Desmos

[The Moose]

I have the opportunity to buy one of these. 6 miles on the clock. Seems like an opportunity not to pass up.

How much of a diva are they to actually use and keep running?

[roboxm3]

This could offer some insights https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy4NVNg_5UT...

More about re-commissioning one as opposed to running one but may be of help...

[gareth h]

A mate of mine had one, some parts are common with other models, many aren’t which could be expensive, Moto Rapido sold it on his behalf a few years ago.

[dibblecorse]

Have a look here https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/forums/d16-desmosedi... loads of info, unless for investment I wouldn't touch one with 6 miles on it unless its either cheap and you are prepared to get it looked at before riding or you just want it to look at and maybe appreciate.

I've ridden a couple, they are siff and brutal, have a friend that uses hers as a trackbike, not been super fragile but lots of bespoke bits.

[graeme4130]

roboxm3 said:

This could offer some insights https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy4NVNg_5UT...

More about re-commissioning one as opposed to running one but may be of help...

That was a good little series, I really enjoyed watching them when they came out
I’ve ridden a Desmo, and it wasn’t anything like as good as I expected
A modern 1000 race bike is Miles better, but then you wouldn’t buy one for it to be cutting edge, you could just stare at the little details for hours

[Krikkit]

I'd have one, but as noted it'll be a bit of a diva to get into a state fit to ride regularly.

Hopefully it's been stored with no fuel etc to be sure it's not all full of crap.

If you have the money to invest to get it riding then go for it, it's a unique bit of history to enjoy.

[Steve Bass]

Amazing piece of kit, great components and details all let down by poor performance and horrible maintenance requirements.

Great in their day for what they were but (imho) time has not been kind to them. Still looks great but wouldn't see which way a modern V4S went nor other quality machinery like an RSV4 F

Personally, unless you want it to sit and look at, there's better places for your money.

[TonyF]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yes, still have mine:
Fantastic piece of art and along with my other bikes it’s still the one I can’t take my eyes off of !
Without doubt, its a stunning machine, very stiff to ride on our roads but I guess it would be very very good on a nice smooth track.
Only ridden mine for 272 miles in my ownership so not really qualified to judge long term but for me it’s art and I enjoy looking at it on its paddock stand ( Sad, I know )
The latest and greatest V4 Superleggera will be along in a few more weeks to keep it company.
Apart from yearly servicing at around £600 mine hasn’t missed a beat and has been totally reliable with no faults.
You are only here once, buy and enjoy it anyway you wish.

[Esceptico]

I had one. Still think it is the best looking and best sounding bike I’ve come across. I didn’t think it was that bad on the road, although I was always conscious of its value and absence of any electronic safety net. But my current Tuono offers all the V4 goodness plus better handling without the worries of mega expenses. Plus even though the Tuono doesn’t have a great range it is still twice the Desmo.

Happy to divulge how much it is? Would you be using it or just storing it?

[Rubin215]

Flat-capped old man whinge here, but it annoys me when people refer to one particular model as a desmo.

Since Ducati have been flogging that particular dead horse from the 60's, you could probably refer to all modern Ducatis as desmos, them plus a few Merc race cars.

USP?

[hiccy18]

Rubin215 said:

USP?

Umm... red?

[Esceptico]

Rubin215 said:

Flat-capped old man whinge here, but it annoys me when people refer to one particular model as a desmo.

Since Ducati have been flogging that particular dead horse from the 60's, you could probably refer to all modern Ducatis as desmos, them plus a few Merc race cars.

USP?

Pretty strange comment. Ducati decided to call it the Desmosedici RR and people have shortened it to Desmo (much like Lamborghini gets shortened to Lambo). Maybe Ducati should have called it something else but they didn’t.

[gareth_r]

Rubin215 said:

Flat-capped old man whinge here, but it annoys me when people refer to one particular model as a desmo.

Since Ducati have been flogging that particular dead horse from the 60's, you could probably refer to all modern Ducatis as desmos, them plus a few Merc race cars.

USP?

Desmodromic valve gear.

The solution to a problem that hasn't existed for over 60 years.

[anonymous-user]

When he said he had the opportunity to buy a Desmo, i thought he meant one of the 900 SS Desmo from the 70's

[Zakalwe]

If you said Desmo to any Ducati enthusiast, no one would think you were talking about any bike model other than a Desmosedici RR. Sure they’ve all got desmodromic valves (for now), the V4’s have desmosedici engines, but there’s only one Desmo

Edited by Zakalwe on Sunday 15th November 23:10

[The Moose]

Rubin215 said:

Flat-capped old man whinge here, but it annoys me when people refer to one particular model as a desmo.

Since Ducati have been flogging that particular dead horse from the 60's, you could probably refer to all modern Ducatis as desmos, them plus a few Merc race cars.

USP?

Anorak to go with that flat cap?!

I struggle to spell desmos and it’s not in my iPhone’s autocorrect.

[The Moose]

Thanks for the comments, especially from those that have owned and/or ridden.

To be honest, it’s an absolutely stunning thing to look at, and that noise is just about my favorite from any bike I’ve heard in the metal.

Obviously there are going to be far faster/better bikes now. The GT3 RS from 2008 wouldn’t see which was the new one went...but it’s still beautiful!

I haven’t decided if I’ll ride the thing or not. It’s supposed to have been maintained and ready to ride...however I’ll be getting proof of that, having it inspected and making sure it’s got recent tires (and do my best to avoid being the next internet meme). In some ways it’d be a shame to increase the mileage...in some ways it’d be a shame not to increase the mileage!!

[Esceptico]

The Moose said:

Thanks for the comments, especially from those that have owned and/or ridden.

To be honest, it’s an absolutely stunning thing to look at, and that noise is just about my favorite from any bike I’ve heard in the metal.

Obviously there are going to be far faster/better bikes now. The GT3 RS from 2008 wouldn’t see which was the new one went...but it’s still beautiful!

I haven’t decided if I’ll ride the thing or not. It’s supposed to have been maintained and ready to ride...however I’ll be getting proof of that, having it inspected and making sure it’s got recent tires (and do my best to avoid being the next internet meme). In some ways it’d be a shame to increase the mileage...in some ways it’d be a shame not to increase the mileage!!

If you are going to ride it then suggest you change the wheels so that you can put on normal tyres. Marchensini wheels from the 999R are popular but I went for BST carbon.

Please post some pictures if you do go for it.

[hiccy18]

Sark aside if I had the resources I'd love to have one, they're a MotoGP bike for the road, what's not to love? Performance on any superbike is kinda irrelevant, more than ample for the road regardless of model, the Desmosedici has something that can't be beaten.

[Benni]

If you want to go Desmo, you can do it on your little Honda Monkey or Cub with the help of Takegawa-San,

who does this little maniac piece of machinery :

http://www.takegawa.co.jp/english/new_parts/1410_d...

Then you can enjoy revs of 16.000 + , combine this with a dry clutch and 34 downdraft CR for the true MiniSuperBike experience,

or enjoy your living room ornament as I would possibly do.