Thinking of a Bike project which bike?

[gerbrox]

As title says, I'm thinking, depending on the job front, of getting a 2nd bike and bringing it back to life.

I've no real experience in this kind of thing but want to get stuck in to something.

So I've always fancied owning a Duke and probably 748 / 749, anyone any thoughts?

I'm thinking of picking up the shell of a broken one from the brakers poss? Is this going to be a waste of time?

[ridelikeaturtle]

It'd never be a waste of time. Even if you screw it all up, you'll learn a lot, and you'll probably have a lot of fun too.

That Discover channel show "A bike is born" restored an old Triumph Bonneville. A bike like that would be fun - a GT750 for example.

Or an NC30 would be neat. I can't believe that was my first bike, and I had no idea what a lovely little bike I had and got angry w/it when the voltage reg/rect constantly went nuts and I sold it for too little. We all make mistakes.

If you've got the time, the garage, and a wife that's willing to put up w/your hobbies (there are a lot of other BAD things you could be doing w/your time and money!), then I don't see how you can go wrong.

Take loads of pics, start up a blog, and go for it. And let us know how you get on!

[gerbrox]

Time slightly problematic, wife won't support it, Cash depending on job would be tight, Garage sorted.

I like a challenge.

[scottjames]

think one of the main things you got to decide is if your doing it to sell or keep?

no point repairing some old dog if no one wants to pay what it cost you. if you want to keep it then its up to you how much moeny you throw at it.

i aquired a 125 earlyer this year and i learnt alot stripping it down painting it and putting it bk together. it was fun. now ive run out of moeny and its so close to going on the rd. never mind.

[gerbrox]

My intention would be to keep it, and hopefully one day (hel may Freezeover) the old ball and chain might get on it......

[scottjames]

:) my gf cant wait to ride the project ive got but ive no money or time to finish it. plus i cant be bothered to wait around for her on a 125 when i gto the sv. :batman:

[yorkie_chris]

Ducatis have a complicated valvetrain that I'm not familiar with.

I'd say old stroker like an RD (oh look, there's one in the garage), find one that needs work and build it up, those engines are absolutely lovely to work on as they're so simple.

I know a guy with a bandit 600 that needs a bit of work doing to it, £300

[Alpinestarhero]

My dad has been rebuilding a honda NC24. He just does half an hours work every day, no more, no less. If you put in a little bit of work very often, you'll get more done and you wont get annoyed.

[edit] link in my sig for some pics of the NC24

[yorkie_chris]

Where?

[Alpinestarhero]

its there chris, looook harder :mrgreen:

[thedonal]

Just looked at these- nice pics!

I'd love a VFR of any size!

[STRAMASHER]

Try the Yellow paper. Wednesdays? Or the Blue one on Saturdays? Buy it out the petrol stations. Plenty of cheap bikes there.The weird and wonderful too.

Gumtree on the internets turns up some stuff that is in need of some fettling and TLC.


Even making something worth a few hundred quid tidy can get you a coupla hundred quid profit.

[Lozzo]

I know a guy with a bandit 600 that needs a bit of work doing to it, £300

I might be intersted in that one - can you pm details please Chris

[petevtwin650]

So I've always fancied owning a Duke and probably 748 / 749, anyone any thoughts?

I'm thinking of picking up the shell of a broken one from the brakers poss? Is this going to be a waste of time?

Dukes ain't cheap to buy even in a minging state. Easy to work on though. I would guess that a 748 would be cheaper to buy than a 749. A cat D 748 went recently on ebay for nearly 1500 quid as an indicator.

[Lissa]

So I've always fancied owning a Duke and probably 748 / 749, anyone any thoughts?




You may get this one fairly cheaply!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-DUCATI-748-YELLOW-Low-start-now-reserve_W0QQitemZ110323119483QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Motorcycles?hash=item110323119483&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318