DesmoDog
Been Around the Block
I signed on here a while back and then didn't check back in for a while... here's the bike I was working on when I signed up. I finally got it back on the road in time for Ducstock 2011 at the Barber Vintage Festival last October. I'm copying posts from another forum to create the build thread so if something doesn't make sense that's likely why. Please excuse the rapid posting...
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This project began when I got a 1966 160 Monza Jr as part of a package deal with a '66 250 Monza, which was the bike I was really looking for. Pictures of the 160 from the ad;
It was a ratty bike to be sure, but the parts it was missing were all things I would have replaced anyway - it looked like it could be a fun project. The 250 was in about the same condition. When I saw the bikes I was sure I'd leave with the 250 but the 160 depended on the deal I could get. I made an offer for both (all the cash I had brought with me!), the seller accepted, and I took them home. Before I left the house that morning I had told my wife I was going to look at a bike. She didn't notice I had set the trailer up for two bikes the night before. I called to tell her the news when I was half way home... she's very understanding! I'll show the 250 in a different thread, here's more of the 160.
I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the 160, but figured I'd come up with something while I was working on the 250. I was still finishing up my 750 when I got them so they sat for a while and about all I did was gather parts. For some reason I put the tanks I was considering for the 250 onto the 160.
Stock Monza tank
An older Monza tank
A Benelli Mojave tank
Ducati Mach 1 tank, or so I thought. Turns out it was off an early Sebring.
I wasn't sure what bodywork I was going to use on these but I knew it would be rounded vs the squared off stuff they came with. Most people agree that look wasn't a high point of Italian style. Eventually I decided I wanted to build a 125 Sport replica out of the 160. I had seen a 100 Sport at the 2005 Motogiro d'Italia and thought it was pretty cool. It was the bike that convinced me I needed to stop talking about wanting a single cylinder Ducati and to actually start looking for one to buy.
Here's a picture of Rich Lambrechts' 125 Sport which provided a lot of inspiration early on:
Even though the 250 was my main interest at first, by the time the 750 was on the road the 160 had become my main focus. The 250 was put on the back burner. The Sebring tank was always intended to go on the 250, but I left it on the 160 as I collected parts because I liked the shape. I wasn't planning on making an accurate Sport replica, just something along the same lines. I found a headlight, fenders, and (fake) earlier tool boxes, but my search for a 125 Sport wasn't getting anywhere.
Repop F3 tanks are out there, but they look a little different than what I wanted. Maybe close enough? While I was mulling over what to do I stumbled across a nice 175 TS(?) tank, so I bought it. I'm not positive it's a TS tank, but I'm pretty sure it's from the late '50s.
Now I had the basis for my bike. Still a lot of mods to be made, but the basics were falling into place.
************************************************
This project began when I got a 1966 160 Monza Jr as part of a package deal with a '66 250 Monza, which was the bike I was really looking for. Pictures of the 160 from the ad;
It was a ratty bike to be sure, but the parts it was missing were all things I would have replaced anyway - it looked like it could be a fun project. The 250 was in about the same condition. When I saw the bikes I was sure I'd leave with the 250 but the 160 depended on the deal I could get. I made an offer for both (all the cash I had brought with me!), the seller accepted, and I took them home. Before I left the house that morning I had told my wife I was going to look at a bike. She didn't notice I had set the trailer up for two bikes the night before. I called to tell her the news when I was half way home... she's very understanding! I'll show the 250 in a different thread, here's more of the 160.
I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the 160, but figured I'd come up with something while I was working on the 250. I was still finishing up my 750 when I got them so they sat for a while and about all I did was gather parts. For some reason I put the tanks I was considering for the 250 onto the 160.
Stock Monza tank
An older Monza tank
A Benelli Mojave tank
Ducati Mach 1 tank, or so I thought. Turns out it was off an early Sebring.
I wasn't sure what bodywork I was going to use on these but I knew it would be rounded vs the squared off stuff they came with. Most people agree that look wasn't a high point of Italian style. Eventually I decided I wanted to build a 125 Sport replica out of the 160. I had seen a 100 Sport at the 2005 Motogiro d'Italia and thought it was pretty cool. It was the bike that convinced me I needed to stop talking about wanting a single cylinder Ducati and to actually start looking for one to buy.
Here's a picture of Rich Lambrechts' 125 Sport which provided a lot of inspiration early on:
Even though the 250 was my main interest at first, by the time the 750 was on the road the 160 had become my main focus. The 250 was put on the back burner. The Sebring tank was always intended to go on the 250, but I left it on the 160 as I collected parts because I liked the shape. I wasn't planning on making an accurate Sport replica, just something along the same lines. I found a headlight, fenders, and (fake) earlier tool boxes, but my search for a 125 Sport wasn't getting anywhere.
Repop F3 tanks are out there, but they look a little different than what I wanted. Maybe close enough? While I was mulling over what to do I stumbled across a nice 175 TS(?) tank, so I bought it. I'm not positive it's a TS tank, but I'm pretty sure it's from the late '50s.
Now I had the basis for my bike. Still a lot of mods to be made, but the basics were falling into place.