to buy grey or not?

[antonyb]

Hi all,

I am seriously considering buying a low mileage grey import Ducati Monster S4. It has an extended Ducati warrenty and is a nice stock example - also it is from a Ducati authorised dealer.

Are there any cons of buying a grey import? (other than a small insurance premium.)

Thanks,

Antony

>>> Edited by antonyb on Tuesday 14th December 20:04

[Chuckler]

No snags apart from making sure it has UK lights and speedo.

There can be issues with performance restictions but I don't know of any on that particular model.

[antonyb]

Chuckler said:

UK lights and speedo

i has a UK sticker on the km/h speedo...

[rsvmilly]

Is it really that much cheaper?

There can be some pretty fantastic deals available on bikes at this time of year. Expecially on last year's Dukes (often on two-year old unsold Dukes). Just trawl through the ads of MCN.

[Incorrigible]

Will it not be left hand drive

Re: bargain Dukes, I needed some cash quick last week and considered selling my 2000 748, the dealer offered me £3000 or £3500 on a trade in

OTOH they were offering a nearly new 749s (2004) for £7k, bargain

[catso]

antonyb said:

Hi all, I am seriously considering buying a low mileage grey import Ducati Monster S4. It has an extended Ducati warrenty and is a nice stock example - also it is from a Ducati authorised dealer. Are there any cons of buying a grey import? (other than a small insurance premium.) Thanks, Antony >>> Edited by antonyb on Tuesday 14th December 20:04

Nice Bike!

My 916 was an 'import' (actually they all are ) I bought it new in 1998 and it was £2250 cheaper, available 'off the shelf' plus the dealer threw in Termignoni cans & Datatag.

It has a km speedo (they did put a sticker on it) but who cares, anyway a new speedo is a couple of hundred quid and the light dipped the wrong way - I fixed this by making a new 'plate' in the light unit (cost about 1 hour of my time and a small piece of stainless steel).

Other than that no problems, I had first (and the rest) service done at a Ducati dealer who 'registered' the bike on the system so that I even got safety recalls etc as per a UK bike.

If you're saving good money then don't let the fact that it is an import put you off, although some countries have the '100BHP' rule and so they could be (mildly) restricted but this would be easily 'chipped' when you upgrade exhaust etc for the proper one.

[rsvmilly]

I've no problems with imports so long as there is a significant saving to be made. If the difference is marginal then costs such as light alterations (essential for MOT)and speedo replacements all add up. That and a possible increase in insurance costs.

Plus the fact that the bike will always have a lower residual value than a UK model to anybody who knows their stuff.

I would have thought the difference on used bikes was fairly marginal. There are a couple on Autotrader for around £4.5K. How much is the one you are proposing?

[antonyb]

its a 1600 mile bike for £4.7k

[rsvmilly]

These were for sale on Autotrader;

2001 £3499 22,000m
2001 £4599 4600m
2002 £4999 2800m

If you had cash to spend I'm sure you could do a good deal.

What year is the one you are looking at?

[antonyb]

rsvmilly said:

What year is the one you are looking at?

its a 2001 Y.

apparently the service book is missing for the 1600 miles, i now find out. this said they are a ducati dealer and service centre and will do a major service on it, get me and extended ducati warrenty and new service book.

hmm.

obviously it has the log book etc.

[rsvmilly]

Offer them four for it and leave your number. Give them a very good reason as to why £4k is as much as you can go. They'll ring looking for a compromise. Always works if you've got the cheek - especially at this time of year.

Personally, I would just go for a UK bike for not very much more, but that's just me.

But you definitely want a service history for a Duke. If not then insist that they change the belts. (Forgive me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs)

[catso]

rsvmilly said:

But you definitely want a service history for a Duke. If not then insist that they change the belts. (Forgive me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs)

what he said...

[antonyb]

ok how about this one then...

Monster S4, 2001 Y, 8,300 miles. Complete DUCATI Service record, OFFICIAL UK Ducati. Datatool System 3 Alarm. Full service including cam belts before collection. 6 months DUCATI warrenty. £4,795

I have also seen - M900, 2000 W Reg , 6,461 miles. Full Ducati Service History, Cat 1 Alarm fitted, OFFICIAL UK Ducati, One Owner. Flyscreen fitted, very good condition, supplied with RAC warranty. £3,790

??

>> Edited by antonyb on Thursday 16th December 10:36

[rsvmilly]

antonyb said:

ok how about this one then... Monster S4, 2001 Y, 8,300 miles. Complete DUCATI Service record, OFFICIAL UK Ducati. Datatool System 3 Alarm. Full service including cam belts before collection. 6 months DUCATI warrenty. £4,795 I have also seen - M900, 2000 W Reg , 6,461 miles. Full Ducati Service History, Cat 1 Alarm fitted, OFFICIAL UK Ducati, One Owner. Flyscreen fitted, very good condition, supplied with RAC warranty. £3,790 ?? >> Edited by antonyb on Thursday 16th December 10:36

The M900 is a very different beast to the S4. It is 900cc 4v aircooled wheras the S4 is 916cc 8v watercooled, with at least another 30 bhp. Surprise, it is from the 916. If you could knock a few quid off the S4 then you'd have a very nice bike. It won't be a Ducati warranty. When I had one, the manufacturers warranty is 2 years.

Performance would be very different to your Speed 4. Much more torquey and probably 3000rpm lower redline. Gearing would be high in first though. Have you ridden one yet? They are not as easy to get along with as a 4cyl Jap/UK.

[antonyb]

rsvmilly said:

Much more torquey and probably 3000rpm lower redline. Gearing would be high in first though. Have you ridden one yet?

that sounds exactly what I want - I am fed up with screaming everywhere on my Speed 4... I have never really got on with its lack of "attachment" to the rider - as I'm sure you've seen I drive a TVR and like my experience big, brash and connected.

I havent ridden it yet but the dealer is relenting to a v. good compromise so far... especially as I'm doing a trade in for mine + cash (in light of the new 650 version coming out soon, I think it will devalue quickly this coming year).

I think i'm going to give it a ride this saturday, and make my mind up then. Hopefully it will be time to join the realm of 'proper' bikes

Thanks for all the advice so far! Keep it coming!

[antonyb]

also, been meaning to ask - what are dukes like for being kept out side under a bike cover? furring, rusting, etc?

ta, ant

[rsvmilly]

I kept mine outside under a cover for two winters. The finish on the components is better and more resilient than a lot of Jap bikes. Saying that, though, you'd always want to wash off any road salt immediately with cold water - as with any bike. Lift it off the ground to protect the tyres.

I just had some very light surface rust on the trellis frame - where it bolts to the engine mounting. And it was very light.

Some crappy weather and a good clean later and it came up as the picture in my profile.

But I've seen a Ninja with one winter under its belt and it was a shocking mess. Every single banjo bolt looked about 5yrs old.

Servicing is pretty pricey, mind. And the belts ought to be changed every 6000m or every 12 months. If the bike doesn't see much use then the belts also degrade and need to be changed.