It means they require more maintenance work then other bikes. They also require someone that knows the system. Specifically the desmo valves.

It’s not good or bad... just something to be aware of on these. They are Italian sport bikes... par for the course. You want less money in service costs get a Japanese bike.

 

Can you post a pic of the bike? My Honda VFR750 was my favorite ride ever..

So sorry I can't help with the cable issue though.

 

Ditto.

Mine when new


Don't want to post a photo of its state now. It's still in the garage but with panels off and a pile of boxes on top, including one with a new "colostomy bag" for the exhaust that I never got round to fitting. Lovely bikes

 

I've heard that Italian bikes are more problematic and Japanese are much stronger.My car is a mitsubishi and I have it for 9 years and it never had BIG maintance problems so I have an idea of Japanese manifacturing

 

Thanks for that - great looking VFR!
Looks like yours is maybe a little newer than mine was. Mine was 93 I think. I bought it on ebay from some guy in Cincinnati iirc. What year is yours?

 

Ducati's have what are called desmodromic valves, they are closed by a cam and lever system instead of a spring. There is plenty of info on these systems, just do a search for 'desmodromic valves'. They are tricky to adjust and require a mechanic who is trained in these systems. I would not suggest a newbie start with an old Ducati that is 20 years old, they are prone to have electrical and other issues at this point.

 

Here it is, I had posted a pic a while ago in this topic. It has aged a bit though, after spending a few months outside in Paris.

 

My private R65 called „Willoughby 65“

- named after Rock Hudson movie „men,s favourite sport“
- Siebenrock 865ccm Big bore, fast camshaft, cyl. Head optimise, Keihin flat slide etc.
- handmade 2in1 downpipe
- custom speedo face
- hand writed lettering and pin stripes
- etc. etc. blablabla...

 

Nice Cafe Racer.
Do you go kayaking sometimes with it?
Nice touch the padle,anyways

 

It's 1996, bought new from the local dealer.

 

i can fix them and ride them,...
i enjoy both ways....

 

for the old one we have to go back to 1934,...

you could buy one in places like this...

 

@Risto a Duccatti, like a KTM, and my Beta, are essentially a racing (exotic) bikes and generally require scheduled maintenance and complete rebuilds at a much greater frequency than a motorcycle designed for recreational purposes. This is true of their cheaper models as well. Over and above maintenance, wear parts (ike a watch) need to be replaced a lot more than in a Honda, or even a BMW. Performance bikes break more often than recreational bikes. For ease of maintenance and thrift look a a Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, or a Kawasaki, or an older BMW. Most bikes require valve adjustments on a regular manufacturer's schedule, but exotic bikes require it much more frequently, and it usually takes an expensive specialized mechanic. It is like comparing a Ferrari and a Toyota.

If you like the looks of the Duccatti and want a reliable bike I would look for an older 2000s BMW F650CS Scarver. The 650 motor is bulletproof.

 

My 2018 Road Glide Ultra in front of a local brewery in Chesterton Indiana. Great place to stop in and "wet your whistle".

 

I thought @STANDY would like to see the latest addition to my scooter.



Comes in very handy for supplies of Vitamin B and Vitamin G.

 

Tomorrow I am going to have a look at the bike with a friend of mine that knows about bikes and maybe buy it.
We will travel more than 350 km cuz the bike is located in the north of Albania.Any advice what should I look after?
I saw some videos on youtube that they tell to look for any kind of liquid leaking and if the bike starts easily.
Funny story,I had a guest from Canada at my home cuz I have an Airbnb and I told him about that I want to buy
a DUCATI Monster and he told me I had a 900cc Monster and he told me about the desmo valves as well and I told him
that some guys on a forum I am told me about this issue on Ducatis

 

I see this one parked around the corner where I work regularly, sadly not mine though.
Some very nice bikes in this thread!

 

I am old & grey and have survived riding motorcycles for 50 years, here is my advice.

Do not start with a sports 600.

Do not start with a 20 year old 'bike unless you have mechanic experience and a good set of tools.

Do not start with an Italian or British bike, unless etc.

In your budget have you allowed for a good quality leather suit, boots and gloves?


Here are three 'bikes, one Italian (20yo), one British (20yo) and one Japanese (2yo). Look carefully, which two are incomplete for maintenance and which is all in one piece and used for daily transport? Go on, take a wild guess!



After not riding regularly for about 10 years I wanted a new 'bike and a friend let me try his Yamaha sports 600. I had no idea 'bikes had become so fast since my 400/4 and knew I'd kill myself. So I bought a softie Yamaha 600 Diversion and had a couple of years on that until the fuel consumption was terrible and the tyre life was terrible -- because I was riding it nearly flat-out everywhere. Jumped to a VFR750 and found better fuel consumption as well as better tyre life. I was riding it a lot faster too, but not flat-out. Flat-out on a 750 requires racing rider skills, and jail-breaker skills because you'll be locked away, quite rightly too.


In the British motorcycle discussion groups there is an admonition DFC! The first word is Don't and the last Crash. You may fill in the middle word as you wish.

Best of luck with finding the right 'bike for you.

 

Thanks for your advice.
Because I do not have all that budget about good gear and knowledge about maintance of a
motorcycle and from many negative comments of other members to not start with a
sports motorcycle and an Italian one I changed my mind from doing something stupid.I also don't have
that kind of luxury to "throw" away money.I was always thinking to start with a Honda CB 250 cc cafe racer style.
Thanks all members for the advice given to me.

 

Good plan

Get some experience under your belt then look around for a checkout by much more experienced riders. In the UK we have courses like this https://www.iamroadsmart.com/courses/advanced-rider-course They can be fun as well as pointing out how you can be better and demonstrating how. I was told I wasn't riding fast enough -- and I was still racing cars at the time!

A CB250 is not a life sentence, it's just a step on the ladder. There will be higher steps.