Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Buying a 916 - Need advice

[kiwi]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking at buying a 916/996 and need a bit of advice.
It will be my first Ducati after wanting one for years.
What things do i need to look out for in particular?
The bike i am looking at currently is a '97 916 with 10K on the clock. It looks to be stock apart from a carbon hugger.
I am also considering a later 99-00 996.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[dickieducati]

go for the latest bike your finances will allow.

[baylissboy]

Go for the 996!!

[keefer]

as the others have said go for the newest bike you can.
That is of corse after you make sure the newest isn't a dog.
usual things as with all bikes really.
service history, overall condition. there are allot of dukes out there that don't get ridden in the rain, try and find one.
any extras like exhausts make sure you get the original for the mot game.
Other that when you have found the best one. ENJOY

[hooley]

Kiwi,

I too was in this position in December, and after intensive searches found this 'little' beauty of a post from the 'font of all knowledge', Shazaam!

Read down a few posts of this:
http://217.199.188.40/xmb/viewthread...=9331#pid75962

Good luck, you'll enjoy spending the cash, but just hope you realise that the spending usually does not stop with the bike.

Usually carry on with a few 'essential' carbon goodies, exhausts, bits & bobs to get it how YOU want it.........then there's the essential servicing as well.

Don't worry, she'll love for it

Jas

[GsxrAge]

I had a 1997 916 bp bloody good bike use to get a good thrashing everytime I road it. px it at 20,000 miles and still going strong

Px it for a "2001 996 bp even beter bike (still thrashing it)
I would go for a late 996/998 good all round bike not ugly like the 999.:bounc y:

[Nattyboy]

If buying private youll get a good idea of its history by the owner...service history essential...but all the 2nd hand dukes ive bought have had a shed load of receipts/paperwork, all neatly filed..the sign of a fastidious owner !!!

The fact that it is pretty much standard is a good sign too (praps you can lend it to performance bikes magazine for ther photoshoot as even they cant find a std one !!!)

Cheers and best of luck..you wont go back to the dark side once youve had a duke !!

Nat

[Walenut]

I should take a look at this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MEWA:IT

where abouts are you, if you are by anyone of the members see if they will go with you.

[Walenut]

Personally I’d go for a lower mileage older bike, 916? presume you are going for the bike for the love of Ducati’s otherwise you’d be buying a (and I’ll be burnt at the cross for this)
H H H Honda SP1 as fast as a 998 without the hassle, but just missing something!

[gary-g]

For god's sake don't buy an SP-1!
I wanted to get a duke in 2001 and was talked into buying a new SP (mainly by the price) instead.
The SP is a track bike, pure and simple. It is far too stiff for the road and every ripple / catseye sized thing will have you out of the seat.
Lumpy B-roads are out.
The fuelling is crap and they only do about 35 to the gallon, or less if you start pushing on.
The build quality is good, the engine is powerful and gets more so after 8k miles, but like all of the H****s, the soul of the bike has been engineered out.
It's like riding a plank of wood.
Buy a Duke carefully and you won't regret it, or stop grinning when you're out on it.
Biking is a touchy feely thing after all.



Gaz