For Sale: 2002 Ducati 998R Superbike #450/700
When it comes to running with the big dogs, this ultra-rare 998R was one of the biggest dogs around. Proven in World Superbike (Troy Bayliss won in 2001 riding a 996/998 Ducati), the 998R is the last of the generational line that started with the iconic 916 nearly a decade before.
From the seller:
I am offering my very rare 2002 Ducati 998R Superbike for sale. The bike is in excellent condition and has been meticulously maintained. I purchased the bike from a well known collector who has an expansive collection of the rarest most valuable Ducatis. He had two 998Rs and agreed to sell me this one 6 years ago. This is my second one and I am making room in my own collection for another acquisition. I will say this is one of the more rare and elusive Ducatis. I have never seen another one besides the ones I’ve owned…..even more rare than the much sought after Desmosedici.The bike comes with the factory plaque of authenticity from Italy that matches the plaque on the bike’s triple clamps to confirm the bike’s pedigree, the Ducati cover for the bike, the tool kit and headlight replacement cover for track use.
Of course the bike runs perfectly and provides an amazing ride. The tires have 1000 miles on them. This bike has never been on the track and has always been ridden by a responsible adult on casual weekend rides.
You would think that the seller is utilizing hyperbole when he waxes how rare these bikes are – but that would be unkind. We here at RSBFS have seen very few 998R models – the last being this one as posted by alumni Doug back in 2010! If this last-gen R model floats your boat, jump quickly because Halley’s Comet might come around again before we post another.
This auction is for the big boys only: the ante started at $18,000 and bidding is currently sitting at the $20k mark with a few days to go. If you can defer some house payments, put off that pool you’ve been looking into, siphon off some cash from the kids college savings funds and raid your 401K, this might be the bike for you – this is a 998R after all…. Click the link to check out the auction. Good luck with this one!
MI
You really should have a seperate website for Ducatis.
Honestly, they are not that rare, even the “rare” ones. Rare to me indicates how many survivied or are still available and in Ducati’s case it seems every single “limited” production bike is bought by some baby boomer, wannabe “collector” who sticks it in his living room, rides it 6 miles a year and expects to double his money in 10 years.
You know what would be rare? A Ducati that was actually ridden, heck even ridden in the rain, maybe some road rash, maybe, just maybe it was ridden more than 6 miles a year!
The Ducatis are BORING, not rare and you should really stop featuring them.
worldwide production of 700 does seem to me to be that rare. Agree that every single Ducati model seems to have a “limited edition”, kind of wearing after a while.
@Stuttgartdan
my Ducati 888SPO is ridden every day, come rain or shine – 22,000 miles and still going strong…
is that rare enough for you ?
edit:—
worldwide production of 700 *DOES NOT* seem to me to be that rare.
Then we have the rarest Ducati of all. The last one that won a Moto GP. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist)
the problem is this. Ducati has been building “rare” motorycles for like 30 years. so you will see a lot of rare ducatis for sale. so whether it was a production run of only fifty bikes or fifteen hundred bikes, it seems there are a lot out there. well there isn’t. and not all of them got tucked away in someones living room. there are a lot of ducati fanatics out there who feel that these rare bikes were meant to be ridden, and they rode the piss out of em! thats what i do with mine. although mine aren’t really rare even though they really didn’t make very many 999s’
and yes this bike is very rare. and no he won’t get double the original selling price. he won’t even get the original selling price!
@stuttgartdan, i somewhat agree with you regarding the points you bring up on ducati + rare.
that being said, the rest of your post is childish and asinine. fyi, im riding my ducati over 5000 miles on a trip over the next few days. even more so, im not a baby boomer or a collector. how about that?????
cheers!
I was not trying to insult Ducati riders, I apologize to those who were. having said that, RELAX, I was making a point about the living room queen Ducatis, yes I know folks ride Ducatis in the rain, I was being a little sarcastic.
I stand by what I said, it seems nearly every Ducati is “limited”, collectors jump on them and then sit on them. My point is that they are not “rare sport bikes” a 1985 interceptor 500 in beautiful condition is rare. A blah, blah, “limited 259 of 800 Whatever Ducati is not rare because 99.9% of them were bought up by folks with no intention of riding them.
Let’s see some of those rain-soaked Ducs come for sale, then we can call it a rare Ducati.
@Slangbuster, great comment!
[…] the word is that numbered and limited edition Ducatis are not rare. After all, they made some 700 of the 998R as posted here (Make sure to read the comments on the 998R to appreciate the rest of this post! -dc). So when I […]
Sounds like Stuttgartdan just has a sad case of sour grapes. Maybe one day Germany will be able to make a bike that is as cherished and charsimatic as a Ducati 998R, instead of simply a ‘truly rare’ but fat, ugly and slow bike, like the bmw boxer cup : )
PS; don’t take offense, I’m just being a little ‘sarcastic’…
[…] the sums of money requested become larger as well. This rare 998R has been posted before on RSBFS (check it out here), but this time we have a BIN price and all new pictures. This particular bike can be yours for the […]
I have read so many articles or reviews regarding
the blogger lovers except this piece of writing is genuinely a nice post, keep it
up.
Well, those who collect these beautiful Ducatis and keep them warm and dry in their living rooms should all be commended and appreciated for the service they are providing. Where else is anyone going to find a supply of these great older bikes at a reasonable price? There’s a “new” 916 SPS listed at auction now with close to zero miles and its got large, readable instruments with sweeping red needles. (in the UK) No tach? No thanks!
Mr. Rotax Loncin