The 10 most expensive Ducatis on eBay
Because we all like looking at things we can't afford...
YOU can't be a biker and not love Ducati. Nope, sorry, when your test certificate was signed off, you must have missed the little box at the bottom the examiner ticked that said: Rider will lust after expensive Ducatis. It's there, go and check your certificate again.
So if you love Ducati (and remember, you do), then you're going to love drooling over the 10 most expensive models on eBay right now. The rules of this list are simple: only one instance of each model, or else we'd have a list of 10 low-mile Desmosedici RRs for sale. And nobody wants that.
So if you were to pick one motorcycle from this list, what would it be?
��
10. Ducati 900SS Mike Hailwood Replica £14,500
I don't know enough about classic motorcycles to comment but the Hailwood rep is one of those Ducatis you always hear about. I was 2 years-old when this was new, so its meaning and 'worth' are largely lost on me. With 33,000km on the clock, it's not factory-fresh but then again, you try finding another one. I'll keep my cash in the bank, thanks, but, go on, you have a dabble...
9. Ducati 1098R 'Superstock Spec' £17,500
This is a 1098R that's had a fair old chunk of cash thrown at it: a 72mm Arrow full system (good luck with the noise police), Ohlins FG353P forks (as seen on the Desmosedici RR), 'MotoGP-spec' Brembo monobloc calipers, Ducati Corse slipper clutch and a handful of other Ducati Corse trinkets. You have to ask, what are you buying it for? If you want a track bike, then a sorted 1098 will cost you £8k, if you want a mint standard 1098R, you can pick one up for £15k. This sits somewhere in the weird wastelands in the middle. Nice though it is, it's at the end of a 1098 cul-de-sac and I'm in reverse.
8. Ducati 999R £17,995
While you can question dealer The Bike Specialists pricing policy, you can't question the exposure they're getting in this feature thanks to their optimistic pricing structure. Here we have a 999R, which to me, is the R to own (they're an R you can actually get stuck into) but not at £17,995. TBI bill it as an 'investment opportunity' which to me, sounds like you're getting the hard sell form Del Boy. I don't get the point of a zero-mile motorcycle and would much rather grab a low-mile 999R for around £11k. They can be had for that, you know. If you are desperate for a zero-mile 999R, there's another one on eBay for a grand less.
7. 2001 Ducati 996 R £18,995
Now we're talking. Would you look at that? The 996R is a peach. The later models in the 9XX series look so much better than the originals (disclaimer: this is my opinion and you can poke your 3-spokes). The 996R used the new Testastretta engine, which was actually 998cc and with its shorter stroke and wider bore; faster revving. 500 were built of which this is number 492 and it has just 3,640 miles on the clock, so you could ride it on sunny Sundays and not strip a grand off the price every time you do.
6. Ducati 750 F1 Santamonica £20,000
The 750 F1 Santamonica was produced for the Japanese market to celebrate Lucchinelli's World TT F-1 opening round win at Misano. Ducati never did need a massive reason to produce a special and this special is based on the motor from one previous special and the chassis from another special, making it at least 16 times as special. Just 200 Santamonica models were produced and this one has just shy of 5,000km on the clocks. It's a lovely-looking machine but twenty-grand strikes me as a bit of a 'I dunno, stick 20k on it and see if anyone calls' price. In the immortal word of Dragon's Den investor Duncan Bannatyne: "Haaam ooot!"
5. Ducati 1199R Panigale £26,683
It's a top-spec Audi Panigale. Ring the dealer, slap it on the credit card, have it in your garage the next day. It's not a Ducati for those lusting race heritage and soul. The Panigale R will no-doubt be a compete bastard to ride on UK roads and it'll laugh at you for most of your time riding it on track, except for that one moment where it flatters your riding and you feel like you've got it cracked. But you haven't and you never will. You'll pretend to jealous onlookers that it's the best bike in the world when you secretly hate it. But you love it in equal measure for those moments where it pretends you're actually riding it in the way that was intended. That is a proper Ducati.
4. Pierobon F042 £27,950
Now this, I like. Build by Ducati guru John Hackett of JH Performance, this Pierobon F042 is a work of art. It is dripping with exotic goodness and billed as the world's best air-cooled Ducati. It makes 120bhp and weighs just 130kg. It cost £60,000 to build and features a lightweight aluminium frame, forks from a Desmosedici RR, the gearbox from a 999RS, Dymag 16.5" wheels. The list is endless. I want, I know you do too.
3. Ducati 916/955 SPA AMA special £32,980
It's those cheeky The Bike Specialists chappies again. This model really only has any meaning if you're a) American and b) bothered about AMA and c) you love spending money. This 955cc 916 was created by Ducati Corse to take full advantage of the AMA rules. It's essentially an SP with a larger motor and largely irrelevant to the UK market. Dealer The Bike Specialists clearly think it's worth plus £30k and while it is a decent low-mileage 916 in great condition, I'd rather have a 998, ride it and save myself 25-grand.
2. Ducati 916 SPS Foggy Rep £34,980
You want HOW much?! Motorcycle dealers The Bike Specialists are surely trying it on with this Foggy Rep. With 8 miles on the clock, you don't get the 'benefit' of a zero-mile machine, nor do you get the benefit of a low-mileage machine you could actually ride if you wanted to. I saw one of these sell at auction fairly recently for £10,800, I'm not sure what your extra twenty-something-grand gets you? The massive satisfaction of knowing you made the seller's day, I presume.
1. Ducati Desmosedici RR £42,500
This Desmo is being sold by London-based car dealer Joe Macari and judging by their advert, they learned everything they know about motorcycles from the pages of Zoo magazine. The advert reads: 5,000 miles in superb condition, Sports exhaust etc, Not for the faint hearted, This is a very grown up bike which can only be described as rude.
If you bought one new and you haven't crashed it or messed about with it, then it looks like you could get your money back. Well done, you got away with it.
Want more?
Top 11 laws that should be changed for motorcyclist
