1975 Ducati 250 project

[peepingtom]

Not entirely sure what my goal is with this bike but I do know it won't be standard I hope to be riding it this summer

never had one before so its all new to me. I love the shape and look of the engine its a beauty . I don't know if I will be polishing the life out of everything or leaving some patina to certain parts. we shall see

It was a 650 mile round trip but it i was blessed with great weather and it was worth every boring mile of the A1 when I finally arrived in the Lake District.



Ps don’t expect Ebbo standards of workmanship or knowledge or you may be disappointed

 

[peepingtom]

Getting home I tried to find out what model I actually had as it was registered in 1980 on V reg so thought it would be a mototrans Spanish built bike. But oh no have it is a genuwine Italian built bike from 75. That made me happier than I already was.

Anyway sitting on it it’s tiny and light (about 130 kg I think ) the tax disc says it was last on the road in 1981 !!!

 

[peepingtom]

My starting point.

Note the rather lovely double drum front brake

 

[peepingtom]

Probably the crappiest rear sets you’re ever likely to see

I expect I’ll be putting standard footrests on

 

[Schtum]

I bought a new one in '75. Like yours it was the last of the singles, a 250 Mk3. Mine was blue and gold as, I suspect, yours would originally have been.

Those "rear sets" are the pillion pegs. The riders footpegs are far too far forward to suit the clip-ons and they've obviously been removed. Mine had standard handlebars rather than clip-ons
and even then I'd sometimes resort to feet on the pillion pegs on longer trips.

I remember mine did 92 mpg while running in and then settled down to 72 mpg when I thrashed it mercilessly thereafter. It was good for something like the claimed 92 mph flat out and I surpised a
few RD250 and GT250 riders back in the day. Unfortunately, the main bearings were shot by 6K miles. That wasn't surprising since there was swarf in the oil at the first oil change and it was delivered
with the ignition retarded. Doing the mains was fun - you have to preload the main bearings.

It also vibrated badly. One one long trip across country from Manchester to Wisbech the rev counter began to read backwards and then the needle fell off. Fortunately, Mick Walker had one in stock, unlike the
450 engine I was looking for to slot into the bike having passed my test and wanting to be able to hold a decent speed uphill into head winds.

It later survived a 45 deg head on collision with a car when some young clown ran a red light in Edinburgh. However, it did take several weeks to source new fork stanchions from Italy. The car driver's insurance company
were less than happy at having to pay for a hire car for 8 weeks. After that, I sold it and bought a '75 Norton Commando 85 Mk3. I should have kept both of them....

 

[mikeyboy]

Good find,
Seems to be in a reasonably unmolested condition.
Enjoy

 

[twizzle]

I’d just clean it - recommission it and use it.....beautiful

 

[jonnie comet]

Somewhat predictably I'm in - looks a lovely little thing....

 

[peepingtom]

I bought a new one in '75. Like yours it was the last of the singles, a 250 Mk3. Mine was blue and gold as, I suspect, yours would originally have been.

Those "rear sets" are the pillion pegs. The riders footpegs are far too far forward to suit the clip-ons and they've obviously been removed. Mine had standard handlebars rather than clip-ons
and even then I'd sometimes resort to feet on the pillion pegs on longer trips.

I remember mine did 92 mpg while running in and then settled down to 72 mpg when I thrashed it mercilessly thereafter. It was good for something like the claimed 92 mph flat out and I surpised a
few RD250 and GT250 riders back in the day. Unfortunately, the main bearings were shot by 6K miles. That wasn't surprising since there was swarf in the oil at the first oil change and it was delivered
with the ignition retarded. Doing the mains was fun - you have to preload the main bearings.

It also vibrated badly. One one long trip across country from Manchester to Wisbech the rev counter began to read backwards and then the needle fell off. Fortunately, Mick Walker had one in stock, unlike the
450 engine I was looking for to slot into the bike having passed my test and wanting to be able to hold a decent speed uphill into head winds.

It later survived a 45 deg head on collision with a car when some young clown ran a red light in Edinburgh. However, it did take several weeks to source new fork stanchions from Italy. The car driver's insurance company
were less than happy at having to pay for a hire car for 8 weeks. After that, I sold it and bought a '75 Norton Commando 85 Mk3. I should have kept both of them....

Very interesting I will check under the tank to see what colour it was .that blue and gold looks great but it will be a custom colour I expect though I am tempted by the Ducati red I’m half tempted by a 70s metal flake or that Lamborghini green .......


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[peepingtom]

Good find,
Seems to be in a reasonably unmolested condition.
Enjoy

Yeah there’s a few things not original but it was only being used for 6 years before being layer up so not too much could have changed


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[peepingtom]

I’d just clean it - recommission it and use it.....beautiful

Too late the frame has been painted but I’m not sure I will rebuild the wheels etc


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[peepingtom]

Somewhat predictably I'm in - looks a lovely little thing....

I’m hoping I will make it even lovelier


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[peepingtom]

 

[John B]

I'm in Lovely little thing, fellow instructor at Crystal Palace RAC/ACU training centre had one, guess at around '77, rode it several times but it was a bugger to start! gi'ss a go mister when you've done it! (please not Lambo green 'tho)CheersJohn B

 

[peepingtom]

A few more pictures of the before

 

[peepingtom]

I didn’t want a black frame but as I haven’t decided what colour scheme I’m having I was thinking maybe a grey or silver as they would go with most colour choices . Then I was looking on my powder coaters web site and came across a chrome.......hmmmm now that would look very cool . I had previously thought about getting done in one of the metallic colours lots of gold , bronze ,brassy and nickel type colour available. But decided on chrome!!

I like this similar Paul smart sparkly blue and nearly had that as the frame colour but it’s now an option for the tank.

 

[peepingtom]

(please not Lambo green 'tho)CheersJohn B

Can’t give my word as I think with an old English white block background and period Ducati decal it could look great



There’s an awful lot of amazing builds out there with some great colour options

 

[peepingtom]

I forgot to mention when I got it home I put a little petrol in it and a spray of easy start and I fired up FIRST KICK !! it only ran briefly as the carb is a mess but good to know it actually runs as it may not have been started for 39 years .
I brought a Haynes manual and then luckily came across a very rare restoration book by mick walker. Gulped and brought it.

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

nice !! Where did you get it from ? Buttermere ?

 

[peepingtom]

nice !! Where did you get it from ? Buttermere ?

Haha good spot ! ! Yes very close a small village near keswick . Weather was good so I went for a drive around a big loop than walk up a big hill before I realized how very unfit I have become. Hill walking is hard work

I consoled myself in a local inn and stayed the night before a glorious drive early morning down to Windermere then though the dales . I stopped up on ilkley moor and watch people doing a run from the town up to and along the moor. It’s all very different to north essex

I passed a motocross event so thought I would go take a look . It turned out to be a big event called the Kendal revival . A vintage scramble event with lots of nice bikes there. There was no spectating and I had to get a shift on anyway but looked a nice undulating track