Hi, iam looking at buying a 1098 s with approximately 10k on the clock. Is there anything I need to look for? The bike is on 07 plate with 3 previous owners, I know about the belts but is there anything else i should be looking for? At the moment I ride a ktm rc8,but always fancied a ducati. Your Information and experience would be much appreciated. Tommo.
It will be due a major service soon so that could be used as a bargaining tool, not unless its been done early. Other than that just the obvious stuff you look for when buying a bike. Don't be afraid to whiz the panels off and have poke around.
Thanks Mr C, the bike iam looking at is at a dealers for just under £ 8k.What is involved in a major sevice on these bikes,apart from the belts .
Sorry I lied the biggy is at 15k on these. Belts Valve clearances, fork oil, engine oil and filter, fuel filter, adjusting the left gigglepin and other stuff that boring Cost depends on where you take it and how much valve adjustment is needed. My advice is buy it ride it and spend on it as required
Should have been done but at 7k I think? it's the valve clearances so should have been done. Mine were way out the first time and it cost a small fortune to get quite a few the shims changed... Other than that just belts with it..... have a good listen to it for a whistle like a supercharger when you blip the throttle at about 4k rpm to. Mines in after a main crank bearing failure and the front cylinder re coating to boot and that aint cheap!
Couple of other things spring to mind Has the reg/rec mod with the heatshield been done (plate down by the battery) All Ducatis are rather hard on reg/recs so any flickering lights or dash could be sign reg/rec on the way out Check the rad carefully earlier ones were known to crack at one of the mounting points and not cheap to replace so any steam or water around there be careful.
Good point... on my third reg rec. Rad did go but northern radiators do a repair for £40 if the worst happens.
Get in touch with the 3 previous owners and ask them if they have raced or tracked the bike. Check the coolant expansion tank and make certain it has proper coolant in it, not just water. If the bike has been Tracked/raced with just water as a coolant, avoid it like the plague.
Go to the forks. Look at bottom yoke and bottom of frame stem and look for the tang that sets the steering lock. Check to see if its bent. Like pic below. That will show if its been front ended, dropped etc. Look at bike from above and check that both foot pegs are straight and inline with each other. A dropped bike may have slightly out off line pegs where the rearset has bent back the fixings on the frame. Those are my 1st two things to look for. Other than that the general stuff.
Place your nose next to the valves on either the front or rear tyre, let a little air out and have a good sniff, it it smells a little stale I'd steer clear its obvious the previous owners weren't OCD Ducati owners (see some of the threads on here for proof). It's not rocket science if it looks OK and makes your brain say 'BUY IT' just go for it.
Dont listen to him. Drinky likes the smell of stale rubber. Plus look at what he rides and ask yourself why he never realised that they were fake Termi's.
