Should I buy a 907?

derekpleb · Post by **derekpleb** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:12 pm

Hello all,
New to Ducati, but I've been riding early '80s italian machines for 17 years. I've spotted a vey shiney '92 plate 907ie with 40,000 on the odo at a dealers in the uk. Is that miles or km? There are a few undesirable mods such as "sexy" fairing fastners and seat but nothing that can't be fixed. They want £1500 ($3000) for it which I thought was reasonable given there'd be some sort of warranty etc. The rear shock is an aftermarket one and will probably need replacing. Brake rotors have little wear. The real clincher was when I got a torch and shone it up inside the fairing all looked shiney and new, with no rust and just a hint or white rash.

Should I buy it? What should I look out for before handing over any cash - I should be able to get a test ride? Where would I go for spares in the UK?

Thanks for any help

Chris

MarkShelley · Post by **MarkShelley** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:59 pm

No, not until you have seen mine!

I have been toying with the idea of selling it this Summer. I bought it last year on impulse because it was in such great condition I couldn`t resist it! I have only done about 60 miles on it as I can`t bring myself to put luggage on it and risk spoiling the paintwork.
I also own a beautiful Triumph Daytona and an old VFR750 which is my winter hack.
The first owner was Chris Clarke, who used to own the Ducati dealership in Wymondham, Norfolk. It has then had 2 more owners local to me in Cambridgeshire. It is totally original and I can`t imagine there being a nicer one anywhere in the UK. It has done a very low mileage (15K off the top of my head).
My email address is mshelley@arenastructures.com

keepsdad · Post by **keepsdad** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:37 pm

there may not be a nicer one in the UK, but I do know of one nicer in the United States --- MINE :neener:

mine is a '91 which was owned by a retired ducati mechanic who frequents this site. when i purchased it from him this past fall it had 6500 miles. it now has 7500 miles, is breathtakingly beautiful and rides like the beautiful lady she is.

i love my 907

persempre907 · Post by **persempre907** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:08 pm

All the Pasos are beautiful

.
So, Derek if you can choose try to buy the one that has less miles on it.
No matter, 40.000 miles are not too much if the bike has been well cared, but, if you have to change the shock and the rotors you might

.

Ciao

derekpleb · Post by **derekpleb** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:07 am

Hi again,
Thanks for your help guys! On your advice I will try and find something with lower mileage and without the shock problem. The shock was a Quadrant Dynamics one, the salesman said it was crap... is this true? I have always liked the design of the paso ever since a pal had one in the late eighties. He rode his bikes all the time and I recall the mechanics being shocked at the mileage when he took it in for a service. 20Kmiles a year even back then was cosidered too much for a Ducati!!

Now I just need to clear up a few other things please let me know where I'm wrong in the following...

The 907
Is air cooled
Has 85BHP
Has 17" Wheels
Has 2 valve heads
Has WM Digiplex EFI

907 weak points are:
Starter
Small sized monoshock
Anything else?

Many thanks again

Chris

keepsdad · Post by **keepsdad** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:21 pm

unless i have a really unique 907, they are liquid cooled.

ride safely.

persempre907 · Post by **persempre907** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:30 pm

I don't know the brand "Quadrant Dynamics", so I can't tell you anything about it.

The 907 is:
- water cooled,
- has true 78 hp about and 92 on the paper,
- 17" wheels
- 2 valves heads
- ECU Weber Marelli IAW 043 (P7).

The only weakness is on the electrics: the wires are too much thin and many people has improved it.

Ciao

lceriani · Post by **lceriani** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:55 pm

Don't forget spare parts: some engine parts are interchangable with more recent models, but bodywork could give you some trouble.

Duc750 · Post by **Duc750** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 6:36 pm

I don't think there is really any problem with the Monoshock

Mine is un serviced and about 22K Miles old - it had no problem with loaded touring in the alps (even when riding with a high level of enthusiasm!)
The Marzocchi is serviceable but is not as good as say an Ohlins unit.

The electrics are a bit of a comedy affair and like any Ducati running that type of fuel pump the fuel filter needs to be changed regularly or the pump can burn out.

Front sprockets are getting hard to get hold of in the UK but the sprockets from later Monsters and SS's can be used as long as you are prepared to do a very small amount of engineering involving a round file and a new retention plate.

For a sports tourer the handling is very good although all the Paso's suffer from the same problem IMHO and that is the the seat is too sculpted for the rider makign it difficult to hang off (you can't get far enough back from the tank)

Coolant res bottles are also difficult to get hold of although I'm working on getting a CF one re manufactured at a reasonabl;e cost (more of that later)

If you are in the UK its worth talking to Geoff Baines at Baines racing as he used to use a 907 ie. engine in an 851 one frame in the Bears series races and knows how to tune them quite nicely !

seanery · Post by **seanery** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:09 pm

I was warned and scolded and damn-near beat up by friends and acquantances who heard I was thinking of buying a Paso-based bike.

I did my research, and other than the limitation of parts, think it's a solid buy.

I did get some folks tell me it was a good bike...Are 750s really as bad as I've heard?

ducapaso · Post by **ducapaso** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:36 pm

750 pasos are air cooleed and this means the bike is lighter (you can find everything about weight from the homepage).
Carb and 16" rims are worst troubles of the bike... in the F.A.Q. sticky of 750 posts there are all the best suggestions about that...
I think that 17" conversion gives a great handling upgrade and a correct carb setup solves many troubles.
Anyway you need to experience the riding to appeciate the real difference between 907 and 750.

persempre907 · Post by **persempre907** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:46 am

seanery wrote:Are 750s really as bad as I've heard?

Who told you it, and why?

The 750 is a twenty years old bike.

She has some well known weakness (electrics, carbs etc.) that can be easily fixed but, no matter, she's a very strong bike.

Besides, if who told it thought to the jap bikes, he didn't know the Ducks have much more complicated engines and need a good and careful service.

So buy a 750 if you like or a 907 that has less weakness.

Ciao

mrinflux · Post by **mrinflux** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:07 pm

seanery,
the 750 Paso is a fine bike for its time. but regardless of what you'll read here, (persempre and finnpaso love to debate this!), the 750 pales in comparason to the 907. the 907 is a much better motorcycle in all aspects. it is the final design evolution of the paso form. anybody who wants to debate this point just wants to argue for the sake of arguing. this is not a close call. there is no way to make a cogent argument that the 750 is equal to or better than the 907. it is what it is.

Timbo · Post by **Timbo** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:44 pm

Chris
907 good looking, red and Italian great sound and good ride always always wearing wide smile when out riding nothing better

mate
JUST BUY IT !!!!!!!!

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