You basically have all the things to look out for. Some owner's valve guides were bad without showing any symptoms, but generally hard starting, poor running at low rpm, oil consumption are signs of bad guides. Mine were replaced at ~6,000 miles. The service bulletin gives engine numbers that MAY ...

Bikes aren't forever, don't obsess. Just buy it and enjoy it, when you get tired of it or want a different bike-sell and buy another.

I'd agree with the others. If the seller isn't even bothering to clean the bike before selling, chances are he hasn't taken very good care of it. Another one will come along.

The rear hugger prevents a lot of road grime off the rear tire from coating the rear shock and linkages. The power outlet allows you to plug in electrical accessories like heated riding gear, gps units, etc. These are nice add-ons but certainly won't be adding hundreds of dollars to the value of the ...

I'll take a stab at your questions.

I wouldn't be concerned about the bike being a demo unit too much. The average Ducati rider (and Ducati demo rider) tend to be a little more mature and aren't going to go crazy and beat the heck out of a bike. That being said, it should come with a FULL warranty ...

I have the 1000, but also considered the 620. Your choice depends on what the majority of your riding will be. I commute 8 miles into work and it is all surface streets - lots of stop lights, buses, cars, bicycles, etc. I wish I had the 620 for this, its lighter weight is really noticeable. But I ...

How many miles are on the bike? The big services are at 6,000 and 12,000. Check with your local dealer on what they charge for those services. If you're a little bit handy you can handle some of the work. I'd say a Ducati is going to be more expensive to maintain than some of the Japanese models ...

Is your friends SV a naked or the faired model? I actually sold my SV naked before purchasing the MTS. I agree with most of your comments, though I have the 1000 and haven't ridden a 620. For me the biggest problem was the riding position, just too cramped for me. Just before selling it I went on a ...

Glenn,

Only a few members here have the 1100S as it is a brand new model. Hopefully they'll post replies. The sidestand has been fixed since '05 and the mirrors as well. Although the mirrors don't give you a great field of view. FAR makes replacement mirrors than many have mounted on their multis ...

I was basically in your shoes, tomorrow I pick up a lightly used '05 Multi. I bought an '03 SV650 based on all the reports of what a great bike it was. Long story short, it didn't work for me, fortunately I bailed before trying to stick too much money into making it something it wasn't.

I'd been ...

made an offer on an '05 1000S with 3,000 miles. Waiting to hear on financing.

Jeff

I was only given the number of the service bulletin, not the actual bulletin itself. Sorry.

Jeff

Scot,

Thanks for the info, it was helpful. I contacted David at Ducati Seattle and he was very helpful. In case anyone needs it, the information concerning valve guide issues is in a service bulletin. The number is: SVC-06-011.

I will follow up with my dealer in the morning.

Jeff

I'm looking at buying an '04 Multi. I'm a little concerned about the valve guide issue, I don't want spend all my hard earned cash on the bike only to find a hefty repair bill for new valve guides a couple thousand miles down the road.

The dealer did a search on the VIN but said nothing came up and ...

I'm about 2 weeks to 2 months away from being able to pull the trigger on a Multistrada. Life just hasn't been the same since selling my '94 e900 several years ago and I want another Ducati (love the sound, love the power curve, love the upright riding position). While I thought about purchasing ...