Description
Click here for an VINData Motorcycle History Report on this 1997 Ducati 748. Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
In 1994, the Ducati 916 was born as a fully faired sport bike, featuring a 916cc fuel injected, 4-valve, desmo, liquid-cooled, 90° V-twin engine wrapped in a trellis frame with a single-sided swing arm and USD forks. It is frequently cited as one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever. The 916’s water-cooled engine was a revision of that of its predecessor, the 888. The 916 was a smaller motorcycle than the 888, with a chrome-moly trellis frame which was shared with the Ducati 748 in 1995 and beyond.
To the joy of American riders in 1997, Ducati finally decided to import the 748. Considered a baby brother to the 916, Ducati’s 748 has been the darling of the European motorcycling press since its introduction. The Ducati 748 is identical in almost every way to the 916, both creations of Ducati in-house designer Massimo Tamburini, and both sharing some design elements with the Ducati Supermono. The only differences were rear tire size (180/55/17 as opposed to the 916’s 190/50/17) and engine capacity (88 mm bore and 61.5 mm stroke) of 748. The engine’s shorter piston stroke also gives a higher rev ceiling of 11,500 RPM, and the smaller pistons and lightened flywheel help the L-twin engine build revs quicker up to a peak horsepower output of 95.
Ducati had the Japanese manufacturers beat in a couple of design tricks with the 748. For instance, the positive terminal of the battery is easily accessible through the right body panel air vent, so you can hook up a trickle charger for storage season without removing any bodywork. And when you do remove the bodywork, it comes off with Dzus fasteners. Additionally, Ducati chose to make the vast majority of other fasteners one of three allen wrenches for fairly major servicing.
This example is VIN: ZDM1SB3R0VB003694. The seller has owned the bike approximately 15 years.
There is no odometer, true mileage is unknown.
Maintenance:
The seller states, “The original builder and racer was J.D. Hord of Hordpower and he says, ‘The spec changed a lot, I raced it as a 748, 800, and 853. It was a damn nice bike back in the day, won quite a few races with it. I have a picture hanging in the shop! That’s a hot-rod engine, revs to ~12,500!'” The seller continues, “I used it for occasional track days (not raced), so it shows a patina and recent maintenance includes a full desmo service by the most reputable Ducati tech in the Hudson Valley. Occasionally the tach loses signal, suspension rear shock weeps oil slightly on the shaft. Wheels and tires need balancing (tires due to change anyway). Exhaust lower header scratched from loading on a steep ramp. It will need the usual care and prep as would any sport bike before next use.”
Modifications:
In addition to the modifications pictured below, the seller would also like to note that the bike features
-853 big bore
-Lightly ported heads
-Falicon polished crank shaft
-Carrillo piston rods
-Lightened flywheel
-Nichols clutch basket
-Vee Two cam pulleys
-Bore throttle bodies
-Chip options: spare FIM Ultimap bumps it to 110hp on race gas
-Graves fairing bracket
-SPS aluminum tail subframe
-Brembo master cylinder
-Samco silicone coolant hoses
-Rear sprocket quick change carrier
Multitech bodywork, Marchesini magnesium wheels.
Leo Vince half exhaust system.
Öhlins shock.
Race Tech forks.
Steering damper.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Dunlop tires that are aged out.
As a former race bike there are no keys. The sale includes bodywork, tank, and spare wheels with rain tires.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Accord, New York, this Ducati is offered on a clean New York title. Have any 748 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
