Ducati project bike

[saxo_man]

I’ve been offered this bike as a project, not sure if its a viable fixer upper due to parts availability, and cost etc. What’s the consensus? Seen one for sale locally for £2500 in pretty nice looking condition. This one is a 1991 Ducati SS 400 reworked to a 600cc. It’s been SORNd for 15 years.

 

[Gareth]

Being Ducati expect to get

Part if the reason I bought my 2017 Monster last year from a Ducati dealership is because the belts should be changed at a particular mileage or at 5 years old. Belts are around £100 and maybe 2-3 hours labour but they charge the customer £5-700 for the privilege (depending if serviced at the same time)

If it were me (and knowing you're possibly going to be doing a test and want a bigger capacity bike) I'd want to know if it's the bike I want to 1. Put money and time into and learn about the bike, 2. Are you happy to go to any expense to get it the way you want it and 3. Do I care for any sell on value?

If it's for something to fettle about with I'd suggest a Japanese bike, but if you want to challenge yourself then go with the Duc.

Also, can you confirm that the bike ran after it went to 600cc, is it a 600cc motor in a 400cc frame, was the loom swapped with the motor (most likely if the bike was running) and are you prepared to either scrap the bike or replace the motor if its too far gone?

Me, personally, I'd not bother unless you were getting the bike for next to nothing. A 600SS is on eBay currently for £1800

 

[saxo_man]

Being Ducati expect to get

Part if the reason I bought my 2017 Monster last year from a Ducati dealership is because the belts should be changed at a particular mileage or at 5 years old. Belts are around £100 and maybe 2-3 hours labour but they charge the customer £5-700 for the privilege (depending if serviced at the same time)

If it were me (and knowing you're possibly going to be doing a test and want a bigger capacity bike) I'd want to know if it's the bike I want to 1. Put money and time into and learn about the bike, 2. Are you happy to go to any expense to get it the way you want it and 3. Do I care for any sell on value?

If it's for something to fettle about with I'd suggest a Japanese bike, but if you want to challenge yourself then go with the Duc.

Also, can you confirm that the bike ran after it went to 600cc, is it a 600cc motor in a 400cc frame, was the loom swapped with the motor (most likely if the bike was running) and are you prepared to either scrap the bike or replace the motor if its too far gone?

Me, personally, I'd not bother unless you were getting the bike for next to nothing. A 600SS is on eBay currently for £1800

Thanks Gareth for the reply. I think you’ve pretty much summed it up. If it was on my doorstep and pretty much free I’d have a punt but I never had a desire to own something like this, so cost would be an overriding factor. It was coverted to 600 by a specialist firm in England, and had ridden since then, but it’s been off the road for so long and appears to have been stored possibly outside under a tarp.

 

[Apis]

Might be some value in it for a Ducati person because a 400 is rare but in the world of 90s 400 sportbikes they are not in the radar. I've never even seen one before.
Maybe worth a punt at £500 if its been lying up uncared for and not running. They do look slightly cool though, with the trellis frame and the gold wheels.
I'd keep the funds for my Ducati 916 piggybank!

 

[Nicky Glanza]

I’d be all over that @saxo_man

 

[saxo_man]

Someone on here was looking a 400cc and posted a link to one on gumtree. I think it’s still for sale at £2500.

 

[saxo_man]

Might have sold now

90s Sports 400 wanted

Hi guys, on the lookout for a 90’s sports 400 for the summer. Honda CBR/VFR400 or Kwak ZXR400 preferred but would also consider the right Yam FZR or Suzuki GSXR 400. Ready to ride preferable but would also consider a mild project (ie complete but needs recommissioned after lying up a year or...

rmsmotoring.com

 

[saxo_man]

More info - its a 6 speed 600cc, conversion done by Baines in England. A few spares included in the sale. Asking price + shipping etc, going to be close to £2.5k.

 

[Gareth]

At that price I'd pass on it. At a guess there's between £500-1000 to spend on it, depending on the amount of neglect.

I bought a 600 Hornet a few years back for £300 and ended up putting nearly £1500 into it (not incl labour as I did it all myself), rode it for about a year and made a certain small profit. Needs to be cheap to be worth it IMO

2006 Hornet

Around early September last year I got to chatting to a mate who's basically given up on biking and had pretty much abandoned his 2006 600 Hornet to the elements for about 2 or 3 years. It lay up, under a cover, on the street, outside his house. The fella was never sympathetic towards his bikes...

rmsmotoring.com

 

[fabiostar]

The 400 was a flop for ducati, tho that makes them rare tho still not a must have Duke, the 600s are plentyfull but this bikes problem is its neither of those. the one knocking about here for sale if its the one iv seen has been for sale for ever that kinda tells you what you will end up with.. as an odd little thing it has some merit but whoever buys it will own it for a while as it will be hard to sell on.

just my thoughts on the bike, if it was my money i would be buying it as a parts bike for spares or to break it..

 

[Alan_B]

If you want a light project I’ve a blackbird that needs very light work to make mint. 02 fuel injection model.

 

[Maranellohouse]

I'm guessing the 400 for £2500 for sale your talking about is mine. It's still for sale but I've been in 2 minds to keep it due to its rarity so not pushing to sell it and have put people off in the past lol. The 400s where basically a 600 with the engine reduced to 400 for the Japanese market and where never officially sold here. Theres only supposed to be 4 in the UK. I bought this one only up the road and loving Italian stuff like I do couldn't say no. No I have the Kawasaki finished and the Scimitar near done, It will be next on the list probably>