Ducati 749R... or 749s
Discussion
I'm after a bike to use that won't loose ££££'s a year. I'm thinking a 2004 carbon model 749r.
Prices seem to be all over the place, what sort of money should I be looking to pay?
Any particular issues to look for? Its just going to be a sunny toy.
Or should I look towards a 2005 onwards 749s?
Prices seem to be all over the place, what sort of money should I be looking to pay?
Any particular issues to look for? Its just going to be a sunny toy.
Or should I look towards a 2005 onwards 749s?
trickywoo said:
I doubt the ugliest Ducati for years in 749 spec is likely to be the answer to zero depreciation.
You'd be better off with a Honda SP2.
The cost of servicing on a Ducati (belts mainly) is going to eat into any depreciation saving even on something like a 916-998.
he dint ask for zero depreciation, and a decent 749R will hold its value as well as almost anything out there ....You'd be better off with a Honda SP2.
The cost of servicing on a Ducati (belts mainly) is going to eat into any depreciation saving even on something like a 916-998.
SP2 isn't a patch on it as a bike .....
trickywoo said:
I doubt the ugliest Ducati for years in 749 spec is likely to be the answer to zero depreciation.
You'd be better off with a Honda SP2.
The cost of servicing on a Ducati (belts mainly) is going to eat into any depreciation saving even on something like a 916-998.
sp2's are overpriced at the moment, an sp1 is where i'd put my cash however I've had 3 before and fancy a change.You'd be better off with a Honda SP2.
The cost of servicing on a Ducati (belts mainly) is going to eat into any depreciation saving even on something like a 916-998.
From what i've read the 749r was one of the best spec of any of the 'R' models they've made?
I've found a <1000 mile 2004 749r that'll need a service/belts, how much do we think that would be worth, oh a 54mm titanium system fitted too, its been sat in a collection.
I'm not worried about running costs as I can do belts etc myself.
jason61c said:
sp2's are overpriced at the moment, an sp1 is where i'd put my cash however I've had 3 before and fancy a change.
From what i've read the 749r was one of the best spec of any of the 'R' models they've made?
I've found a <1000 mile 2004 749r that'll need a service/belts, how much do we think that would be worth, oh a 54mm titanium system fitted too, its been sat in a collection.
>2005 onwards are better bikes, but with regards to an R model, there's very little in it. Does it have the black underbraced swingarm?From what i've read the 749r was one of the best spec of any of the 'R' models they've made?
I've found a <1000 mile 2004 749r that'll need a service/belts, how much do we think that would be worth, oh a 54mm titanium system fitted too, its been sat in a collection.
But thery are a lovely bike an are starting ot be appreciated as a design classic. Not as emotive as the 916 to 998 series' but still a great bike.
If the bike has been sat for such a long time get it fully serviced immediately and you should be set.
As for the Honda, i thought the SP1 was the real deal from HRC and the SP2 was just a cheapened down version?
But given the choice, the 749R would win
jason61c said:
trickywoo said:
I doubt the ugliest Ducati for years in 749 spec is likely to be the answer to zero depreciation.
You'd be better off with a Honda SP2.
The cost of servicing on a Ducati (belts mainly) is going to eat into any depreciation saving even on something like a 916-998.
sp2's are overpriced at the moment, an sp1 is where i'd put my cash however I've had 3 before and fancy a change.You'd be better off with a Honda SP2.
The cost of servicing on a Ducati (belts mainly) is going to eat into any depreciation saving even on something like a 916-998.
From what i've read the 749r was one of the best spec of any of the 'R' models they've made?
I've found a <1000 mile 2004 749r that'll need a service/belts, how much do we think that would be worth, oh a 54mm titanium system fitted too, its been sat in a collection.
I'm not worried about running costs as I can do belts etc myself.
dibblecorse said:
And do the belts yourself on a garage queen like that and you will in an instant wipe out any premium the bike has ..... I and many others would not touch a home serviced 749R without expecting the cost of a full belts service being deducted from its price ....
Who said it'd be a garage queen? 
The money saving on home servicing would more than pay for a belt service if I were to get rid, it'd be looked after above and beyond.
bass gt3 said:
jason61c said:
sp2's are overpriced at the moment, an sp1 is where i'd put my cash however I've had 3 before and fancy a change.
From what i've read the 749r was one of the best spec of any of the 'R' models they've made?
I've found a <1000 mile 2004 749r that'll need a service/belts, how much do we think that would be worth, oh a 54mm titanium system fitted too, its been sat in a collection.
>2005 onwards are better bikes, but with regards to an R model, there's very little in it. Does it have the black underbraced swingarm?From what i've read the 749r was one of the best spec of any of the 'R' models they've made?
I've found a <1000 mile 2004 749r that'll need a service/belts, how much do we think that would be worth, oh a 54mm titanium system fitted too, its been sat in a collection.
But thery are a lovely bike an are starting ot be appreciated as a design classic. Not as emotive as the 916 to 998 series' but still a great bike.
If the bike has been sat for such a long time get it fully serviced immediately and you should be set.
As for the Honda, i thought the SP1 was the real deal from HRC and the SP2 was just a cheapened down version?
But given the choice, the 749R would win
For me a sp1 is a race bike, the sp2 is a softer version. I've spoken to a local dealer who would give it a full service/recommission with belts for £450 tops.
I had a 749r for a while and whilst I loved riding it on the open road (it sounds amasing) it if I were to do it again I would get the S. For me the R was just too focused, it was a pain in town - hunting, poor idle and getting v.hot in traffic also servicing the R can be more £££ than the S e.g. the heads need to come off for certain services.
For me I'd buy the S, not worry about deprecation etc and spend the difference on getting the suspension set-up, fuel and trackdays.
For me I'd buy the S, not worry about deprecation etc and spend the difference on getting the suspension set-up, fuel and trackdays.
I sold my white SP-2 and bought a '04 749R (£5.5K). Didn't look back.
The 749R on the road is a waste, it comes alive being revved high and takes getting up to a fair speed to get the best out of it.
So much so, I sold that and bought an ex BSS 749R, which on track is a weapon (ask Dibble, he's ridden it!)
I had the opportunity to buy the SP-2 back for £5k, which I declined.
They are going up in value (749r's) get one and love it, you won't look back either.
The one you have found sounds ideal, if it all checks out. you night want to get the TPS and idle speed upped, to cure stalling from pull-aways.
The 749R on the road is a waste, it comes alive being revved high and takes getting up to a fair speed to get the best out of it.
So much so, I sold that and bought an ex BSS 749R, which on track is a weapon (ask Dibble, he's ridden it!)
I had the opportunity to buy the SP-2 back for £5k, which I declined.
They are going up in value (749r's) get one and love it, you won't look back either.
The one you have found sounds ideal, if it all checks out. you night want to get the TPS and idle speed upped, to cure stalling from pull-aways.
Edited by final_edition on Thursday 13th June 00:49
I don't really 'get' revvy V-twins or going for the smaller engine in an identical chassis, especially if coming from a Honda SP1/2. I can't see any of these 749s or 999s depreciating much and I'd rather not have the worry of carbon bodywork.
For me I'd spend the similar money on a very nice 999S and enjoy Ducati V-twins for what they do best - flat lunging stomp from 4k rpm with no real performance penalty for short shifing.
For me I'd spend the similar money on a very nice 999S and enjoy Ducati V-twins for what they do best - flat lunging stomp from 4k rpm with no real performance penalty for short shifing.
3DP said:
I don't really 'get' revvy V-twins or going for the smaller engine in an identical chassis, especially if coming from a Honda SP1/2. I can't see any of these 749s or 999s depreciating much and I'd rather not have the worry of carbon bodywork.
For me I'd spend the similar money on a very nice 999S and enjoy Ducati V-twins for what they do best - flat lunging stomp from 4k rpm with no real performance penalty for short shifing.
the 749r chassis isn't identical(from what I've read). It makes as much power/torque as a standard sp1/2. Whats the worry of carbon bodywork? If I have an off its bad no matter what its wearing, however I would put some trackday plastics on it like I've done on most of my bikes.For me I'd spend the similar money on a very nice 999S and enjoy Ducati V-twins for what they do best - flat lunging stomp from 4k rpm with no real performance penalty for short shifing.
To be honest a 999S isn't a torque monster at all, if I wanted torque bhp i'd just buy a 1098s for the same cash. I want a surgical knife not a sledgehammer.
final_edition said:
I sold my white SP-2 and bought a '04 749R (£5.5K). Didn't look back.
The 749R on the road is a waste, it comes alive being revved high and takes getting up to a fair speed to get the best out of it.
So much so, I sold that and bought an ex BSS 749R, which on track is a weapon (ask Dibble, he's ridden it!)
I had the opportunity to buy the SP-2 back for £5k, which I declined.
They are going up in value (749r's) get one and love it, you won't look back either.
The one you have found sounds ideal, if it all checks out. you night want to get the TPS and idle speed upped, to cure stalling from pull-aways.
I've spoken to a local ducati dealers who would give it a going over and they said they'd do all that at the same time as a service.The 749R on the road is a waste, it comes alive being revved high and takes getting up to a fair speed to get the best out of it.
So much so, I sold that and bought an ex BSS 749R, which on track is a weapon (ask Dibble, he's ridden it!)
I had the opportunity to buy the SP-2 back for £5k, which I declined.
They are going up in value (749r's) get one and love it, you won't look back either.
The one you have found sounds ideal, if it all checks out. you night want to get the TPS and idle speed upped, to cure stalling from pull-aways.
Edited by final_edition on Thursday 13th June 00:49
jason61c said:
3DP said:
I don't really 'get' revvy V-twins or going for the smaller engine in an identical chassis, especially if coming from a Honda SP1/2. I can't see any of these 749s or 999s depreciating much and I'd rather not have the worry of carbon bodywork.
For me I'd spend the similar money on a very nice 999S and enjoy Ducati V-twins for what they do best - flat lunging stomp from 4k rpm with no real performance penalty for short shifing.
the 749r chassis isn't identical(from what I've read). It makes as much power/torque as a standard sp1/2. Whats the worry of carbon bodywork? If I have an off its bad no matter what its wearing, however I would put some trackday plastics on it like I've done on most of my bikes.For me I'd spend the similar money on a very nice 999S and enjoy Ducati V-twins for what they do best - flat lunging stomp from 4k rpm with no real performance penalty for short shifing.
To be honest a 999S isn't a torque monster at all, if I wanted torque bhp i'd just buy a 1098s for the same cash. I want a surgical knife not a sledgehammer.
I think the chassis is close enough to be near identical in feel and weight in 99% of situations. As far as I have experienced, the extra power and torque don't affect its 'surgical' feel. Just getting the suspension rebuilt and setup properly will have far more of an effect. A Jap 600 is significantly different enough to its 1000cc stable mate that it's a different bike in its own right. For me, the smaller engined Ducati sports bikes of that era are just a slower more revvy version of the same bike with no real benefits in handling or running costs.
My point on the worry of carbon bodywork is that you wanted to avoid depreciation - a small drop of a bike wearing homologation carbon bodywork will dwarf any depreciation costs - especially compared to the 749S you put in the title.
Again, to cover the depreciation angle, the R will clearly be the 'special' bike in the range, but I firmly believe that long term, the smaller engined variants of the Ducatis that have come with 2 engine sizes, never do as well on residuals as the larger engined variants.
FWIW the one you've found sounds superb though.
3DP said:
I don't buy into the comparison, that essentially the same bike with a slightly bigger engine is a sledgehammer vs a scalpel.
I think the chassis is close enough to be near identical in feel and weight in 99% of situations. As far as I have experienced, the extra power and torque don't affect its 'surgical' feel. Just getting the suspension rebuilt and setup properly will have far more of an effect. A Jap 600 is significantly different enough to its 1000cc stable mate that it's a different bike in its own right. For me, the smaller engined Ducati sports bikes of that era are just a slower more revvy version of the same bike with no real benefits in handling or running costs.
My point on the worry of carbon bodywork is that you wanted to avoid depreciation - a small drop of a bike wearing homologation carbon bodywork will dwarf any depreciation costs - especially compared to the 749S you put in the title.
Again, to cover the depreciation angle, the R will clearly be the 'special' bike in the range, but I firmly believe that long term, the smaller engined variants of the Ducatis that have come with 2 engine sizes, never do as well on residuals as the larger engined variants.
FWIW the one you've found sounds superb though.
A smaller engined twin is something I'm itching to try. I guessed it'll be harder work but for the few days a year it all comes together I hope it'll be worth it.I think the chassis is close enough to be near identical in feel and weight in 99% of situations. As far as I have experienced, the extra power and torque don't affect its 'surgical' feel. Just getting the suspension rebuilt and setup properly will have far more of an effect. A Jap 600 is significantly different enough to its 1000cc stable mate that it's a different bike in its own right. For me, the smaller engined Ducati sports bikes of that era are just a slower more revvy version of the same bike with no real benefits in handling or running costs.
My point on the worry of carbon bodywork is that you wanted to avoid depreciation - a small drop of a bike wearing homologation carbon bodywork will dwarf any depreciation costs - especially compared to the 749S you put in the title.
Again, to cover the depreciation angle, the R will clearly be the 'special' bike in the range, but I firmly believe that long term, the smaller engined variants of the Ducatis that have come with 2 engine sizes, never do as well on residuals as the larger engined variants.
FWIW the one you've found sounds superb though.
I was looking at a 05 onwards 999s but they come in at the same money as a 749r.
I do worry about the bodywork issue but one of the Chinese bodywork kits for £200 to use on track should sort that issue out?
You can tell I'd really like the 749r but i'm also trying to keep my eyes open. I was looking at this bike until the R turned up.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUCATI-749S-MONO-VERY-CL...
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