I know I should probably post this somewhere else but I'm kinda new to forums as well as Ducati. I ran across a nice looking 2001 Monster 969? I know a bit about the big 4 but nothing about this bike. I love the way it looks as well as sounds and am interested in buying it I just don't know what to look for. is Ducati a brand more prone to costly repair? is there something about this model I need to watch for? this would be my first V twin bike my last was a FZ6 Yam. any thoughts or help would be great. oh and the dealership is asking 5k for it with 9k miles on it. Thanks and sorry again if this wasent the correct place to post.
It isn't really the correct place to post this question. New Member Introductions, or a new thread in General Monster Forum below is better.
I have had my Monster since the model was created 18 years ago, and I love it. However, I have never heard of a Monster 969. I would ask if you mean a 696, which is a real model of Monster, but is one of the new ones, not made back in 2001. So I guess the first thing you should find out is what model and year it really is. That will be important info to asnwer your question as to whether it's a decent price for it.
After that, the next issue is to make sure the maintenance has been done. Even though it only has 9000 miles, if it's a 2001, the cambelts will need to be changed due to age if they haven't been within the last couple of years, and that's $200-300. Tires, hoses and seals, all the usual stuff you would check for any bike that hasn't been used enough.
The only thing that makes a Ducati harder to maintain than any other bike is the valvetrain design, which runs much closer tolerances and must be checked more often. Ducati parts also tend to be a bit on the high side and often involve waiting for them to arrive from Italy.
It's a fantastic all-around bike, fun, practical, and durable.
PhilB