Interesting thread, and will watch with interest. I could write reams on this, as could we all. I can relate to your thoughts re: £2.5K Andy but when an item gets whipped up by the media complete with an "iconic" tag it all gets more complicated. In reality I think I have an idea what the seller is hoping for with this in mind but i shouldn't be so cynical. In truth Tyla @Tyla keveth I think he will even laugh at a £3K offer but I would love to be proven wrong. If it's a bike that's in good to fine fettle mechanically with MOT and depending on provenance in the guise of past bills and service work it's going to be more like 4K plus before the seller takes interest in the current "climate" - I could be totally wrong here of course. The more details you can add re: condition/past service work etc the better.
My guess is you need to spend at least 2.5 - 3K just to get the correct seat, subframe, screen, wheel colour and original paint colour/scheme and decals on the tank and fairings. You then have to start on the mechanicals and other detail items like replacing the braided hoses on the brakes and clutch, probably need to source an original clutch slave cyl which will need refurbing, what condition is the clutch basket in? And so it will go on. Think Andy may be being a bit generous to the seller if you are intending to put it back to original spec. I bought my 916 10 years ago and carried out much the same exercise, it was only really viable because within the £3k purchase price it had the standard wheels and exhausts to fit in place of the items on it and all the panels and paint were standard original items. For me the biggest outlay was my spare time to strip and clean everything, moneywise I think I spent about £500 on bits and pieces for it including new tyres. Other than some re plating on the rear axle I did all the work myself and did not have to replace belts and filters etc as I knew the previous owner and had seen the new service items being fitted 6 months and 500 miles earlier. I still had the cams out and did my own rocker and clearance checks though. It also helped that the bike had only done 3500 miles - it still had the original tyres from the factory. Lots of work and a chunk of money will be involved. Some of what I did to mine can be seen in photos in my album on here.
This is a classic case of your heart ruling your head. Your heart says you really want it but your head and thoughts keep throwing up questions and doubts. For sure it could be a great buy but at the same time it could be a money pit to get back to 100% original as you said you want. That really is the big question if you do buy it are you prepared for some of the Pitfalls and upsets that will come your way in trying to get it back to 100% original. Saying all of that sometimes the journey it takes you on can also be fun and rewarding but you have to look at the big picture and time frame in finding the correct parts and at what costs. If it does all work out and you buy it then great for you and good look with getting it back to as you want it. But at the same time if it doesn’t work out don’t get too disheartened and there will be another one the same or better for you in the future. As other people have said in this thread the parts are getting harder and harder to find but speaking for myself who spends a few hours each week as well as driving to most of the UK bike auto-jumbles all over the country trying to find original Triumph Bonneville parts for various 60’s Bonneville’s that I own it can be fun and a real pain in the arse at the same time time. But that’s all part of the journey. GOOD LUCK whatever you decide.
Aren't the ones that make the world rotate in life or i'm getting confused with those little words risk takers.
I'd say look further afield than you are already. They are out there. 1994, 31k/kms, 3 known owners but located in Holland. Not sure what the import tax situation is now. https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1298005 Or other options: https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1272593 https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1296029
So based on the picture there’s not much proof it is an original ‘94. A good deal depends on lots of details: Price? Original ‘94 with P8 computer? How many original ‘93-‘94 panels? Original ‘93-‘94 wheels? If the price is good for a ‘94 with proof of the P8 computer then just buy it but a good price imho would be well below 5k. Painting with decals will set you back a grand, ‘94 panels complete roughly 2,5k so if a nice and correct one is about 10k then you can make an estimate what it’s worth deducting these values and some maintenance related stuff. Rebuilding or repair of the ‘94 engine is a challenge on itself also money wise. So make sure for yourself if want to go that route. If you’re not too much experienced with Ducati detail wise and not very technical I would skip the “specials” and just buy a nice and 916 or 748, 996, 998
OK, so after all the advice I've told the guy its not the 916 for me, he asking 7.5k, if the price would drop to 5k then I'd have a good think about it I'm realising that a complete original good condition 94 916 is going to be to much for me. I know I want a 916 so the best and most original the better, but NOT essential. this bike for sale is on 14.5k with belts done in the last 12 months by ducati dealer. I know the seat unit isn't original, nor the screen and another member pointed out the wheels and subframe. the bike i will get will never be a true collector bike so things like braided brake lines and clutch covers ain't so important. if the Holland bike was over here for the same price I'd be quite tempted, also the Italian on. there's another for sale near me, been sat in a lounge for years. not been serviced for a good while, and "has a dent in the radiator" they are asking 6.5k! id be happy to spend 8k on anice one, but I don't think I'll find one. I seen a member sold one for about 5.5k a few months ago but that was before I found this place. again thanks for the help
Why not go and see the other one located near yourself, although as you say it’s been stored in the lounge that is not such a bad thing. A warm dry lounge is miles better than a damp wet garage or shed with regards to it being stored. If you go and see it the owner may be more interested in doing a deal that satisfies you both, a dent in the radiator is no major deal breaker and could easily be fixed. The same as having a major service and negotiation with the seller regarding these items may just tip the deal in your favour. Also while not wanting to waste people’s time if you do go and see the bike it gives you a better picture of what your dealing with and looking for with regards to different bikes and gaining more knowledge about them at the same time. In my collection of many bikes I have a 998s Final Edition and Yamaha R1 4xv model and some bikes have a desirable demand for people to own them. These were the bikes that everybody wanted 20+ years ago so now middle aged men with spare cash want to go back in time and buy what they wanted all them years ago and weren’t able to at the time. That’s why these bikes keep going up and are getting harder and harder to find. But like most things in life if you really want it then keep looking and make a real effort no matter how far it may located as that could end up being the chosen one. Good luck in your ongoing search.
A couple of 996’s https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUCATI-996-MONO/265019655319?hash=item3db4670497:g:x3sAAOSwViVfygZx https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-02-...032722?hash=item523cf56252:g:DHkAAOSw5K5fal9x
OK everyone has told you not to do it so... Its going on display in your house. Fairings stickers and wheels sprayed approx £1200 or less -maybe a lot less... You keep an eye here and eBay, some other bits turn up over the next years - no hurry right? As an investment to make top money probably not , but the bike won't lose money. As a show bike in the lounge, a few odd summer Sundays for breakfast or a ride through the lanes why not? If you get bored, you put it on eBay and you get back what you've paid, probably a little more in a few years... If the purchase price is right, you will have your fun and sell it at the end with good memories.
This was my thought train when I seen this bike, I got an r6 for everyday rides, and a 916 would be sat and starred at for 350 days a year. a 996 is not an option for me, if I had one, I would always want to put 916 stickers on it, and well, I'm not that silly. I've already seen an early rear wheel for 175 quid, and we got a body sprayer in our yard so paints cheap. as pointed out tho.. this bike raises questions as to whether it is actually a 94 bike.. and if it is. why has so much been changed. one thing I would like is to know the history of the bike, and this guy doesn't seem to know too much. so anyone got a 916 for sale
These bikes were not always sought after, and some owners changed them like some owners do. The current widely held view (here on the forum) that changing anything at all on a bike is heresy has certainly not always been the case. My own Monster is probably 50% original now and worthless as a collectors bike. Its also a far better bike than it was when manufactured in every respect that has been changed. Its a funny co incidence that the bike I went to see immediately prior to purchasing my Monster was a 916. Somewhat tatty, and it sold for £3400 four years ago. If you see the V5 title and the numbers correspond, then its the bike and the year on the certificate.
Like the post above says people change things on their bikes all the time. Look at it even now not many people keep the original parts if they say add new Carbon items or better exhausts, rear sets etc etc. Also when people Change items they normally sell the original items to help with the costs of the things they’ve bought which you can fully understand. Everything I change on my bikes I always keep the original item clean and wrapped up and left in the attic for future years. So yes in your case trying to find a complete original 1994 Ducati 916 will not be easy but at the same time the longer you take trying to find one the harder it will be and with prices increasing all the time it will only get dearer and dearer. Sometimes like I said in a previous message you really have to make a big effort in finding some of these old bikes and when you think that now there 26+ years old many things and owners later not many will be totally original as they’ve lived a life. Many things change when owning a bike for years, people’s ideas and also what’s fashionable or trendy also plays a part in how they look now. I have four 1960’s Triumph Bonneville’s and they are all a perfect example of how through the years and different people owning them changed items to their own desires and requirements. More 60’s Triumphs were cut up and chopped about after the Easy Rider movie was released it the 70’s so that’s why trying to find an original untouched one now is so bloody hard. This of course was what people wanted at the time. Sadly them same chopped up bikes are worth pennies compared to an original untouched bike but that’s life. So even though you really want an original 1994 Ducati 916 you may need to just buy the best one you can find and then go on the manhunt for all of the missing non original items for that bike. This is a very similar thing I’ve done with my old Bonneville’s and while the journey is sometimes a pain in the arse it’s also fun at the same time and along the way you gain valuable knowledge of the bike which is only a good thing. So going by my own experience and even bringing bikes back from the USA it only gets harder and harder the longer you leave it and more expensive at the same time. What you really want maybe is not out there for normal money so buy the best one you can find and then start your journey into making it all original, but you must remember your not the only one trying to do the same especially as they are so popular at the moment. I wish you the very best of luck in finding what you want.
Made in Italy have just sold this one it was advertised at £9995 https://www.madeinitalymotorcycles.com/post/ducati-916-bp
