Well I finally got one It was was short lived search in the end lasti only a couple of months but what a roller coaster. This forum has been invaluable as as source of fact to help me make a decision and in particular I wanted to thank some folks whose ears I have bent in the lead up to jumping on a bike I didn't think I wanted and was initially outside of budget Big thanks to the following in no order - Red998 - Bettes - ChrisT70 Also thanks to everyone else who responded to my various posts ove the past weeks As for the bike, well it's a 748R in the wrong colour. Pics and details to follow!
Have you bought that lovely yellow low-miler that was on eBay? Oooooh! :handok: (BTW: it's red that is the wrong colour... custard is faster than strawberry jelly!)
yep but i almost walked because there was a problem with the vin number and i thought the guy was being shady... turns out there was a missing digit and the chap was an older gent sitting on a 999r, 916sps and the 748r he had to let one go and advertised the 748 and 999 and whichever went first hed then keep the other one he kept them in the dining room so his wife was keen to get some space back and his daughter wanted a car so i was there to help relieve the burden!
You've bought a pretty special bike though, and compare what you've spent to what you *could* have spent and it seems like a bargain. If you cherish it then you'll never lose money. If that remorse gets too strong then PM me, I sold my 748s a couple of months back and I have sellers remorse. Even offered the guy his money back and he was having none of it, as he loves the bike. I really teetered on having a sniff at the one you've just bought so if you get a few months in and decide you'd like to tick off the ownership experience and move on then ping me!
Ive not yet ridden it but if i hate it then youll be the first to know!! it does look glorious though but sounds like a bag of nails on idle!
They all do that, sir! My 748s was clattery from the clutch at idle, if you pull the clutch lever and disengage it then usually the noise subsides a bit. There is a modification that quietens it down a bit, but it's part of the experience IMHO. Now, my 749 really does sound like it's trying to grenade itself at idle with the clutch engaged. Dear god that makes a racket. I've not heard a 748r but imagine it to be more of the same. If it's your first Ducati then allow time for your senses to calibrate. I always feel like I'm going slow on a 748, or my 749 for that matter... the speedo tells a different story. It's like everything is in slow motion, and you've got the poise that buys you the time to really make the best of every corner on every road. It's easy to think you're doing 50 and to be doing 70 or 90... so keep an eye on your speed until you've a feel for it. Tyre pressures are key, as are the tyres themselves. Don't hesitate to get the suspension set up for your weight and to adjust the controls to your taste and preference. Also it seems that some days, "y'know... no". The 748 was a bike I either went out on and had the ride of my life or it was a hateful little sod. All down to my mood, all down to how limber I felt that day and how I wanted to ride. Get your head in a good place, pick a nice day and don't rush to get to know it, let the bike unfold and you'll love it. Don't be afraid to put miles on it either, they're meant to be ridden! Enjoy, I'm yellow with envy!
Is it worth the wear though? @Derek on here got 36,000 miles or so out of a clutch and his basket was still pristine - only the friction surfaces were worn.
If I did more miles on it then I'd probably feel in violent agreement. My 749 is my only dry-clutched Ducati now as the 750's and the Scrambler are all wet-clutched... so for novelty factor alone I think I'll keep the ring-a-ding-ding as an historic artifact.
