Ducati Mark 3 450 Desmo (1969)

[Granada]

Just discovered this section of the site, lots of Ducs here

Riding a 2025 R1300GS now, which I bought even though I really wanted to go for a multistrada this time. But the GS in the end was more convincing.

Back to the Mark 3 then. It is a pretty rare 1969 model and belonged to my uncle who sort of was responsible for infecting me with the motorcycle bug. He never wanted to sell it, even when he was too old riding it.

When he died about 20 years ago, someone in the family got hold of it and had great plans to restore it to former glory. Which was more than necessary, but came to absolutely nothing. Even more, he sold it and when I learned about it I tracked it down and bought it back.

Currently it is fully restored and better looking then ever. Riding it from time to time, not as comfortable as the nummer but great fun.

I have trouble sharing individual pictures so here is a link to a album: https://jottacloud.com/share/48mjhb0jpnk0

 

[Oldrat]

Lovely looking machine, engines were beautifully crafted back then.

 

[Vulpine2]

...engines were beautifully crafted back then.

I seem to recall that the engines of Ducati singles have been descibed as looking like a clenched fist...
Lovely looking things.

 

[snelly]

Just discovered this section of the site, lots of Ducs here

Riding a 2025 R1300GS now, which I bought even though I really wanted to go for a multistrada this time. But the GS in the end was more convincing.

Back to the Mark 3 then. It is a pretty rare 1969 model and belonged to my uncle who sort of was responsible for infecting me with the motorcycle bug. He never wanted to sell it, even when he was too old riding it.

When he died about 20 years ago, someone in the family got hold of it and had great plans to restore it to former glory. Which was more than necessary, but came to absolutely nothing. Even more, he sold it and when I learned about it I tracked it down and bought it back.

Currently it is fully restored and better looking then ever. Riding it from time to time, not as comfortable as the nummer but great fun.

I have trouble sharing individual pictures so here is a link to a album: https://jottacloud.com/share/48mjhb0jpnk0

That's had a lot of time and devotion poured into it; bloody lovely;

 

[The Other PaulG]

Exquisite. What a lovely bike.

 

[Simon_100]

That's very lovely

I had the later model back in about 1978, orange paintwork and rear sets, but never really got on with it as it seemed sluggish compared with my 350 mk 3 which I also had at the time which was much more free revving partly due to the racing cam, open oversized Amal carb and straight thru' exhaust ...

I remember being told that only forty 450s were ever imported into the UK

 

[Granada]

That's very lovely

I had the later model back in about 1978, orange paintwork and rear sets, but never really got on with it as it seemed sluggish compared with my 350 mk 3 which I also had at the time which was much more free revving partly due to the racing cam, open oversized Amal carb and straight thru' exhaust ...

I remember being told that only forty 450s were ever imported into the UK

I believe they produced about 1200 bikes in total, so the 40 might very well be the case.

My uncle had this racing exhaust on it, which meant you could hear him coming from far away. My current exhaust is much more subdued, I need to tinker with that a bit to relive the old times. I'm sure my neighbours don't mind

 

[jonnie comet]

Those Ducati singles just have 'IT' - Exquisite, fabulous looking bikes.

Another opportunity to re-post this thread ......

https://www.ukgser.com/community/threads/ducati-250-desmo-rebuild.285944/

 

[Simon_100]

Those Ducati singles just have 'IT' - Exquisite, fabulous looking bikes.

Another opportunity to re-post this thread ......

https://www.ukgser.com/community/threads/ducati-250-desmo-rebuild.285944/

Well done that man - a wonderful thread that brought it all back to me as I and many others followed with baited breath

I keep toying with the idea of getting a Mototrans model, fairly common here in Spain, some of them are great some pants. The go- to model being the Scrambler but they sell for shed loads ...

 

[Wapping]

Worked with someone who commuted each day into London on his 450. It put my Honda 250 K1 and then 400-4 which I commuted on to shame.

Silver grey. I have always wondered what happened to it.

 

[Paradiso]

That looks lovely. I've got a '64 Elite, bought in bits, as a retirement project.
I had a '73 250 MK III in Desmo trim a few years ago, and it was great fun; until the big end went bang. Managed to rebuild it with a new liner, piston, rod and crank rebuild.