DT: 726-Kilometer 1990 Ducati 851 Superbike
Vehicle Details
- Year: 1990
- Make: Ducati
- Model: 851 Superbike
- VIN: ZDM851S3002083
- Mileage: 726km
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Registration
- Color: Red
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
- Lot #: V-0037429-DT
Produced from 1987 to 1992 and while winning three World Superbike Championships, the Ducati 851 was one of the most advanced high-performance motorcycles in the world featuring an 851cc L-twin engine with liquid cooling, four-valve Desmodromic cylinder heads, and electronic fuel injection. This European-spec 1990 example is said to have been imported to the United States for display in 1990 and remained under the care of the same owner up until the seller’s purchase about 2 years ago. It was recently on display as part of an exhibit in a major automotive and aviation museum. Impeccably preserved with only 726 kilometers (451 miles) on the odometer, the legendary Italian superbike is now being offered for auction by its seller out of California.
This Ducati features a white steel tube trellis frame overlaid by red bodywork. Equipment includes clip-on handlebars, a removable tail cowl, integrated front turn signals, a clear windscreen, a single black seat, dual mirrors, a black plastic rear fender, a side stand, and Veglia instrumentation. The bike rides on factory white-painted 17” Brembo wheels dressed in original ZR-rated Michelin tires. The seller notes that the exterior remains in excellent condition apart from a very small touch-up on the top of the right-side bodywork. The seller adds that the only modification on the motorcycle is a replacement Cagiva/Ducati stainless-steel bolt that holds the kickstand, and the original aluminum bolt is included in the factory bag.
This Ducati is equipped with a liquid-cooled four-stroke 851cc L-twin engine with four-valve Desmodromic cylinder heads, dual 50mm throttle bodies, electronic fuel injection, and a dual exhaust system. Up to 95 HP and 53 lb.-ft of torque is fed to the rear wheel by a 6-speed manual transmission with a drive chain and a dry multi-plate clutch. The adjustable suspension features a Marzocchi M1R inverted front fork and a double-sided rear wing arm with a Marzocchi Supermono shock. Stopping power comes from Brembo brakes with dual floating discs and 4-piston calipers in front and a single disc with a 2-piston caliper in the rear. The seller notes the fuel pump and filter were replaced in June 2016 and the battery was replaced along with a fuel line in September 2020.
This sale is accompanied by a complete collection of documentation including the original sales invoice and letters direct from Cagiva as well as a handwritten detailed service history, a toolkit, a battery charger, a registration, and a bill of sale.
The seller would like you to know: “This Ducati 851 Superbike is by far one of the cleanest examples in the world. Through extensive research, we have not found a lower mileage example anywhere in the world. It is a correct European market bike that is 100% dead stock and has only seen 726km/449 miles from new in 1990. The 851 was a single-owner bike from new until 2021. The motorcycle was immaculate when delivered but an additional 50+ hours have gone into cleaning every single part. Unlike most "new old stock" Ducati motorcycles, this bike has always been kept in running condition. The 851 needs nothing and runs as if it was built yesterday. From the factory 1990 tires to the inside of the fuel tank, everything is perfect. This 851 Superbike is so immaculate that it lives inside one of my homes, not in the garage. It is surrounded by other historically important Italian motorcycles. This 851 Superbike will function as a historical piece of art from the Ducati history, or it could be used as an actual motorcycle.”
Comments (42)
Hi @Lotusx, hope you had a good holiday. I raised my offer to $20,000.00 if you are still interested in selling the Superbike. Happy New Year!
Offer in the amount of $20,000
Offer in the amount of $15,555
@Lotusx It would be nice to have a conversation on the 851 but doing so in text here is a bit challenging. I am not sure what parameters PCAR places on you as a seller or me as a bidder for communicating directly but if it's possible we should schedule a call. Probably best if we talk at the start of the new year with holiday activities ramping up, please let me know what works for you and how we can proceed. Regards and Happy Holidays - John
@Spyderman105 I would be happy to work with you on the price. While it would be hard for me to see the Superbike put on some kilometers, she would probably be much happier.
After the photo, she is back inside and currently sitting next to one of our Christmas trees with a few other NOS 851's and 888's.
Please feel free to reach out and maybe we can work something out. You will not find a more perfect example anywhere in the world. Thank you, Christopher
I wanted to ride the 851 Superbike a few hundred miles a year with my 888 and 900SL, that's why I can't go past $20k with my bid. It does look exceptional but a little sad to know it will continue to live inside.
Good luck , hope you get all the money, Merry Christmas!
@Phardie1 I really appreciate you sharing the information about your sale a few years ago.
Currently, I already have three offers north of $20,000. For a 100% original 726km museum example, the pricing is right in line. The superbike is not museum quality, it came from a museum.
It’s very hard to compare motorcycle to motorcycle when they’re not sitting right next to each other. I’m not a coin guy but it’s similar to an MS69 vs a MS70. To the naked eye they’re both flawless, but the MS 70 will normally bring a 400% premium.
This superbike will probably be heading out to another museum would be my guess.
Thank you again for reaching out.
I had a very similar example a few years ago, wanted bigger money like you. I found nobody at the higher price , your bid @ 15k is pretty good
Offer in the amount of $15,000
Offer in the amount of $13,500
Bid in the amount of $12,000
Bid in the amount of $10,000
I wanted to clarify that all of the stickers on the motorcycle are an excellent original condition. In some of the photos the M1R front fork stickers appear like they are coming loose. That is not the case.
They seem to have a reflective nature to them, and they are definitely not damaged. You can see that in multiple photos they always look a little different.
The Agip sticker on the clutch is perfect, as well as every other sticker on the bike.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Bid in the amount of $9,020
Bid in the amount of $8,760
@srd6 I updated the listing. If you have any further questions, please let me know.
A very unique feature about this superbike is the original documentation that came from Cagiva. Photos have been uploaded to the gallery. Even the original postmark date from the original envelope is included with the paperwork..
Being a correct European model, the bike has no side markers (reflectors) and has a 13 digit vin number. While originally that could’ve been problematic in the 1990s, Cagiva documented a standardized 17 digit vin number for the bike. Keep in mind this bike was not federalized, but motorcycle manufacturers were able to have a lot of leeway back the 1980’s and 1990’s.
The superbike comes complete with in Ohio title with the full 17 digit vin number Cagiva gave it. Keep in mind the motorcycle is almost 35 years old so we are well past the 21 year federalization requirement.
The superbike will come with all appropriate documentation, title, a new rear stand (not my used stand I use for photos). It comes with its original factory tool kit, red small manual and large mechanics manual.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@charliek911 my apologies I thought I got back to you on this question. I have never had a problem with kilometers in California, and I have several Porsches from out of the United States.
I would certainly recommend using a DMV service. There would be nothing worse than waiting a couple hours in line at the DMV only to find out if they don’t have “a button” for kilometers.
I will be updating the listing with some detailed information in the next few minutes.
The bike has already been US titled in Ohio and comes with that paperwork. Being a true European model, it does not have side reflectors.
Just something to keep in mind. Give me a few minutes and the new photos will be up, including some additional listing details.
Thank you again
Bid in the amount of $8,510
Bid in the amount of $7,250
What is the title/registration status? Is this a Bill-Of-Sale + registration type sale or is there a state title in place?
Bid in the amount of $7,000
Bid in the amount of $6,500
I just added some photos of the gas cap and interior of the gas tank. As you can see, everything looks like it was built yesterday, and it has never been restored.
Please remember that the service was done on the fuel system as per the records.
Thank you so much!
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Nice scooter...Can it be registered in CA, cuz it's showing KILOMETERS, and DMV doesn't accept KILOMETERS on 4 wheelers!!???
Good luck with this beauty, although I doubt you'le need luck...it certainly speaks volumes for itself.
Bid in the amount of $6,250
Just letting everybody know that a cold start video is going to be uploaded in the morning. I am just waiting on PCar to pull the trigger.
I will also be posting some photos of the inside of the fuel tank that looks absolutely 100% new.
Again, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to let me know. Thank you!
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@Phardie1 thank you so much for reaching out with a question. My apologies for taking a couple hours to get back to you, but I needed to get back to the motorcycle in Los Angeles.
Looking at the wonderfully hand written service records, it looks like the belt is wonderfully original just as the tires are from 1990.
I am adding those service records to the photographs for the auction, as well as a fantastic diagram. The original owner for over 30 years physically did not want to mix up any of the bolts when he remove the bodywork, even though the vast majority of the bolts are exactly the same size. Another photograph has been uploaded to show a great layout that he built that has a place for each and every bolt to keep everything 100% correct and in their place, dating back to 1990.
In the morning I will be taking additional photographs of all of the date stamps on the tires and some other important items.
If anyone has any other questions, please feel free to reach out.
When was the last belt service?
Bid in the amount of $6,000
Bid in the amount of $5,500
Bid in the amount of $5,000
I would like to thank all the viewers of this auction, and let all of you know that I am available to answer any and all questions. Several batches of updates will be forthcoming, including dozens of additional photographs, copies of documentation and other important information.
Again, no question or request is too small, so feel free to reach out.