Ducati 998

[JAYMZ]

So I'm still toying with the idea of a new bike.

I was thinking about an older RSV Mille (2005ish), but now, somehow, I've convinced my wife I can have a second bike, keeping the GSXR as a commuter.

Since I was a baby, I've always hankered for a Ducati. I love the classic old shapes - 916, 748, 998.

What kind of things should I look out for or be aware of before buying?

[Weeksy]

Mostly servicing costs. Service history etc etc. You can effortlessly be taken for £1000 for a full service on any of the above. The 998 are potentially cheaper and better for this sort of thing.

Personally i'd get a standard one over a modified one.

I'd own one again (i've had 3 previously). However i'd also be aware of the pitfalls.

Exceptionally rewarding machine to own.

[str0nach]

Originally Posted by JAYMZ

So I'm still toying with the idea of a new bike.

I was thinking about an older RSV Mille (2005ish), but now, somehow, I've convinced my wife I can have a second bike, keeping the GSXR as a commuter.

Since I was a baby, I've always hankered for a Ducati. I love the classic old shapes - 916, 748, 998.

What kind of things should I look out for or be aware of before buying?

how old are you exactly

[stray cat]

You will get loads of knowledgeable technical advice, I'm sure! The 998S (being the last of the line) was probably the most trouble-free (not that any of them had any problems anyway).

They are lovely, lovely bikes to ride, just like riding a well-behaved and long-legged thoroughbred horse.

I do agree, that shape is just beautiful. And the cockpit looks gorgeous when you ride them, too.

[MyLittleStudPony]

They're tiny, uncomfortable and nasty to ride on the road IMHO.
And as Weeksy says, big bills are never far away.
I think most of those models had the weak rockers which can run into big money.

[the phantom pieman]

Originally Posted by MyLittleStudPony

They're tiny, uncomfortable and nasty to ride on the road IMHO.
And as Weeksy says, big bills are never far away.
I think most of those models had the weak rockers which can run into big money.

the 998 didn't have rocker problems
They're not tiny !
They are uncomfortable .... to ride thru towns, up on the open road, making good progress ( and with handle bar risers on them and a "race screen) then are quite nice
They are a tad focused ....

[allybee]

The 998 as the testretta (999) engine - so no rocker issues.

Can be expensive to service, however a good independent can help keep the costs down. As can a bit of home servicing.

They run hot if you ride them in traffic, dry clutch can also be a pain in stop start conditions. water expansion bottles can crack as a result of heat cycling.

If you get an S, Ohlins forks are more expensive to run - seals can go due to non-trained people working on them. (74 Rs are also affordable, but beware extra servicing and costs.

Riding them on open roads is a shear joy and far outways the extra care needed over a Jap bike.

Just my £0.02

[Weeksy]

Originally Posted by the phantom pieman

They're not tiny !...

Yeah they are.

Short wheelbase, low seat height and also a V twin engine so narrow. They're a very small bike. The only reason i can think of for not thinking that is comparing them to some of the newer 600s' etc. Which are really really tiny, possibily making the Ducati percieve to be a bit bigger ?

[stray cat]

Originally Posted by Weeksy

Yeah they are.

Short wheelbase, low seat height and also a V twin engine so narrow. They're a very small bike. The only reason i can think of for not thinking that is comparing them to some of the newer 600s' etc. Which are really really tiny, possibily making the Ducati percieve to be a bit bigger ?

Probably true, although I didn't think they had THAT short a wheelbase? They are quite heavy, though.

They are just my size, though (says Goldilocks, here), so I find them very comfortable. They are admittedly a bit of a pain in town, though, for all the reasons given above plus the poo turning circle, but they sound so fabulous, and with admiring yourself in all those shop windows .. well, you will soon forgive all of that.

[Weeksy]

Originally Posted by stray cat

Probably true, although I didn't think they had THAT short a wheelbase? They are quite heavy, though.

Yeah but because of the weight distribution on the move they don't 'feel' heavy. Although they're certainly 10-15kg heavier than their jap equivalent at the same time.

It's not that short... but it's not that long

The narrow tank, bars and seat make it feel tiny too.

[stray cat]

No, they don't feel heavy on the move, although they seem to respond better when "hustled" about as if they were. I am only speaking from a weed's p.o.v., when shuffling round in car parks (areas of potential disaster)

[JAYMZ]

I'm imagining that most, if not all, 998s will have low mileage and will have lived in a bike-geek's garage with lots of love and attention. Or is this wrong?

What are the actually issues that make serving so expensive? I recall something about replacement belts?

[2ptjoe]

I treated mtself to a 888 this year and i fuggin love it. Yes it's got niggles , yes it'll cost more to service it but it's also got something that i cant put my finger on.
I wouldnt' sell mine unless i HAD to.
A guy i know has a 998 and he and his misses toured all over on his with no issues at all. She didn't even mind the pillion seat ( but she was tiny )

A quick spin wont tell you what there like to ride and own. You need a day on one. Their also different to ride than a jap 4. It took me several trips to get the hang of the engine and handling.

They are a top 2nd bike

[Weeksy]

Originally Posted by JAYMZ

I'm imagining that most, if not all, 998s will have low mileage and will have lived in a bike-geek's garage with lots of love and attention. Or is this wrong?

What are the actually issues that make serving so expensive? I recall something about replacement belts?

IT's a reasonable assumption.

Basically in simplest terms, the oil all starts at the bottom of engine in sump. Until it's fully circulated the opening and closing rockers (integral part of the desmo technology) are not being coated with oil. These are 'coated' from the factory and the coating ends up coming off. (known as flaking rockers). So, the rockers flake and fail and that in theory means the cams are affected and worn unevenly. etc.

The rockers are very small parts, but considering you have a LOT of them get very expensive when they go wrong.

Now the 748/916 are affected more because the plating/coating was weaker for a certain time. The 998 are better for that reason and also a slightly diffrent lubrication system which means the top end of engine (where the rockers are) gets oil a bit better.

The belts are not the expensive part of the servicing, a decent belt service at somewhere like MotoRapido/Snells/etc will get you change from £500. It's the rockers/cams etc that starts making it expensive.

[Weeksy]

916 rocker, Vehicle Parts Accessories, Books, Comics Magazines items at low prices on eBay.co.uk

Give you an idea about some rocker type prices.