Ducati, the vintage kind

  • Thread starter Thread starter OJ
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OJ

OJ

Been Around the Block
So I always thought a Ducati would be my first street bike. I'm not talking about the awesome ones from yesteryear, but a modern beast. That kind of bike would likely encourage myself to kill myself though and I'm not into that death thing. So instead I got myself a little Honda.

Any way. I've been going to this old shop for parts, because they are close by and they have done more than enough to earn my business. Started talking about stuff yesterday and after they heard that I'm from Europe (I'm from the not-so-sexy part) they told me that they know this guy who has some euro bikes for sale. The bike(s) turn out to be a Ducati 250 and possibly another Ducati single, and they're running, and in close to original condition. I think I'm in trouble.

I gather these bikes are not too reliable and parts are hard to find and expensive. If I can negotiate the price to more tolerable range, I don't really care about parts and availability. I will just keep tinkering and cleaning and polishing everything until I manage to gather the necessary parts. What do you guys think...Good idea to go for a running Ducati 250 or look for another Honda?
 
Old Ducs are not something you find everyday. If you can buy it for a good price then at the very worst you could sell it for a good price.
 
Get an old Ducati single - desmo engine. I don't know anything about them, but plan on learning. I know a guy in Spain who is living here for a couple years with his family (our kids have become good friends) and he has a few bikes, including old Ducs. So I'm going to pick his brain and start a 10 year plan of attack on getting me an old Ducati single. Might even have to sell my XS650 to do it (or maybe the SR500 - that would make more sense ;))

ducati_mark-3_diana_lg.jpeg

ducati_mark-3_desmo-engine_lg.jpeg
 
Old bevel drive Ducatis are awesome and rare in North America. One day, she will be mine.
 
DrJ said:
Old bevel drive Ducatis are awesome and rare in North America. One day, she will be mine.
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Been talking about the logistics of importing old bikes from Spain.... :D
 
Thanks for great input. I think this Ducati would be like a young mistress. No matter how much fun it is to have one, you know that you're in trouble and you need to spend money and do stupid stuff to keep it going. I will keep talking to the seller to see if we can strike a deal and I could even park her in my garage and keep collecting parts.
 
But yea if I were you and had the cash and found the old ducs....I'd grab em up! Parts aren't impossible to find and there are plenty of DUC NUTs ready to help at a moments notice
 
Got a honda already? Find the duck man. If that is your dream then the only way to achieve it is set your sights on it and pull the trigger. Personally, im looking to make a 67 bonnie my next purchase, and id gladly liquidate most of what I have to get it one day. Even if it means passing by some cool scoots in the process.
 
Mr.E said:
Got a honda already? Find the duck man. If that is your dream then the only way to achieve it is set your sights on it and pull the trigger. Personally, im looking to make a 67 bonnie my next purchase, and id gladly liquidate most of what I have to get it one day. Even if it means passing by some cool scoots in the process.
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Indeed...
 
this past winter I passed up on a Bevel 250 motor (still kicking myself)....it was either pay court fee's or get more projects and possibly get locked up for owing the court $$$....here I am wrenching daily...
 
DesmoBro - that looks like a parallel-twin Duc in the background, don't see too many of those around.

They were hated by hard-core Ducatista in the day but weren't a bad bike at all.

Crazy


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I had a 250 scrambler in the late 60s, my brother in law had a 250 Monza in race trim. I have a friend who raced professionally for the Ducati factory in the mid 60s. Beautiful bikes, but they require special attention. I pushed mine more then I rode it. I got nostalgic for one a while back and found out rusted (as in had been under water for months) junk was selling for $900 and more. I'd still like to have another one.
 
Yea Crazy 1977 Parallel Twin Desmo Sport 500....I traded a 2007 DRZ400 for it....(a bike you could buy 100 of in one day) after buying it I found out they only made 2,100 of them supposedly 50 were imported to the US each year they made them....Build thread hasn't started on that bike yet but Soon ....It's the only bike I have without a title (previous owner says it will be sent to me this week, but I heard that for 2 years now)

And Rider $900 is wayy too much for something thats submerged
http://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/3112065817.html
I have my eye on this only it's 3 hours away and i have no front end but the a spare motor is on my shelf
 
Looking forward to seeing the thread on the Sport 500. Had one of them myself back in the day and have good memories.

Crazy
 
good to hear you actually owned one crazy! I have actually been looking for previous owners because my bike has a Made in Italy sticker (On the gas tank) with numbers 00157 and i can't find anyone with a corresponding number or anything on info about it ....(hoax?)
 
I think the only cure to my fever is more Ducati, or at least one to start with. If not this one, then something later on.
 
ducati_mark-3_diana_lg.jpeg


we have 2 of these in the shop right now... we are restoring all the metal on the bike and doing all the coating... really cool bikes
 
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