Post Sale Update: this 99R sold for $9,800 after 49 bids on eBay in Melbourne, Florida.
In 2005, Ducati started exporting the 999R in earnest to satisfy the AMA homolgation requirements (the year before, just 50 were sold). For $29,995, this motorcycle was just about as close to a WSBK bike you could get.
It’d be easy to second guess if the 999R was worth the $7,000 premium over the 999S. Journalists at the time resoundingly said yes, thanks to the race-bred engine with a larger bore, new head design, and titanium valves. At the time, it was the most powerful production V-Twin motor ever – pushing 134.1 horsepower and 76.5 lb-ft at the rear wheel (and Motorcycle USA said that with a Power Commander and exhaust you could see an additional 20 ponies). This was probably the ultimate traack toy of the time, though with the limited production numbers and insane MSRP, many of these bikes were just tucked away in collections. Dan Neil of the LA Times summarized the bike by saying “Made of steel, titanium, carbon fiber and sadism, the 999R is as close as you are going to get to a grand prix motorcycle, and unless you are a fantastic rider with years of experience, you don’t want to get that close. This bike will beat you down like you said something bad about its mother.”
This example (VIN: ZDM1UB5W05B013428) has 13,623 miles and it’s being offered by the second owner – he’s had it for almost a decade. It’s got a Power Commander, aftermarket Titanium exhaust that I can’t identify, and a tail tidy with clear brake light lens. Find this 999R for sale in Melbourne, Florida with bidding up to $8,600