1998 DUCATI 916

Year: 1998

Make: Ducati

Model: 916

Engine Capacity: 916cc

Odometer: 4 KMs

Rego Until: NONE

It is not too often that a bike from 22 years ago comes back for sale looking like it came out of the crate for the first time. That is essentially what is happening here, this bike has been a living room display since it was unboxed back in 1998. The original buyer for this allocated Australia Ducati was a gift to his wife but then after was to afraid to ride it sat in the living room until now. The bike has never had liquid through its veins or petrol in the tank. It has a whopping 4km on it that were only from the factory wheeling it around. Everything from the showroom floor has not been changed. Same tyres, washers, tubes and wires. An untouched Gem so to speak. This is a work of art for anyone who knows the history of this bike. You didn't click on this ad if you didn't know exactly what you were looking at. The exhaust is the only thing that is aftermarket and was fitted at the dealership for the showroom. The only thing negative about this unfortunately through the 22 years of its life the books for it and second key have been misplaced. Thats it.

Looking at a 916, it’s hard to believe that the model’s now 25 years old and that bikes from the first full year of production are now eligible for historic plates. Now, the Ducati 916 is the poster boy of a golden era of motorcycling. New bike sales were booming, trackdays were beginning, modern tyres were making kneedown possible, speed cameras weren’t common, and petrol was under £1 a litre. King Carl Fogarty reigned supreme, packing Brands Hatch’s banks with supporters, and giving the whole of the UK a feelgood factor. It made motorcycling cool again, and made Ducati what it is today. Add to this the fact the 916 changed the way designers styled their bikes, forced the Japanese to flirt with V-twin engines and even arguably created the litre bike class due to its domination of the 750s in WSB, and you can see what a revolutionary machine it was then – and remains today.

The three-spoke 916 wheels were built by Brembo. You can never predict if the physical attractiveness of a vehicle will be a success (as the 916’s successor, the 999 demonstrated), but with the 916 its designer Massimo Tamburini certainly had a good start. Not only had Tamburini already created some beautiful Bimota models, he based the 916 on two surefire winning themes – sex and performance. Low mileage examples now command strong prices.

Engine size 916cc

Engine type 90° V-twin, fuel injected, 4-valve-per-cylinder desmodromic valves, liquid-cooled

Frame type Tubular steel Trellis Fuel capacity 17 litres Seat height 790mm

Bike weight 195kg

Front suspension 43mm Showa

Rear suspension Showa rising-rate single sided swingarm

Front brake 2x320mm discs, four-piston calipers

Rear brake single 220mm disc, two piston caliper

Front tyre size 120/70 17

Rear tyre size 190/50 17

All yours for only