Okay, so here’s the thing: all of my early opinions about the 750 F1 were informed by Mick Walker’s Illustrated Ducati Buyer’s guide where the bike got one freaking star. I’m not sure where I put my copy, so don’t crucify me if I got that bit wrong, or if you have an updated edition where he revised his opinion, but it really stuck out in my mind.
The review absolutely hated the F1: “uncomfortable, extremely unreliable, and slow,” were words I remember being applied, with a big heaping of distain…
Powered by a 750cc version of Ducati’s air-cooled, two-valve Desmo v-twin, the F1 was styled after the TT1 and TT2 race bikes. The Pantah engine is eminently tunable to make serious power, and many of the criticisms leveled at the bike can be rectified. Early bikes were definitely down on power and quality, but gradual improvements improved the package, and the 1988 bikes are generally considered to be the best of the bunch.
These occupy a very interesting place in Ducati history, as they form a bit of a bridge between the older BatBike-looking Pantah models and the much more modern 900SS bikes. In addition, the bike’s rarity has caused values to skyrocket in recent years: for a long time, you could get one of these for less than the price of a good 900SS/CR. But looking at the asking price on this example, you can see just how much that’s changed.
The original eBay post reads a bit like a poetry slam and includes lyrics from Chris deBurgh’s “Lady in Red” [seriously]. Excerpted from the full listing: 1988 Ducati 750 F1 for Sale
Yes
another RARE beast
that came to AMERICA!!!
the beloved F13188 original miles
original dated (dot) coded tires to prove it
close to MINT
ALL ORIGINAL PAINTSTUNNING ITALIAN CRAFTSMANSHIP
11 SECONDS IN THE 1/4 MILE
OBNOXIOUSLY LOUD!!!
HIGH MAINTENANCE of coursefluids have been drained for
about SIX years. seafoam creeper
used in tank and pumpers. this was also the
last time it was running. what’s it sound like…..
exactly like a 427 corvette
NO KIDDING-ask the neighborsmissing bits and pieces, but very, very original.
ALL ORIGINAL PAINT
wrong exhaust (but i love em)
EXTRAS INCLUDED
It’s great that the seller is so passionate about the bike. But what “bits and pieces are missing”? And what extras are included? He also may be overstating the “stunning Italian craftsmanship” a bit in ALL CAPS and, as a carbed, air-cooled Duck owner, I’m not sure if calling the bike “high-maintenance” is a good selling point, or even true. Definitely a case where grinning, hard-sell enthusiasm may be getting in the way of important details…
There’s something a bit crude about the F1, something sort of clunky-looking, but these do make a staggering bellow when breathing through open pipes: I saw one at a track day recently with a pair of oval high-mount pipes and fresh paint that looked and sounded the business.
With 5 days left on the listing and a $24,500 asking price, this seems very high, even considering the 3,200 miles on the clock. Although with plenty of lurkers… sorry, I mean “watchers,” who knows what this will go for and what the seller might accept as a best offer.
-tad
+ 5 points to Tad for using distain correctly in a post 🙂
And -3 points for mis-spelling it.
Just kidding.
I had a 1988 BMW R100RS and a buddy that had 1 of these, and as much as he loved his Duc, he always wanted to trade with me when we’d go out for rides.
He claimed his bike was really warm to ride.
I liked following him through the twisties, just to listen to that thing coming out of a corner and winding up.
He was usually in the lead, as he had better hands than I did.
Looking back, I now wish I had taken him up on it more often.
I gotta say it…..Im just not a fan of bikes that have umbilical cords.
Hey! My spelling is on-point! I’ve been considering picking up a cheap air or oilhead BMW for longer rides: my Monster is very uncomfortable for traveling and my Daytona isn’t much better…
In case anyone in the comments is interested: this is the track-ready F1 I saw at an AHRMA event in July https://www.flickr.com/photos/53578592@N08/14462115460/in/set-72157648158482365
Very slick little bike.
As for spelling, I think he meant the poster above him regarding the word, “distain” (disdain).
Joel
“disdain” is what Mick felt for the 750.
“distain” or “datstain” is what a old bevel-drive Ducati leaves on the driveway.
Tad,
We just had our hands on that one you saw.. Our good friend Mark imported it from overseas to use as a cool track toy after his pristine F1 met an unfortunate end at the track involving dirt and fire. We are in the process of putting that one back into a cool beastie as well!
For whatever reason, the F1’s have been popping up more and more lately. Once breathed on some, they make for an amazing track tool!
It was a really good-looking bike, and I’m glad it was seeing track time. The air-cooled, two-valve Pantah engine has been around for a long time, and my understanding is that they respond well to porting/polishing, etc. I’m hoping that’s true, since I have one I plan to have “breathed on” myself!
Fucking junk