Ducati 748 - reliability?

[nikon70]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/17/yrehu7az.jpg

It's a 97 model

What's the reliability of these like? All year round commuter...

It's in perfect nick!

[the_lone_wolf]

It's in perfect nick!

All year round commuter...

Won't be for long then... :o

[nikon70]

Not likely... But I've will it be reliable?

My SV starts on the button every time any weather!!!

[squirrel_hunter]

If its been well maintained and you intend to keep it that way don't see why using it would be a problem. I remember Pete & Lisa had one and did some proper miles on it without complaint. Though be sure the side stand is down securely.

The only thing I would say is you will be surprised how expensive some parts are compared to equivalent Suzuki parts both new and used.

[andrewsmith]

Don't use it to commute. It'll rot in front of your eyes!

1 winter and it'll look like its been in the River Tyne

[nikon70]

Shame :( beautiful bike!!!

Ok that along with this article I think means no no

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Ducati/Ducati-748-1994-2003/

I don't want to ruin such a beautiful bike.

Nor do I want to have to spend a fortune on repairs because I use it in winter.

[maviczap]

If its been well maintained and you intend to keep it that way don't see why using it would be a problem. I remember Pete & Lisa had one and did some proper miles on it without complaint. Though be sure the side stand is down securely.

The only thing I would say is you will be surprised how expensive some parts are compared to equivalent Suzuki parts both new and used.

Pete's did have to have a big job done on his, even though it was well maintained.

As Smithy says don't commute on it, it will disintegrate in front of your eyes.

Should be reliable, but electrics aren't of Japanese quality

[nikon70]

Thanks folks.

I think you have made the decision for me.

[squirrel_hunter]

Pete's did have to have a big job done on his, even though it was well maintained.

What was that then?

I remember he had a belt change which he said was only a little more than a valve clearance check on the SV.

[fizzwheel]

Moved to Bike talk

[nikon70]

Shame as I can get it for £500 ;)

[nikon70]

Thanks Fizz...

[fizzwheel]

What was that then?

I remember he had a belt change which he said was only a little more than a valve clearance check on the SV.

Cam Followers or Rockers IIRC. I'm sure he said it needed an engine rebuild and they ended up with a fairly large bill.

Edit - OP, go and register on here http://ducatiforum.co.uk/forum/ and talk to some owners etc etc. One thing with these, is do your research and make sure you know what you are getting into. Ducati's are'nt like Jap bikes they have little quirks and issues that come as part of the owership experience.

I know they shouldnt, but they do...

[Bibio]

there not that bad for rust etc.etc. like any bike its only as reliable as the maintenance. believe it or not they are easy to work on once you get your head around the valves, belts are like doing a car but easier. easy to ride but a bit focused surprisingly not as wristy as a sport SV, turning circle hahahahaaaa what turning circle. auto retract side stand is a PITA but there is a bolt you can get to sort it out. electrics are the main niggle so go round all the connectors with electrical grease.

[andrewsmith]

What was that then?

I remember he had a belt change which he said was only a little more than a valve clearance check on the SV.

Thought it was a major motor rebuild

Shame as I can get it for £500 ;)

For £500 notes?
Buy it and sort it

[Bibio]

for £500 i would bite his arm off.

[fizzwheel]

Sorry my memory is letting me down issue was a crankcase one on Pete & Lissa's 996, post here

http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php?p=2160909&postcount=71

[squirrel_hunter]

Shame as I can get it for £500 ;)

If its £500 and you don't want it I'll have it. Pass me the details and I can pick it up tomorrow.

[andrewsmith]

If its £500 and you don't want it I'll have it. Pass me the details and I can pick it up tomorrow.

I can be down next week for it at that price

[Bibio]

i was going to say the same thing but i have my eye on an older 750ss project bike that i can get very very cheep.

[squirrel_hunter]

I must have completely missed that about Pete & Lisa's then. And why did I think it was a 748, my memory is getting worse.

[maviczap]

At £500 it'd be worth a punt, but not for a commuter

[fizzwheel]

At £500 it'd be worth a punt, but not for a commuter

At £500 it makes me wonder WTF is wrong with it...

[maviczap]

At £500 it makes me wonder WTF is wrong with it...

Yes, exactly

[andrewsmith]

If its motor sourced one in 10 mintues for 600 notes

[wideguy]

I checked the valve clearances on a 748 for a friend, because the closest dealer had charged him $800 U.S. for the previous check. No adjustment, just the check.
One thing I noticed in the manual, they said if more than two valves needed adjustment, it was best/easiest to remove the engine and do the work on a bench.

[The Idle Biker]

£500???? Buy it and I'll buy it off you for a grand the day after. Easiest £500 you'll ever make.

[nikon70]

Sorry sell my bike for £3k and add £500 to it...

[rapidgaz]

Shame as I can get it for £500 ;)

Can I have it for 500.


Sent down the wires from home

[The Idle Biker]

I have a '99 748 SPS. I got it for £3.2k I think. 11K miles. I love every bit of it but I wouldn't want to commute on it.
It kicks out loads of heat over the riders boots and shins, which is murder in the summer. Riding position is a bit extreme and the seat is about half as thin as it should be for a reasonable ride. Buy it for fun only is my advice.

[nikon70]

Yeah fun bike not commuter. This has done 22k.

[fizzwheel]

Can you afford to keep your SV and use that as a commuter and then have the 748 as a 2nd fun bike ?

That IMHO would make a lot more sense, or if you have a car license, get yourself a cheap car and use that to commute with on the days when the weather it sh*te.

[Lozzo]

£3500 is a lot to pay for a 22k mile old 1997 748 Biposto. I just turned down an immaculate 1998 R plated 748SP with less than 5K on the clock at £3200, because they're just a little too fragile for my tastes. The 748s suffer with excessive rocker wear which can be bloody expensive as you need to do the valve shims as well, if the top end isn't wrecked.

[nikon70]

Ok scrapped that idea, looking at sv1000 now...

[yorkie_chris]

Cam Followers or Rockers IIRC. I'm sure he said it needed an engine rebuild and they ended up with a fairly large bill.

Edit - OP, go and register on here http://ducatiforum.co.uk/forum/ and talk to some owners etc etc. One thing with these, is do your research and make sure you know what you are getting into. Ducati's are'nt like Jap bikes they have little quirks and issues that come as part of the owership experience.

I know they shouldnt, but they do...

He had gearbox countershaft bearing batter the bore in the cases oval shaped. Never heard that one before but the clutch could move up and down by a good mm or more. Not ideal!

[rb8989]

Rsv mille is a good mix between ducati fun and everyday use. Loads of nice ones about right now. An R model with the ohlins and oz wheels for 1900 on ebay near me.. yum.

[nikon70]

Mille sounds good but what about riding in all weathers?

[rb8989]

Few people I know have them and ride them in all weathers. They're big with the ccm lot because they also use a rotax. It's not going to hold up as well cosmetically as some other bikes* but theyre well built. Looking for my own one at the moment after test riding one.

*Commuter bikes like a vfr ect, its not a fault, but polished swingarms and bling bits do tend to favour looks and performance over all weather finish durability.

[nikon70]

This looks like a good run down

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-used/buyer-guide-aprilia-rsv/14394-3.html

[Biker Biggles]

You can get a later post 2000 model 748 for that sort of money,or less.The later ones had better quality electrics and were reasonably reliable.BB junior still has one which rarely gets out much these days but managed a continental tour without drama.No way is it a commuter though.

[nikon70]

Rsv Mille 2007 £3k 12000miles or a SV1000 2005 £2.5k 16000miles???

Which one folks - all year commuter!

[andrewsmith]

SV1000 Next question

[yorkie_chris]

For me, I'd go for the SV, but I'd want it a bit cheaper.

[nikon70]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/18/eja6yryn.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/18/a7ahyjuq.jpg

[maviczap]

SV1000 Next question

For me, I'd go for the SV, but I'd want it a bit cheaper.

SV any day

How about the V Strom?

[millemille]

I've ridden and raced over 100,000 miles on Ducati 748/916/995/996/998's in all weathers all around Europe and have no problems that weren't self induced or that any other bike - whatever make - wouldn't have also had.

I've also ridden about 30,000 miles on the 3 Aprilia RSV-R's I've owned and had all kinds of problems with the electrics and engines.

Ducati over Aprilia each and every day of the week.

[nikon70]

Argh I feel like just sticking with what I got not 'o( *crying*

I am really inclined to go for the Mille but I can't be doing with reliability issues....

That said the visor down review and just read an mcn review both seem to say they are well built but spares can be an ar$e to get hold of...

I'd be doing a straight swap for either of them from my bike so no money involved.... And must have something that will run day in day out 5 days a week in all weather.

Happy to service and maintain more frequent intervals if need be.

Just a bit bored of the look of the SV now had it 3 years...

Don't know if the sv1000 with scratch that itch... Especially as it's a 2005. At least the Mille is 2007...

Oh I don't know!!!!

VStrom no thanks...

Falco maybe

KTC RC8 too expensive as is a CBR or R6

What ever bike it is, it's going to be a work horse, so it ain't gonna stay immaculate nor is the mileage gonna stay low... But I want something that is built to last and withstand the elements... Bearing in mind it won't be garaged.

Oh to just have a winter hack for those rainy salt covered roads, and a summer bike for those amazing days.

[nikon70]

Oh forgot to add the Ducati is OLD 1997, mint condition tho... So gonna start to have issues regardless.

[fizzwheel]

Oh to just have a winter hack for those rainy salt covered roads, and a summer bike for those amazing days.

So why dont you do that ?

As for the Ducati age does not always equate to "going to have reliability issues", if its been serviced properly, looked after and most importantly used regularly I would wager it will be more reliable than you think it will.

[nikon70]

Touché ;)

Can't afford 2 bikes just the one.

[fizzwheel]

So,

What is your maximum budget ?
How long is your commute ?
What else do you want to do with the bike ?
Does it have to be a twin ?

[nikon70]

£3k budget

Commute 25miles a day

Nothing else to do with bike

No does not have to be a twin

*Edit - it needs to have fairing, lots of motorway miles

[squirrel_hunter]

£3k budget

commute 25miles a day

nothing else to do with bike

no does not have to be a twin

*edit - it needs to have fairing, lots of motorway miles

sv650s.

[nikon70]

Already got that!!!

Seriously considering a Mille

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/18/ahavymar.jpg

[fizzwheel]

Seriously considering a Mille

What about it appeals to you ?

You keep coming back to Italian exotica, and I can completely understand why, its just IMHO I would have anything like that if I wanted a pure commuting machine.

At the end of the day, you should just buy what you want, get it out of your system as you'll always have that "what if" thought in your head otherwise.

So stop listening us and go and spend your money. However with the winter coming Id personally save up some extra pennies over the winter and then make your purchase in the spring. Purely because some part of me weeps inside when I think about riding a new to me bike over winter and having it deal with salty roads...

Mind you, if you find another few hundred quid, you wouldnt IMHO be disappointed by something like this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311169953246/sort/pricedesc/usedbikes/cc-to/800cc/price-to/3500/model/gsxr/make/suzuki/radius/1501/postcode/ba202ne/page/2?logcode=p

But then I would say that wouldnt I ;) They are chuffin awesome, but just not quite as special to ride as the Ducati is.

[nikon70]

why, it's a 1000cc, super sport, and looks like a gsxr(ish) and i think it just looks the dogs.

yes riding over the winder in it will kill me, especially as it will be a nice new bike in mint condition... it won't be mint for long :(

now that bike is doable! i could stretch to that.... but wont the rear break get all sized up having it down the bottom - like the breaks on the old curvy sv?

*edit* HOW FAR AWAY!!!! 141 miles !!!!

plus it looks like a mille nose cone, ish...

[fizzwheel]

All bikes have their niggles and issues, and IMHO the main reason why the brakes seize up and get stuck on has nothing to do with where its located and everything to do with lack of appropriate maintenance.

What ever you ride through a salty wet winter is going to need some serious TLC , cleaning and regular maintenance, thats why having two bikes a winter hack and a weekend / summer toy can make alot of sense.

Like I said, stop listening to us, stop doing research and stop thinking to much about what you want. Just go and buy it and show us some pictures once you've bought it, at the rate you are going you'll still have the SV in a years time :D ( nothing wrong with that either though ) :D

[nikon70]

you talk a lot of sense!

it all boils down to whether a mate of mine who just passed his test will buy mine or not.

i would like two bikes maybe next year.

[Nobbylad]

What about it appeals to you ?

You keep coming back to Italian exotica, and I can completely understand why, its just IMHO I would have anything like that if I wanted a pure commuting machine.

At the end of the day, you should just buy what you want, get it out of your system as you'll always have that "what if" thought in your head otherwise.

So stop listening us and go and spend your money. However with the winter coming Id personally save up some extra pennies over the winter and then make your purchase in the spring. Purely because some part of me weeps inside when I think about riding a new to me bike over winter and having it deal with salty roads...

Mind you, if you find another few hundred quid, you wouldnt IMHO be disappointed by something like this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311169953246/sort/pricedesc/usedbikes/cc-to/800cc/price-to/3500/model/gsxr/make/suzuki/radius/1501/postcode/ba202ne/page/2?logcode=p

But then I would say that wouldnt I ;) They are chuffin awesome, but just not quite as special to ride as the Ducati is.

Wouldn't buy a dust cap from Superbike Factory...shysters.

[yorkie_chris]

Selling something on strength of guaranteeing finance, never gonna be very good really!

But aye, GSXR 750 versus some wop spaghetti eating unreliable sh*te that you've got to make pacts with the dark lord to service. Come on it's not even a question! The GSXR will do a quarter of a million miles without breaking down mechanically. In same time you would have bought yourself 5 brand new GSXRs fookin about with the stupid duc valvetrain arrangement which adds some performance you can't conceivably require!


For an ornament, buy a duc. For a tool, buy a GSXR, they've always been good, they've always been bulletproof. And the K5 750s are probably some of the best bikes ever built.

[fizzwheel]

I wasn't suggesting buy that specific bike from that specific dealer. I was just using it as example of something else to consider.

[Nobbylad]

I wasn't suggesting buy that specific bike from that specific dealer. I was just using it as example of something else to consider.

I appreciate that fizz. ..I was just adding my own two penneth....I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

Cracking bike though and probably my next ride.

[the_lone_wolf]

For a tool, buy a GSXR, they've always been good, they've always been bulletproof.

And yet every time you go into the garage you'll look at it and wish you'd bought what you really wanted...

Since when were bikes about logical choices, reliability, fuel economy and all those other things fleet managers get moist over?

Life's too short, buy the bike you want and enjoy it, but don't ever fool yourself into thinking it's suitable for what you intend to do with it when it isn't... ;)

[nikon70]

Oh how true !

I will get it in the spring I think after the bad weather has passed

[Nobbylad]

If you've got storage, but now and save £££'s

[nikon70]

Got storage ain't got the £££

[the_lone_wolf]

If you've got storage, but now and save £££'s

F*** that, buy it and I'll store it in my front room for six months just to look at it and sniff it a little late at night...

I'll wipe it down before you get it in the spring... Promise...

;)

[Bibio]

Got storage ain't got the £££

buy something reliable then coz an Italian mistress is going to empty your pockets quick time.

[nikon70]

You buy it and I'll look after it :)