Okay, so I finally got my hands on a 998R Ducati. Man, this thing is a beast! I’ve been dreaming about owning one of these for years, and it finally happened. I wanted to share my whole experience, from finding it to getting it road-ready.
The Hunt
First off, finding a decent 998R wasn’t easy. These bikes are getting rarer, and a lot of them have been either thrashed on the track or are just sitting in collections, never seeing the light of day. I spent months scouring online forums, classifieds, and auction sites. I even went to a few Ducati dealerships, but most of them just laughed when I asked about a 998R.
The Find
Finally, I stumbled upon one on a somewhat obscure online forum. A guy a few states over was selling his, and the pictures looked promising. It wasn’t perfect, had a few minor cosmetic issues, but the engine supposedly ran strong. We chatted for a while, I asked a ton of questions, and eventually, I felt good enough about it to make the drive.
The Inspection and Purchase
I showed up with a trailer, ready to haul it back. I spent a good hour looking over every inch of the bike. I checked the frame for cracks, looked for any signs of leaks, checked the chain and sprockets, the usual stuff. The seller fired it up, and that sound… pure music! It idled rough at first, but after a bit of warm-up, it smoothed out. I took it for a short spin around the block – careful, of course, didn’t want to drop someone else’s bike! – and everything felt solid. We haggled a bit on the price, settled on a number, and I loaded her up.
Getting It Roadworthy
Back home, the real work started. First thing I did was a full fluid change: oil, coolant, brake fluid, everything. The old oil was pretty dark, so I’m glad I did that. The air filter was also filthy, so I replaced that with a K&N.
- Oil Change: Used Motul 300V, just because that’s what I’ve always used in my bikes.
- Coolant Flush: Went with Engine Ice, heard good things about it keeping things cooler.
- Brake Fluid: Replaced with fresh DOT 4.
- New Tires: The tires were old and hard, so I got a new set of Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas.
I also noticed the chain was pretty slack, so I adjusted that. Gave the whole bike a thorough cleaning, polished the exhaust, and waxed the bodywork. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease can do!
The First Real Ride
After all that, it was time for a proper ride. I took it out to some twisty roads near my place, and wow, what a difference! The handling is incredible, so precise and responsive. The power delivery is smooth but brutal when you really open it up. The sound, especially with the Termignoni exhaust, is just intoxicating. I spent the whole day just grinning like an idiot.
It’s not perfect, there are still a few little things I want to tweak, maybe upgrade the brakes, and definitely get the suspension dialed in for my weight. But man, I’m in love with this machine. It’s a raw, visceral experience, a real rider’s bike. Definitely worth the hunt and the effort!
