Hi there! Potential newbie 749s owner in need of some advice... I'm interested in a particular 749 - 2 owners from new, registered in 05 with an original plate of 'DX05 '. Trouble is that the V5 has engine number of 'ABSENT', and also in the manual (apparently). The owner assures me that it is the original engine, and all is in order, but this worries me. Where is the engine number on the 749, and can you access it without body panel removal? Has anyone ever known of a Ducati dealer registering a bike without knowing the engine number? Do you think a main dealer could help with this research? Anyone know of a main dealer in Deeside to Shrewsbury area from where this bike may have come from in 2005? Bike search shows this hasn't ever been stolen or write off... What do you think?
Imported. Mine is a Northern Ireland import and has no engine No on the V5. As long as the bike physically has an engine number you will be fine
To add to MrC's idea, it's also possible that the engine cases have been replaced at some point. I understand that replacements are shipped without numbers. Just asking, would you have ever checked that the numbers on the v5 match those on the motor? Have you checked the frame number? I'm guessing probably not.
'Anyone know of a main dealer in Deeside to Shrewsbury area from where this bike may have come from in 2005?' Woods Motorcycles, Abergele, N Wales; or Ducati Manchester when they had a branch Macclesfield way
If you do buy it and it does have an engine number, simply send back the V5 with updated details to include the engine number it has.
So, thanks for all your help and advice - very much appreciated. I bought it. Everything checked out. I could see that the engine did have a number on it, but couldn't see it all. It runs OK, and the history all seems to check out. V5 & VIN number checks out. I rode the 115 miles home with no problems, and a huge grin However, today when I started it up, there was a smell of burning oil. I've had a look under the fairing, and there is an oil leak either from the front cylinder valve cover, or from the oil cooler. Surely this can't be normal on an engine that has supposedly only done 3k miles? it looks like it's been leaking for some time. Also, the clutch today sounds like a hammer when idling in Neutral. Normal? I need to get this checked out ASAP. Can anyone recommend a friendly Duke expert in the Surrey/ Berkshire area? Is it possible that Ducati keep records of what engines were fitted to which frames and when? It was all going so well... maybe I'm worrying too much - 4 years of scrimping and saving
Possibly valve cover. May need removing and gasket and surfaces degreasing and re assembled. It is made of rubber and reuseable (well i reuse mine.
Got any pics Jemboe ? I'm still in the market for one but nothing has taken my fancy yet for the right price. How much did you pay for yours if you don't mind me asking ?
Thanks again for all interest and help. Found the leak - oil cooler top nearside - looks like the mounting has fractured the tank somewhere. Anyone got a spare for sale (will start a new thread)? The long run home at motorway speeds blew the oil all over the front cylinder. I cleaned it up and dried it off, and then blew some talcum powder over the area. Almost straight away, the oil cooler showed up wet. Judging by the state of some of the nooks and crannies in that area, it's probably been leaking since new. It's got KTM 43174 stamped on it - is this a genuine Ducati part?
Yes, the part was made by a third party company, not by KTM motorcycles. The cooler isn't hard to find used. AFAIK, any 749 or 999 cooler should fit.
Clutch sounding like a hammer at idle.....lump hammer or small tack hammer?....I assume you still have the original cover on,wait till you change the cover for an open one!...rattle,rattle,RATTLE...
I'd say a medium claw hammer with a short sharp swing, more of a clatter than a rattle Seems to work OK, doesn't slip, if anything it's a bit 'grabby'.
Yeah, sounds pretty normal to me mate. ....start worrying when it doesn't clatter! .....ride and enjoy
Found this... looks like some early models were recalled. Guess mine got missed. Would be worth checking yours (anyone else reading the thread) out if you've an early 749/ 999. The oil coolers have a date stamp on them, so you should avoid anything made before '04 if you need to replace one... Recall Details for DUCATI - 999 AND 749
New oil cooler fitted... If you are replacing one, best to replace the x2 new compression washers and x4 new O rings on the oil feed pipes & fittings (on the cooler side)... 886.501.51.A = x4 O ring (.29p each) 420.200.64.A = x2 Washers (.30 each) Snells keep them on the shelf and sent them out to me in the post.
