Post Sale Update: this baby Ducati sold for $5,299 after 15 bids on eBay.
From the early 80s through the early 90s, Japan featured some of the best 400cc motorcycles in the world because strict licensing laws made it very difficult to own bigger bikes (before 1993, it was illegal for OEMs to sell a bike bigger than 750cc in the country). Cult classics like the CB-1, VFR400R, RVF400, FZR400, and plenty more were joys to ride but rarely found their way stateside. Here’s another bike that never officially made it’s way to the US – the Ducati 400F3.
As you can probably guess, it’s the baby brother of the 750 F1. Ducati utilized the same frame and the styling looks just as serious, but the wheels are narrower, the Marzocchi forks are smaller (35mm vs the original 40mm) and of course, the motor just displaces 398cc. It produced 47 horsepower and 20 pound feet of torque, which was still sufficient to do the ton. Per the seller, just 509 examples were built in 1986 but I cannot find independent verification of that.
This example (VIN: ZDM400R*400209) has 4,758 miles and it’s #209 per the numbered plaque on the top of the tail. It was imported from Japan last year in poor cosmetic condition so the bike was torn down. The rebuild included powdercoating the frame and swingarm, new paint and decals for the bodywork, and some mechanical maintenance – new battery, chain, steering head bearings, and fuel petcocks. The engine also got new timing belts and an oil change.
This is a rare find in the US, so if you want yourself a baby classic Ducati, find this 400 F3 for sale in Raleigh, North Carolina with bidding up to $3,550 and the reserve not yet met
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Steve C!