Assume you had to choose between a 996S or a standard 998, both unmolested monos in nice condition. The 996 has more owners and 8000 more miles but is very slightly better condition. Both in the faster red built around year 2000 and both have Marchesini wheels, Ohlins rear and Showa forks. All nuggets of wisdom and model prejudice gratefully received.
The 998 was launched 2002 and will be the Testastretta engine although not deep sump. The 996S will be the previous Desmoquattro engine and the bike gained the Ohlins rear shock as standard in 2001. Even though the 996S shared the same crankcases as the base 998, the 998 was a new engine from the crank up. I’d be happy with either but would probably err towards the 998. Andy
The 998 was Ducati finally getting around to addressing some of the 'character' of the desmoquattro engine. 11° Testastretta finally sorted the whole thing out.
996 probably, lower down torque makes road riding more fun. Though 8K more miles is not a bad thing, if its 8K more than a 998 with 2K, I might change my mind similarly 30K miles or 22K... Is there a horribly expensive service on these and have they both already had it paid for by someone else?
996’s are known to have suffered rocker problems circa 1999-2001. Not so much the 998 new engine. Is there anything documented about rockers/camshafts in the 996 service history log? To me, this can be a major game changer.
I have lusted after one ever since seeing Foggy taking on and usually beating the might of Japan on the best looking bike I had ever clapped eyes on. But having a life away from bikes as well as with them the 916 did not meet my needs and I couldn't justify having one sitting idle in the garage. But times change and I must be getting close to the front of the queue in God's waiting room so feck it I will spend a bit of the kids inheritance on an Italian beauty for the odd sunny Sunny blast and to drool over in the garage. If the cam lobes loose their coating do they take anything else with them or is it a straight forward job to replace the camshafts? Thanks for the help so far.
Owned both, still got a 998s. I'd have the 996, can't explain in test rider terms I just preferred it to my current 998. However, if it were me, I'd buy a 748s!!! as out of all the Ducati I've owned, that was my favourite. Everything was just spot on.
The rockers flake first. And then, with the coating gone, they start eating the cam lobes away, if the issue is not addressed timely. So rockers go first (worst case scenario, there are 16 of them), then camshafts (4 of them) if the lobes are shot. A mighty expensive maintenance.
Had this happen on my Monster S4rs Caught it in time and replaced one rocker. Traded it in for a Multistrada soon after.
Gulp, mines an SPS, had head work done a while back though, can you tell the cams apart from ordinary ones? Apologies for the thread hijack, it's interesting stuff though. Are the 888 SP4 cams special?
I have owned a 996 and a 998S Bostrom, without a shadow of a doubt I'd go 998, it's the same ergo's but my god it's night and day in terms of performance, both cracking bikes but you can tell instantly which one is newer more refined. Issues have been covered above regarding rockers etc for the older engines, the Testastretta by comparison is bulletproof.
Apologies for the thread hijack, it's interesting stuff though. No problem, the info is just what I wanted and if it's helping others as well then thats even better.
