not.

Any pics. OP?

3DP

9,912 posts

233 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
StuB said:
10penceparalyzed said:
I think you could be a little wrong smile, I never knew this bike existed, found this on visor down

Ducati 916/955 SPA AMA special £32,980

This 955cc 916 was created by Ducati Corse to take full advantage of the AMA rules. It's essentially an SP with a larger motor. AMA is some american race series I assume.
But it's not an SP, it's a BiP with an engine swap. Authentic originals are collectible and hold value. Plenty of bitsa's out there. Not many original factory homologation bikes. It might be something a bit special, it might not.

Any pics. OP?
Agreed - I sold a 2001 996S Bip (converted to monoposta) last year needing an oil leak sorted, desmo valve clearances and major service with 20k on the clock for £3k last year. It was a trade in so cheap, but even with £1k worth of work and servicing done and sold privately it was worth low £4Ks region.

FSH on a 97 Bip BTW would have it due for its 9th belt change by now.

Assuming it's not some rare US only 955 homologation model, with a rebored or replacement engine in it, at this time of year, if it's not due a belts and desmo valve check (every 5k miles) then I'd be thinking £3.5k ish would be a good price to get it for.

If the history is more patchy, it's not properly 'Ducati' mint - which generally means 'as new' condition and it's due expensive servicing, then £2.8k. The high priced ones on the internet tend to be dealer prepared, and command a premium vs private that's bigger than with Jap bikes.

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
StuB said:
10penceparalyzed said:
I think you could be a little wrong smile, I never knew this bike existed, found this on visor down

Ducati 916/955 SPA AMA special £32,980

This 955cc 916 was created by Ducati Corse to take full advantage of the AMA rules. It's essentially an SP with a larger motor. AMA is some american race series I assume.
But it's not an SP, it's a BiP with an engine swap. Authentic originals are collectible and hold value. Plenty of bitsa's out there. Not many original factory homologation bikes. It might be something a bit special, it might not.

Any pics. OP?
Indeed, the 955 US version is very rare and would command a high price tag due to the 'anorak' nature of collectors - but it's not road legal either and this isn't one of them anyway.

Otherwise a 955 is just a 916 with a 2mm overbore and I would expect it to be worth £3k-ish if condition is as described, but despite all the 'improvements' it would likely be more desirable to some if it were completely original.

That said, if it's in good nick, buy it, enjoy it and (running costs aside) I doubt you'll lose anything on it over the long term...

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
10penceparalyzed said:
I think you could be a little wrong smile, I never knew this bike existed, found this on visor down

Ducati 916/955 SPA AMA special £32,980

This 955cc 916 was created by Ducati Corse to take full advantage of the AMA rules. It's essentially an SP with a larger motor. AMA is some american race series I assume.
Could be but I doubt it. Ama special was monoposto and had ohlins which aren't mentioned by op. Given its reckoned only about 50 were sold I reckon his mate would remember if he paid a wedge for it or not.

Worth op checking the engine number though as that could be an ama item.

TonyF

Original Poster:

2,300 posts

275 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
Been trying to load photos but keeps saying file is to big and I don't know how to resize them !!
How do I check if engine number is AMA . Is there a website I can check on .
At first he was asking for 9k which is way above where you guys were pitching, so I left it as I thought it was to much but he has since called me suggesting a more realistic price which is still above your suggestions.
The bike is mint and has had belt changes etc when it's required them.
In the last 5 years the MOTs confirm the bike has covered only 163 miles !!
I'm assuming this is not a good thing ?

10penceparalyzed

229 posts

123 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
Basically Ducati say belts should be changed every 2 years although I was told by a very very good independant Ducati specialist that they are ok for 3 years. , the trouble is if they haven't moved, in some time the belts can go hard and set in position and be prone to snapping, so belt change would be on the list if it hasn't been done for a while.

TonyF

Original Poster:

2,300 posts

275 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
Belts were changed in December of this year along with the BIG service.

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
TonyF said:
At first he was asking for 9k which is way above where you guys were pitching
Then I doubt you'll find a mutually agreeable price, it might arguably be worth £4k? but £9k is dreaming, I only paid £9,500 new (in 1998) for mine.

Some might pay that for an absolutely mint, original, little used first year 'Strada' model but only because it's the first model.

He may well have spent £9k or more on 'upgrades' but that doesn't add £9k to the value, in fact it probably detracts from it. Mine is heavily modified but if I were to sell it, I would put it back to standard trim and sell the parts separately.

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
996 sps said:
Dealer. Half the miles of op. Nut and bolt restoration. Monoposto. Magnesium Ducati wheels. Ohlins.

It's not really comparable. It'll come down to what op wants to pay and how much mate wants. £9k would be mad.

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
996 sps said:
Dealer. Half the miles of op. Nut and bolt restoration. Monoposto. Magnesium Ducati wheels. Ohlins.

It's not really comparable. It'll come down to what op wants to pay and how much mate wants. £9k would be mad.
Nice but still expensive...

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
Dealer. Half the miles of op. Nut and bolt restoration. Monoposto. Magnesium Ducati wheels. Ohlins.

It's not really comparable. It'll come down to what op wants to pay and how much mate wants. £9k would be mad.
For sure - Should have been a link there for a standard 916 bp as well - But if he looks on e-bay one with FSH etc for £4799 (Starting bid)

3DP

9,912 posts

233 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
996 sps said:
trickywoo said:
Dealer. Half the miles of op. Nut and bolt restoration. Monoposto. Magnesium Ducati wheels. Ohlins.

It's not really comparable. It'll come down to what op wants to pay and how much mate wants. £9k would be mad.
For sure - Should have been a link there for a standard 916 bp as well - But if he looks on e-bay one with FSH etc for £4799 (Starting bid)
But it has 20k miles up and doesn't have FSH - 4 belt changes is not FSH.

Add to that a non-standard engine...

I'd want to see the full details of what was done in the 'big' service too.

TonyF

Original Poster:

2,300 posts

275 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
I'm viewing the bike again Monday evening so will gain all the info you guys have mentioned above.
Thanks for your input, I think I was a little blinkered when I 1st viewed it because it is a stunning bike in concours condition.
He has owned it for the last 9 years and has taken very good care of it.
It does have ohlins, lots of carbon and magnesium wheels.

Steve Bass

10,186 posts

232 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
TonyF said:
I'm viewing the bike again Monday evening so will gain all the info you guys have mentioned above.
Thanks for your input, I think I was a little blinkered when I 1st viewed it because it is a stunning bike in concours condition.
He has owned it for the last 9 years and has taken very good care of it.
It does have ohlins, lots of carbon and magnesium wheels.
Pay massive attention to the Magnesium wheels.
Every Marchesini Mag rear I've seen has cracks in the spokes from age. They're all used as hose reels now!! The cracks have nothing to do with usage but the way magnesium ages and corrodes so just because a bike is concours is not safeguard. If they go, the results are catastrophic as you can imagine!
Also, regardless of the trinkets it's wearing, it's still a Biposto so not a model of note that will retain value due to collector interest. Price accordingly. Would you pay 2x the odds for a Ford Escort because it hade a load of shiny bits?
Its things like carbon airbox, ali subrame, Ohlins front & rear and steering damper, 50mm + Termi full system etc.
A 2mm overbore is a common upgrade for these motors as it's a simple kit to fit. It's a LONG way from a proper AMA spec 955!