Update 3.6.2019: Dave reports that this bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc
Showing up to your local track day on any late ’90s or early-aughts Ducati is pretty close to the best way to elevate your cred above the herds of hammered SV650s and GSXRs buzzing around each other like a mobile swap meet. To be the guy on the 2002 996 is to be the guy the pimpled youths suddenly revere. But at RSBFS, we exist to take you to the stars. Behold: the 2000 Ducati 748RS. The never seen, seldom mentioned carbon fiber-bodied race homologation version of the already serious 748R. We’re bringing you this bike as a featured listing from our buddy Dave at Seattle Used Bikes. You’re welcome.
The 748RS was made in insanely low numbers — something like 50 were built — and its engine cases were filled with unobtanium parts that made the bikes fragile, expensive and ludicrously fast. It sports thinner chromoly frame rails than the stock machine, and the chassis is bedecked adjustable with Ohlins suspension at each end. Handling the gases produced by the special mill was a 54mm Termignoni exhaust system unique to the 748RS. Slowing things down is a humongous set of Brembos bolted to featherweight Marchesini wheels. They came from the factory with stunning naked carbon fiber bodywork, though this bike has been given the proper Ducati Corse paintwork.
Into the mid-aughts, the 748RS saw success in the AMA Battle of the Twins and Pro Thunder categories. Sadly, this machine’s first owner, who was campaigning it in Pro Thunder, died racing an SV650. Time and the relentless march of technology mean that this bike won’t be competitive in anything but classic racing series now, but that seems more fitting than to just throw it at a few track days.
This example has sat mostly dormant since its turn of the century racing career. Its engine was overhauled and further hot rodded to 853cc in 2007 when the second owner acquired it, but it hasn’t seen any action save for a break in and some dyno runs. We’ll let Dave fill in the details:
This is another bike from our friends private collection of very special bikes. A very limited edition 2000 Ducati 748RS. Ducati produced a very limited run of 748RS machines (around 15 first year), which were intended as full racing machines and as such came with no road-going equipment. The engine internals and components were vastly different from any road-based Ducati, using a variety of light-weight, high-strength materials making them extremely expensive to purchase, run and maintain. The RS came with a 54 mm exhaust system and a slightly smaller size and gauge of Chromoly tubing was used on the frame to reduce weight even further.
This particular bike was campaigned in Southern California in the AMA Pro Thunder series back in the day. Sadly, in the early 2000’s, the owner of the bike passed while racing an SV650. The ‘RS sat unused for several years until GP Motorcycles in San Diego was tasked with making it ready for sale on behalf of the former owner’s family. It was purchased by our customer in 2007 as a local track day toy. He immediately shipped it to Mark Sutton at the DucShop in the Atlanta area for a freshen-up. They found the motor to be a bit tired so it was decided to build an 853cc trackday weapon out of the ‘RS motor. No expense was spared in order to create one serious package, we have full build receipts as well. . $6500 later it was shipped back to Seattle and has been in storage here ever since. Sadly never making its way back to the track. The only use the bike has seen since then was on the dyno and around the DucShop parking lot. There were some upgrades performed along the way, the previous owner upgraded the bike with an even larger kit radiator from a 996RS and the longer magnesium swingarm. Along with Superbike spec Marchesini magnesium wheels with a 16.5″, we also have a new 17″ in a box available for sale.. Also if someone is serious about tracking this bike, there is a 2nd fresh 748RS crate motor available as well, it too was completely gone through and broken in at DucShop.
Sold with Bill of Sale only
No Financing options available on this one
Credits cards accepted.
Up to $150.00 documentation fee may be charged.Seattle Used Bikes4905 Aurora Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98103
dave@seattleusedbikes.comClosed Sun/Mon Find us on Facebook and the Web
If you wanna go truly fast, the same money will buy you a next-to-new Yamaha R1. But that would miss the point, and the glory of owning such a focused weapon. The bike will require the attention that only true thoroughbreds do, with new valves a necessity every 750 miles or so. Helpfully, this bike is available with a spare 748RS engine (but is not included), which should at least allow you to rotate mills at rebuild time.
The price for all this 748RS is just $14,000, spare 748RS not included. If you have the means, we’d highly recommend contacting Dave before it’s too late.
