How do I find the last year of production?

[Noggin]

I need to find out the last year of production for the model of Monster that I have (to know when I can register it as a classic here) - me and a friend do intend to get it to track before then, but for now, cos it can't be used on the road, it's a bit awkward (TDs will be next years due to my knee and he and his wife have just had a baby!! LOL )

Anyway - I know the year mine was registered - April 1998

BUT, how do I know the exact model to be able to find out the "last year of production" of that model?

I've had a look on this page https://www.autoevolution.com/moto/ducati/monster/ but there is more than one that was produced in 1998 and TBH, I can't tell which is which as the frames look alike to me (I think it's either the 96-97 model or the 97-98 one ??)


Sooo, with the VIN - where do I look to get the actual model so that I can find out the last production year

(It needs to be 30 years after the last year of production to class as a classic - so if the last year of production was 1997 but it wasn't registered until 1998, I can still start registering it here under the classic rules next year.)

I'm guessing it'll be a track bike for a few years before I can use it on the road

Can anyone help with this?

[Bwana]

https://www.carvertical.com/ducati-vin-decoder

I dunno if this will help, but see what you can make of it. Allegedly it's free.

[Noggin]

https://www.carvertical.com/ducati-vin-decoder

I dunno if this will help, but see what you can make of it. Allegedly it's free.

Cheers, but sadly it just says it's an M600 - could still end production in 97 or 98

I'll find an email for Ducati Italy and see if they will reply - and help !!

I did ask on the Desmo Due Paddock page and figured someone there would definitely know; I think an admin misread the question and didn't allow the post but replied with
"You should be able to check the Monster age with the frame number at any Ducati dealer, regardless of when it was road registered"
- which was not what I asked, I need the exact model to find out the last production date !!!

Hey ho - he didn't allow the post so I guess that avenue is blocked Might see if there is a Ducati dealer close enough to go ask if they will help

[Bwana]

MCN has it running 1993 to 2001.

I dunno much about Ducati so I'm not sure if there were significant changes like Honda's CB750 went through, eg. 1978 was the last year for the single overhead cam and the bikes had a significant change in pretty much ever aspect you could think of except displacement and name. Even the actual displacement increased buy a few CCs.

[Noggin]

MCN has it running 1993 to 2001.

I dunno much about Ducati so I'm not sure if there were significant changes like Honda's CB750 went through, eg. 1978 was the last year for the single overhead cam and the bikes had a significant change in pretty much ever aspect you could think of except displacement and name. Even the actual displacement increased buy a few CCs.

I think that's my biggest issue - what actually is a new model ??

The link I looked at has various 600 models on short timespans, but are they actually a different model or just an update of the same one !!

Downside is that if mine was lasst produced in 2001, I can't register it here until 2031 But hey - track bike

[ZRX61]

Doesn't it have the month/year it was built on the frame tag like US bikes have?

And why the hell would they go by when the last one was built instead of the one you actually own?

[Noggin]

Doesn't it have the month/year it was built on the frame tag like US bikes have?

And why the hell would they go by when the last one was built instead of the one you actually own?

Even if it did, that wouldn't tell me when the model was last in production (I think from the frame number it was probably 1997)

For a bike to be a classic (collection) here apparently the last of it's model has to have been produced a minimum of 30 years ago - I don't make the rooles!

From what I've read, it could be 97, 98 or 2001

[wull]

What model of bike do you have? And what engine?

[Count Steer]

As Bwana said, if it's a standard M600 the last one rolled off the production line in 2001 - but they produced a string of versions (fancy colours and 'bolt-on' accessories) to shift the inventory of parts between 1999 to 2001.

It all depends what the French authorities call 'a model' but my money is on 2001. The 1999 onwards were little more than standard + accessories.

(If they're totally bolshie they'll say 'Mon dieu! They are still making les Monsters!' ).

[crust]

The 600 Monster was produced until 2001 when it was replaced by the 620.

[Bwana]

Doesn't it have the month/year it was built on the frame tag like US bikes have?

And why the hell would they go by when the last one was built instead of the one you actually own?

It does seem weird that the whole batch is aged by the last one to roll off the line.

[Count Steer]

Doesn't it have the month/year it was built on the frame tag like US bikes have?

And why the hell would they go by when the last one was built instead of the one you actually own?

It does seem weird that the whole batch is aged by the last one to roll off the line.

I thought it seemed logical for 'not really very old' bikes and cars. How would a 30 year old bike be in any way classic if the model was still in production and you could buy a new one for example? Or, more likely, a 30 year old bike if there were loads of 10 year old ones available?

Older car stuff like veteran, vintage and post-vintage just have cut-off dates and, with their rarity makes sense. (1931 being the date for vintage and 1919! for veteran ).

[Noggin]

Well, I've done some more reading!! I was told the 30 years after last production by a few people, French and English.

Having done the reading last night, it's just 30 years old

How to recognize a classic motorcycle?
A classic motorcycle, in its simplest definition, is a motorcycle that has a certain value due to its rarity or age , or both. If Pierre has decided to collect Yamaha MT-07 motorcycles out of passion, that doesn't necessarily mean the Yamaha MT-07 itself will become a classic. Pierre, however, can be considered a collector. In short, all this to say that classic motorcycles are more precisely defined by law and traffic regulations.

To be considered a classic, a motorcycle must meet these three criteria exactly:

be over 30 years old

no longer be produced

not to have undergone major modification

I'm pretty sure that it can be a classic because the new Monsters are very different and not 600's cross fingers

Soooo - I have around 15 months to sort all the paperwork, find new clocks (that no longer Have to be Ducati!) and get it back up and running. My mate will be chuffed as he's keen to help and we do plan to track it next year (knee replacement depending - I might have to go as a spectator )
I'm freaking ecstatic because, despite it not being hte most comfortable for my shoulder, I can now get it French registered and ride it here after April 2028

[Bwana]

Doesn't it have the month/year it was built on the frame tag like US bikes have?

And why the hell would they go by when the last one was built instead of the one you actually own?

It does seem weird that the whole batch is aged by the last one to roll off the line.

I thought it seemed logical for 'not really very old' bikes and cars. How would a 30 year old bike be in any way classic if the model was still in production and you could buy a new one for example? Or, more likely, a 30 year old bike if there were loads of 10 year old ones available?

Older car stuff like veteran, vintage and post-vintage just have cut-off dates and, with their rarity makes sense. (1931 being the date for vintage and 1919! for veteran ).

Quite often there are significant changes for a model as the years roll by. Take my 1978 CB750K for instance. The first release were so-called sand cast models, I don't think a great deal changed until the 1977 models when significant cosmetic changes occurred, side covers were different, the seat was different, exhaust systems were completely different, and there were frame changes. I believe there were color changes each year, but I might be wrong. The 1979 models completely changed, eg double overhead cams as opposed to the single over head cams for the previous years.

Cars often had significant changes with each model year. The Chevrolet BelAire springs to mind.