Tagged: Unrestored

Suzuki

Unrestored Race-Replica: 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley for Sale

1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley R Side Front

Originally designed for the European market, where handling and agility often trumped straight-line speed, the Suzuki GS1000S offered the best of both worlds, although the US received only a handful of these well-balanced machines: just 500 were imported in 1979 and 700 in 1980.

1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley L Side Engine

A race-replica from the 1970s Superbike era, the GS featured Suzuki’s famously rugged, 997cc air-cooled inline four in a relatively lightweight, very stiff frame. Lighter than the GS750 that spawned it, this engine went on to serve for many years in Suzuki’s line up, and while it wasn’t the most powerful of the Japanese fours, the complete package offered up an impressive balance of handling, braking, and power that allowed bikes ridden by Wes Cooley and tuned by Pops Yoshimura to win the hotly contested AMA Superbike Championship in 1979 and 1980.

1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley Dash

The bike seen here was never officially associated with Wes Cooley, but the link was undeniable and the name “Wes Cooley Replica” stuck.

From the original eBay listing: 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley for Sale

Up for sale is my Super Rare Unrestored WES COOLEY GS1000S, the bike is unrestored and has 22k original miles but looks almost brand new and runs like brand new and if you didn’t look at the odometer you would think it is a 1000 mile bike, there are no scratches, dents or chips in the paint and the chrome pipes look new. If your looking at this motorcycle you probably know all about it as bikes of this caliber and rarity do not come up often so don’t miss your chance, bike is all original and unrestored. Pictures speak for themselves

1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley R Side Engine

Bidding is very active on this bike and is currently north of $7,000 with plenty of time left on the auction. These were pretty rare to begin with, and their practical nature means many have racked up pretty high mileage or been ridden hard and put away wet. This example is about as clean as you’ll ever find, and is claimed to be completely original, striking the perfect balance between a usable machine that’s been ridden and a museum-perfect collectible.

-tad

1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley L Side

Moto Guzzi

Unrestored Original: 1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport L Side Front

You’d be forgiven for thinking the site is now ClassicItalianSportbikesforSale.com, considering the raft of recent posts… and that impression won’t be changing this week, with two bikes from Mandello del Lario that were just too nice to pass up, starting with this beautiful V7 Sport.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport R Side

While Moto Guzzi has, for the past twenty years or so, been thought of as more of a sport-touring manufacturer, like an Italian BMW, it’s important to remember that the V7 Sport and LeMans were very serious sports motorcycles, as quick and nimble as anything being made at the time. In fact, a comparison between the Le Mans and the Ducati 900SS saw reviewers describing the Guzzi as having the freer-reving engine. And while the shaft drive’s torque-effect is noticeable, you quickly get used to it. It was only Guzzi’s inability to keep up with the relentless forward march of the Japanese manufacturers that forced them to recast their image in the same way the Brits were forced to in the 1980’s, trading “performance” for “sophistication” and “character.”

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Clocks

The V7 was where it all began for Guzzi’s v-twin sportbikes. The earlier loop-framed motorcycles offered stable handling, comfort, and reliability, but were too tall and too heavy to really perform as sportbikes. So Lino Tonti designed a new frame that wrapped around the longitudinally-mounted engine and bulky five-speed transmission, using removable down-tubes to allow for servicing. The engine was punched out to 748cc’s to comply with 750cc class limits and the generator was moved to the front of the engine to reduce overall height. The result was bike with a long, low silhouette that handled well, stopped quickly, and made plenty of power.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport R Side Rear

This example has relatively low mileage and is claimed to be in original, unrestored condition. To me, these bikes look best in the famous lime-green color, but you can’t go wrong with black. Later bikes had twin discs up front, but the earlier drum looks great and offered good stopping power.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Front Brake

From the original eBay listing: 1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport for Sale

Third owner bike. It was purchased from a good friend who owned it for many years so I know this bike runs very well and personally ridden it on 80 miles canyon rides on weekends multiple times. Minimum patina and only original once.

From manufacture tag, it is June 1973 production model. Titled as a 74 when sold from the dealer in Canada. Matching number prestige original condition. Just take the time to look at all the photos which shows how beautiful it is especially the drum brakes and shark fins exhaust and other unique car engine concepts and details. Bike has been documented in logs of all service done over the years with receipts. It has constantly been maintained and serviced as necessary.

This is Moto Guzzi’s Sport model that company used in competition. Drum brakes works excellent. Electric start by push button on right handlebar or twisting ignition key like a car makes riding practical. Torque on the V7 pulls fast and cruise the freeways easily over 80mph. Handlebars can be easily moved to upper position for great comfort and long flat seat make it an excellent touring bike with the passenger.

Bike has been stored indoors, ridden, and maintained, waxed routinely.

Clear CA title and registration in my name.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Engine

The seller also includes a list of maintenance and recent work that’s gone into the bike over at the original listing. He does also mention and point out that there is one broken cooling fin that’s hiding under the intake on the right side of the bike, but says that it can be fixed if the head is ever off the bike.

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport Tank Detail

Other than that, this bike looks to be in exceptional original condition and is ready to ride. His Buy It Now price is set at $19,400.00 which is on the high side, but is far from outrageous, especially considering the condition. These are steadily appreciating classics that you can ride regularly if you choose and, if I had the cash, there’d be one in my garage for sure.

-tad

1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport L Side

Benelli

Six Times the Fun: 1978 Benelli 750 Sei for Sale

1978 Benelli 750 Sei Red R Side

With motorcycles, packaging is especially important: everything adds weight, and weight is the enemy of performance. In a car, an extra few pounds here or there may not mean much. On a bike, that same weight can win or lose races. When the Japanese introduced their four-cylinder powerplants in the late 60’s and early 70’s, they hit on a nearly perfect formula, a combination of relatively compact dimensions and reliable power that proved virtually unbeatable, once they finally figured out the braking and handling parts of the equation.

Sure, narrow, torquey Ducatis, durable BMW’s, and charismatic Triumphs have their own strengths, but there’s a reason the prototypical UJM features an air-cooled across-the-frame four: it just flat works. So when a manufacturer bucks that trend, they’re clearly making some sort of extravagant statement, and that’s exactly what Benelli was doing when they introduced their six cylinder 750 Sei.

In classic Italian style, “Sei” means “six”. Everything sounds so much cooler in Italian… “Quattroporte”? So exotic… Wait, that just means “four doors.”

1978 Benelli 750 Sei Red L Front

The Sei was first introduced in 1972 as a 750cc bike, although it grew to 900cc’s in 1978. With 71hp and limited cornering clearance, it was intended, not as a sportbike, but as a top-of-the-line GT bike, a statement to the Japanese that the Italians could make something just as sophisticated, just as refined. Which they did, reportedly, but copying a Honda four and then grafting on an additional pair of cylinders…

Styling was subdued, aside from the pipe-organ exhaust sticking out the back, it cost a packet to buy and maintain, and it was relatively thirsty. But crack that throttle, and that wail would make you forgive it almost anything.

From the original eBay listing: 1978 Benelli 750 Sei for Sale

I parked this bike in the back of my garage under cover in 1991 due to back problems.  I rode it for 3 years and it never missed a beat.  I am the second owner.  When I got it I got a tune-up, new rear tire and factory fuel line installed.  The crash bar, highway pegs and seat back rack can all be removed easily, there were no modifications to the bike.  Bike is all original with factory tool kit, original seat bar and only 8582 miles.  No dents or dings. Pipes are good..  Factory Metzler front tire will need replaced.  I did not buy a battery to get it going, don’t want to spend time and money to sell it.  The only things that I know that are wrong with the bike are that the clutch is hanging up from sitting (I was told it may release when bike gets running) and the guage cluster is cracked at mounts. (known problem)   If you have any questions please ask and I will answer them to the best of my ability.  This is basically an un-restored beautifully aged Benelli 750Sei with all the original parts.  Bike is sold as is.  Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own this unusal and unique classic bike.  Thank You. 

1978 Benelli 750 Sei Red R Side Engine

Originality is key with these, as finding parts for a rare Italian motorcycle can be difficult. Engine internals and clutch parts can probably be sourced, but bodywork and trim pieces may be virtually unobtainable. This one looks really clean. It just needs a bit of TLC applied to the carbs and a bit of caution before firing it up.

I would, as the seller mentions, bin those crash bars and the backrest/luggage rack at the first opportunity, and probably replace the instrument cluster with a giant, white-faced Veglia tach, but otherwise this looks like a very nice, very complete example of a classic grand touring motorcycle.

-tad

1978 Benelli 750 Sei Red R Side Rear

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

BMW

Low-Mileage, Unrestored1975 BMW R90S for Sale!

1975 BMW R90S L Side

Ah, another sportbike from Ze Germans. BMW, in typical Teutonic fashion, approached their sportbikes with a more integrated approach: form followed function. Although, barring pure racing machines, the R90S was the sportingest bike they’d ever produced, it definitely lacked sex appeal when compared to Italian or British machines. But what it lacked in style, it made up for in pure function: it could haul in the canyons and munch miles on the open road, then arrive for dinner with unruffled class. This was a sport-touring bike with the emphasis definitely placed on “sport.”

1975 BMW R90S L Tank

Introduced in 1974, the bike was intended to sit at the top of the range and featured BMW’s highly developed “air-head” flat-twin engine, clean, low-maintenance shaft-drive, and an effective bikini fairing. The bike was fast, well-equipped, and refined: a true gentleman’s express with a top speed of 124mph and handling that allowed it to place first and second at the very first AMA Superbike race.

1975 BMW R90S Engine Detail

The BMW R90S featured an interesting front-brake arrangement: the lever operated a short cable to the master cylinder, which was mounted on the frame below the tank. It was thought that this provided increased safety, as the master cylinder was not vulnerable to damage during a crash.

1975 BMW R90S R Airbox

From the original eBay listing: 1975 BMW R90S for Sale!

The condition of this machine is highly original and un-restored.  It has 8,482 original miles from new.  The frame and engine numbers are factory correct and original.  It is the 900 cc engine.  The gearbox is also original to the machine.  This R90 S is completely original and has never been apart.  I am either the third or fourth owner from new.  This machine has been in my collection for some time, is started on a regular basis, and ridden occasionally.

When I purchased the bike, it had been sitting for some time in completely original condition.  I went through the machine top to bottom and checked all of the major engine, transmission, and braking components for functionality and safety.  The gas tank is in very nice  condition, the inside having no corrosion evident, the carburetors were inspected, cleaned, and re-installed, the air filter checked, all fluids changed, and both front and rear brakes taken apart, cleaned, re-built, and re-installed, the consequence of the bike sitting idle for a long period of time before I acquired it.   

Make sure you head over to eBay to read the rest of the listing and see additional, high-quality images: the seller pretty comprehensively describes the condition of this very nice machine.

1975 BMW R90S Dash

Striking in its factory orange-fade paint, this one looks like a nearly perfect bike to own and ride, with low enough miles to be desirable and original, but not so low you might be tempted to squirrel it away in a garage somewhere. Or a livingroom. Not much time left, so move quickly if you feel this classy and ahem “mature” machine is the one you’ve been looking for.

-tad

1975 BMW R90S R Side

Honda

Reader’s Ride: 1975 Honda CB550 Four for Sale

1975 Honda CB550 R Side

It’s hard to overstate the impact Honda’s exotic-for-the-masses CB-series fours had when they were introduced. Prior to 1969 and the CB750, engines with more than four pistons were found only on the racetrack, or slotted into the frames of rare and expensive MV Agustas and the odd Ariel square-four. Singles, twins, and a few triples ruled the streets, until Honda dropped their multi-cylinder bomb on an unsuspecting world.

1975 Honda CB550 Headers

And they didn’t stop there: the 750 gave birth to a whole range of four-cylinder bikes for the masses in a variety of displacements: a 350, a 500, a 550, and the 400. The smaller machines especially gave up some speed in exchange for their sophistication, since you could go faster for cheaper on a Yamaha two-stroke. But buying one of the Honda fours meant access to a machine that had a smoothness and sophistication previously unheard of at this, or really any price. And you no longer had to wonder about what parts were shaking themselves loose during each ride, and then wait for those parts to ship from somewhere in Europe.

Our old buddy Gilberto in LA is offering up this middleweight Honda CB550 Four on Craigslist in LA:

Extremely rare opportunity to own an un-molested, unrestored, CA Blue Plates, One Owner All Original Honda 1975 honda 550 Four. Bike comes with first owners pink slip which shows bike being registered back in 8/1975. Bike has recently been tuned and carbs balanced… Needs nothing, and mechanically sound. Call or NO text at 323-972-5487. Asking 5k obo

1975 Honda CB550 R Engine

He’s asking pretty premium money for this bike, but it’s all-original and still costs half of what you’d be looking at for a bland, modern commuter that would do everything better than this Honda except one, and that’s put a smile on your face on a sunny Sunday morning ride up the Pacific Coast Highway. A really early Sunday morning ride: traffic on PCH is a bear on the weekend. Better idea: buy it and ship it home and ride it on a windy back road.

1975 Honda CB550 L

If you’ve been following this site for a while, daydreaming but thinking you don’t have the knowledge or experience to own a classic bike, this is the type of machine to start out on. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one of these: they’re stylish and still relatively affordable, with excellent parts and aftermarket support. In addition, a huge following has grown up around these, with groups riding them stock, cutting them up into bobbers and cafe bikes, tracking them, restoring them. So whatever you’re into, or whatever you think you might be into, this could be your gateway drug.

-tad

1975 Honda CB550 L Side

Kawasaki

Original 1973 Kawasaki Z1 for Sale

1973 Kawasaki Z1 L Side

Honda may have stolen Kawasaki’s thunder when they launched the groundbreaking CB750, signalling the beginning of the end for the European manufacturers’ dominance of the large-displacement motorcycle market.  Kawasaki was already working on their own 750 four when the CB was released, and had to go back to the drawing board, come up with something to set themselves apart, or forever be stigmatized as the “me too” of the Japanese manufacturers.

And as we all know, bigger is better…

1973 Kawasaki Z1 L Engine

Released in 1973 with a full 903cc’s of displacement the Kawasaki Z1 was far and away the most powerful Japanese four cylinder available, producing 82hp and pushing the bike to a top speed of 130.  In addition, the bike even handled relatively well although, like many Japanese machines of the time, it was happiest ripping along in a straight line.

1973 Kawasaki Z1 R Engine

But while it was an excellent machine that did the business with no fuss and sold well, that solidity was also it’s downfall: the Z1 was eminently usable, and owners used them mercilessly on track, street, and strip.  Cheap and fast, people converted them, hot-rodded them, and left them to languish in barns and sheds and backyards when newer, flashier machines came along.  So now, as prices rise, it’s become pretty hard to find nice, original machines.  Like this one.

From the original listing: Original 1973 Kawasaki Z1 for Sale

This bike is being reoffered due to buyer not paying. No out of country bidders please. You are bidding on a 1973 Z1-900 with clear Indiana title. The frame has some acid etching for overactive voltage regulator, mainly on swing arm. I have replaced the voltage regulator with a U.O.S. one. I rode the bike one last time about 10 miles, seems to have fixed the problem, but haven’t taken it on any long haul since. Pipes are very clean, missing two baffles, I had a 4-1 header on it. Put pipes back on to sell. Paint is original, look at pictures, has some imperfections. Bike had large crash bar but was replaced with chrome engine guards. There are two marks on frame where old bars were, see pictures. Chrome on motor parts is pitted in spots but chrome on pipes, fenders, rims, etc. is very nice. Missing seat latch pin on pan, lock works fine. Now the good parts; bike has been pampered by me and the previous owner. Has tank sealed and new petcock, fuel ling, filter. Carbs are smooth bore and have just been cleaned. Fresh tune up. All lights and turn signals work and cluster lights also. I have a 16” rim on back and upgraded shocks, rides nice. I left the motor paint alone to show the original condition of this bike. It starts easily and shifts and stops as nice as it looks. Comes with orinal 1973 owners manual, hard to find. Playboy sticker can be removed with heat gun. E-mail me is you have any question. You can buy Z-1’s redone, but what did they start with. This is your chance to buy a 1973 that is very nice and original. This bike will sell with no reserve, fair starting price.

1973 Kawasaki Z1 R Hub

This is a very solid example and, as the seller suggests: it’s only original once.  The Z1 is becoming more popular for restorations and resomods, with a huge following in it’s native Japan, with companies like Bull Dock and Sanctuary turning out gorgeous machines.  But collectors prize originality, and this bike has it.

-tad

1973 Kawasaki Z1 R Side

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

Benelli

1975 Benelli 650S for Sale

1975 Benelli 650S L Full

Today, we’ve got a relatively rare little parallel-twin machine from Benelli, a company more widely known for their four and six-cylinder machines.  Benelli was started in 1911 by Teresa Benelli as a way to keep her six sons employed and out of trouble. Originally, their shop repaired bicycles and motorcycles but by 1921, they’d released a machine powered by their own, in-house engine.

1975 Benelli 650S Dash

The Tornado 650 was introduced in 1969 and was intended to compete with the bigger offerings from Norton and Triumph in the US and Great Britain.  It was reliable and competitively quick, with a claimed top speed of 117mph.  This particular machine would have been among the very last, as the 650 was supersceded by Benelli’s four and six cylinder models in the mid 1970’s.

1975 Benelli 650S R Front

From the original eBay listing, in spectacular, very shouty all caps: 1975 Benelli Tornado 650S

UP FOR AUCTION IS A VERY RARE 1975 BENELLI TORNADO 650S, IT IS IN AS ORIGINAL CONDIION AS THEY COME, DOWN TO THE BENELLI GRIPS, THE ONLY NON ORIGINAL PARTS THAT I CANS SEE IS THE EXTRA LIGHT SWITCH AND THE PNEW PETCOCKS,  IT IS A ONE OWNER BIKE WITH 13,500 KILOMETERS ABOUT 9,000 MILES, VERY LOW, THE BENELLI RUNS GREAT, SHIFTS THRU ALL THE GEARS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TOO, THESE BIKES ARE GOING UP IN VALUE EVERYDAY SO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOURS BEFORE THERE TOO EXPENSIVE, THE 650S MODEL COMES WITH ALL OF THE BELLS AND WHISTLES, BORRANI RIMS 2LS FRONT BRAKE, ETC,  THE BENELLI NEEDS NEW TURN SIGNAL LENSES, THE TURN SIGNALS WORK, I HAVE THE BULB AND PLUG THAT IS MISSING IN THE PICTURES, IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO FIND ANOTHER TORNADO 650S IN THIS GOOD OF ORIGINAL CONDITION SO DON’T LET THIS ONE SLIP AWAY

While superficially similar to the British bikes it was intended to compete against, the Benelli Tornado 650 offered a slightly more refined feel and engineering sophistication.  On the down side, if you’re buying one today, a Norton or Triumph has a veritable phone book of custom, aftermarket, and NOS parts available, in addition to a strong network of builders and experts to help you keep your ride running or customize it to taste.   Benellis are rare ducks, and it might be a bit harder to find support and parts for them.

1975 Benelli 650S R Engine

There may not be really anything to set this Benelli apart from its British contemporaries in terms of outright performance, but there is something to be said for owning something just a bit unusual, and while this Benelli may not shout out its individuality, its still a classy machine.

-tad

1975 Benelli 650S L Detail

Ducati

1974 Ducati 750 Sport for Sale

1974 Ducati 750 Sport L Side

Some bikes just look right, capture the essence of motorcycling: two wheels, a motor, a seat, and a place to put fuel.  Some motorcycles are timeless, and the Ducati 750 Sport captures everything that made the marque famous: the sleek looks, the sound, the rugged simplicity and engineering excellence.

The Sport was basically a hot-rodded 750GT and the early bikes even used that frame, although the motor was fitted with a lighter crankshaft, higher-compression pistons, and larger carburetors.  Although the technology has become synonymous with Ducati, the fully-faired SS was originally the only twin to sport the signature Desmodromic heads.  Other Ducatis, including the Sport, ran conventional valve-springs, although they all used a tower shaft and gears to operate the overhead cams instead of belts or a chain.

1974 Ducati 750 Sport R Front

Visually, the Sport also had a longer, narrower fuel tank [fiberglass on some early examples], a bum-stop seat, clip-ons, and rearsets.  Brakes varied from year-to-year and even bike-to-bike, in typical 60’s and 70’s Italian bike fashion: Lockheed, Scarab, and Brembo were all used.

1974 Ducati 750 Sport Dash

This one at least looks legitimate and is claimed to be very original.  See the listing on eBay for a very comprehensive selection of notes and high-quality images:

1974 Ducati 750 Sport for Sale

  • The only replacement items are the licence plate bracket and the fuel lines.
  • The Engine still has the original lead seal with the Ducati Logo as it left the factory
  • Original Ducati Coils and KLG plug boots
  • Original Alpina painted spokes with correct “A” stampings on both wheels
  • Original Aprilia Horn Switch
  • Original Aprilia Fuse box and wiring harness
  • All bolts appear original and I would say 95% of them have not been turned by a wrench since leaving the factory.
  • Original Marzocchi shocks
  • Original Cable splitters, cable connectors, brass valve caps for the tires. (tires are new, vintage Dunlop K81 TT100). The details are incredible and well preserved.
  • Original Orlandi petcocks
  • Original Conti Silencers
  • Original Conti Clamps

Not much time left on this one, and bidding is pretty active: north of $42,000 and the reserve has not been met.  If you’ve a spare organ to sell, now’s the time.

-tad

1974 Ducati 750 Sport L Side Dash