Now the 996 comes into play.More grunt low down and same looks as 748.You would think everyone would go for a 996 as the numbers are bigger on the dyno but many like the 748. Its all depends what you like.If coming from jap il4's you will probably prefer the 848 testastretta evo series.More refined smoother and easier to ride.However I prefer the old school character of the desmoquattro motors.The new ducatis remind me of the SP1 I test rode when deciding which v twin to buy,very nice but I preferred the desmoquattro ducati for that rawer feel. Take into account on 996 standing for 2 yrs a full service including belts .Plus front fork service ie new seals and oil.Id also have the rockers camshafts and alternator nut torque checked for piece of mind. Have you also considered a Aprilia RSVR/KTM RC8.Lot of bike for the money.
ok 4 pages in and I have not read all of them,, but I could suggest you forget both and get a beautiful 749/999 , but I don't think there are any left :Arghh:,, good luck w your search.
Yellow 996 with custard. I don't think any Ducatis like standing still for a year or more. Avoid at all cost if you are not mechanical. I bought 2 such machines and have just about got my 996 to stop having something go wrong every time I rode it (and I'm a mechanic). I would not sell mine. Rode a panigali, bit lacks character and was un involving (like a blade, low c of g). Haven't rode a 848.
I have bought two bikes in the past that have stood over a year. If you are prepared to completely rebuild a bike then that tends to eliminate any potential problems and is the way I went about it. Most of the work is just cleaning and checking things over like the electrics, brakes etc.. But it is down to capability, willpower to do it and some knowledge or a decent workshop manual. Could be a good bargaining tool though. I appreciate that everyone would want to take this approach.
I personally prefer the 748, it's the one I always wanted so nothing else was going to do it. More lively and revvy than it's plumper bigger sisters the 916 and 996. The 848 though is a great more modern re-imagining of the 748 with lower maintenance costs and more power for me though in terms of styling it's Fabbro's interpretation of Tamburini's masterpiece after the semi flop of Terblanche's 999 series, so in some ways it feels more like the new mini vs the old mini, the new beetle vs the old beetle, in design terms it's taking lots of successful elements from the original. In terms of the 748 range, the choice on model is as always dependant on your intended usage, the bi-posto and E are what you want if you intend to take a passenger and are concentrating on a road focused machine, the bi-posto with the benefit of an adjustable headstock, the E with the final (least bad) revision of most components including the troublesome cam followers. The special editions, R (with it's shorter service intervals), SPS for a 'blingy' road bike or a suitable track day bike (albeit a lot more expensive and less powerful than a three year old Jap IL4) which have the benefit of uprated suspension, lighter weight components and single seat but the only real race bike in the series is the 748 RS. In summary though, I'd say if you're after an appreciating modern classic the 748 is a good choice, but has serious draw backs in terms of cost of servicing, regularity of servicing and comfort. The 848 is the better choice for keeping the general style but with more power, longer service intervals cheaper ongoing maintenance. A good well maintained low mileage 748 is probably now going to cost about the same as an earlier 848, I would expect the 848 to continue to depreciate and the 748 to continue to slowly appreciate.
^^Good post @Ian748 Im tempted by a 748 (and a Hypermotard and a Street Triple R and a BMW K1300 and a....well you get the picture) Im sure the 748 will be a classic although the larger bike will always be more desirable. I prefer the shape of the 848 in all sincerity but at this stage I can't see it being as collectible. Maybe its just too mainstream these days. The 748/916 era always felt like there was a bit of exclusivity around the bikes which I don't think there is any more (maybe its because Im inside Ducati ownership looking out rather than outside looking in).
The 74 Taglioni 750ss is arguably as desirable as the 900ss, it's really only in the UK that people during the late 80s early 90s had an obsession with litre sports bikes. IMO
