Tagged: Low Miles

Harley Davidson

Zero-Mile Display Piece: 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR for Sale

1977 Harley XLCR L Side

A bike that was a bit ahead of it’s time, at least by Harley-Davidson standards, the stylish, any-color-you-want-as-long-as-it’s-black, cafe racer-styled Harley XLCR didn’t convince the ever-conservative faithful when it was introduced. The bike didn’t sell particularly well, which is a shame, because the XLCR is a bike that actually looked forward, instead of backwards for its inspiration.

1977 Harley XLCR Clocks

But although the look of the bike was meant to compete with Europe and Japan’s best, the bones and meat were pretty conventional: a 998cc pushrod Sportster engine with 9:1 compression and 38mm Keihin carbs put 61bhp through a drive chain to the four-speed gearbox. The frame was a parts-bin-special as well, with a Sportster front section matched with rear tubes and a swingarm from the XR750 race bike. Cast wheels added to the modern styling and triple disc brakes gave something approaching modern stopping power.

1977 Harley XLCR Tank

So it’s basically a mildly hopped-up Sportster in a black leather jacket and dark, mirrored sunglasses. Which is no bad thing, and possibly the coolest bike to come out of Harley’s AMF-era, a period of time where you bought a Harley because that’s the only brand you’d ever consider buying anyway…

1977 Harley XLCR Engine

From the original eBay listing: 1977 Harley Davidson XLCR for Sale

This legend is truth and it’s come back on the market. This XLCR was bought brand new in 1977 as a decoration in a livingroom.  It never goes on the street and stay completely original.  Even the Harley-Davidson test sticker stays on the headlight and the speedometer. I bought this motorcycle five years ago and it stays in my private collection in a a/c and smoke free place. As this motorcycle came from USA there is no duty to bring it back. I will help to any carrier for shipping. Still with a US title .  Buyer is responsible to make his own verification. Engine VIN: 7F01507H7.

1977 Harley XLCR Wheel

With zero miles on the clock, the seller is asking some serious money, and this time-capsule machine will obviously require some work if you want to put it back on the road, but that shouldn’t be too difficult, if you’re so inclined. But unfortunately, I expect that this bike will remain what it is right now: a very menacing display piece.

-tad

1977 Harley XLCR R Side

Moto Morini

Low Miles, Low-Buck Exotica: 1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport for Sale

1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport L Front

For those of you who thought Italian exotica were far out of reach, check out this very nice 1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport.  Postwar Italy saw a boom in two-wheeled motorcycle manufacture: the population of a country devastated by war was eager to get back to work and was hungry for cheap, stylish transportation. Obviously, many manufacturers of scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles came into existence and quickly disappeared during this period, but a few survived into the modern day, or have been resurrected, like zombies in Armani suits.

1980 Moto Mornini 500 Sport Dash

Moto Morini was one of the latter, a company that actually began before World War I, then faded after a purchase by Cagiva in the late 1980’s, only to be brought back again during the late 90’s as a sort of brutish Ducati rival, a shame considering their earlier history of making smaller-engined sporting machines. In fact, Morini’s insistence on not catering to the American market by creating larger-displacement bikes may have sealed the company’s doom: the 500 Sport shown here was as big as they got.

1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport R Side

But don’t let the relatively small engines fool you: these are serious sporting machines with revvy and sweet v-twins that made useful power and returned excellent fuel mileage, capable of embarrassing much more powerful machines in the corners and on the brakes. With a very rare for the period six-speed gearbox and a compact 72° engine with a rubber belt to drive the cam and Heron heads, Morinis were technologically advanced, brains-over-brawn machines.

1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport L Engine

Of course, no Italian bike of the period would be complete without some sort of mechanical foible. In Morini’s case, it was the fitting of a kickstart lever as well as a generally useless electric start. While it is possible to find bikes with the electric starter in good working condition, they’re far from reliable and most Morini owners seem to just ignore them when they fail and use the kick start.

1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport L Rear

From the original eBay listing, which includes more of the seller’s history with the marque than of the bike itself: 1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport for Sale

I was witness to the entire history of this particular machine from when it left Herm Baver’s (Herdan Corp.) Dealer/Distributership to the present time. Sometime in the early eighties I bought my 1980 3 1/2 Sport Morini from my friend Jason who was a real Morini fancier and who had bought a number of machines from Herm. I was living on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the time and my neighbor Ira, who was riding an old Triumph Bonnie then, liked my 350 Morini enough that he bought this 500 Sport from Jason soon after. Both these Moto Morinis, it should be noted, had only the mileage registered that’s required to ride them from Port Clinton, Pa (the home to this day of Herdan Corp.) to Jason’s house in Greenwood lake, N.Y. They were barely broken in.

Anyway, the city’s a tough place to have a really nice motorcycle and Ira was never comfortable leaving it any- -where so he sold it to an Englishman I’d sold some other bikes to and went back to his old Bonnie. Soon after, John, the Englishman, went back to Jolly Old leaving the bike with me and here it jolly well is(still in Ira’s name) ready for a new “la Strega” transfer (included with the bike) on the saddle tailpiece and probably a set of tires, as the mint originals are maybe getting a bit wooden after 34 years. Aside from that there’s a hairline crack in one of the side covers and a scratch at the back of the tank near the saddle (see photos). Otherwise it’s the thing of beauty “time capsule” you see here.

Funny, I’ve been referring to my Ducati as “la Strega” since I got her. For those of you not fluent in Italian, “Strega” translates directly as “witch”, although my Italian buddy also reliably tells me it’s also used as a synonym for “bitch.” In either case, probably not the best nickname for such a fun little bike! The seller doesn’t include all that much detail regarding the actual maintenance history, but you can probably infer from his background and the cosmetic condition that it’s been pretty well cared for.

1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport Clocks

These bikes have been climbing in value for a while now: 7 or 8 years ago, when I was bike shopping for budget Italian machines like this, they could be had for $2,500, if you could actually find one. They are typically well-loved, but also generally well-used and patina’d bikes in keeping with their low-cost exotic status. But this may be the very nicest example I’ve seen for sale, although perhaps that’s just the really nice, high-resolution photos talking!

Bidding is active, but the reserve has not been met at just over $4k with about six days to go on the auction.

1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport L Side

The Morini name may not have the cache of Ducati or MV Agusta, and their smaller-displacements and slightly forgotten status has kept prices comparatively low. The bikes are reliable, and maintenance parts are generally available for them if you don’t mind doing a bit of research. If you’ve always fancied a classic Italian, but thought they were out of reach, keep an eye on this one!

-tad

1980 Moto Morini 500 Sport L Front Close

Moto Morini

1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport

1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport L Side

Looking for a sporty Italian classic with handling, rarity, style, and a reasonable price? One you can own, maintain, and ride without having to sell a kidney or two? Look no further: I’ve found your ride, a 1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport.

1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport R Engine

Moto Morini never developed a big motor to compete with rivals from Guzzi, Laverda, MV Agusta, and Ducati, which likely explains why they’re largely forgotten in this country. It certainly isn’t because they’re lacking in the technology department: compact 72º v-twin, interesting Heron-style cylinder heads, a six-speed gearbox, and electric start? Which one of those other manufacturers offered all that in one package?

And while these aren’t horsepower kings and won’t win too many drag races, you should catch the bigger boys in the corners: by all accounts, Morini’s are sweet-handling and very nimble. And keep in mind that, with 46hp, the 500cc version certainly isn’t slow.

1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport Dash

This particular example is claimed to start “on the button”, which is notable since Morini’s electric start is generally thought to be decorative…

From the original eBay listing: 1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport for Sale

Up for bid is a pristine 1983 Moto Morini 500 V Sport. I bought the bike with 460 miles and it has only 1300 now. The bike is in pristine condition as the mileage would indicate.

Under my ownership, I added stainless mufflers, billet V stacks for the Dellorto carbs (which were re jetted), CRG mirrors, metal/enameled tank, side cover and triple tree badges,stainless hardware throughout the bike, and rear sets from Wolfgang Tritsch. The rearsets required a modification to the kick-start lever and new shift lever linkage to be fabricated.

The bike starts on the button or will kick over and start on first kick. It runs flawlessly and is a joy to ride.

1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport L Engine

This later Morini lacks some of the classic styling cues of earlier versions, but on the plus side it has obviously been very well cared for and has almost impossibly low miles for a bike that must be very tempting to ride. Also note the vented clutch cover, with the dry clutch peeking out.

1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport L Wheel

Bidding is at $4,500 with the reserve not yet met and plenty of time to go. These used to be available at that price just a few years ago, when you could find them. It looks like values of nice Morinis are on the rise, although maybe that’s just inflation…

-tad

1983 Moto Morini 500 Sport R Side

Benelli

1979 Benelli 750 Sei for Sale

1979 Benelli 750 Sei L Side

Benelli’s six-cylinder Sei, in either 750 or 900cc flavor is a very cool machine. Styling is disappointingly conservative and the handling basically average, but you really buy this bike for the glorious engine: it’s flexible, reasonably powerful, and makes an expensive shriek as it revs, a sound that has often been favorably compared to the wail of a vintage Ferrari.

1979 Benelli 750 Sei Dash

Introduced in the early 1970’s, the Sei was Benelli’s flagship model, an elegant grand touring motorcycle with exotic specifications, performance, comfort, and subtle good looks. The early 750cc version put 71hp through a 5-speed gearbox and could push the unfaired machine all the way to 126mph.

1979 Benelli 750 Sei Engine

The wide engine does create some packaging issues, although the six-into-six exhaust probably causes more cornering clearance issues… But maximum lean is hardly this bike’s intended mission. It was a statement, a halo-model designed to show that Benelli could compete on the world stage against the Japanese manufacturers. Unfortunately, they didn’t really have the manufacturing muscle to back up its intended mission. It was well-received by the motoring press, and an update to 900cc’s in 1979 kept the bike relevant, but the bike never really sold very well.

From the original eBay listing: 1979 Benelli 750 Sei for Sale

I purchased last year from the original owner and had Perry from Perry’s motorcycle and sidecars in Ft Worth Texas (Who used to sell and service these new) go through it, sort it out and bring it back to life, it’s purring again.
Starts right up and runs well now. I believe it still has original tires though!
This has been on display in my shop all year and now I have decided to sell because I need the space and have my eye on something else.
It is an original bike including the pipes which have been painted black. The mileage is correct at 4358 miles.
The paint is in above average condition on the tank and original, especially for being almost 40 years old. There is a small indention in the tank on the bottom near the seat, not the sides of the tank This doesn’t really bother me, however if you decided to repaint the tank, you would certainly fix this. All badges are original. It’s pretty stunning as it sits. The bike doesn’t really leak either. The inside of the tank has been coated and the brakes have been gone through by Perry, when he went through the engine and the carbs. It is setup for a battery tender. It has the original wheels and brakes. It is the dual disk front , drum rear brake version.
Im sure Ive left off a ton of detail. Please ask and I will answer to the best of my ability. This is basically an un-restored beautifully aged Benelli 750Sei with all the original bits.
Includes old factory service manual and old factory parts manual.
1979 Benelli 750 Sei L Side Panel

So often, these bikes fall into disrepair: like an 80’s Alfa Romeo, they’re relatively cheap to buy but mechanically complex and pricey to run, leading owners to neglect major services until the bike fails in some fundamental way. Then they’re left with an expensive project in need of parts that haven’t been made in 20 years or more, and the finished bike will only be worth a fraction of what’s been invested.

So into the back of a shed it goes.

Any six-cylinder motorcycle is going to be an expensive proposition: Honda’s CBX is costly to run: no matter what part you need for your motorcycle, there’s a good chance you’ll need more of them for your six.

Benelli’s questionable status in the modern market and lack of cache in the collector market has kept values relatively depressed for the marque, outside of racing machinery.  This particular example appears to be clean and well-maintained, with very low miles for a bike designed to cover miles in class and comfort. Bidding is active, and is at $5,700 with five days to go. If you’ve got room in your garage and have a hankering for Benelli’s techno tour-de-force, keep an eye on this auction.

-tad

1979 Benelli 750 Sei R Engine

Uncategorized

1978 Hercules W-2000 Wankel With 3 Miles for Sale!

1978 Hercules W2000 L side

The Hercules W-2000 is a curious footnote in the history of motorcycling, one of only a handful of machines powered by Felix Wankel’s liquid smooth rotary engine. Thanks to Mazda, the rotary has come to be associated with performance applications, but a major advantage of the design is that it has so few moving parts, making it reliable and very economical engine to manufacture. In theory, at least.

1978 Hercules W2000 Dash

And while the W-2000 does have an unusual, eerily-smooth character and a 6-speed gearbox, it’s pretty clear that this machine was never intended as a sport bike. Really, it was more of a sophisticated commuter, one that certainly appealed to people with an eye for unusual technology.

I’d bet people that collect these also like Citroens and air-cooled Volkswagens, stuff that’s cool without necessarily being particularly fast.

1978 Hercules W2000 L Engine

Unfortunately, that whole “reliable and economical to manufacture” thing didn’t work out too well, and then The Government decided to tax it as a much larger-displacement machine, making the whole exercise basically pointless. The W-2000 is largely forgotten now, but does have a following.

1978 Hercules W2000 Headlight

From the original eBay listing: 1978 Hercules W-2000 for Sale

Condition:

This is as nice as you will find. This bike is a true survivor. It is a 3 mile original. Look at the photos and decide for yourself. One not this nice sold down under recently for 15K US. It was not an oil injected bike. This is an EXCEPTIONAL example of an oil injected bike.

THIS BIKE HAS NEVER BEEN REGISTERED AND IS STILL ON THE MSO

This bike has been properly stored as part of a large collection and will need only the most cursory service to make it road worthy. These bikes are very rare in the US and worldwide as total production was 199. They are almost never seen in public and some in private collections are modified. The Wikipedia photograph W-2000 is a nice bike, but it is a custom. It is not even close to factory original. This is as close as you can get to stepping into a time machine and stepping back to 1978.

To help clarify, Hercules produced 2 versions of the W-2000. A pre mix bike (Total Production about 1800) and an oil injected bike, total production 199. The motorcycle has no oil sump in the engine (and no, it’s not a two stroke) the only oil for the mains and seals (rings) comes through the fuel system. On a pre mix bike, you must mix oil at 1:25. A premix bike does it for you.

Finding a Hercules W-2000 is rare. Finding a premix bike is rarer still.  Finding a premix still on the MSO is unheard of…

The good news:

It’s all good… just look at the photos. You will be hard pressed to find a better one anywhere in the world… period.

THIS BIKE HAS NEVER BEEN REGISTERED AND IS STILL ON THE MSO

OIL INJECTED

The bad news:

NONE

Well that’s good to know: there’s no bad news. Other than the price, that is.The starting bid is at $15,000 with no takers and four days left on the auction. With miles this low, the bike is probably worth it, but it takes a very specific kind of buyer willing to fork over that kind of dough for an oddity like this, with no racing history, that was generally perceived as a noble failure.

1978 Hercules W2000 R Rear

Hopefully, someone, somewhere is taking a break from the garage where he’s rebuilding the  four-cam Maserati V6 for his ongoing Citroen SM restoration, stumbles across this time-capsule bike and decides it would go perfectly next to his Art Deco furniture collection.

-tad

1978 Hercules W2000 Tank

Norton

1973 Norton Commando Interstate

1973 Norton Commando Interstate R Front2

My recent “blue” theme continues this week with a very, very clean 1973 Norton Commando Interstate. The different Nortons of this period are largely differentiated by cosmetic and ergonomic details: they all used the same 828cc engine although some models did feature a higher state of tune.

1973 Norton Commando Interstate Engine

As Norton increased the displacement of their classic twin through the Dominator and Atlas models in order to keep pace with their competition, vibration of the parallel-configuration became an issue. Instead of rubber-mounting the controls and blunting feel, or redesigning the engine, which was not economically feasible, they ISO-lated the engine, transmission, and swingarm from the rider with their “Isolastic” mounting system.

ISO-late and e-LASTIC. Get it?

This system of rubber mounts works very well, and the bike displays excellent period handling and very good power, although it’s important to keep the system in good nick and set up properly: too tight and the twin’s characteristic vibration will rear its ugly head. Too loose and handling can deteriorate significantly.

1973 Norton Commando Interstate Clocks

Translated from the original Capital-ese eBay listing: 1973 Norton Interstate 850 for Sale

Wonderful 1973 Norton, 850cc Interstate Motorcycle
I am the original owner of this like show room wonderful piece of motorcycle nostalgia
The bike has 10 thousand miles, has been garage kept, is a wonderful royal blue color
Runs excellent- ready to ride

The listing may be pretty vague, aside from letting us know that this wonderful motorcycle is wonderful, but the pictures speak volumes. A couple are pretty dark, but the do show off the seller’s garage which, although slightly cluttered [Peek-a-boo, C4 Corvette!] looks to have a spotless floor. Which, as a Norton owner means he replaces the various gaskets weekly, has a full time cleaner for the floor, or the bike has never been started.

Ever.

The bike is spotless as well and looks like it may have actually been licked clean prior to the photographs being taken…

1973 Norton Commando Interstate R Rear

But an original-owner bike, with 10k miles? It’s no surprise that the reserve hasn’t been met yet at $5,600. There’s three days left on this auction, and this bike surely deserves to fetch more than that.

-tad

1973 Norton Commando Interstate L Front

Ducati

1966 Ducati Monza 250 for Sale

1966 Ducati Monza 250 R Front

Of of the most interesting things about classic, as opposed to modern sporting motorcycles is the wide selection of configurations and displacements. In this age and in this country, where anything less than a 1000 cc’s is a “learner-bike”, it’s fascinating to see highly developed, very sporting machines with displacements as small as this. Quality engineering and jewel-like construction don’t always go hand-in-hand with more frugal, smaller-engined bikes today, but were common on bantam-weight machines in the 50’s and 60’s. Just take a look at the towershafts and on this 1966 Ducati 250 Monza!

1966 Ducati Monza 250 R Engine

Ducati’s 250 single found its way into a variety of different bikes, including standard Dianas, the off-road Scrambler, and the sportier Monzas. Producing 20hp and able to push the bike to a top speed north of 80mph, the bike was no performance slouch and the 250 was one of the fastest machines in its class at the time.

1966 Ducati Monza 250 L Tank

Unfortunately for this beautiful machine, the post is pretty spare in terms of detail, although the photographs are pretty nice. From the original eBay listing: 1966 Ducati Monza 250 for Sale

I have restored this bike about 5 years ago.  It was a low mileage bike with only 4,632 original miles as seen on the speedo.  I did put aluminum ridge rims with new stainless spokes and tires.  I had someone rebuild the motor and carb.  All the cables are new.  I put a  new tachometer on it and recovered the seat.  I replated all the chrome and all the cad hardware  I polished all the aluminum and had a friend paint the bike.  It looks beautiful in the sun.  Everything works on this bike.  The only thing I never got around to is getting a title so you need to get one.

1966 Ducati Monza 250 Headlight

While the seller may not be great at describing his bike, it seems he knows what he’s about and this Ducati looks to be in very nice, although not completely original shape.

1966 Ducati Monza 250 Dash

Obviously, “restored” will never be as valuable as “original”, but when these get found as abandoned wrecks, there’s often little choice. I’m not sure how this one looked before he got started, but that period-correct paint scheme is gorgeous! The pipes don’t look stock and I’d be looking to replace them with something more original, or something simpler if I couldn’t find or afford the original, cigar-shaped items. But that gorgeous Veglia tach makes those pipes forgivable: I’d actually buy a classic Ducati, Laverda, Guzzi, or Benelli, just so I could have an excuse to fit one.

-tad

1966 Ducati Monza 250 L Rear

Honda

1975 Honda CB400F Super Sport for Sale

1975 Honda CB400 Yellow Right Side

Looking for all the world like a 4/5 scale CB750, the Honda CB400F  to me represents a serious bargain in classic bike ownership. Various Japanese twins might be cheaper, but those really seem to be aping the classic British Nortons, Triumphs, and BSA’s. Honda’s fours were definitely doing their own thing, and doing it well.

Honda’s original four-cylinder bike, the CB750 was introduced in 1969 and the design led to a whole range of machines: a 350, a 500, a 550, and the 400.  Made between 1975-1977, 408cc motor found in the 400F was backed up by a relatively rare outside of racing, six-speed gearbox, and the beautiful headers remain a work of art. The Hondas were pricier and heavier than the bikes they were pitched against, but were smooth, reliable, and stable.

1975 Honda CB400 Yellow Right Dash

This one looks to be a great example in well-cared-for condition, although the over-exposed photos don’t really show it off to the best effect: these are great-looking, classic machines in the flesh.

1975 Honda CB400 Yellow Engine Detail

From the original eBay listing: 1975 Honda CB400F Super Sport for sale

Beautiful Classic 1975 Honda CB400F, SOHC 408cc inline four cylinder motor, 6 speed gearbox, 8650 miles. Great looking and running factory cafe racing style bike, original Parakeet yellow color, (recently professionally painted and clear coated), original four into one factory exhaust, great polished aluminum and chrome, new Michelin Pilot Activ tires, electric and kick start, new seat, front fender, chrome gas cap and points cover from David Silver Spares. Just tuned up and tweaked by International Motorbikes of Hickory, NC. This bike is dependable, gorgeous, and ready to go with 60 plus MPG! Title and shop manual included.

1975 Honda CB400 Yellow Rear Suspension

It seems like these are still undervalued, compared to the 750’s. They were the refined choice at the time: in an era of one and two-cylinder middleweights, the 400 offered unparalleled specification. In a number of ways, they’re actually more sophisticated than their bigger brothers: 4-into-1 exhaust, 6-speed transmission compared to the 750’s conventional dual exhaust and five-speed.

These have begun to escalate in value, but are still available for a relative song, and parts are readily available, making this great for collectors who want something they can actually ride, not just show.

-tad

1975 Honda CB400 Yellow L Front

Harley Davidson

Impossibly Low-Mileage1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR Cafe Racer for Sale

1977 Harley XLCR L Rear

The sinister black Harley Davidson XLCR brings to mind Spinal Tap’s infamous Smell The Glove album cover: “It’s like, how much more black can it be?  And the answer is none.  None more black.” 

It’s a very menacing beast, and looks ready to tear your arms out the moment you twist the throttle.  But, although the bodywork was very racy, the XLCR was all show and not so much go: it was standard Harley underneath, meaning four speeds in the box and pushrods working the valves of the 998cc not-particularly-sporty Ironhead Sportster motor: internals and fueling were all standard.  An antiquated frame made of bits from several models, spindly forks, and fairly primitive suspension didn’t do it any favors in the corners either.  Aside from the exhaust and the triple-disc brakes, this was a very conventional parts-bin special.

1977 Harley XLCR R Tank

But that’s not necessarily a problem, since bikes made with proven, relatively inexpensive parts can be great to ride and good for the bottom line.  Ducati’s evergreen Monster is proof of that, the sales of which actually kept the company afloat for quite a few years.

And the XLCR certainly looks the part, so it’s surprising it didn’t sell well.  Or maybe not: Harley has become relatively notorious for endlessly looking towards the past for inspiration, and perhaps the cafe-racer trend wasn’t old enough at the time to appeal to the very traditional Harley enthusiasts, who didn’t want any European influences spoiling their rides…

1977 Harley XLCR R Front

Or maybe it was just the high price and limited performance that kept buyers of Italian, British, and Japanese performance machinery away.

From the original eBay listing: 1977 Harley Davidson XLCR for Sale

All original in new condition with 2 miles. Never restored or ridden. It’s been in my collection for the past 4 years and I have had it displayed my living room. I have clear title and comes with AMF keys. Your chance to own a piece of Harley Davidson History in museum condition.  This bike has never been on the road!!! It will need to have the carbs cleaned before taking her riding. Absolutely a gorgeous bike!

1977 Harley XLCR R Engine

Regardless of why they didn’t sell well at the time, there aren’t all that many of these around.  Which is a shame, since it’s a very handsome machine, with perhaps my favorite Harley exhaust.  I really dislike the traditional, staggered exhausts on sporty[ish] HD’s, but this unusual, siamesed treatment is graceful and tough at the same time.

1977 Harley XLCR L Cockpit

So the XLCR is not really a café racer in anything but name, but that’s okay: it’s a vintage machine, and riders should be expecting vintage performance. The XLCR’s dynamic limitations are a little more acceptable these days, and they’ve got style by the bucketload.  At the time, it was considered an odd duck, not accepted by Harley fans, not fast enough for the racer crowd.  Now, its classic style and rarity make it a collectors item.  This one is beautiful, although the extremely low miles suggest it might be better in your living room than your garage.

-tad

1977 Harley XLCR L Engine

Ducati

Unrestored and Unmolested: Round Case 1975 Ducati 750GT

1975 Ducati 750GT R Side

The Ducati 750GT was the original Everyman Ducati Twin: the SS was a hunched-over, solo-seated racer for the road and the Sport basically deleted the fairing and added some vivid colors.  The GT had humane ergonomics and a dual seat, but kept the throbbing v-twin with tower-shaft driven cams, although it lost the now-familiar desmodromic valve actuation and used conventional springs instead.

1975 Ducati 750GT L Tank

Production began in 1971 and really introduced Ducati’s twin to the road-riding public, predating the sportier SS and Sport models.  With the introduction of the 860GT, the rounded style of the engine cases were replaced by a more angular look. While this may have seemed like a wise move towards modernity at the time, collectors have decided that the earlier, rarer, rounded-style bikes are more aesthetically pleasing and therefore more valuable.

1975 Ducati 750GT R Engine

So what happened to this machine, to find it in such a state of disrepair? Ah, the tragedy of when a loved one asks us to quit the dangerous insanity of motorcycles.  Apparently, that’s what happened in this case:

Unrestored 1975 Ducati 750GT for Sale

This 1975 DUCATI 750GT WAS LAST REGISTERED IN 1983…the original owner was “asked” by his wife to stop riding, and he stopped riding…he stopped riding the DUCATI, and watched it sit in the corner of his garage for THIRTY YEARS…I have cleaned the bike only enough to see what is present…I am not a DUCATI expert by any means, but I know bikes in general, and it is obvious that this is a RARE UNMOLESTED example of this great bike…the bike turns over with good compression (owner oiled, and turned the motor regularly, and rolled it in gear)… transmission shifts, and engages the gears…I removed the front Brembo F7 caliper intending to rebuild it…it will go back on the bike AS IS…new owner will be responsible for the rebuild…there is no battery…I have not started it, and will not try to start it…Odometer records 14,547 miles…this is actual miles since new..

This bike obviously needs a complete restoration, unless you plan to use it as part of the kitsch-y decor of a chain of family restaurants or put it in the window of a designer denim boutique…

1975 Ducati 750GT Seal

I have added  a picture of the CASE SEAL on the bottom of the motor…the lead medallion is embossed with DUCATI…it is wired to two case bolts,and confirms that the cases have never been opened…

Now that’s a pretty cool detail, and the photos are neat to see.  Something to keep an eye out while you’re browsing these at your local vintage bike gathering or prowling eBay for your next ride.  Interestingly, the 860GT was introduced in 1974 to replace the 750 which, in typical Italian car and bike form, makes it likely this was an earlier bike that simply went untitled until 1975.  Any experts out there care to chime in on this?

-tad

1975 Ducati 750GT R Rear Wheel