Go for the 999 or even better the 999s, I used to have a 749s a few years ago in my collection and always found it lacking power. I sold it and bought the bigger 999s. Also the 749s is a little bit misleading for an S model, no ohlins whereas the 999s comes fully loaded. I once also thought the 999 model was ugly but now I think it's a great bike to own and it's great on the road. I love looking in the garage to see what bike to take and never complain if the 999s wins the choice. Mine is a 999s 2006 model with only 1800 miles in total but sorry it's not for sale but good luck in your search which is not easy as it now appears people want them..
You can half the cost of service by pulling of all the plastic and stuff yourself and just the shop do the valves and belts. Actually it's really easy to check the valve clearances on a '9, you just pull the covers and insert the feeler gauges. No reason to send it for adjustment if it doesn't need it (and they might bill you for an adjustment without touching it...). If you slacken the belts every winter it will do 3 years at least because that will make it equal to belts in dealer storage. Check that the engine runs as smooth as it should and that there are NO oil spills under the engine (like from a hairline crack in the engineblock by the bearings). Some 749 models also had issues with idling and you need to run it proerply hot before you can be sure it's okay. A test drive must be at least half an hour on different speeds. br Jim
Italsport used to be nearest to me before Ducati Preston opened and I used to send my bikes there. Preston is nearer for me now. I thought Italsport was a Ducati dealer?. They were always a lot cheaper than Ducati Manchester though!.
Italsport is not an "official" Ducati dealer anymore. In fact they have moved from the premises in Bury and are somewhere in Whitworth. I think it all went a bit tits up when Ducati Manchester actually moved to Manchester and Ducati didn't want the 2 in the same M Postcode. Italsport being the poor relative without the shiny showroom and backing from wealthy Russians kinda lost its dealership. Or so the story goes, but there is still a wealth of experience at Italsport and IMO your in safe hands
Wow great advice everybody! Thanks for taking the trouble .... it's getting nearer! I'm very cautious on buying used bikes in a private sale - ever since I went to buy a low mileage Street Triple from a guy who seemed so nice and quite - lived with his elderly mum, had loads of docs in neat binders....Anyway put my hand around the bottom of the engine - it was soaking in oil! Took a quick peek into his garage where he parked it and , yep, there was a fresh oil patch the size of a dinner plate! This 'good condition' Trumpet had a failed main oil seal (or worse) and the bastard knew it and tried to offload it onto me. grrr He carried on advertisng it after I left so some poor sod may well have bought it... Just shows you sellers don't have to be flash Harrys or villainous chavs to try and shaft you!
My 999 had a belt failure 400mls after a belt change from the vendor. Horizontal cylinder seized.Repaired under warranty, but a 1700 pound repair bill. Worth spending the extra for main dealer history.....
Yep they are great chaps, very knowledgable and friendly. It was a bit back street but a first class job for a lot less money than Ducati Manchester. Shame they got squeezed out of being a dealership but I'd still definitely take my bikes there.
