When it comes to sport bikes, few are as iconic as the Ducati 916/996/998 series. Designed by Tamburini (who later went on to design the gorgeous MV Agusta F4 series) and sporting a 90 degree, liquid cooled, fuel intected, four valve per cylinder (with desmo actuation) twin, this series of bikes was for more than just show.

The SPS – or Sports Production Special- edition of the 996 was an evolution of the 916 SPS (the 916 SPS was already at 996cc capacity and offered 12+ HP over the standard engine). The powerplant remained largely unchanged from the previous generation bike, but with lighter weight components (such as the new Marchesini 5-spoke wheels) and more performance oriented suspension now completely sourced from Ohlins, the SPS was a higher-spec bike all around when compared to the standard 996.

From the seller:

I am the original owner of this Ducati, purchased in July, 2001 from Gold Coast Motorcycles. The dealer added all items to make it street legal including mirrors, signals, lights, side stand, etc. The total cost including tax was $25,245. The bike is in perfect condition and has been serviced by our mechanic regularly regardless of the limited usage. It runs perfectly and has stunning performance. With titanium conrods, larger frame tube diameter with thinner walls, wider frame/larger carbon airbox, P8 “big brain” ecu, higher compression heads, hotter in/out cams, lightened engine internals, full Termignoni with carbon cans, full and Ohlins/steering damper, the SPS was the top of the Ducati line in its day. This is a rare and beautiful specimen.

I’m not too sure about the seller’s comments about the dealer-added items required to make it street legal. By all accounts, all SPS model 916s and 996s were street legal from the factory. These were definitely a play to get the 996 motor homologated for Superbike racing, but with some nearly 1,800 SPS units produced over 4 years, I do not recall any that came out as track only bikes. I’m also not sure what to make of the Montana plates on this bike located in NY, but there may be an easy and reasonable explanation there. As always, RSBFS recommends you do your homework.

This very clean, one owner example is available right now on the East Coast. With only 1,025 miles, there has not been a ton of use or abuse possible. The price tag attached to this machine is commensurate with the condition: the opening ask is $10,000 with reserve in place, and the BIN is a very high $17,000. Click on the link to jump over to the auction and check out all of the pictures and details. If you have been waiting for another shot at Tamburini’s masterpiece, this just might be the perfect example. Good Luck!

MI

From the Pacific Northwest comes this fantastic looking Ducati 750 F1. Despite this bike’s great appearance (reportedly housebroken at an early age) this one is also a rider with some 23,500 kilometers on those white-faced Veglia dials. That works out to be about 14,500 miles or so – give or take – and proves that this beauty is more than just a living room queen.

Update 2.13.2013: Previously listed a few weeks back, this F1 is back after bids reached $16k but failed to meet reserve. Current bid is $9k with 3 days to go. Links updated. -dc

The F1 was impossibly small for its day. In the world of aircooled Japanese inline fours, the F1 was narrow and svelte. This was to be a scalpel in a world of sledgehammers; torque and agility to combat horsepower and top speed.

From the seller:
1986 DUCATI 750 F1 ,DESMO ,FANTASTIC CONDITION ,RUNS FLAWLESS ,SOUNDS INCREDIBLE ,NEW BATTERY ,RECENT BELTS AND TUNE UP ,NO ISSUES ,INDOOR STORED FROM NEW ,FAIRING HAS NONE OF THE USUALL CHIPS AND SCRATCHES ,EVERYTHING WORKS ,CLEAN TITLE ,FRONT AND REAR STANDS , THIS IS A VERY RARE DUCATI WITH LESS THAN 1100 MADE OF THIS MODEL ,ITS RACING BIKE FOR THE STREET ! MUSEUM QUALITY EXAMPLE ,WE AT BUYERS EXPENSE CAN SHIP WORLDWIDE ,NEAR FLAWLESS AND CONCOURES CONDITION ,COMPARED TO OTHER RACING DUCATIS THESE 750 F1s ARE A BARGIN AND A GREAT INVESTMENT.

The 750 F1 utilizes a Pantah-derived L-twin. Rubber belts drive the desmo valve train opposed to the bevel gears of the earlier models. The engine breathes via a pair of Dell’Orto carbs with mesh screens to keep low flying birds out of the intake. Front forks are Forcella 40 mm units, and braking duties are handled by Brembo. While no longer modern by any stretch, the minimalist approach makes this bike a visceral experience: lots of noise, vibration and personality.

Interest has been very high on this bike, as F1s are moving into collector circles these days. The current bid on this beauty is $12,600, with reserve still in place. We have seen these offered at $20k and above, so it will be interesting to see how high this particular bike climbs before the reserve comes off. For all the details, you can check it out here. Good Luck!

MI

Two stroke smoke is in the air! 2013 has certainly started with a bang given the number of great smokers we have seen in the past few weeks. Here is another one to consider; while not stock, it does look very clean and sports a New Mexico title. Consider the following photos:

From the seller:
This bike started off as a very used stock NSR250SE MC21. It is now the beautiful bike in the photos. Kept in temperature controlled garage. Only about 8 miles on it after rebuild and paint.

Body, rearsets, expansion chambers are TYGA. Front end and triple clamp is 1993 Honda RS250. Powder coated front Marchesini magnesium rim. Full Brembo. Iron rotors. All new bearings. Reduced steering lock from stock due to reduced triple clamp offset.
Trailtech digital display. New Honda RS250 coils and leads. Wire splice mod done.
Brembo radial front master cylinder. New CRG clutch perch. POR-15 coated tank.
Excellent condition Honda RS250 radiator with electric water pump, silicone hoses, Guhl thermostat.

Stock, completely rebuilt carbs with HRC jet kit, UNI foam filters.
Engine, transmission, and clutch completely rebuilt with new parts and RS250 lower cylinder head conversion. Stock and RS250 plugs and caps. Crank has new bearings, thrust washers, shot peened and balanced pistons and rods. New rod bearings.
All brake calipers rebuilt with new seals. Stock powder coated, widened rear wheel with new bearings. AFAM sprocket. Regina chain. Both new.

Enough parts to build a second engine, including transmission, clutch assembly, completely rebuilt, zero miles crank with shot peened rods. Various new gaskets, bearings, and seals. Spare PGMIII. This bike uses premix. No oil injection system.
Registered and titled in New Mexico.

Check your state laws regarding registration and titling of this vehicle before purchase.

If oil can be referred to as “black gold” then surely the market should start to refer to these two strokes as “smokey gold.” Prices are definitely on the move, with stakes on the rise for top-level examples of the breed. This bike – while not stock – seems to qualify as per the pictures. The starting bid is set at $9,000 with no takers at the time of writing, so if you want to make ring-a-ding noises in the new year you’d better come with a full wallet. Check out the pictures and details and let us know what you think!

MI

Do you want the best of everything? Do you want the coolest Ducati bevel desmo twin ever created? Do you want to show a bike at Pebble Beach and know that nobody there has ever seen another one? This will be the last time you will ever get the chance to own one of these.

These opening words, provided by the seller, really do tell the story of the rarity of this particular bike. Besides, I fall for a quality custom frame the way Ian swoons over radiators or the way Rem eyes a hot pink 90′s Gixxer. You had me at the first weld…..

C&J was a custom frame builder that primarily specialized in dirt track racers, although they also built a few road racers. As the story goes, they even built a handful of TZ frames for the famed Erv Kanemoto in the 1970s. These racers were ridden by the likes of Gary Nixon, Gary Fisher and Freddie Spencer. It looks like the original C&J changed hands just after the turn of the millenium, after which little information is available. With the original frame company seemingly imploded, this particular Ducati-powered C&J special becomes even more of a rarity.

As for the rest of the bike, the seller does a great job of highlighting the features:

From the seller:
C&J DUCATI 900 Lightweight Special, 1 of 3 Built!

This motorcycle is one of the most unique and beautiful Ducatis ever to be offered for sale. This is one of three produced by Mark Henry and C&J Racing Frames in 1987. The inspiration was the new, at that time, Ducati F-1 which offered state of the art styling and handling but an engine that was considerably cheapened when compared to the labor intensive, traditional, old world craftsmanship of the bevel drive desmo engines like the one that took Mike Hailwood to victory at the Isle of Man TT races a few years earlier. This bike is very exclusive and very well conceived and executed.

The C&J frame is carefully designed and constructed of high quality, light weight, 4130 chrome moly tubing. C&J achieved a very strong and light structure. The frame also has some nice features. The steering head angle is steeper and adjustable in a 2* range to get the feel that you like. The rear suspension is a mono-shock design that reduces the wheelbase considerably to 58 inches for fast steering.

The fiberglass tank, tail section, fender, and fairing are the highest quality products you will ever see. Mark Henry had these carefully made at Fiber Systems, his company. The custom paint work in pearl white and green metallic with black striping is stunning.

Suspension on this bike is upgraded to the highest spec adjustable Marzocchi M1R front forks and Works Performance aluminum remote reservoir mono-shock. Nothing but the best!

Braking is handled by the absolute top of the line Brembo gold components up front featuring twin floating discs and 4 piston race spec calipers. Rear braking also features quality Brembo parts. This bike stops!

Real Marvic magnesium wheels are mounted, front and rear. Light weight, expensive, and worth the every penny!

Other features are custom billet aluminum triple clamps with the lower clamp acting as a brake line junction, genuine Ducati gauges and switchgear, Ducati F-1 foot controls, and gorgeous custom Bub exhaust.

What about the engine? Engine number 086784 has around 50 miles on it since a complete rebuild by the famous Dr. Desmo of Evanston IL. The displacement is 905cc(88mmx74.4mm) and I have 8, hand written pages of assembly notes with dimensions that are included. Features noted are 42mm and 38mm mille valves, aluminum clutch kit, stainless screw set, gear gazer, heavy breather, aluminum oil filter cover, aluminum tower tubes, and lightened clutch assembly. This engine has the right stuff and was built by a world renown artist.

My bike is very special and is essentially brand new. It has only traveled around 50 miles since it was completed in December of 1999 by bevel expert Mike Dusik, owner of Mikmar Motors in Paxinos PA. It has been living in my climate controlled “museum” at my house for the last 13 years. It comes with a number of original receipts dating back to 1987 and some notes and a few old pictures. It also comes with the ultra-rare glossy C&J sales brochure from 1987 and a somewhat rough copy of the aforementioned June 1987 Motorcyclist magazine. It comes with a clear PA title. An extra bonus comes in the form of a spare, painted, fairing and front fender.

Note: Speedometer mileage does not reflect actual mileage estimated to be 50 miles.

First titled in November of 1998, frame purchased in 1987, bike completed in 1999. Bike titled as 1977 to match engine serial number.

Custom-framed bikes are a bit of an oddity on the open market. In some cases they lack the history or awareness in order to sell for big bucks (often selling for less than the sum of the parts), while in other cases the frame-up build adds an exclusivity buyers are willing to pay for. Which one is this? I haven’t a clue.

This bike is availble right now for a cool 40 grand. That’s right. $40,000 US dollars (or best offer) will buy what appears to be an attempt to out Super Sport an original Ducati Super Sport. Does the C&J name and the quality of the build warrant that kind of number? Buyers will be the ultimate judge. Check it out here and then jump back and tell us what you think.

MI

Update 1.5.2013: Now available on eBay for $9899. Links updated. -dc

It’s been a while since we posted a Bimota on these pages. The search for the rare and the magnificent is a feast or famine affair. Fortunately the Bimota famine appears to be over with this very nice DB4. Offered by the same seller as this 851 racebike today’s DB4 sports the very tasty Corse kit bits (flatside carbs and Ti exhaust) but is otherwise stock.

The Bimota DB recipe utilizes a a trestle frame made up of ovid tubes (think Bimota Mantra) to wrap up a Ducati Supersport engine (air-cooled, two valve, Desmo). Par for the course with Bimota the rest of the bits are top notch, including 320mm Brembo brakes and Paioli forks up front. The resulting package is light (under 365 pounds), flickable and torquey.

From the seller:
This is a great example of light weight engineering at it’s best. Take a great tractable powerplant, and plug it into a state of the art lightweight platform, and you have the recipe for success.. the Bimota DB4. This particular unit comes with some extra goodies that make a great product even better: Corse kit, which includes a full Titanium exhaust, and FCR Flat slide carbs, which when combined really let this engine sing! The Bimota DB4 is the new model of the very fortunate DB series, that is the series of Bimota motorcycles powered by Ducati engine (the TESI models represent a series apart in the Bimota story) .

The philosophy of the Bimota DB4 is to evoke the styling and the charm of the first model of the series, the legendary DB1 which, in 1985, became very popular on the worldwide market as an extremely innovative motorcycle, both for styling and technique. In the respect of the tradition of the previous versions, the Bimota DB4 is a very light and compact model, with the unmistakable, but always original, look of the DB series. The Bimota DB4 is a real sports bike and offers unrivalled performance in terms of handling and roadholding thanks to extraordinary technical features like the wheelbase of only 1370 mm and the dry weight of 165 Kg (363lbs).

If you are looking for that exotic bike that will thrill you when you are riding it, look great wherever it is parked and be servicable in most areas, this might be opportunity knocking on your door. DB4s are pretty popular when they float our way, and this one looks sharp and has low miles on the clock. Minor stress cracks are the norm with the light and thin Bimota hand laid ‘glass (see pictures), and the rest seems to be an solid and honest DB4 – with the cool Corse kit added on. The price is a market reasonable $9,995. Jump direct to the seller for this one and make sure you tell ‘em you found it on RSBFS!

MI

Update 11.29.2012: We first posted this F1a in early August of this year and it failed to meet reserve just shy of $10k. Back on eBay with 4 days to go, the bidding is up to $8400 with reserve not met. Links updated. -dc

This Ducati 750 F1 “a” model is a pretty rare bike. It is not rare because of some limited edition number plate riveted to the headstock. No, this Ducati gained exclusivity the old fashioned way – they just didn’t sell a whole lot of them. Fast forward 27 years and what was an interesting (albeit lowest of the F1 pecking order) bike back then becomes something a little bit more special.

We have posted several F1 models on RSBFS over the years – in varying condition. This particular bike looks to be a solid example. It is neither ratty and worn out, but nor is it overly restored to be made “like new.” I would certainly call it clean! It has pretty decent mileage on the clocks – 35000km according to the auction – which shows exactly what this bike is all about: riding.

From the seller:
here is a nice clean example of a early f1 a. bike has covered 35000km as indicated on speedo.new avon tires installed. these bikes are becoming more desirable and very collectable,prices continue to rise on nice examples. dellorto carbs,brembo brakes. a nice example of a low production model bike.

The seller is right about the value. These three color wonders seem to be making more green than white or red. Values are on the rise, and bikes in top condition are snapped up quickly. As always, so much will hinge on the reserve for this particular bike. We have seen F1s in the $10-12k range in the past, but this looks more like it is headed for the $15k+ seats.

Striking good looks, relatively low production numbers, age and condition – these all determine future values. And this F1 appears to have a pretty bright future. Best part of all is that you can ride it and enjoy it today; these are still serviceable machines with a good supply of parts and mechanic knowledge. For your opportunity to be the next curator of this great looking F1, click the link and jump over to the auction. Let’s see how high she goes!

MI