By the time Ducati’s 916 was retired, they’d wrung just about everything out of the bike there was to wring, and the sportbike world had moved on. From a stylistic perspective, the 998 was far too familiar after ten years and, while the design was still considered a classic, it was decidedly… classic. Of course Ducatisti felt the 999 that followed moved the style on a bit too far, but a significant mechanical overhaul was a good idea, and this 998S Final Edition represents the very end of the line for Tamburini’s masterpiece of form and function.
The 998 looked pretty much like the original 916 with some updated graphics and wheels, was significantly evolved. Sure, some parts are interchangeable between the 916, 996, 998, and even the 748, but both the engine and frame changed significantly between the bike’s introduction in 1994 and 2004, when the 998 was discontinued. The 998’s frame was actually the same as the 996R, which allowed the 998 to use that bike’s larger airbox and updated injectors for additional power: 123hp, up from the 996’s 112. The new frame also allowed use of the 998cc Testastretta engine that was first used in the 996R, and bodywork was revised to wrap around the new frame and engine as well.
So while the 916 may be the original, the 998 is a much more thoroughly-developed package, with increased power and improved reliability from both the mechanical and electrical components. If you want to collect a Tamburini bike, you’re probably looking at the original 916. If you’re looking to ride your Ducati, the 998 is likely a better choice. Of course this 998S FE might be better left as a display bike: it has covered just 7.4 miles in total since it was built.
From the original eBay listing: 2004 Ducati 998S Final Edition for Sale
This is a new, never ridden 2004 Ducati 998S Final Edition.
It has the Testastretta engine, Ohlins shocks, Termignoni exhaust, and carbon fiber underbody.
It has never been licensed. I bought it thinking I would ride it later, and now I have lost interest in riding it. It has always been kept indoors and covered.
It had 7 miles on it when I purchased it from the dealer, and I have not added any more.
If you missed buying the most refined version of Tamburini’s superbike new, this is just about the closest thing you’re going to find now. It isn’t one of the high-performance homologation models like the R or SPS, but that insane mileage makes it one of the rarest Ducatis around. Honestly, this is a collector and not a rider, and would probably need some work after basically sitting for the past 14 years if you wanted to actually use it, but if you want a museum piece, this is your bike. The seller is asking an eye-watering $25,000 for this one, which is stiff money for a 998. But how many are there in existence like it at this point?
-tad
Nice one, but a rather thin description …
Sorry Tad, I meant thin description and details from the seller!
25k for an S?….she pretty and clearly rare with this kind of mileage but IMO, am R or SPS would be a better investment for likely less $$. It’s so tough with these zero mileage (8 in this case) bikes. You can’t ride them as value plunges the minute you do and if you’re going to hit the track, why not buy an R that will hold its value better and be much more fun to ride anyway? Siting for this many years, expect at least a 3000 bill for belts, valve check, tires, fork seals and likely some gaskets that may have dried out… likely more.
So… you won’t be picking this one up then? Yeah, this bike is for that particular collector who wants perfect, time-capsule bikes to hermetically seal in a glass case in their livingroom. I’m with you: I’d much prefer a clean SPS for that kind of money, something I can actually ride once in a while, or something with a bit of history to it.
True, but this seems to be an issue with a bike that has no history: there’s not much to say! “Bike has 0 miles and has never been titled. It has been sitting in my den since 1994 and… well, my cat climbed up on it once. We don’t have a cat anymore… Anyway, that’s it.”
Bikes… any bike, is designed and built to be RIDDEN people – Who the hell buys a bike with the expressed intent to just look at it !?! Oh wait. THIS guy. Buy a high quality poster print and spend $$ having it framed in titanium or something… wouldn’t that satisfy the urge to just stare at it? I just don’t “get it” and probably never will. Good luck to the next person to look at it.
It seems a good portion of Ducati’s are sold to investors who just stick them in a garage or living room, wait and try to cash in. Where is the value here? It has 8 miles, so what? Like stated above, you can’t ride it without cratering the perceived value. It will cost thousands to get it into running condition, so what is its use? Sitting in your living room? Buy a nice but ridden bike, spend a few K on cosmetics and park it if you want to stare at a bike in your house……
I’m not even a Ducati guy and those photos are just plain sad,like a caged animal.
I seem to be the only person who’s baffled by the line, “I’ve lost interest in riding it.” If you’re not interested in riding this, what would be interesting? That’s rhetorical. I would love to ride the stinking crap out of this bike as well as any other top of the line Ducati sportbike I could get my hands on. Especially if I had a lot of money, then I would just sit my ass down on this thing and ride it. So confused.
I have one of these and it’s a great bike – that said, they simply aren’t in that much demand. A beautiful example went unsold on ebay a few months ago with a reserve around $11k.
I just noticed that. You “lost interest”? Just be honest “I am trying to cash in on the collectible bike market bubble”