What is better than buying a Ducati to restore?

When your motorcycle clueless neighbour buys one and wants you to help him so you get your bike tinkering fix (and a bit of riding) cost free.

Gordon wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 5:42pm:

What is better than buying a Ducati to restore? When your motorcycle clueless neighbour buys one and wants you to help him so you get your bike tinkering fix (and a bit of riding) cost free.

God invented Ducatis to keep the wogs off the Harleys & Triumphs.

A Harley is the way to go, go the Iron 1200cc, plenty around not like Ducat, they go back to 1985 and are a joy to ride.

Gnads wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 6:15pm:

Gordon wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 5:42pm: What is better than buying a Ducati to restore? When your motorcycle clueless neighbour buys one and wants you to help him so you get your bike tinkering fix (and a bit of riding) cost free. God invented Ducatis to keep the wogs off the Harleys & Triumphs.

I like Ducatis, but would never own one. Triumph yeah, Harley, never.

i have owned lots of bikes.

honda, yamaha , suzuki and kawasakis.

they are all bulletproof and a joy to own.

i would never by a bike from anyone but the japanese

Ducati's, Triumph's and Harley's are great bikes.

Harleys are too hard to own. The other two are better. Too many Harleys are stolen.

The Modern Harley's are great the older classics were not that great over rated under powered and still a theft magnet. 

Dnarever wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 7:19pm:

Ducati's, Triumph's and Harley's are great bikes. Harleys are too hard to own. The other two are better. Too many Harleys are stolen. The Modern Harley's are great the older classics were not that great over rated under powered and still a theft magnet.

I love all motorcycles, but I look at a Harley and feel nothing.

aquascoot wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 7:19pm:

i have owned lots of bikes. honda, yamaha , suzuki and kawasakis. they are all bulletproof and a joy to own. i would never by a bike from anyone but the japanese

Yup, exotics only as toys you have no reliability or economic expectation of.

It's going to be fun tinkering with this. Not taking up space in my garage, not costing me anything  :)

Gordon wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 7:27pm:

Dnarever wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:19pm: Ducati's, Triumph's and Harley's are great bikes. Harleys are too hard to own. The other two are better. Too many Harleys are stolen. The Modern Harley's are great the older classics were not that great over rated under powered and still a theft magnet.  I love all motorcycles, but I look at a Harley and feel nothing.

Had a great Uncle who raced sidecars for BSA. He had a lot of old bikes. (And interesting Trophies)

Dnarever wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 7:37pm:

Gordon wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:27pm: Dnarever wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:19pm: Ducati's, Triumph's and Harley's are great bikes. Harleys are too hard to own. The other two are better. Too many Harleys are stolen. The Modern Harley's are great the older classics were not that great over rated under powered and still a theft magnet.  I love all motorcycles, but I look at a Harley and feel nothing. Had a great Uncle who raced sidecars for BSA. He had a lot of old bikes. (And interesting Trophies)

Josh Rogin is an interesting journalist. He's the bloke who found out about the poor Wuhan lab practices in 2018,

Gordon wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 5:42pm:

What is better than buying a Ducati to restore?

A Moto Guzzi with sidecar.   ;)

https://www.classicco.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/sidecar_5-708x398.jpg

Gordon wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 7:44pm:

Dnarever wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:37pm: Gordon wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:27pm: Dnarever wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:19pm: Ducati's, Triumph's and Harley's are great bikes. Harleys are too hard to own. The other two are better. Too many Harleys are stolen. The Modern Harley's are great the older classics were not that great over rated under powered and still a theft magnet.  I love all motorcycles, but I look at a Harley and feel nothing. Had a great Uncle who raced sidecars for BSA. He had a lot of old bikes. (And interesting Trophies) Josh Rogin is an interesting journalist. He's the bloke who found out about the poor Wuhan lab practices in 2018,

A little known group of Indian Cannibals who use Surname Christian name as their preferred naming convention may have turned him into curry.

I remember in the old days the claim was when the Harley Riders went on a run they had to take a ute along as one of the Harleys was bound to break down and was transported home in the ute.

;D ;D

Redmond Neck wrote on Mar 21^st, 2022 at 1:05pm:

I remember in the old days the claim was when the Harley Riders went on a run they had to take a ute along as one of the Harleys was bound to break down and was transported home in the ute. ;D ;D

I could live with an unreliable bike, even an old Ducati but Harleys have zero appeal for me.

I also like old Guzzis!

Ducati's are great bikes.

I like all the other bikes except Harley.  Can't stand the damn things.

My uncle left me his Honda 250Z in his will. I was 18 & rode it for two years without a licence.
luckily I was never pulled over by traffic police. I stupidly traded it in on a Norton Commando
when I got my licence. Bloody thing leaked oil like mad. Tore down the engine three times
replacing the seals before discovering the engine castings themselves were the problem.
Next came a  long list of bikes over the decades ending with a 1980 Ducati Pantah 500.
Best bike I'd ever ridden and unlike a lot of other Ducati's, totally reliable.
Recently someone tried to talk me into getting in the saddle again. Given in my 70s my
balance isn't what it used to be I've resisted the temptation.
A trike? Too embarrassing.

I've never wanted a Harley. A few rides were enough to turn me off. There's something
unsettling about the balance of those things , and all that chrome YUK.
In my dotage I sometimes sit on my front porch watching swarms of Harley's pass by.
The noise has me fantasise doing something nasty with a machine gun.

---

Ayn Marx wrote on Mar 21^st, 2022 at 8:00pm:

My uncle left me his Honda 250Z in his will. I was 18 & rode it for two years without a licence. luckily I was never pulled over by traffic police. I stupidly traded it in on a Norton Commando when I got my licence. Bloody thing leaked oil like mad. Tore down the engine three times replacing the seals before discovering the engine castings themselves were the problem. Next came a  long list of bikes over the decades ending with a 1980 Ducati Pantah 500. Best bike I'd ever ridden and unlike a lot of other Ducati's, totally reliable. Recently someone tried to talk me into getting in the saddle again. Given in my 70s my balance isn't what it used to be I've resisted the temptation. A trike? Too embarrassing. I've never wanted a Harley. A few rides were enough to turn me off. There's something unsettling about the balance of those things , and all that chrome YUK. In my dotage I sometimes sit on my front porch watching swarms of Harley's pass by. The noise has me fantasise doing something nasty with a machine gun.

you need glasses

Frank wrote on Mar 21^st, 2022 at 8:05pm:

Ayn Marx wrote on Mar 21st, 2022 at 8:00pm: My uncle left me his Honda 250Z in his will. I was 18 & rode it for two years without a licence. luckily I was never pulled over by traffic police. I stupidly traded it in on a Norton Commando when I got my licence. Bloody thing leaked oil like mad. Tore down the engine three times replacing the seals before discovering the engine castings themselves were the problem. Next came a  long list of bikes over the decades ending with a 1980 Ducati Pantah 500. Best bike I'd ever ridden and unlike a lot of other Ducati's, totally reliable. Recently someone tried to talk me into getting in the saddle again. Given in my 70s my balance isn't what it used to be I've resisted the temptation. A trike? Too embarrassing. I've never wanted a Harley. A few rides were enough to turn me off. There's something unsettling about the balance of those things , and all that chrome YUK. In my dotage I sometimes sit on my front porch watching swarms of Harley's pass by. The noise has me fantasise doing something nasty with a machine gun. you need glasses

Why? So as I can take better aim at geriatric Harley riders pretending they’re speed dealers?
Not to worry, the statistics tell us a high percentage of retirees whose first bike is a Harley soon
mangle or kill themselves.

Ayn Marx wrote on Mar 21^st, 2022 at 8:10pm:

Frank wrote on Mar 21st, 2022 at 8:05pm: Ayn Marx wrote on Mar 21st, 2022 at 8:00pm: My uncle left me his Honda 250Z in his will. I was 18 & rode it for two years without a licence. luckily I was never pulled over by traffic police. I stupidly traded it in on a Norton Commando when I got my licence. Bloody thing leaked oil like mad. Tore down the engine three times replacing the seals before discovering the engine castings themselves were the problem. Next came a  long list of bikes over the decades ending with a 1980 Ducati Pantah 500. Best bike I'd ever ridden and unlike a lot of other Ducati's, totally reliable. Recently someone tried to talk me into getting in the saddle again. Given in my 70s my balance isn't what it used to be I've resisted the temptation. A trike? Too embarrassing. I've never wanted a Harley. A few rides were enough to turn me off. There's something unsettling about the balance of those things , and all that chrome YUK. In my dotage I sometimes sit on my front porch watching swarms of Harley's pass by. The noise has me fantasise doing something nasty with a machine gun. you need glasses Why? So as I can take better aim at geriatric Harley riders pretending they’re speed dealers? Not to worry, the statistics tell us a high percentage of retirees whose first bike is a Harley soon mangle or kill themselves.

Big bold font.

aquascoot wrote on Mar 20^th, 2022 at 7:19pm:

i have owned lots of bikes. honda, yamaha , suzuki and kawasakis. they are all bulletproof and a joy to own. i would never by a bike from anyone but the japanese

I've had Honda, Triumphs and a Harley.
Rode a Ducati.

The Ducati was smooth, refined, sounded beautiful.
Honda was ......... a honda.
Trumpy was great fun.
Harley was a serious mans bike.

Best bike I had was a Harry Quinn.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 21^st, 2022 at 8:27pm:

aquascoot wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:19pm: i have owned lots of bikes. honda, yamaha , suzuki and kawasakis. they are all bulletproof and a joy to own. i would never by a bike from anyone but the japanese I've had Honda, Triumphs and a Harley. Rode a Ducati. The Ducati was smooth, refined, sounded beautiful. Honda was ......... a honda. Trumpy was great fun. Harley was a serious mans bike. Best bike I had was a Harry Quinn.

Which Honda did you have sprint

Frank wrote on Mar 21^st, 2022 at 8:17pm:

Big bold font.

Well if that’s your problem get the moderators to have a discussion about altering the software to remove all such options. Problem is that would be very much like trying to herd cats.

When I was a kid I had to walk past Paddo police station going to and from school. Often there would be a police motorbike or two parked outside.

They were Indians, I think the name was a drawcard, but the bikes were magnificent.

Once a cop saw me looking at them and let me sit on one. Of course I didn't know anything about them but it was great!

They didn't have those little pegs for your feet, they had boards so the riders' feet just laid flat on them.

And they had gear levers! I don't know if the clutch was foot-operated but that would be my guess.

Anyway, the only bike I ever had was a Triumph, but that didn't last long after a mate was killed at Circular Quay...

The Heartless Felon wrote on Mar 22^nd, 2022 at 4:57pm:

When I was a kid I had to walk past Paddo police station going to and from school. Often there would be a police motorbike or two parked outside. They were Indians, I think the name was a drawcard, but the bikes were magnificent. Once a cop saw me looking at them and let me sit on one. Of course I didn't know anything about them but it was great! They didn't have those little pegs for your feet, they had boards so the riders' feet just laid flat on them. And they had gear levers! I don't know if the clutch was foot-operated but that would be my guess. Anyway, the only bike I ever had was a Triumph, but that didn't last long after a mate was killed at Circular Quay...

Here you are hiding away!

And to think I started a topic wondering how you were going 😂🤣😆

Lisa Jones wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2022 at 11:58am:

The Heartless Felon wrote on Mar 22nd, 2022 at 4:57pm: When I was a kid I had to walk past Paddo police station going to and from school. Often there would be a police motorbike or two parked outside. They were Indians, I think the name was a drawcard, but the bikes were magnificent. Once a cop saw me looking at them and let me sit on one. Of course I didn't know anything about them but it was great! They didn't have those little pegs for your feet, they had boards so the riders' feet just laid flat on them. And they had gear levers! I don't know if the clutch was foot-operated but that would be my guess. Anyway, the only bike I ever had was a Triumph, but that didn't last long after a mate was killed at Circular Quay... Here you are hiding away! And to think I started a topic wondering how you were going 😂🤣😆

REPORTED: Stalking.

The Heartless Felon wrote on Mar 22^nd, 2022 at 4:57pm:

When I was a kid I had to walk past Paddo police station going to and from school. Often there would be a police motorbike or two parked outside. They were Indians, I think the name was a drawcard, but the bikes were magnificent. Once a cop saw me looking at them and let me sit on one. Of course I didn't know anything about them but it was great! They didn't have those little pegs for your feet, they had boards so the riders' feet just laid flat on them. And they had gear levers! I don't know if the clutch was foot-operated but that would be my guess. Anyway, the only bike I ever had was a Triumph, but that didn't last long after a mate was killed at Circular Quay...

Hey I lived just around the corner from Paddo copshop in a dilapidated terrace share house. I had an old GSX1100 at the time

aquascoot wrote on Mar 22^nd, 2022 at 6:27am:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 21st, 2022 at 8:27pm: aquascoot wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:19pm: i have owned lots of bikes. honda, yamaha , suzuki and kawasakis. they are all bulletproof and a joy to own. i would never by a bike from anyone but the japanese I've had Honda, Triumphs and a Harley. Rode a Ducati. The Ducati was smooth, refined, sounded beautiful. Honda was ......... a honda. Trumpy was great fun. Harley was a serious mans bike. Best bike I had was a Harry Quinn. Which Honda did you have sprint

CB750, lovely revver.
Bit heavy, smooth

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2022 at 5:44pm:

aquascoot wrote on Mar 22nd, 2022 at 6:27am: Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 21st, 2022 at 8:27pm: aquascoot wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:19pm: i have owned lots of bikes. honda, yamaha , suzuki and kawasakis. they are all bulletproof and a joy to own. i would never by a bike from anyone but the japanese I've had Honda, Triumphs and a Harley. Rode a Ducati. The Ducati was smooth, refined, sounded beautiful. Honda was ......... a honda. Trumpy was great fun. Harley was a serious mans bike. Best bike I had was a Harry Quinn. Which Honda did you have sprint CB750, lovely revver. Bit heavy, smooth

What year?

The Heartless Felon wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2022 at 12:03pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Mar 23rd, 2022 at 11:58am: The Heartless Felon wrote on Mar 22nd, 2022 at 4:57pm: When I was a kid I had to walk past Paddo police station going to and from school. Often there would be a police motorbike or two parked outside. They were Indians, I think the name was a drawcard, but the bikes were magnificent. Once a cop saw me looking at them and let me sit on one. Of course I didn't know anything about them but it was great! They didn't have those little pegs for your feet, they had boards so the riders' feet just laid flat on them. And they had gear levers! I don't know if the clutch was foot-operated but that would be my guess. Anyway, the only bike I ever had was a Triumph, but that didn't last long after a mate was killed at Circular Quay... Here you are hiding away! And to think I started a topic wondering how you were going 😂🤣😆 REPORTED: Stalking.

Really Red 😂🤣😆

Lots of rain forecast for the weekend so will make a start on the beast!

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2022 at 5:44pm:

aquascoot wrote on Mar 22nd, 2022 at 6:27am: Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 21st, 2022 at 8:27pm: aquascoot wrote on Mar 20th, 2022 at 7:19pm: i have owned lots of bikes. honda, yamaha , suzuki and kawasakis. they are all bulletproof and a joy to own. i would never by a bike from anyone but the japanese I've had Honda, Triumphs and a Harley. Rode a Ducati. The Ducati was smooth, refined, sounded beautiful. Honda was ......... a honda. Trumpy was great fun. Harley was a serious mans bike. Best bike I had was a Harry Quinn. Which Honda did you have sprint CB750, lovely revver. Bit heavy, smooth

I rebuilt a Honda CB 750 -
that included a rebore and oversize pistons.
It was a fun bike to ride although it had nowhere near
the power of the Kawasaki H2 750 that I had.
In fact my Kawasaki H1 500 was quicker than the CB 750.
But - you could easily get 100,000 miles
out of a CB 750 motor - they were bulletproof.
Many are still on the road to this day after nearly 50 years.

I rode a mates custom Harley with a 2200 CC engine. That thing had so much grunt off the line in first gear with a long wheelbase  no wheelie dramas it would leave everything off the mark. A seriously fast bike with no handling or brakes to match the power.

Older bikes are probably better for most to play with. Modern bikes have too much electronics for ABS engine modes wheelie control etc you need specialised electronic scanners to diagnose problems.

I am seriously considering a new GSXR 1000 i would have to take it out to Eastern Creek. If you're happy to ride at speed limit on way home you know you have done enough laps. If you're speeding on way home you should have done more laps.

A V12 motorbike.  :o


Quote:

Homebuilt Kawasaki 2300cc V-12 Motorcycle | WILD FILE Mad scientistic Allen Millyard keeps grafting more displacement and cylinders together. This siamesed 2300cc Kawasaki V-12 motorcycle his his latest wild ride. The 41-year-old nuclear research engineer from Berkshire, west of London, has good reason to be pleased with his unique, hand-built machine. At first glance it looks almost like a standard version of the gigantic KZ1300 six that Kawasaki released in 1978/1979 in the rush toward ever larger and more powerful superbikes. But this particular machine is considerably bigger; it includes two complete KZ1300 cylinder blocks grafted together to make a 70-degree V-12. If you know anything about Millyard and his history of building bikes, especially old-style Kawasakis with more than their original number of cylinders, the V-12 Kawasaki won't come as a complete surprise. After starting this wacky process by creating Honda V-twins using a pair of C90 and then SS50 cylinders, he produced a string of Kawasaki two-strokes with four-, five- and even six-pot powerplants based on the old air-cooled triples. Then he built an even more ambitious special, a 1600cc V-eight compiled from two four-cylinder KZ1000 engines (which we profiled in September '02). Looks production, no? Millyard is an absolute rocket scientist (literally), doing much of the actual problem-solving in his head before getting out his various hand tools. You heard that right; he uses hacksaws and hand files to do a significant amount of the work. The resulting 2281cc 70-degree V-12, which melds nearly two Kawasaki KZ1300 mills, is an absolute engineering masterpiece. "Modern, attention-grabbing style coupled with the street credential garnered by the name KZ1300 and you've got yourself a real...." Seriously, though, the big V-12-powered Kawasaki moves out nicely and effortlessly thanks to copious amounts of torque from the depths of the tach. And like all V-12s, it sounds sweet! More here- https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/wild-file-homebuilt-kawasaki-2300cc-v-12-motorcycle/

Baronvonrort wrote on Apr 20^th, 2022 at 12:44am:

A V12 motorbike.  :o Quote: Homebuilt Kawasaki 2300cc V-12 Motorcycle | WILD FILE Mad scientistic Allen Millyard keeps grafting more displacement and cylinders together. This siamesed 2300cc Kawasaki V-12 motorcycle his his latest wild ride. The 41-year-old nuclear research engineer from Berkshire, west of London, has good reason to be pleased with his unique, hand-built machine. At first glance it looks almost like a standard version of the gigantic KZ1300 six that Kawasaki released in 1978/1979 in the rush toward ever larger and more powerful superbikes. But this particular machine is considerably bigger; it includes two complete KZ1300 cylinder blocks grafted together to make a 70-degree V-12. If you know anything about Millyard and his history of building bikes, especially old-style Kawasakis with more than their original number of cylinders, the V-12 Kawasaki won't come as a complete surprise. After starting this wacky process by creating Honda V-twins using a pair of C90 and then SS50 cylinders, he produced a string of Kawasaki two-strokes with four-, five- and even six-pot powerplants based on the old air-cooled triples. Then he built an even more ambitious special, a 1600cc V-eight compiled from two four-cylinder KZ1000 engines (which we profiled in September '02). Looks production, no? Millyard is an absolute rocket scientist (literally), doing much of the actual problem-solving in his head before getting out his various hand tools. You heard that right; he uses hacksaws and hand files to do a significant amount of the work. The resulting 2281cc 70-degree V-12, which melds nearly two Kawasaki KZ1300 mills, is an absolute engineering masterpiece. "Modern, attention-grabbing style coupled with the street credential garnered by the name KZ1300 and you've got yourself a real...." Seriously, though, the big V-12-powered Kawasaki moves out nicely and effortlessly thanks to copious amounts of torque from the depths of the tach. And like all V-12s, it sounds sweet! More here- https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/wild-file-homebuilt-kawasaki-2300cc-v-12-motorcycle/

Should have enough torque, I guess

Ridden bikes my whole life.
Raced MX for a few years as well.
Never owned a harley.
Probably never will either.

https://youtu.be/izzlN2zC8PU


Ducatis are lovely.
My brother had a diavel carbon a few years back.
Pipes, chipped up. Absolute weapon.

I rode a 50cc Suzuki while at Uni. Very cheap transportation. If there was a headwind I wound up having to push the damn thing.

Jovial Monk wrote on May 7^th, 2022 at 10:02am:

I rode a 50cc Suzuki while at Uni. Very cheap transportation. If there was a headwind I wound up having to push the damn thing.

That would have to be one hell of a headwind. I rode my mountain bike to and from university. The moderately steep hills getting there and a headwind in combination would not deter me from getting to the top of the hill on the bike. Perhaps the 50cc Suzuki you rode was just that piss weak.

Well, it was an old bike. . .

I think petrol for a weeks transport to/from Uni cost me 20–50¢ in the late 1960s.

I drove a 1983 Daihatsu Handivan in the late 1990s. It cost $16 to fill (back when it was 80c/L for leaded fuel) or $38 today. Sometimes, with Dai having a two-cylinder engine, I could not get the car up certain hills.