School me on the Duc 748 Monster (vintage 2000)

DefyInertia

DefyInertia

Original Saratogian
The bike is a 2000 Ducati Monster 748 and has 9,000 miles on it

I have a friend considering this bike, but I'm not too familiar with Ducs from a issues/what to look for/maintenance standpoint.

I know that until very recently valve check/adjustment intervals can be low (relative to other configurations/brands) and are also pricy when done by a dealership (potential buyer is unlikely to wrench on her own).

Here is my list so far:

  • Valve check/adjustment history (and records)
  • Valve check/adjustment interval spec (can be pricey)
  • General maintenance history/records? Oil changes, etc.
  • Condition of consumables: tires, brake fluid, fork fluid, brake pads, chain and sprockets,
  • Make sure everything is functional (blinkers, etc.)
  • Confirm DMV fees are paid and bike is not stolen (you can look it up online)
  • If going with cash in hand, probably good to be careful about it (bring a friend)

Let me knwo what you think. Also thoughts on price range? Seller claims "like new" and only dropped twice in garage (lol) but no signs of damage.

thanks!!! :thumbup
 
Goose916

Goose916

Well-known member
Well, if it's a monster, it's not a 748 (Quattrovalvole), it's an air-cooled 750 right? Single front brake?

Good bike. Air-cooled Ducati motor is pretty darn bullet-proof. The power may be a bit underwhelming but the styling (if you like monsters) is nice and it doesn't have the goofy looking cut-outs like the new ones and the pipes look a helluva lot better. Make certain the bike has a good service history and you should be good to go. The handling is good for a city/standard bike. The 750 rarely came with the high end ohlins, but the Showa is fine for that bike.

For an italian bike, they're pretty reliable and you can do most of the maintenance yourself on the air-cooled bikes. 9,000 miles has you dead between service intervals. I'd take it to Desmoto and see if Scott can give it a quick lookie loo.

Only bad things I know of are warped rotors (the Brembo rotors were a bit hit and miss back then) and a potential crack in a tank weld that is repairable, but you should have it looked at. (Sucked for the Chromo guys). Likely, someone else will post more intimate knowledge of the Monster
 
Gabe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
Good bikes--first year of FI, I think? Abrupt throttle response, so may not be great for beginners. Valve adjusts are actually cheaper than Japanese inline-fours, as this is a 2-valve motor with little bodywork. Your checklist is good, but there are others I've seen online that are more complete. "Like New" is a blatant lie for a 13-year-old anything, but especially a motorcycle.

Add to your list the cam belts--if they haven't been changed for a while, they need changing. They get old and crack, even with low miles.

Value: $1500-2500 depending on condition. I'd hold out for a 620i. I'll bet she wants this one because it's cheap. Beware of "cheap" bikes--especially cheap Ducatis. There is no such thing...
 
ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
The M900 had a 904cc engine and the M750 had a 748cc engine. In the 90's, Ducati rounded off the numbers for the ones that weren't superbikes, or didn't mention the engine size at all for the Sport Touring model.

Other than the stuff on the list above, make sure that the cam belts are less than two years old. Otherwise you need to change them. If it's been more than three years I would be extremely careful to keep the engine at low RPMs until it has new belts installed. You don't want to go through the experience of having one break, and that can happen to old belts. [Looks like Gabe beat me to this hint.]

The M900 was fuel injected in 2000, but it took another year for the M750 (or was it two years?).
 
Goose916

Goose916

Well-known member
Ditto on the "cheap Ducati" assessment, by Gabe. There's no such thing. Still, it's not ferrari bad and a lot cheaper than a 748 to maintain.

Likely you're going to want to change out the slave cylinder (oem is junk). And I totally agree about those belts, CHANGE THEM regardless of how they appear. Cheap insurance against a very expensive problem if either one breaks. Besides, it will give you a good excuse to look at the bearings and pulleys too.

I like carbs and I like the metal tank. Dunno if the 620i had the plastic or metal tank. I'm stuck in the 90s when it comes to Ducati
 
DucatiHoney

DucatiHoney

Administrator
Staff member
+1 for taking it to Desmoto for a PPI. They've kept my '94 running pretty well for nearly a decade now. If your friend is serious about buying the bike, I can't say much except that s/he should learn to at least check the valves. On a 2V it's pretty straight forward. Even if they don't want to change them, the checking part is easy. Once the bike gets hammered into submission the shims don't really move much at all. I use pretty sloppy clearances, but they haven't moved for probably 6 years now. I save myself $600-1200 a year just by changing the oil, belts and checking the valves myself. And honestly, I can't do much on a bike.
 
two wheel tramp

two wheel tramp

exploring!
On the slave cylinder note, I have a Yoyodyne on my '98 M900 and it makes for a nice smooth clutch pull. I also have the CRG adjustable levers, which I really, REALLY like.
 
TTTom

TTTom

Well-known member
The M750 wasn't a bad bike but it was a "low spec" Ducati so it won't have the same quality brakes, wheels, suspension, as a similar vintage M900, for example it'll have those non-adjustable Marzocchi forks with crimped cartridges that can't be rebuilt. Steel wheels instead of alloy, single disk front brake, etc.

9,000 miles, clean shape, I'd value it at $3.5K Too many CL sellers think their shit is gold.
 
Gabe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
TTTom said:
9,000 miles, clean shape, I'd value it at $3.5K Too many CL sellers think their shit is gold.
Click to expand...

You do too--high retail KBB for that bike is $2700. For the money I'd take a 99-2001 SV650 8 times out of 10.
 
Goose916

Goose916

Well-known member
DefyInertia said:
Buyer is asking $4,400 I think.

The valve check interval is every 6,000, yeah?
Click to expand...


Yup. And that is way too much money (IMO). Hell, I'd get a 916 or 996 for that kind of coin. It's no collector bike. If you like the Monster, well, I'd look at a 900. If you want an awesome Duc air cooled, I'd be looking at a 1995 on up 900 SS/SP.

More motor, more loveliness, higher spec and the same kind of service intervals. The Sausage Creature Lives baby!

http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html

All you need to know about the 900 SS
 
Gabe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
DefyInertia said:
Buyer is asking $4,400 I think.

The valve check interval is every 6,000, yeah?
Click to expand...
OMG! $1800 more than retail blue book! That was probably the MSRP when it was new. And I guarantee it needs $1000 or more to get it to "like new" condition.

She should buy a new bike. Seriously.

Yeah, valve check every 6k, new belts every 12k (or when they get old).
 
TTTom

TTTom

Well-known member
Gabe said:
You do too--high retail KBB for that bike is $2700. For the money I'd take a 99-2001 SV650 8 times out of 10.
Click to expand...

$3.5 vs. $2.7... by Silicon Valley financial standards, when spending someone else's money that's spot fucking on! :laughing
 
S

SummerLove

Tired SRE
Too much money, I paid 2500 for mine.. in may.
Check the belts, check the tank hinge weld and the fuel level sensor (it's a plastic nut and it tends to break. Desmotimes sells an aluminum replacement).
Everything else has been covered.
Belts are 90 bucks for a pair from California Cycle Works.
Both the belts and valves are really easy to do.
 
monstermonster

monstermonster

Well-known member
SummerLove said:
check the tank hinge weld
Click to expand...

Yop. The old steel tanks would often leak, particularly if the owner routinely lifted a full tank 90 degrees. If it has a problem, you'll likely see discoloration from the gas on the frame or engine. That might also be a sign that it had a leaky tank and it was fixed (rewelded -- a common solution to a known problem).

I concur with the price being waaaaaay too high.
 
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