Would you buy an old Ducati?

[cheb]

I would, I prefer old bikes, but then I think I prefer fiddling with them to actually riding them. Not that I fiddle with them much either. My current excuse for not doing anything with the others I've got is that the workshop's full of other people's stuff.

I'd like to try a bike with the old air cooled Ducati engine but they are mostly sportsbikes and a bike small for me. One of the off road Cagivas used the same engine, Gran Canyon I think.

[KungFooBob]

The 851 is water cooled and dohc. Personally I'd be looking at an air cooled, single cam 900SS/SL's if reliability is a concern.

[KungFooBob]

It's a bit spendy, but this FE looks to be in mint condition and being an FE gets all the carbon bits and is quite rare.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175496457228

[Yorick]

Old bikes should be left in the past. It WAS iconic, the reality may be a lot different.


PS, I was looking at the GasGas 700 when I was over sorting out my new 300. Very nice.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

If you wanted an 851 you'd have bought it, you don't want it, when you see the bike you want you'll buy it.

[Skub]

I like some old bikes and some new ones. Modern bikes for riding and old bikes for the joy of ownership,plus the occasional jaunt to keep them in order.

There is more of everything available now,but cost is a factor. It's no longer a case of buying an old bike cheap and spending time/money getting it right,because prices are up there and often exceeding new bike prices. Because prices are at an all time high,the only way is down,so if a bike is bought with one eye on investment notions,that part is a non starter. If you just want an old bike,then that matters less.

I've come close a few times to buying an old bike,but I keep asking myself what I'd do with it. It's unlikely I'd ride it much,so do I want another thing just sitting there?

The end of this year will see my house improvement work finish and I plan to get the garage free from the junk which comes with those jobs. I daresay one of the voices in my head will have suggestions on how to fill the extra space. Just right now I can tell it to fuck off,as there's insufficient room.....

So in summary,I think you should buy the 851 and start a new thread already.

[Tricky]

If you wanted an 851 you'd have bought it, you don't want it, when you see the bike you want you'll buy it.

Not necessarily, there are a few things that I'd like but when you weigh them up it and it comes down to a common sense decision then they don't make sense. If I knew for a fact that an 851 would perform faultlessly and I wouldn't have to bugger about with it then I'd snap it up, but I've got enough stuff on the bench to keep me going for a good few years, so ending up with another bike sat in the corner because I can't be arsed to fettle it doesn't seem to be a great use of time, space or money.

I'd seriously consider it- always had a soft spot for the 851s from racing against one of two in the late 80s, but if I was going that way it would mainly be for looking at rather than riding , and realistically I'd really want an 888SP5.

Bearing in mind your comments above about fetlling though, and perhaps comparitive potential riding enjoyment from a (arse up head down) 851 how about one of these instead?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204135494951 ... R7Cbxo6gYQ




Or alternatively, admittedly it's not the exact generation Bob recommends , but still sticking with the AC 2V motor , this one ( with red anodised bits replaced to calm down the Bellwood factor) has you written all over it I reckon...


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255796402941 ... R6ybxo6gYQ

[mangocrazy]

I had an 851 from new in 1990 and it was basically reliable apart from a couple of minor niggles fixed under warranty. But Ducatis of that era have fragile electrics - reg/recs are feeble and prone to failing and things like the alternator wiring to the reg/rec are of a ludicrously small guage, leading to overheating. They are a very satisfying bike to ride, although I'd look further and try and find an 888 Strada, as that had anumber of improvements over the 851 models but isn't anywhere near as spendy as an 888 SPx.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Any 30+ year old bike will need fiddling with to keep it running, it's basically how they are, I would think a 30 year old Ducati is going to be more of a pain than a 30 year old Yamaha, but most of it comes down to how they're looked after.

[Mr Moofo]

It's a shame that there are so many old Ducatis where people have fired a tat-gun at them

[Skub]

It's a shame that there are so many old Ducatis where people have fired a tat-gun at them

Logging onto Ali G Express should come with a community service order at the very least.

[ZRX61]

An *Old Ducati* would be something like a '79 900SS. Had one for a while. Would have another.. but just to look at.

[Druid]

An *Old Ducati* would be something like a '79 900SS. Had one for a while. Would have another.. but just to look at.

Yeah, I spent more time looking at mine than riding it. Mostly I was wondering why it wouldn't run

[DefTrap]

I had a 90s Ducati and, whilst it was pretty and desirable, the rest of it was just wank. Good as art maybe? I sold it because I preferred my Honda's to ride.

[Mr Moofo]

Perhaps I'm having a crisis, I've been fawning all over a 748R this morning.

Go 999s
They have aged really well!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Perhaps I'm having a crisis, I've been fawning all over a 748R this morning.

Buy it, can I borrow it for a track day, always wanted to have a proper go on one but I'm not brave enough to spend my own money on one.

[Yorick]

Perhaps I'm having a crisis, I've been fawning all over a 748R this morning.

That's the worst bike I've ever ridden.
Many years ago I took my ZX9R to BikerDen for work. Hedonist lent me his own 748 over the weekend. I'd only done a few miles before I turned back.
Gave him the keys back and got a taxi home.

[KungFooBob]

I borrowed a 748R for a few laps once.

It was a bit slow speed wise and a bit slow getting it to tip in, but once you got it on it's ear it was probably the most stable thing mid corner I've ever ridden.

I was a bit cramped, they don't really make them for taller riders.

[Supermofo]

Wished I'd have bought a 748 when they were down to £2.5-£3k, but I got put off by the idea of £700-£1000 service bills not being massively uncommon.

On the subject of older Ducatis the only mate I knew who had one bought a 1000SS in Senna colours. About 1 year later he rocked up on a z1000 and explained he got tired of wanting to go for a ride and finding the Ducati just wouldn't start. He said that happened almost half the times he wanted to ride it and he got fed up and traded it. He said the Kwak was characterless in comparison but worked 100% of the time which with 2 young kids he needed given time constraints.

As much as I like 748s I'd be tempted by an 848, more sexy than a 749 and more modern. Still not cheap to run though, seem to recall Weeksy getting a big service cost on his.

[Yorick]

That's the worst bike I've ever ridden.
Many years ago I took my ZX9R to BikerDen for work. Hedonist lent me his own 748 over the weekend. I'd only done a few miles before I turned back.
Gave him the keys back and got a taxi home.

I felt the same about the Panigale V2, I picked the test bike up and the guy told me to go and fill it up at the garage down the road where they had an account because it was low on petrol - I didn't even get to the garage, I did about two miles and took it back. It felt like I was perched on top of a plank of wood with pram wheels.

Exactly same feeling.