Graemer57 wrote:D'oh. Hadn't even thought of it like that. Am so used to paying fully comp insurance on mt R1200RT that I hadn't considered e sense of third party on an older bike
My tip would be to steer clear of multibike policies as well as if you have an accident with one bike you lose no claims discount on both - if you start a second policy you can acrue no claims all over again on that policy in parallel with the other.
Brokers I've always had success with in the past are MCE although my VFR is insured with Bennetts as they are a little better with zero no claims (as I have lost my 9 years due to not having a policy since 2008)
There is someone doing a special Ducati only cover somewhere as well which I found pretty damned good too when quoting for my 907.
The prices on ebay are a little too high for me at the moment although some bikes have gone for around the 3K mark but they have to be exceptional to be worth that.
For me I think all the Paso's are wonderful bikes - really genuinely and there are very few bikes that I can think of that I'd rather own. Certainly there are virtually no new bikes that I would go near at the moment as I just don't like them.
This may be a kick back of course to the fact that we now don't even have control of our headlights in the UK !
Running costs are pretty good I think. The only things that have ever gone wrong on my 750 have been induced by me modifying things and perhaps not tidying up loose ends or "proffesionally muppetry" from people that didn't understand the bike or couldn't be arsed to understand the bike.
The 907 suffered the worst from proffesional muppetry however with a major dealership having serviced it on behalf of the previous owner and breaking the clutch centre (fracturing one of the studs and "JB welding it back together") and throwing away a K&N filter to replace it with a paper one.
You start finding things like that and you know there could be other problems.
Baines racing over in Silverstone reckon that the late eighties early nineties Ducatis benefit from a head off (and maybe barrells off ) service aroudn the 20K miles mark as the crank shaft oil plug can loosen and chew its way through the cases also it gives an oppotunity to clean up the vavles on the lathe and then reassemble the head and do clearances and belts at the same time.
I'm reasonably happy that, thats a once avery 20K or greater occurence and we all know that quality control at the factory was a bit crappy !
I think its fair to say that most of t higher mileage bikes on here have had engines apart at least once but normally only once unless its for tinkering.
I might be wrong on that but its a gut feel I have from the forum
As far as spares go it is getting difficult and most of us on here have a slightly unhealthy ebay addiction but its not impossible. The Ducati spares situation is a little odd but that effects other Ducatis (and try getting spares for a late Laverda), for example you can't buy a ring kit for a 900 2 valve Ducati (or you couldn't a year ago) - If you bought rings they came with a piston attached ! (and a larger price tag)
What you find now is that the "stealerships" aren't interested in the Pasos anymore just the real enthusiast businesses and if you spend a little bit with them now again or make the time to pop in and have a chat they will help you out as they know that if they help another enthusiast out they will get repeat business from them.
Ducati guys I have dealt with and can thoroughly recommend are:
Baines racing - also very good if you're into cycling
WM Snell in Alton - one of the only mainstream dealers in my experience with any pride in what they do
Brancato engineering - What Tony doesn't know about any Ducati isn't worth knowing
Other people will have other recommendations - there are some good guys in Wales and in the North West too and another on the South Coast as well
Sorry for the long post - hope its helpful