Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Newbie, with question

[Mr C]

Hi Guys n Girls, Looking to take my first plunge into Ducati ownership, Im currenty on the hunt for a 916 with a budget of £4k. There does seem to be quite a choice with varying age and spec at circa that price. So main 2 questions are... What do i look for when buying a 916? & any well known faults?
And i do need to know is the reliability thing part mith?
For sure they are the best looking bike on the road and with myself being 5'6 and 11 st I find i dont look like a Pea on a Drum!!!
Any advice most welcome
Cheers

[Edited on 17-11-2004 by Mr C]

[NBs996]

Welcome, Mr C.

This is a topic that's obviously been floated many times.... have a read of this thread with a very detailed post by a wise man known as Shazaam

http://ducatisportingclub.com/xmb/vi...d.php?tid=9331

Also, if you give us a clue where you are then maybe, if you're really really lucky, someone will volunteer to come look at a bike with you.

good choice of bike btw!

[marksduc748]

welcome aboard, I am sure youll find one for that amount and now the time to buy. good luck with your venture and keep us informed how you go on.

[Mr C]

Originally posted by NBs996
Welcome, Mr C.

This is a topic that's obviously been floated many times.... have a read of this thread with a very detailed post by a wise man known as Shazaam

http://ducatisportingclub.com/xmb/vi...d.php?tid=9331

Also, if you give us a clue where you are then maybe, if you're really really lucky, someone will volunteer to come look at a bike with you.

good choice of bike btw!

Jezz that was quite a comprehensive list of things to look for, Bit scared now Hee hee (NOT) Think as soo as i get one i'll taake it to a main dealers and get it checked over.
I'm in Chorley Lancs BTW

[NBs996]

no need to be scared of that stuff shazaam talks about, it's just a VERY comprehensive list! If they're looked after properly then they shouldn't be any more expensive than the jap 4's

Main dealers.... hmmm..... imo it's often best to seek out a decent independant chappie, but that's just my opinion so take it however you like!. Don't know of any up your way, I'm on the south coast, but someone else might have a recommendation.

Where did you hear about the DSC?

[Henners]

.. recently bought a 1994 916 and have been refurbishing it.

As long as the motor has been looked after the rest of it is a dream to work on if you need to. Plenty of specialist secondhand parts suppliers on ebay too.

You won't regret riding one

[beancounter]

Henners,

Love your 916 and would like one similar.

Question - before you bought it, were you able to check condition of rockers / cams etc. ?

If not, how did you know that the motor had been looked after ?

Cheers

[rockhopper]

Bear in mind that you can only check the rockers by taking the cam shafts out and taking the cam shafts out isnt part of the official Ducati service schedule. So a bike that has a full Ducati service history might actually need quite a bit of work doing to it.

[beancounter]

Thanks Rockhopper, I think that's the point I was trying to make.

[rockhopper]

No worries. Mine had flaking rockers after 18,000 miles yet there was nothing in the strainer. It was only when we pulled the cams that we could see what was wrong. If you leave it long enough then the cam shaft gets damaged which will then damage the closing rocker as well.

Unless i was 100% sure that the cams had recently been out then i would walk away or be prepared to spend another £1000 on work.