Property of a deceased's estate, One owner and 5,671 miles from new, 2004 Ducati 998 S Final Edition

• One owner from new
• 5,671 miles from new
• Ducati service history
• Requires recommissioning

"For 2004, the 998 was offered as a Final Edition and Matrix. Produced 'on request', the 998 FE was a red Monoposto, and included the 136 horsepower Testastretta engine and Ohlins suspension front and rear." - Ian Falloon, Standard Catalog of Ducati Motorcycles.

Although Ducati's water-cooled 8-valve v-twin had been around in its original 851 and 888 incarnations for six years and indeed, had already won three World Superbike (Riders') Championships, it was the arrival of the iconic 916 in 1994 that really captured the public's imagination. Styled by Massimo Tamburini, the 916 and its subsequent evolutions established Ducati as one of the world's foremost brand names. Universally recognised as icons of automotive art, Ducati motorcycles have been exhibited in some of the world's foremost museums, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. The Ducati 916 won the World Superbike Championship in its 1994 debut season and its evolutions three times after that. Enough said.

For 1999, the stronger and much improved 996cc engine of the limited-edition 916 SPS was standardised on the new 996 model, while a Ducati Corse works development took Carl Fogarty to his fourth World Superbike Championship that same year. The final iteration of Tamburini's vision, the 998, arrived in 2002 and was one of the first models to feature the new Testastretta (narrow head) engine, designed by former Ferrari engineer, Angiolino Marchetti. The 998cc Testastretta had first appeared in the limited production and confusingly named 996 R, and this same engine went into the 998 S for Europe.

Its late owner purchased this ultra-rare Final Edition new from On Yer Bike, Aylesbury (receipt on file). The machine has covered fewer than 5,700 miles from new and has been serviced twice by Ducati specialists Baines Racing of Silverstone (in June 2007 and June 2010). The last MoT expired in July 2016. Accordingly, the machine, which would benefit from detailing, will require careful recommissioning including the appropriate service and belt change before further use. This desirable last-of-the-line Ducati comes with its original books (including the stamped service book) and two keys.