Hey all, chalk this up as an introductory post, with a dash of hope to tap into those experiences with these machines. I've been around bikes all my life since I was 4, so approximately 40 yrs but have never owned a Ducati. I've ridden a few, but never an owner. I have experience racing motocross at the club level, raced sportbikes, also club level, and owned pretty much everything from hard-tailed farm tractors (i.e. Harley) to a built '06 R1 with a little over 180hp at the rear wheel. Most recently I've removed myself from the sportbike genre and gone the supermoto route, with a '00 Yam WR400, and a Husqvarna SMS630 in the stable, as well as an '85 interceptor that's actually a project of mine, it's been converted to a scrambler of sorts, with lots of custom bits (hand built 4-4 exhaust, custom machined top clamp/MX bars, dirt track style seat, enduro tires, bla, bla). There also a YSR50 somewhere in the shed with a TTR225 motor in it.....and yeah it's street legal!
Other than that I'm a cop in a pretty large town, have 5 kids.....4 of which ride, and a wife who absolutely hates my passion for everything two-wheels related
What am I doing here you wonder? My uncle called me the other day and says he's moving and wonders if I'm interested in his Ducati.....I rode it years ago, but couldn't remember what it was....couple games of phone-tag later and he gives me the skinny on the steed: it's a 1990 Paso 906.
Details on the bike: its 100% complete, has an aftermarket exhaust (not sure of the make), he got it with 3k on the clock, and is currently reading at 11k, it's never been down, but it also hasn't run in @8yrs. It was stored outside under a cover. He stopped riding it when he bought his Harley, and except for me taking a spin on it its been pretty much neglected.
Now here's the conundrum....he wants me to offer him something for the bike, but won't give me an idea what he wants for it. I looked up the value in the KBB, excellent condition is @$2700, fair trade in "good" condition is @$1500. He sent me pictures, the bodywork is immaculate, the front rotors have patina'ed to a sweet orange (rust) hue. Other than that it's pretty much unremarkable. Now I'm no rookie when it comes to resurrecting neglected barn-finds, and I'm aware of how pretty much everything that is rubber related will need to be replaced, all the bearings will need inspection/cleaning/re-packing or replacement, shock service, forks serviced, obviously the carb will need attention (I'm pretty confident its the stock weber), tires, brakes/hoses, etc, etc.
I'm wondering what other Ducati-specific things I should be considering before actually making an offer. I don't want to insult him with a low-ball, but based on my admittedly in-experienced level of information and the basic estimate of what it's going to cost to bring this thing up to what I consider rideable (I don't cut corners, *unless it's the last lap!), I was figuring offering him @$1000 for it.....
In the ballpark? Am I nuts for wanting to resurrect a 25yo Italian sport-tourer? Think he'll stop coming to he family bar-b-q's?
Like I said, don't want to insult him, he's my favorite uncle!
and count down from there for any thing less than ready to go
look inside the tank for rust, if its clean put a gallon or 2 of fuel in it and see if you have any leaks or obvious fuel smell.
. I bought a 906 a few years back and now have one of each, 750,906 and 907. I enjoy the 906 the most although the 907 has become my daily rider mostly because I use it as my test bedto get things sorted and reliable to a T
