Tagged: 1965

Norton

Frisky Featherbed: 1965 Norton Atlas for Sale

1964 Norton Dominator L Side

Often overlooked in favor of the more rakish Commando and more famous Triumph Bonneville, the Norton Atlas offers familiar British twin strengths with its own particular charms. The parallel twin may be the perfect motorcycle powerplant. Compact, simpler, and easier to package than a v-twin or inline-four, smoother and more sophisticated than a single, the layout was used extensively by the British biking industry in the 1960s and 1970s. Unfortunately, the layout’s Achilles heel is vibration, especially in larger displacement applications.

1964 Norton Dominator Engine

Certainly vibration was an issue as Norton’s twins grew past 500cc, eventually necessitating the Commando’s innovative Isolastic frame, but handling certainly wasn’t a problem for the Atlas: it was fitted with the famous “featherbed” frame, so named after racer Harold Daniell described the 1950 racebike that originally used a similar design as being so smooth and comfortable it was “like riding on a featherbed.”

1964 Norton Dominator Dash

Today’s example has been well-maintained and features some appropriate, period-correct updates and modifications along with tons of character and patina.

1964 Norton Dominator Primary

From the original eBay listing: 1965 Norton Atlas for Sale

This auction is for a very good example of a great British motorcycle, don’t overlook the Atlas model: they are very sought after on the other side of the pond and my personal experience has been that it has out performed my other similar Brit twins, Triumphs and BSAs included.

It is still a low mileage mostly original bike even has  the std size factory dished top pistons for low compression are still in their noticed them when I decarbonized the top end also that is the original seat covering in place.

Here is a list of repairs and up-grades that I have done since I owned the bike and It probably has only covered 7k afterwards(other bikes to ride)

6 start oil pump drive, cam chain replaced, mag chain replaced, oil distribution seal for crank changed, gearbox sprocket  changed, solid state voltage regulator, Boyer dual coil, 1968 Commando distributor in place of magneto with electronic ignition now starts with key.

Bob Newby primary belt drive, best on the market, cost $780 eliminated oil leaks from the badly designed steel primary cover and as an added benefit bike has less vibration also changed to the newer laminated style stator. Norvil pushrod seal conversion insures clutch stays dry.

Clutch now has a sweet take up and very light lever pull. 

If you are a  collector the Frame and Engine numbers do match. 

This  motorcycle is a collectible model that won’t depreciate with its slim line “featherbed frame” really is a joy to ride, extremely stable for a classic bike and can handle  100 mile weekend  day rides in the summer months even on the highway with no over-heating!

1964 Norton Dominator Front Wheel

The seller also includes a list of some original parts that are included. It’s obviously been enthusiast-owned and well cared for, although with no takers at the $5,500 starting bid, the seller may be aiming high, even considering the condition.

-tad

1964 Norton Dominator R Side

Ducati

Can I see your papers?

I’ve been fixated in these Single cylinder Ducati lately. When I saw this one with no papers I thought, alright, maybe one that will go for cheap. Not so. These machines are so clean, so simple yet such amazing sport bikes. One of the things that make me so interested in classic sport bikes is how simple they look. This bike falls into that perfectly. Ducati really new how to make a work of art that you could blast through the back roads on. That’s part of the reason I suppose they fetch such a high price and people always have pictures of them in their living rooms. No exception here. The seller has one pic that shows two of these awesome bikes in his house.

Here’s what he has to say about the bike.

1965 Ducati Mark 3. Engine DM 250 M3 # 98845
Restored to a very nice condition with a lot of new parts. A wonderful looking Ducati that has been a “bookend” with a few of my other Ducati singles on display in my basement.

This bike is not restored to 100% original condition but it is very close. I have only run the bike during the past two weeks to make sure everything works. I have put a fun 22 miles on it and it is loud.

The bike runs very well with a Mikuni carb that I use when I ride my singles. The “correct” Dellorto SSI 29D carb will be on the bike for the new owner. I recommend the new owner buy a Mikuni or new Dellorto pumper if it will be ridden as I will be keeping this Mikuni. The Mikuni works very well with the “Grey Cam” that is installed and it has screw adjustable rockers for easy value adjustments. A black knob on the Hi/Lo switch is missing and the steering dampening knob has some chips out of the edges. These bikes have AC ignition and lights, no battery, no key and the unique N/E switch on the taillight bracket.

The reason for selling this beauty, as most of you will understand, to invest in another Ducati of course. Just when you think this is one of the coolest bikes I have, something more unique comes along.

This M3 has no paper work, no title or registration. I will supply a “Bill Of Sale” if you like.

I have added a lot of pictures, some photos were taken before the Tach drive, tach and chain were put on. Pictures with both carbs on the bike are also shown.

Thank you for checking out this beautiful Ducati. We are an interesting group and it is a lot of fun, great people and cool machines.

Be sure to read that carefully. You’re not getting the carb the bike is set up to run with. It doesn’t seem to matter to most buys out there though. The bidding is already above $6800 with reserve met. I usually skip the museum pieces like this one because I’m pretty much interested in bikes you can ride. That’s what they were made for after all. Like I said above though I am fixated on the Ducati singles. I am physically incapable of passing up a glance at everyone I see. There’s no way I am alone in this. You know you want it to. So click click click…

~Buck

Ducati

1965 Ducati Elite for Sale

As with MV Agusta, the name Ducati immediately conjures images of high-end exotics.  Ducati is known as a maker of booming, big-bore v-twin sportbikes with torture-rack ergonomics and very limited practicality.  But Ducati began its history in the postwar Italian motorcycling boom, making practical and fun transportation for the masses.

When they began their long-running record of racing success, it was with small bore bikes like the little Elite I found for sale on eBay, and it wasn’t until the late 50’s that Ducati made a bike over 175cc’s.  The Elite was a punched-out version of the earlier 175, and the little bevel-drive single made18hp at 7500rpm from its oversquare, 204cc motor, enough to propel the lightweight bike to nearly 90mph.

The original eBay listing can be found here: 1965 Ducati Elite for Sale.

Most literature shows the Elite with a distinctive, dual-exhaust on the right side of the bike, but the one for sale here shows a more conventional, although seemingly period-correct muffler.  The seller has also helpfully listed links to YouTube videos of the bike in action and the little machine sounds eager and happy:

Buy It Now is set at $11,500.  That’s a lot of dough for a little bike, but this is beautiful, collectible, and seems in great shape.  It’s being sold by a clearly knowledgeable seller and I know I want to buy all of my bikes and cars from someone who is “happy to answer all questions both silly and smart.”

-tad

Ducati

1965 250cc Ducati

We have shown a lot of Ducati Super Sports here on CSBFS, and they are called super for a reason. But we have to remember before there were twin cylinders offered from Bologna Italy, there were the equally spectacular singles. With names like Diana, Monza, and Mach 1 and Mach 3 (or MK1/MKIII) Ducati offered riders a very quick and well handling single before the Super Sports took over the world. This 250cc Ducati offered now on eBay is one of those super singles.

From the seller

Up for auction is this beautiful 1964 Ducati 250. This fabulous bike has been assembled with no expense spared and a great deal of attention to detail, yet another project forces me to sell her. The bike has been highly modified from stock but with an aesthetic appropriate to the period. She starts, runs and works superbly. It has been fewer than 1,600 miles since completion of her frame-off resurrection. Some highlights of this bike are as follows.

The one thing that would be nice to know is what this bike started as. The seller lists it as a 250, and lists the vin number so hopefully a reader might be able to decipher it for us. The reason I ask is not so much to know what you get, but more to know where it started.

The sellers list of upgrades

    • Custom aluminum seat and tank 
    • Alloy wheels with stainless steel spokes
    • New correct size Metzeler ME22 tires (I just put these on – these sensational handling small bike tires have to be purchased overseas)
    • 12 Volt 120 watt Electrex World generator conversion
    • Solid state regulator/rectifier with capacitor
    • Pazon electronic ignition
    • High compression piston
    • Oversize valves
    • Megacycle street/track cam
    • Dellorto VHB 29A carburetor
    • Stainless steel exhaust
    • All new bearings throughout the engine and chassis
    • Much, much, much more

    (Just a personal opinion, the Dell’orto VHB is said to be a great carburetor, with great flow characteristics, but I think a round case single needs the round and elegant SS1.)

These pre-desmo singles are a little confusing, and might be the reason the seller doesn’t list the model name. First offering in 1961, the 250cc bike was called the Diana, or if in the UK the Daytona. It appears to have about 19hp and with the 5speed unit transmission could reach 110mph. We know that this 250cc did not start as a Monza, because this 21hp version was not offered until 1968. The Mach 1 was offered this year and had 28hp of non Desmo power. The Mach 3 was offered later then 1965, so another possibility eliminated.

No matter what the bike started out as, the seller has spent a lot of time and money getting the bike that they wanted. As with any altered bike, you have to find the buyer who agrees with you, but I think there will be lots of buyers who will agree.BB

BMW

1965 Dover White BMW R69S

There are some Classic motorcycles that are lusted after for their beauty. There are others that are chased after because of their performance. There are still other Classics that you wouldn’t touch with the ten foot pole. The BMW R69S is a classic that is respected as a superbly engineered motorcycle; known for their quality of build, reliability and practical nature. When you see a restoration done to the level of this Dover White BMW offered now on eBay, it is a tribute to the original quality that the Marque deserves.

The seller put together an auction that measures up to the quality of the restoration. With their description of the build, they have given a road map to follow for anyone who wishes to restore a BMW in the future.  

From the Seller

            All original parts have been used in the restoration and all have either been cad plated, three stage chromed, polished or re-painted. All Black and Dover White parts have been finished in correct single stage paint. All parts have been painted – there is no powder coating on this bike. The paint was done by an excellent local painter, in the correct color scheme and match of Dover White – which is off-white, ivory color – using New Old Stock Dover White shock cover for the color match. The paint is perfect and is done to a very high quality.

You can easily fine replacement hardware in chrome, but taking the time to sort and label all the hardware to ship to a cad platter is both time consuming and costly. The end result not only shows the attention to detail, but also shows a commitment to getting it right.

The engine work from the seller

            The work has included new pistons, rings, main bearing, main bearing carrier, valves, slingers etc. Crank was sent to Dan at Cycle works for complete restoration. Clutch gearbox pulled apart, cleaned out and adjusted and any parts replaced as needed. The final drive has all new seals and brake shoes. The engine, gearbox and final drive were all bead blasted for correct finish.

Before the common paper oil filter was used in motorcycles, BMW used a something that came to be known as a slinger. It had a dual purpose of throwing oil around inside the engine, and also to remove crud from the oil. So when the seller replaced the slinger, buyers can fell confident that this engine will last another 40,000 miles.

Some other things that you can see in the pictures are small things like the wiring harness and how it is held to the frame. BMW used small metal straps that were so thin that often times the first time you removed the strap was the last time that you could use it.

The steering dampener for the R69S from the factory was a hydraulic unit that would start to leak and stick and was ofter replaced with a friction dampeners soon after it left the showroom. This bike has this dampener and it again showing the time and cost that the restorer went to get it right. IF you can find a original dampener today, it will cost you. 

The seller points out some of the little things

genuine NOS parts including a new old stock Bosch headlamp lens and Hella tail light lens. No aftermarket parts have been used, only genuine Bosch, Hella and BMW parts. The original speedometer was completely rebuilt by North Hollywood Speedo. All lights and switches are in good working order. The horn is the correct French Klaxon horn. Gas line is correct NOS gray cloth. Other parts include: Repainted, working air pump, brand new Blitz 6 volt battery (never any acid in the battery), rebuilt gas petcock, all new rubber, and cables, and much, much more

 

Some of the things that are not mentioned in the discription; getting the “Birth Certificate” from BMW confirms the build date and final destination. An original manual and tool role, vintage accessory catalogue and build album. All of these little things would be included in a museum display, but lets hope that thousands of miles are added to the 4 miles currently showing on the odometer. You should really look at the complete listing to see what a great bike is on offer. BB