The part that’s most evident and what makes it vastly different than all of those other bikes is the incredibly light weight. You feel the weight all the time and everywhere even if you’re just pushing the bike around. It’s amazing. my bike has a world superbike exhaust from one of the teams that I managed to get. It bumped up the mid range horsepower 18 hp on the dyno to make it ride more like my 1098R does. Without that it didn’t seem to have the mid range torque and power than I was used to from a typical big Ducati twin. But again, the lack of weight makes up for so much. my one complaint is that the bike is so flipping fast. Even on the track, I hardly get to open it up all the way because it’s just flat out terrifying. Image Unavailable, Please Login
My 848 track bike was like that. You could lift and move it around the garage like it weighed nothing. The rsv4 and F4 were heavier but felt so much more stable. I’m 100% out of consensus on the F4 for the track, but I love it. My pretty pig. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That’s awesome. This is my 848 track bike. It was Chris Boy of MotoCorse Performance’s championship bike. I think he won formula twin and middleweight CCS titles on it. Ignore the missing knee puck. I lost it on the straightaway. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Don't think that I don't like the D16RR. I like them. I think they're super cool bikes. I'll add another one at some point and keep it, I'm sure. But I am pretty particular about which one it will be and it's a big deal to own the "right" one because I'll ride it a fair bit. What I like about the 1199SL is that it's literally the best version of a WSBK homologation spec bike for the street that they could make if they didn't have to stay within the pricing rules or the production quantity rules. That's pretty awesome. It's more like the 996R and 998R were back in the day - just a whole new leap but the same homologation formula. And not to get off topic but I feel like they lost the plot with the 1299SL. It's a very cool bike but it's not WSBK spec and more of a marketing exercise. It feels too contrived.
The stock market has to treat me really well before I bring that Superleggera home. Until then, has anyone owned an 851 and what was the riding experience like?
I had an 1991 851 SP3. It was a very cool bike but I didn't like riding it because I thought that it was kind of clunky riding. I ended up selling it two years ago because I was stupid. I rode someone else's earlier this year and it felt nothing like my old one. It was smooth and elegant feeling and I really liked it. I think had I just spent more time with mine and really went through it and changed a couple of things, it might have been better. My 900 Supersport is a pretty evolved version of a stock one and it's a really nice bike to cruise through the mountains. I do think that I will circle back around to buying a 851 again but it might be a Corsa track bike.
Riding with blinders! I borrowed a speed triple 1050 once. I had a great time. It had character. I got off of it and swapped with a friend on an R6. Character turned into POS in 30 seconds. Wow, the 1050 tranny sucked, the clutch pull was unbearable, the handling 'quirky', all realizations after 30 seconds on a Jap bike that just worked properly ...
Compared to the 916 gen it was quite clunky but really, all I needed to do was do a little tweaking to the suspension geometry and a few parts and much of that would have gone away. Well, that’s what I suspect anyway. As I said, I probably need to ride another Corsa version and see what’s what to know with more certainty.
Ha. I think that you have a funny way of spelling the word "hoarder." I am not very good at selling bikes as the ones I use I get very attached to. This is the list of what I have now. Street bikes: 1996 900SS/SP that's modified with a lot of rare Corse bits, including the correct 50mm Ohlins race spec forks and 916 Corse brakes. My touring bike. 1998 916SPS - Not as pretty as the 1997 SPS but significant in that it has the improved homologation race engine and some other bits. 2001 996R (US) - this is an unridden bike I bought from a guy who bought it new from the New Hampshire dealer in 2001. Still set up as delivered (race). 2001 996R (Italian market) - This one has 12k miles on it and I ride it a ton. 2002 998R - has 2500 miles on it and is great but I like the 996R more. 2008 1098R - I bought it with 800 miles on it and I have about 2k on it now 2014 1199 Superleggera - bought with 62 miles on it and I think it has 1600 or so now. It has a WSBK exhaust from one of the teams that transformed the bike. Race bikes: 1996 916 Corsa - ex FBF bike ridden to two AMA SBK victories by Alessandro Gramigni 1999 748RS - built from a hodgepodge of RS and Corsa parts from FBF and Gio.Ca.Moto and with a 748R motor 2001 748RS - ex Jeff Nash/AMS bike 2001 748RS - ex Joe Kopp bike 2008 848 Corse Evo - ex Chris Boy/MCP championship bike. Completely modified and built over from scratch with a ton of 1098RS parts.
OK, so I am throwing it out here. I am looking for a decent 851 or 888. Nothing pristine or zero miles, just something in the 20K miles or so. If one of you collectors want to let a bike like that go, please let me know.
Still in the hunt for a 851. There are three for sale and I think they all talk to each other because the prices are within $500 and don't really want to budge from the ask even though the Mecum sale was $7150 as above. I am thinking one of them is going to come close to what I am willing to offer. I did buy a 907ie six weeks ago and spent a whole month cleaning it up to make it perfect. I am trying to think of a way to put it in the living room... but the thing about the Ducati is it looks so fast standing there in the garage. So...… my motorcycle insurance is just paid up, I'm going riding this sunday. Oh, I'm also collecting old Ducati helmets.
It may be worth sending an email to this guy. Tell him what you are looking for and expectations of condition and price. [email protected]
Informative thread. Thanks! Interested in 851/888 Corsa especially ones for sale. Roche and Polen history a plus.
Hi. Only now seeing this. Kind of depends on if it’s a US strada or an SP2 and condition and deferred service is key. But call it 10k give or take.
Stupendous collection- I’ve had several but don’t have the room to keep them all-Panigale R, 1199SL and 1299SL. As I’ve aged they gotten ridden less and less and sold them all except for a 2011 Diavel- still comfortable for longer rides and blast overall. Almost pulled the trigger on a V4 SL but couldn’t justify the poor cost benefit as I’d probably just look at it taking up precious garage space and maybe a few short rides. Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Yelcab, Personally, I'd be hard-pressed to pick just one interesting Ducati to keep. I've done the mental exercise on my own heard and just can't do it as they've made so many different and truly interesting bikes. I have a selection ranging from the early round case bevel drives to the later Supersports. I ride and enjoy them all. '74 750 Sport - Cafe racer from the factory. Old school cool. '74 750 SS Greenframe - The bike that put Ducati on the map '02 998R - Limited production homologation special. IMO the top of the heap version of the prettiest bike ever made. Only 50 came into the US and you had to have a racing license to get one. '08 D16RR - Moto GP replica. A snarling, pissed off beast! '13 Panigale 1199 S ABS - Very smooth, very fast, superb electronics. Makes the above bikes seem like two-wheeled Model T's '18 Monster 1200R - Naked, comfortable, more upright riding position with handlebars instead of clipons. Great day cruiser and urban bike '20 V4 S Streetfighter (inbound) - TBD, but I think this could displace both the Panigale and the Monster in one shot. If you're focused on the 851/888 my two cents would be to take your time and find a nice 888SPO (Sport Production Omologato). It's rare, the top of that heap, and has all the goodies like Ohlins shocks. I also think the 916 SPS or 996 SPS are wonderful early limited production homologation specials of the 916/996/998 design with all the goodies and are a great value currently.
Just a little follow up to an earlier post of mine: I placed an order for the V4 Superleggera. After spending some time on the V4R, I think the V4SL is going to be a phenomenal bike. As an aside, to make room, I am selling my unridden 2001 996R. I received a strong offer from someone in my Ducati club for the 996R that I ride but I think I want to sell the one I don’t ride instead. Anyways, the V4 Superleggera looks to be quite insane and I’m pretty excited.