[adamsduc]

Ok, so Red Label Moto in Seattle has a CHERRY...well BETTER than Cherry 2001 748R. Here is the link:

http://redlabelmoto.com/details.asp?srID=290

How much do you think i should be paying for this? I am NEW NEW NEW to the motorcycle world...coming from having a 10hp Vespa PX150 4spd Manual....so it's a HUGE jump. Please let me know your thoughts! THANK YOU!
a.s.

 

[shaun_69]

i'm sure you'll get this more than once...but i recommend you pass...if you're coming from a vespa, this pony might be a bit more than you can handle for a lil while ...take it from a guy who bought a nice bike as a first and ended up destroying it...gradually

 

[von1098]

Dude It appears that they are a used Bike Dealership that has a lot of Ducatis.
Doesn't even appear to be an Authorized Ducati Dealership. MMMMM That's what would make the not JUMP. ESP THE PRICE

Like I said if you are going to pay 16k for a Ducati just hop on the 848.
The hottest thing next to a 1098.

Also, I think you are worried about the wrong thing.
LEARN TO RIDE it's very important.

 

[brettc63]

Adamsduc - check out this thread (if you haven't already) http://www.ducati1098.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1875

How much should you pay? The seller say 'as much as I'm asking!"

How long is a piece of string?

It's up to you though, of course. PM Supermario and see how much he got for his.
Then considering the quality of the one you are looking at you could easily add a couple of grand i guess.

Just be careful around here and don't ask any opinions of whether it would make a good 'first' bike or not..... This question has been done to death (mainly ...is a 1098....) and will never be resolved until long after the beer has been drunk and the drip trays sucked dry. Just do a search or quick scan of the 1098 page.... happy reading!

To summarise for you - it's your money, do with it what you will!

My personal opinion is that bike is collectors gear so depending on your attitude....aw F*&k it, just read the threads.

If and when it goes down the road there will be plenty of enthusiastic repair advice waiting for you back here. (I have just pre-paid to the universe a dozen or so cringes just thinking about it).

Hmmmm......Yes......... "a huge jump" (like about 96hp)

I wouldn't buy it unless I knew it had the timing belts renewed less than 12 months ago. By rights it should be on its third set by now, if you religiously stuck to Ducati's service schedule.

 

[shaun_69]

i don't think some people realize how high-performance these machines are...and how little tolerance they have for error! unless you're going to be riding this thing to starbucks and back (in which case, you are castrating a stud) you WILL hamfist the brembos when you panic and you WILL go flying. if you're just buying this bike for the image, then you should re-evaluate your decision to ride...my opinion, for what its worth, is that you should be asking where the best places to take a safety course is...

 

[Ten-6]

Adam,

I see you're fishing around and it's obvious you are really lusting for a Ducati. Don't get me wrong i completely understand, when i saw the 1098 for the first time i knew i had to have one(it's my first Duc). With that said I've been riding for 25+ years and have ridden and owned a multitude of bikes. Lets face it, coming from a scooter you're going to be on a serious learning curve and probably would be better off working your way up. But, if money isn't an issue and you respect the power of a modern superbike and take it easy while you learn it certainly can be done.

If you want my opinion I'd say look at used 996, you can find them on e-bay for $7,000-$8,000 and there's tons of after market parts and accessories for them. The 996 is still plenty fast but is much more tame than the 1098 or even i suspect what the 848 will be. I agree with others, no sense spending $13,000 on something else when you can get a used base 1098 for that. Now is the time to buy so look at a 996 or whatever, take a motorcycle safety course then ride it for at least a year. After that re-evaluate your skills and go from there....just my $0.2


Good luck with whatever you decide, you're about to enter a very addictive way of life....enjoy!


BTW, You know we expect pics of what ever you get, right?

 

[adamsduc]

Of course! THANK YOU! What about a used 748?
a.s.

 

[von1098]

Of course! THANK YOU! What about a used 748?
a.s.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!

 

[Ten-6]

Of course! THANK YOU! What about a used 748?
a.s.

Sure, a friend and fellow Desmohio club member loves his and even tracks it on occasion.

 

[Mr_Chow]

that's a total rip off. 1. It's still a desmoquatro motor=high maintenace
2. It's your first bike....I would recommend something japanese that you can destroy...instead of a 1098...try a different combination and get a 1980 Honda cx500 with crash bars; that's what i started on. If you buy that 748r you will go down, and you'll probably die.
3. The 748r is a RACE bike in street trim. The susp. setup and motor will have you all over the place and begging for it to stop.
4. Shit man...I've seen at least 3 749Rs go for $13-15k, which is a much better bike in every way except looks...i guess.

 

[Mr_Chow]

Adam,

I see you're fishing around and it's obvious you are really lusting for a Ducati. Don't get me wrong i completely understand, when i saw the 1098 for the first time i knew i had to have one(it's my first Duc). With that said I've been riding for 25+ years and have ridden and owned a multitude of bikes. Lets face it, coming from a scooter you're going to be on a serious learning curve and probably would be better off working your way up. But, if money isn't an issue and you respect the power of a modern superbike and take it easy while you learn it certainly can be done.

If you want my opinion I'd say look at used 996, you can find them on e-bay for $7,000-$8,000 and there's tons of after market parts and accessories for them. The 996 is still plenty fast but is much more tame than the 1098 or even i suspect what the 848 will be. I agree with others, no sense spending $13,000 on something else when you can get a used base 1098 for that. Now is the time to buy so look at a 996 or whatever, take a motorcycle safety course then ride it for at least a year. After that re-evaluate your skills and go from there....just my $0.2


Good luck with whatever you decide, you're about to enter a very addictive way of life....enjoy!


BTW, You know we expect pics of what ever you get, right?

Don't listen to this guy...a 996 for this guys first bike??? r u feeling okay? Ok first of all a scooter gives you ZERO experience in riding a sportbike. They don't handle the same at all. They weigh 2 1/2 times what your vespa does, and it's literally about 100x faster. Start on a old cruiser or even better an enduro (dirt bike in street tirm) to really get a feel for what it's all about. I don't care what anyone says, starting on a superbike is a BAD idea. Some people can do it, but it's most of those guys that might as well be riding a cruiser cuz they're slow are more of a hazard on the road than anything. If you must, and I'm sure you haven't, go to your local dealership and test ride something with over 100 hp and 400lbs, and you'll immediatly see the point i'm driving at here.
It would be a damn shame to see another kid dead because he's trying to impress his friends.
ok rant over

 

[Ten-6]

Mr chow,
First off adamsduc is looking to buy a Ducati not Japanese, so your recommendation is pointless. Secondly, a modern motorcycle with modern brakes and suspension is going to handle and stop better than any 600lb 25 year old behemoth. Therefore (as I stated in my post) as long as the rider has self control and respects the power of a modern bike he'll be fine. BTW, being a NOOB to this board with three posts under your belt you don't have any rant privileges.

 

[Mr_Chow]

Mr chow,
First off adamsduc is looking to buy a Ducati not Japanese, so your recommendation is pointless. Secondly, a modern motorcycle with modern brakes and suspension is going to handle and stop better than any 600lb 25 year old behemoth. Therefore (as I stated in my post) as long as the rider has self control and respects the power of a modern bike he'll be fine. BTW, being a NOOB to this board with three posts under your belt you don't have any rant privileges.

He's looking to buy a ducati because he likes the way they look. This should not be the decideing factor when buying a bike. While its true that superbikes handle and stop better, they are also much MUCH faster and can get you into trouble very quickly. This guy has no riding experiece whatsoever and you were trying to tell him that its ok to jump on a 120hp rocket ship; there's something wrong there. You start on something that matches your skill level and work your way up....it would be like a 16y/o kid who just got his drivers license going out and buying an Enzo. As far as being a "noob", the # of posts I have has nothing to do with my experiece and knowledge with motorcycles, and just for your information I have over 400 posts on ducati.ms....which is a much more widely used forum site than this one, I just was getting bored with it. So being as such I have all the rant previlages I need, and I don't really need your approval.

 

[Ten-6]

You're right, you don't need my permission to rant, but I think you get the point.

 

[walangsilbi]

Hi, I too am considering a 748R. There is one I saw around here for sale and would like to ask you guys what I need to look out for or ask the owner.

How's the reliability and maintenance of these bikes?

This will be my first sport bike purchase. Not to toot my horn but I have been riding for years and owned and sold over a dozen bikes (naked, dirt, dual sport, vintage, classic). I also race but motocross. I have a 625 supermoto that I now find slow.

TIA

 

[flowride]

Guys, I can speak a little from personal experience on more than one front.

First, I was the second highest bidder on a used 748R with 3,000 miles on ebay. I could have won the auction EASILY, but I thought I had a line on a nice Hailwood at a low price. Umm...I was WRONG, but I digress. Anyway, the selling price for a bike NICER than the one listed here? A whopping $6500 was the winning bid.

I also know of another 748R that has an ASKING price of $8200 with no offers to this point. So, to say that this joke of a dealership in the Great Northwest is trying to assrape someone on the price of this particular machine is a MILD understatement.

Second, dude...you want to go from a Vespa to an "R"? What the hell are you, freaking nuts?!? My first bike after a 17 year layoff was my 996. It took me 1.5 years, but I managed to crash the thing. It's a BIG step and one that should not be taken lightly. I don't know if I'd be plunking down that kind of jing for something that is initially going to be a posing machine. If you've gotta have it, I would suggest buying a spare rice-rocket...maybe like a little used Hyosung 250R, Ninja 250, or a Katana 600 as a learning bike. Don't believe me? It's advice I'm considering myself. I don't know about you, but I'd rather drop something like that before another Duc. It's like ruining art every time you drop one of those!

Also, please take into consideration all things Ducati. The dry clutch, for instance, will need replacing sooner than that of a Honda's. The valve adjustments every 6,000 miles? Oh...$1000 if you have a good, cheap mechanic. The 3,000 mile service? Probably another $300 minimum as something ALWAYS needs to be replaced. The cost of maintenance and repair is double, if not triple, those of other bikes. Be warned and be ready.

Just my two cents...