Its not surprising that a lot of the smaller motorcycle manufacturers adopted the concept of “manufactured” rarity, since this helped them compete with the Japanese. The most dedicated proponents of the manufactured rarity concepts all seem to be italian with Bimota, Ducati, MV Agusta and even Aprilia all producing limited edition bikes. The bikes can range from mere cosmetic upgrades like the Ducati 748 Senna and Nieman Marcus editions to serious technology pieces like the Ducati Desmosedici.
The Ducati Desmosedici was a lot more than just a reskinned standard bike. It was instead a limited production road-legal version of the Desmosedici MotoGP racebike. Back in 2008 Ducati made 1,500 Desmosedici models for public purchase and offered them for an eye-popping 72,500 USD. Even in the midst of the financial crisis, all 1500 units that were produced were pre-sold, with the first going to sportbike enthusiast Tom Cruise. Since 2008 Desmosedecci’s haven’t come up for sale that often, so now having several for sale at the same time on ebay US is quite unusual and I thought worthy of a post.
2008 Ducati Desmosedici for sale on ebay (in Florida)
Here is the first one, for sale by a dealer in Florida. Mileage is 414 miles
2008 Ducati Desmosedici for sale on ebay (in California)
Here is the second one, located in California. Mileage is 3250. NOTE: This auction is ending shortly.
There is even a 3rd Desmosedici available in Canada for anyone who is located north of the border, or anyone who perhaps want to take advantage of the current exchange rate.
Now before I get to the part where we discuss what these are worth, its important for people to remember the problem with manufactured rarity; once the novelty factor wears off or a better bike appears in the lineup, there is usually a fair amount of price depreciation. Many manufactured rarity-type bikes really struggle to ever appreciate back to their original asking price and become easily available. Perhaps the best example of this is the Ducati MH900e; the bike sold out almost immediately on introduction but is now commonly available for sale on ebay.
The Desmosedeci cost an eye popping 72,500 USD when new (although supposedly many were sold for less) but now they are starting to appear up for sale with big price drops, including some down into the 40,000 USD range. Perhaps this is due to the new SuperLeggera now being the top bike in Ducati’s lineup. It would seem that the “bubble” for these has popped and people who bought them as investments are now trying to move them off. This means that someone who lusted after these back when they came out might be able to pick one up now at a serious reduced price.
-Marty/Dallaslavowner
Awesome bikes to own under warranty, horrific if out of warranty. The cost of maintenance, replacement parts with normal wear and tear, let alone the possible parking lot drop or God forbid low side is beyond the vast majority of “normal” high end exotic motorcycle users’ budgets, …certainly at the current price point. I think these beautiful machines will continue to drop into the 20K range,…then we will finally see people riding them like they were designed.
Great posts, keep up the good work RSBFS!
Great points. I read once that regular maintenance at one of the mileage marks can run $4-5K as the cases need to be split. For list of $24,995 you can get a new 1299S with 205hp and 367lbs. Add a Termi pipe/ecu and you have a much more drivable bike. Granted, that’s not the point of collectibility. These best of these bikes will be worth a lot someday as they are true GP replica bikes. But that’s a lot of insurance payments and days wishing you could ride it before then.
One has to wonder if the prices of these bikes will actually start to rise again,especially after Honda announcced that their version of a Moto GP replica will sell for close to half a million dollars!! That price is utterly ridiculous.Considering this, it would seem that $80-$100,000 for a new to as-new Desmo is a bit of a bargain.
There is no such thing as a 748 Senna.
1. Adam, I think you posted in the wrong place, but yes, there was in fact a 748 Senna (model year 2002).
2. Joex-ray, I’ve owned a Panigale. It’s not what I consider to be a great bike. In fact, I sold it after realizing that the 999 series was more fun and seemingly better in every way. That said, comparing a SBK to a GP bike is apples to oranges. As a man who owns, and rides them all, I can tell you unequivocally that the Desmo is more than just a little bit special.
3. Thomas, did you know you can still add up to 7 years of warranty protection to a currently out of warranty Desmo?
That takes your worries away for a mere $2800. Moving right along, they’ll never get into the $20k range, ever. Honestly they’ll probably go back up to $60k soon enough. I mean you don’t see any new bikes coming out like the Desmo, except for possibly the Honda RC213V, which will be over $120,000…
I respectfully disagree with opinions above. This is the first time any manufacturer has made a true GP replica for the street. There has never been a similar bike, meaning almost off the GP paddock and into your garage. I doubt there ever will be again. The Superlegerra is amazing, but in a lot of ways is simply a highly modified Panigale. The D16RR has no comparable, or even remotely similar “low end” version. It will always stand as a unique and iconic bike in the Ducati line up, and while prices have certainly fallen since its release, I suspect collectibility and desirability will increase over the years. We shall see. I sincerely doubt any owners of this bike will start posting $20k price tags, as those who can afford to own one will never be that desperate for $20k. This the sale prices have remained constant in the $40s-$50s
I respectfully disagree with opinions above. This is the first time any manufacturer has made a true GP replica for the street. There has never been a similar bike, meaning almost off the GP paddock and into your garage. I doubt there ever will be again. The Superlegerra is amazing, but in a lot of ways is simply a highly modified Panigale. The D16RR has no comparable, or even remotely similar “low end” version. It will always stand as a unique and iconic bike in the Ducati line up, and while prices have certainly fallen since its release, I suspect collectibility and desirability will increase over the years. We shall see. I sincerely doubt any owners of this bike will start posting $20k price tags, as those who can afford to own one will never be that desperate for $20k. Thus the sale prices have remained constant in the $40s-$50s
Finally someone on here writes something that I completely agree with. Phil is 100% on the mark with this bike. If anyone on here remembers when this bike was released, it was mindblowing that Ducati would even do such a thing. And that $72k price? Everyone thought that this was going to be a financial investment. A couple of poor reviews later and they got crushed. They were comparing this bike to the 1098r which was a bit more refined, a lot cheaper, and could keep up if not beat this bike on the track. BUT THAT WASN’T THE POINT OF THIS BIKE. This bike was honestly the first bike that was a true GP replica that’s ever been built. We all know that the Gamma and the RZ500 were not replicas, but just had the same displacement of F1 two strokes. This bike is super special and I can’t wait for people to stop bagging on them. One day, it will happen.
Think of this bike more of an NR or a Britton, and then you might start understanding why they’re so special. There’s nothing like them, and unless Honda makes some kind of RCV then you likely won’t see a bike like this in the near future. Want a little more motivation? Remember: Stoner won on this thing, or something very similar to it.
No more Desmocedici bashing, please.
I saw one sell for around US$30,000 in Japan a few months ago with I recall 2,000km under it. I was the under bidder on that bike and watched it sell (regretted afterward). They are certainly trending downward but I think they are near the bottom now. Until the road version of the Honda RCV213 hits the showrooms tthe Desmosedici is still bellisimi
Bought my desmo new at 72.5K, I can tell you the bike is not well built. the radiator cracked and leaked in the first 600 miles. The valve springs failed and had to be replaced, along with new pistons by 800 miles. Thank god under warranty, the dealer had the bike 4 months. The regulator failed and it left me stranded at deals gap at 1000 miles. The dash cracked around the same time from normal street driving. The build quality is terrible, and cost to own is crazy. Love the way the bike looked, sounded, and power was great. Once the honeymoon is over, the reality is painful.
I remember all the hype when this bike came out but the first two I saw were a year later, languishing at different shops wondering how they got talked into taking one.
I didn’t ask but I’m sure they would have quietly sold for a deep discount back then. I’d love to have one to actually ride.
Jeff, that is a shame but makes sense I guess if these are truly Moto GP bikes. Multi million dollar teams practice, race, and tear them down to the frame every weekend. Parts get replaced at an alarming level though that is acceptable in racing. On the street we have come to expect no issues for the life of the bike and that’s great. Your comments are proof positive that this is truly a race bike.
Thanks for sharing your story and I really wish I had one of these. You didn’t mention if you still had yours and if you still ride it? I’d be afraid to swing a leg over it with those stories you have! I’m not saying I wouldn’t, just afraid and I wouldn’t be going on any road trips. This is a Sunday breakfast meet bike if there ever was one. I would love to hear it. Take care and send updates.
Valve springs on a desmo engine?
Agree with a lot that was posted above, and David, I’m not trying to offend any one or “bash” these bikes; I think they are great, even tempted to buy one; I personally know of two that have sold locally in the v. low 30’s this year, with full service and extras and the owners were happy to sell them; I was told by my mechanic, replacement valves are close to $900 each, so if you are going to ride these correctly/hard, dig deep into your pocket; …Ducati’s maintenance version of a TZ250.
I thought the extended warranty was only available if you were the owner of the bike when it went the original warranty expired…can you just buy a warranty package after you buy a Ducati?
marty
There was never a “bubble” with these bikes. From the moment the first was sold, they have been depreciating at a pretty regular rate. A “bubble” implies that these things ran up. Never happened. They are amazing machines in concept and function. Truly hard to believe they made it to market. Certainly by today’s standard, they are less impressive, but years from now these bikes will be valued for what they where. In the meantime, I will enjoy mine tremendously. I have many bikes, but nothing and I mean norhing, talks to your soul like this bike! Riding it is a unique experience, not duplicated by anyrhing. Just my 2 cents : )
Randall, you’re completely wrong about Sennas. It is a common misconception because it isn’t red or yellow and has an “S”. The S does not stand for Senna on a 996S or pre-2002 748S, nor does 916S denote the REAL Sennas. Other than lovely titanium grey paint, there is nothing special about the 2002 748S whatsoever. (Ok, real 916 Senna’s didn’t have much more than a chip and a paint job, but that was because the original high spec plan got shelved after his unfortunate death.) In spite of the litany of “748 Senna” photos appearing in Google, try finding one official word from Ducati or even someone like Falloon on a “748 Senna”. They are a complete myth.
Hang in there collectors and owners… Let the faint hearted jump ship at the bottom… The key to collecting or investing is patients at times. The Desmo Is and always will be an iconic bike and it will have it’s day in the sun again. Priced a countach or a Ford GT lately?, or scene what the latest Challenge Stradale brought at auction? They were flat for a while as well… no longer. If you can get a deal on a desmo get one, they too surely will be headed the other direction in time. Glade I have mine, it sets right next to its italian four wheeled friends 🙂
trackdaddy, love mine as well… I have many high end rare bikes and the first time I put a leg over this thing and took it out, I was amazed. All I could say when I got off the thing was WOW… I can’t believe ducati actually built this thing for public use.. Hope I feel the same about my H2R when it gets here 🙂
It seems that this is the natural way with the true Ducati Specials. The MH900e sank for a while after it’s launch, they were pretty regularly on the market. Now, they come up far less often, and when they do, the price is climbing.
I don’t own either, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to!
Ya having to go along with Christian here. Jeff Might want to look at a Desmodromic design. (there is a nice little video on the tube) So I’m pretty sure desmo is short for that, but what would I know I was working at a dealership that sold 5. Never rode one but the noise of one just getting setup on the dyno was sweetest sound I’ve ever heard short of formula 1(v8 or v12) or of course MOTOGP.
Also just have to throw this in for collectors vs. riders. I was around when the NR750 came out and was blessed enough to have one in our shop. It also had a quite exotic noise like nothing you will ever here. That noise and a poster with the Budweiser girls where are the only things I ever saw that bike do(also a $70k+bike and that was 94/95).
The only true owners of Desmo’s are D-bags with too much $$$ who don’t really ride the bike as intended and those who live to ride. The latter is aware that parts will not be cheap it’s a race bike for gods sake!
So collectors would you want a bike that you could at least get parts for (just in case your sack drops and you ride the thing as intended)? or an experiment that just sounds and looks pretty? With absolutely minimal parts available just in case something happened to your precious investment.
Saying prices will go under $40k or even reach the 20’s is fiction… As almost all classic bikes , it takes years for the price to reboot… There is no question this is an instant classic at bad timing… That’s all.
Remember it came out same time economy was gone to dust. As the money … after almost decade later the economy is recovering, and this classic have only one way to go and it is up and away. When you won a bike like this you won’t care about maintenance… it is a consequence and for the records I never expend a penny to this bike that I would complain about. If you do you are the wrong person to own and then… pass the torch to someone to carry.
Heshian1, you sound like a guy who’s pissed he can’t afford one. I can assure you that there are many collectible cars and bikes out there that you can’t get parts for and that’s not a deterrent to the collectibility or value of such cars and bikes. In fact that’s what drives prices upward. The real key in ownership of these types of vehicle, is that anything can be fabricated if need be.
Not pissed I can’t afford one but do wish I owned for the track. I do understand collectable/rare and that said parts for anything can be machined/made (well maybe not those ovel pistons). I’ve always been a function before form person, so it’s hard for me to understand how someone can buy a bike and just let it sit there. I was just looking for thoughts and reactions.
The bikes listed by our friends @R.S.B.F.S. and there sister pages of sites bring us motorheads the finest in collectibles that burn gas and I for one would like to thank them for that. Thanks
Hi everyone,
I have a Desmosedici RR and I agree with Phil above that the bike is a different kind of animal. It is unfair to the bike to compare it with anything else. Also for those who love the sound of motorcycles, this sound is unique!
I have been using the bike every month or so for a ride, but I have taken it to many different racetracks around the US and Europe including Mugello.
First of all, nothing can stand next to the Desmosedici in terms of acceleration. Horsepower alone cannot clearly indicate the firing of this bike. On the other hand it is very stiff and difficult to ride especially for an average rider like me, but I bet that in the right hands this bike can lap faster than anything else other than a MotoGP. If you want to go fast in the racetrack, get something else because you will probably go faster, not only because it will be an easier machine to master, but also because you will not be afraid to drop it as much as you would on the Desmosedici.
In terms of reliability, I have ridden appr. 5000 miles in total so far and at least 1000 of these miles were on the racetrack.
I never had any issues with the bike other than a broken rear license plate holder which cracked (I assume from the vibration). However, Ducati replaced it at no cost to me even though it was past the 3 year warranty.
It was high bid to $35,500 where it was a now sale and relisted at http://www.ebay.com/itm/261775651906 where it has a BIN of $54,995.
My mates couldn’t believe what I spent on my desmo. It was a luxury that I have now sold, 3 years of pure joy. I didn’t have to ride it much to get the joy of having it in my lounge room. Never had an issue with it, other than insurance costs. To those that still have them, enjoy, to those that slag us current and former owners, don’t. Until you have someone chase you home cause they want a video of it running, you wouldn’t understand why most are seldom used.