I'm looking at purchasing a 2005 749 Dark. I've been riding for over 30 years and have owned numerous bikes in those years, an RC51 and a Buell XB9R among them. None of them have been a Ducati.
I've always lusted over the 749 series of bikes. Now, I've heard all the horror stories of the maintenance nightmares Superbike Ducs can be. A 748 owner warned me about the money I'd have to invest in maintaining the ride. Understand I have no personal experience with Ducs, and am wondering how much of the general sportbike riders' consensus of Ducatis is heresay born of ignorance.
My question to you, loyal Duc owners, is: are maintenance costs a real issue with the 749 series? Has reliability improved between the 748 and 749? I am NOT a mechanic or a tinkerer and have zero interest or ability in performing anything beyond simple maintenance. Basically I want a bike I can just start up and ride away on, everytime. I want the bike kept stock, it's more than powerful enough for me. It will be used almost exclusively for the street.
I have an 04 dark with close to 22,000 miles many of them are track miles. I've had zero problems. It will be more expensive to maintain than a Japanese bike, with more schedule maintenance. Since you are going to keep the bike stock and ride it on the street, I don't think reliability should be a concern. It's a fun bike and I enjoy mine.
It will be a bit more pocket money to keep it going, but it shouldnīt make too much of a difference. You can have luck and you can have bad luck with a used bike. Then it doesnīt matter if itīs a 749 or SV650.
Go buy it and slap on one of these ultra loud Termignoni slip on cans
I went and looked at it. My first impressions are - oh my god, that thing is sex on wheels! I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. Her pointed nose, Coke-bottle lines, upturned tail, matt black finish - there simply isn't a sexier bike in the world, the 1198 be damned.
I ride a Harley Nightster now, and seeing my bike parked next to the 749 was embarrassing. Trailer trash, meet super-model.
And the sound! It had an exhaust with a "Termignoni" badge on it. Whether its the real deal or a sticker, I don't know. I've never really examined a 749's exhaust up close before. But it sounded incredible, a deep, throaty rumble.
Now, deciding on a bike purchase based solely on its visceral appeal is not good sense, but - oh my god! It's like dating a super-model. Sure, she's high maintenance, but wow! What a night!
The testaretta engine in the 749 is definitely an improvement over the desmoquattro in the 748. The 749 is also more comfortable even with the lack of adjustments on the dark.
lots of parts available on Ebay too if you wnat to upgrade individual pieces.
Black is the best color on these bikes, IMO. I'm not a fan of the flat (or satin?) black on bikes, but it works on the 999/749.
OK, next question - I talked to the service manager at the local Ducati dealership here in Jacksonville, FL. He stated an '05 749 has a scheduled service at 7,500 miles. Yet while searching for advice on the internet, I've been reading from owners who say the next scheduled maintenance for a 749 is at 6,000 miles.
Which is correct?
The darks may be ok but the "s" models were plagued. Mine was nothing short of an absolute night mare, some of which was dealer related. I had fantastic luck with my monster and my 748R believe it or not.
I would recommend researching a bit, the darks are pretty basic bikes but perhaps that's what you want. For 749 series the best was the "R" and these can be found at really good prices now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vanvideo
I'm looking at purchasing a 2005 749 Dark. I've been riding for over 30 years and have owned numerous bikes in those years, an RC51 and a Buell XB9R among them. None of them have been a Ducati.
I've always lusted over the 749 series of bikes. Now, I've heard all the horror stories of the maintenance nightmares Superbike Ducs can be. A 748 owner warned me about the money I'd have to invest in maintaining the ride. Understand I have no personal experience with Ducs, and am wondering how much of the general sportbike riders' consensus of Ducatis is heresay born of ignorance.
My question to you, loyal Duc owners, is: are maintenance costs a real issue with the 749 series? Has reliability improved between the 748 and 749? I am NOT a mechanic or a tinkerer and have zero interest or ability in performing anything beyond simple maintenance. Basically I want a bike I can just start up and ride away on, everytime. I want the bike kept stock, it's more than powerful enough for me. It will be used almost exclusively for the street.
Thanks for the advice, guys.
Uber, were all 749S bikes plagued with issues, or just yours? I realise the Darks are basic, but I think, for my riding style, they'll do fine.
But I'll check into the R models - sounds tempting.
You will not be able to nail it down to a certain model.
Think of it as a building set. The 749 basically is a 999 just a smaller cc engine. The dark therefore if just a basic 749 or 999 without 2-3 adjustable parts. Thatīs it, they all share the same wiring loom and ECUs. Same with the R models. Theyīre basically all the same, the 999R 04 being closest and the 749R farthest away from the base models. You could make a dark a (non genuine) R with the few right parts.
And even if you should opt to buy a bike out of of the bespoken faulty series, usually thereīs 2 bad ones out of 100. You just see a handful of people bitching on the net with problems. Usually, you donīt post on forums, if you donīt have a problem with the bike. Think about it
749D first Ducati?
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