Ducati 750 Dark - Values and Faults?

A friend of mine is looking at bidding on this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2481849168

Opinions?

He's emailed the seller to find out if it has any service history, don't
know the answer yet.

 

I have one of these and love it to bits. Have had some oil leaks from the
rear cylinder, but thats life. Previous owner may have wheelied it a lot.
I have had no other major probs, you do have to remember its not a 998 but
mine runs well. Need to buy a sidestand cutout as the factory model drives
you up the wall. Costs approx £30 from spares shack.

 

Very nice. I like the Dark series - a Monster or the new
749 Dark are so much better than the red and yellow ones.

Just remember that it's much, much harder to match the
matt black paint, so it's off to Ducati for genuine
panels that cost 3 times the price of aftermarket stuff.

 

You *do* know why Ducati make it so you don't
run it on the sidestand, don't you?

PS: Please put your replies at the bottom rather than the
top - have a quick look at the UKRM CBT here:
http://www.ukrm.net/faq/UKRMsCBT.html

 

Why?

 

Isn't it some unbelievably crap thing about the design of the engine, the
way the oil circulates or something? Or am I getting mixed up with why you
shouldn't wheelie them?

 

Same kind of thing.

The oil ways and pickups are in the wrong place for the
bike to be left idling for any period of time on the
sidestand. That's why you can't start them on the stand
as they come from the factory. Having said that, if
you've got plenty of oil in the sump then it *should*
be fine.

As for wheelies, the design of the L-twin is such that
if you stand it on the rear wheel the oil from the
rear cylinder can come out of the breather, out of the
airbox and all over the back wheel. Mind you, you need
to keep it aloft for a good couple of minutes before
you'll fill the oil catch tray.

 

....and the matt black paint is less durable than other colours.

 

OK, as a long-term (carbed) 750SS owner......

Realistically, this is worth about 3k. Maybe a shade less.

So that's the filthy lucre out of the way. What about the bike?

The 750SS engine is probably the strongest that Ducati has made in years
- much more solid than the 900, and possessed of a decent wet clutch.
Also only a five-speed gearbox, and it needs no more.

Bore & stroke is identical to the 748, believe it or not.

It's a gloriously sweet engine: smooth, free-revving (but not as free as
a 748), more than enough torque, just an utter delight. It's not fast,
though. An absolute top whack of 130 is realistic.

This one's done 4k miles. I'd want to see two stamps in the service book
besides the first 600 mile service. There are all sorts of reasons for
this that I won't go into, but basically you don't just park up Dukes
for a year and assume they'll run fine when you re-open the garage
doors.

To sum up - yes, go for it, don't bid more than 3k, and don't bid at all
if it hasn't got the service history outlined above.

 

SV650S? Not much quicker than your CB but a v-twin and lighter so
probably handles better. Insurance group 9 for the unfaired or 10 for
the faired so not expensive.

And it's Japanese so not going to fall apart as quick as a Duke. Mind
you, it's a Suzuki...

 

That rules out any Ducati. Useless steering lock, heavy controls, tall
gearing and you never get the thing into third gear, never mind third
and higher. Buy a small 100cc or 125cc as a commuter hack, and second
bike.

Honda CB500, Suzuki 600 Bandit (similar performance, the Honda handles
better, the Suzuki has more of a real bike feel, Honda's cheaper to
run....

See above

See above

See above

See above.

Seriously, get two bikes. Commuting through London is hell on a
medium-to-big bike. And when you get knocked off, as you will, you'll be
glad of a small bike youi can just kick straight.

 

Oh yeah, so you do.

Um.... Suzuki GSX750S - hugely under-rated bike, has a GSXR750 engine
(albeit an oldish one) and is cheap to insure.