Hello all!
  I have been riding bikes for a very long time and have admired Ducati's but always was intimidated by the horror stories of maintenance parts prices. But! recently I came across a deal I couldnt pass up. I bought a 97 monster 750 from a friend that got the bike from his buddy but never got around to it. The bike has 11100 miles on the clock and is due the 12k service. I got the bike for 1k. When I went to look at the bike it was civered with 3 years worth of dust. but I had to have it. Made the deal and loaded it up. Boy did I underestimate the wifes reaction. being that she didnt even know iI was looking at another bike and to find outr I had bought one when she had to help unload it. That being said I put it in the garage and didnt touch it, talk about it or even think about it when she was around (I swear she has ESP) So two days ago, I realized she hasnt cursed me out ou threw the bike in my face in almost a week, "safe to give it an in depth looking over?" washed it, and topped it off (the last guy drained the tank and ran the carbs dry, Thank you!) put a semi fresh battery on it, all that with a little help from auto zone carb cleaner, she fired right up! runs a little rough and smoked a wee bit. I let her warm up at an idle, shut her down and changed the oil then parked her. It was sooo hard not to take a trip around the block, however,.... patience is a virtue!...... BS. I have horrible luck. I just know one of the belt would have snapped. Since my job sucks right now and I have almost no personal time (I am a Drill Sergeant at Ft Sill OK) Im going to leave her parked until I can devote some QT and at a minimum change the belts before I take her on the maiden voyage. Well, that and if I was to get addicted to this project, the way i tend to do, My wife would most likely break a belt of her own.
Im looking forward to this

You are already addicted.......sounds like the wife.... not so much.

Good luck getting the bike in order and taking those really addicting rides.( good addiction )

Dolph       

Thanks.
  Yeah I'm looking forward to the rides. My daily bike is a CBR1000RR. And the wife loves the rides, The Monster will be much more comfortable. Just a matter of time. I'm wearing her down

Welcome and congrats on the new project!

Looking forward to your updates and pictures.
Good luck with the repairs and the wife!