996R with high mileage question

[Ben710]

Hello everyone,

I am currently looking around for a Ducati racebike to have fun with in the 2007 season.
I can get my hands on a 996R, which has 45000 km on the tach. I consider this very high mileage for a "race bike", even if it has only been ridden on the street.

I spoke to the dealer who´s selling the macine and he said, it´s been very well maintained through the past years. A distinguished Ducati mechanic has taken care of the bike.

Now my question is: what´s your take on the high mileage of the engine? Is it realistic to say that the engine might last 2 years on the racetrack? Would it help to rebuild the engine fully? How much would that set me back roughly and what is involved in an "R" engine rebuild?

I know it´s never safe to buy a used engine with high mileage and that it might fall apart on the first meters I am riding it on the track, but I´d be very thankful for your opinions anyway.

[998R]

I had a 996R. If the engine has been maintained properly (along with the rest of the bike), then you should have no problems. My assumption is that the bike, if it was raced, did not adhere to a "normal" maintenance schedule, but one more fitting for a racing machine.

One way of looking at it is it may have received even more "maintenance' than normal, so it may be in better condition if all the right bits have been replaced/maintained. The 996R engine (stock) doesn't have any of the unobtanium Corse bits that race teams can replace because they can...and we can't (easily) because longevity is sacrificed for performance...as it should be...for an all out race bike.

I'd feel even more confident if they can provide you with the maintenace history, or some proof of what maintenance has been performed on the bike!

[Sagerider]

Without a maintenance record I would not touch this bike with a ten foot pole.
There are so many items that will have needed replacement well before 45,000 Km (27,961.65 miles) ever turned up specially if it was a track bike for very long.
I have found that you are well ahead of the game if you buy a newer used bike or even a new bike than to think that you are getting deal with a lower priced high milage used bike. Parts for Ducati motorcycles are expensive and sometimes hard to get. Mechanics that are competent working on Ducatis are hard to find too.
I bought a 1995 916 last spring with only 9,000 miles on the odometer and what I have found out is there were a lot of parts that needed replacement even with this medium mileage range. The rear shock needs to be rebiult which really is not that bad but it was a little difficult finding parts. I rebiult the forks with Ohlins inards last June. New chain and sprokets, replaced 90% of all the rubber items including hand grips. The dealer that had it before me
spent right at $5,000.00 US on it, I have the receipts for all the parts and work. The dealer got tired of putting money into it and sold it to me.
Granted I have put a ton of cash into it as well and I am scared to add it all up. What I have at this point is a nice bike all in all but at what cost? I still have an engine with 9,000 miles on it.
I would have been money ahead if I had bought a new 999 or even a very low
mileage garage kept 916 series bike at a higher price.

[molasses]

998R and Sagerider,

although easily misunderstood, Ben710 is telling you this ISN'T a bike that has been used for racing or track days. It's a normal street ridden bike.

As long as you know who's been servicing the bike and he can verify that the bike has adhered to the maintenance schedule I don't see why you shouldn't buy it if the price is right.

The mechanic should be able to tell you what state the engine and transmission is in and if he says go (provided you can trust him), I'd get it if I were you.

Good luck taking it to the track!

[Ben710]

Hey molasses, thanks buddy, I didn´t think I was writing in such an unclear manner. Sorry for that and thanks for clearing it up. The bike has never been on the track and looks very mint.

I talked to some people and well, what everyone says is that you can´t tell if the engine is going to be ok by just looking at the bike. You gotta take it apart.
But I am willing to take the risk if everything works out.

I´ll keep you guys updated, thanks!

[Sagerider]

Sorry that I misunderstood, I just assumed when you said "Race Bike" that the bike had been ridden on the track a bunch. I should have been paying better attention. What sort of price are you talking about??

[ANGUS]

I still agree with Sagerider. Must be able to produce all maintenance records with that mileage.

While I also agree with Molasses, wthere seems to be alot of trust in the dealer, as he has stated.

[Hyperpasta]

I'd get a good deal on it then take it apart and start checking on things. I'd plan on freshening the motor and have some fun with it. If you have no cash and barely can afford the bike, STAY AWAY from it as it's not your cup of tea.

Like any bike purchase try and be realistic about what you are going to spend on the purchase, what you plan on upgrading on the bike, how you are going to ride the bike, and what you want it to give you in the way of performance and longevity.

Did I mention getting a great deal on it! It's not going to last two years on the track as is. As for the Ducati mechanic......if he's that good and can prevent wear and tear on a motor with 27,000 miles on the clock, then I still can run the 100yd dash in 10 seconds flat!

[JeffKoch]

Originally Posted by Hyperpasta

I'd get a good deal on it then take it apart and start checking on things. I'd plan on freshening the motor and have some fun with it. If you have no cash and barely can afford the bike, STAY AWAY from it as it's not your cup of tea.

+1. It may need some motor work, it will sooner or later, but if it's been maintained and the external stuff has been taken care of and fixed/replaced as needed, it's probably not a ticking time bomb. If you're going to ride it exclusively on the track then it'll need frequent maintenance anyway - I'd just tear into it up front, have a look and see what should be replaced, maybe add some go-fast parts, and have fun.

Originally Posted by Sagerider

I bought a 1995 916 last spring with only 9,000 miles on the odometer and what I have found out is there were a lot of parts that needed replacement even with this medium mileage range. The rear shock needs to be rebiult which really is not that bad but it was a little difficult finding parts. I rebiult the forks with Ohlins inards last June. New chain and sprokets, replaced 90% of all the rubber items including hand grips. The dealer that had it before me spent right at $5,000.00 US on it, I have the receipts for all the parts and work. The dealer got tired of putting money into it and sold it to me.

Sounds like you bought a "problem" bike, 9000 miles shouldn't be that big a deal. Shocks wear out from hard use, not just miles, so I'd guess the previous owner did a lot of stoppies. Same with forks. My 748 forks and shock still work fine almost 20K street miles after rebuilds, and no problems with any rubber parts. Not sayin' you didn't have to spend a lot of money on it, but that seems pretty excessive for a 916 with 9000 miles on it unless it's really been abused.

[Ben710]

Originally Posted by Sagerider

Sorry that I misunderstood, I just assumed when you said "Race Bike" that the bike had been ridden on the track a bunch. I should have been paying better attention. What sort of price are you talking about??

No problem mate, I am thankful for your replies. Price tag is a little below 10k US$. Maybe a bit negotiable.

Originally Posted by Hyperpasta

I'd get a good deal on it then take it apart and start checking on things. I'd plan on freshening the motor and have some fun with it. If you have no cash and barely can afford the bike, STAY AWAY from it as it's not your cup of tea.

Like any bike purchase try and be realistic about what you are going to spend on the purchase, what you plan on upgrading on the bike, how you are going to ride the bike, and what you want it to give you in the way of performance and longevity.

Did I mention getting a great deal on it! It's not going to last two years on the track as is. As for the Ducati mechanic......if he's that good and can prevent wear and tear on a motor with 27,000 miles on the clock, then I still can run the 100yd dash in 10 seconds flat!

Yes, seems like that is the way to go. Get it from the showroom and take the engine apart. I talked to my mechanic yesterday and he said that it´s not a problem to get the engine refreshened if there isn´t anything really wrong inside.

Surely, no one will prevent an "R" engine from wear and tear and you entitle it, but I guess if it has been ridden by someone who knows Ducatis and how to treat them for the past 25.000 km, plus it has always gotten the needed inspections over the time, then I should be on the safer side of things.

Originally Posted by JeffKoch

+1. It may need some motor work, it will sooner or later, but if it's been maintained and the external stuff has been taken care of and fixed/replaced as needed, it's probably not a ticking time bomb. If you're going to ride it exclusively on the track then it'll need frequent maintenance anyway - I'd just tear into it up front, have a look and see what should be replaced, maybe add some go-fast parts, and have fun.

Thanks Jeff! I will take it to the track exclusively, yes. I am hearing a lot of different things on maintenance intervals for race bikes. Some say to check the valves every 1000 km, others say it´s better been done every 500 km.

I plan on providing it with fresh oil every or every 2nd race meeting. What do you guys do for maintenance during a season?

[Sagerider]

The problems with the 916 I bought is that it had been sitting for quite awhile.The dealer had to replace the fuel tank because the stock unit had rusted inside from sitting so long. Lots of rubber items had rotted due to ozone exposier. I am thinking the bike was left outside under a tarp for a few years.
I have taken an 11 or 12 year old bike that had been neglected and saved it from a life of poverty sort of like Madona adopting that kid from Africa.
The problem I am having is I can't stop until it is like new again!!