I can see where you are going with this HD, but it’s not really a useful metric as the market has changed, more miles have been added and work is needed. I don’t think it’s a case of just what I sold it for minus the price of what I need to spend. The additional mileage will have an impact, as will the state of the market etc etc.
I don’t apply that kind of logic to my equations. Prices that are expected and prices that are achieved are a far more reliable source of input for me. Too many people think that everything they buy should increase in value. This is not a real world equation. Emotion attachment also sullies the waters. Can you tell us how much he wants for it?
I totally agree. I think one of the main problems with desmo prices is that people forget that asking isn’t getting, and base what they want on what other people think theirs is worth, which is of course based on what someone else thought theirs is worth... We haven’t talked money yet. He’s just been kind enough to offer it back to me before listing it, as he knows how much it meant to me. He’s not unreasonable, but like all people he obviously needs as much as he can get. The other thing I guess I have to keep in mind is that even if I use it a little bit more (even after paying for the big scary service) I’m slowly edging that bike towards being a thing no one will want to buy should I need to sell it for some reason. I wouldn’t be buying it as in investment, it would be for fun and sentimental reasons, but I’m not wealthy enough to get stuck with something I couldn’t sell, and I worry that I’d spoil using it for myself with the notion that I was shooting myself in the foot every time I wobbled about on it. Daft, but true.
I agree that this is a sound notion in principal, but I like to try and process my doubts into answers before walking away. No harm in it.
It’s very kind of you to remember and to ask. Thank you. My back remains awful, and riding anything remains fraught. After taking a year or so out of riding, I now try and do what I can (probably a few hundred miles year) and take the agony that comes with it, as there will soon be a time when I can’t do it at all. Curiously enough I always found the DD really comfy, and did more miles on that than any other bike I’ve ever owned, though I suspect largely because I knew I couldn’t keep it and wanted to make the most of the privilege.
Talking to @nelly sounds like good advice. Also, I'm pretty sure Glen at Moto-V (http://www.moto-v.co.uk/) is a Desmo-trained tech from his days at Ron Parkinson - might be worth giving him a call? He's not that far away from you either.
I'd go for more of a John Wayne swagger but with a Clint Driftwood squinting stare on your face, it wouldn't change a thing but you'd feel better about yourself .
I did 15,000 miles on mine in 3 years from 2012-2015. https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/8k-miles-in-a-year-doable.32865/ All the work was free under the from-new service plan but aside from the last one https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/d16rr-15-000-mile-service.37253/ none of the annual visits to JHP were particularly onerous IIRC (I'll see if I can dig out the service records). I'm no expert but I reckon your old D16 will likely need only what any bike would need after a few years stood. Of course if you come to the point of needing a 15,000 mile service after you've bought it back, it COULD cost you a bloody fortune! https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/8k-miles-in-a-year-doable.32865/page-7#post-610138 So far was value of your old D16 goes, I'd suggest that you research the mileage, details and asking prices of all bikes that are on the market at the mo and create a spreadsheet. That's what I did when I bought mine and it gave me a pretty good idea of what was reasonable and realistic. Keep us posted!
