After scratching an itch I have had for quite some time I bought a 749s. Now I am having doubts as to what model I have bought. Some I have looked at have a light grey swing arm then some have a dark grey swing arm then after the revamp year they are meant to have a red frame but all the ones I can see for sale have grey frames? Could someone shed some light on my new pride and joy.
A 2003-2004 model year base 749 registered in 2005? The swing arm is the early type as is the frame colour. Did they do an S biposto? Could have had the biposto rear added at a later time by swapping the mono subframe. Looks lovely though
Found this quote on another forum: Did they stop doing the 749s as a bip then? I have a 2003 749s bip so you can have both. in that year, the 's' had TiN forks, not sure if much else.
I can't tell from the picture, but the forks look like Ohlins - which weren't standard on the base model, but were on the S. I think........ Has it got Ohlins forks, shock, and steering damper?
They are not Ohlin's looking at the picture - the 2003/4 749S didn't have Ohlin's looking at Google images - the later red frame / black swing arm ones did.
I thought that Ohlins components were one of the main differences between a base model and an S. My 999S is a 2003/4 model, and it had Ohlins as standard fit.
Deco, go onto the DVLA web site as if to tax or sorn the bike - put the reg and ref number in - it should come back as a 749S or 749BP I think. Or maybe even a 749S BP?
Yes, non radial Ohlin's on early 999's, Radial Ohlin's on 999R's - but Google shows pictures of early 749S's with standard 999 forks.
(Tomorrow), phone your friendly Ducati dealer with the VIN number and they will be able to tell you what it is.
The Showa 43 mm forks have 125 mm of front wheel travel and feature adjustable rebound and compression damping, and spring preload. The legs are treated with TiN (Titanium Nitride) on 749s, (the 749 has the same forks, but without TiN treatment). The lightweight hollow front axle has a 25 mm diameter to increase rigidity and improve handling precision. Read more: 2003 Ducati 749 & 749s Street Bikes - Sportbike Review - Sport Rider Looks like yours have TiN coating from the picture so looks like a 749S BP
As has been said it's a 2003/04 bike registered late, MY05 had the later swingarms, quite a few grey imports were registered late as I recall.
Cheers everyone for their help. Weather it is an early model or not I am still more than happy with it ( all be it still confused?) I will pop in to ducati Glasgow and ask for some input. Also the funny thing is I would have prefaired a mono but this one came up with all the correct history and decent miles ect.
It is a 749s Bip, correct. The 2003 brochure actually only lists yellow as a colour option but I guess in 2004 when they phased out the 748 they bought a red 749 in.
