Buying a used Ducati Monster 750

[xian0147]

I'm getting ready to buy my first Ducati Monster. Yay! I've been putting it off for a long time. It's a used 2001 Monster 750 with a little over 21K miles on it. I have some experience with other bikes but not with a Monster. The owner says it's been well-maintained and it looks good. It has a few extra accessories and some small damage on the handlebar. I'm hoping to fix things myself. I know I should check the compression and service records for the belt and valves. But what else should I look for? Are there any specific issues with this bike and model year? I don't want to overpay. Any advice on what to check would be great.

 

[5cotchmul3]

@xian0147 so happy for you bro! but the 21K miles on an '01 has me a bit nervous. Did you get to see any records for the timing belts? I've heard that's the most critical (and expensive) service on these bikes and should have been done a few times by now

 

[french75]

@xian0147 The Ducati dry clutch baskets are a common wear item, if the bike makes a loud, metallic rattling noise when idling (beyond the normal Ducati 'clatter'), you might need a new basket soon.
Also, those early air cooled engines can sometimes have leaky rocker cover gaskets. Look for weeping oil around the cylinders. Good luck!

 

[xian0147]

Thanks for you inputs! Yeah, I asked my friend to help me check the ride. I am also quite hesitant about what other stuff I need to check, especially since it is well-maintained and I do not want any surprises.