Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 999 / 749 > Trade in price for an '04 749 Dark??

[Wylie1]

Originally posted by simonducati
so are they that bad? i need to know! iv been thinking of geting one for a long time, i had a money burning time with a 748,but now its gone my bank is happy now.

is a ducati not the bike to buy?

I bought the 1st 749s back in Oct '02. It's had a couple of very minor recalls (but so has every new jap bike I've bought/ owned) & I had to replace the battery in the 1st year of ownership (due to the dealer threading one of the terminals & it never really getting fully charged). The only other problem is the rear seat plastic has developed a stress crack

Other than that, it's been 100% reliable, including a couple of trips to the Nurburgring. I'm off to Italy in July

Servicing has been reasonable too as I don't do many miles. Minor at £180, belt service at £300'ish. One service/ year.

I've never kept a jap bike longer than 2yrs, so the fact I've still got it after 3.5yrs speaks volumes. The only bikes I'd consider selling it for.....a 749R or '05 999s.

I say buy a used one (to avoid the depreciation) & if you end up with a ' Friday afternoon ' bike, sell it on & you won't lose much. If you end up with a good'un (which most seem to be)....just enjoy it!