should I snag this bike??

[That Nice Guy Beck!]

$2500

1977 ducati 500


The bike runs and is set up as a cafe. Bike has aluminum wheels, very nice 35mm front fork, mean sounding dual pipes, dual front disc brakes, after market handle bars and fiber glass cafe seat. Has no rear brake linkage, bad carb to intake manifold connection(runs as is but has air leak at connection).

[grandpa nate]

um..."f" yeah!!!!!! 

[Goat_Herder]

If you don't, I will.     Just kidding.  She's a beauty!

[SP3]

Is it a GTL or GTV? Either way, from its appearance, $2500 is a little steep for a parallel twin Duc at this point in time.

[Duck-Stew]

I don't recall how or what it is....but there IS a definate oil supply problem to the camshafts on those engines.  Basically, if it ever fails...it shits out the cams and the head too (IIRC), so be sure to check that out first.  It may be a quick-fix to prevent a problem...it could also be a ticking time-bomb.

Other than that, looks good...I'd offer him $1700 for it.

[flynbulldog]

These parallel twin ducs have never had a big following and are not considered "desirable" collectors items thus they are available fairly cheap and not too hard to find.
There aren't too many of them so they are fairly rare but at this time they are not particularly valuable

Buy it if you like it - but it would be risky as an investment. Who knows, maybe some day the value will increase. But I wouldn't count on it.

If you look in the right places you may be able to find one in better condition for less money, There were a few of them for sale at the Barber Vintage festival last year.

[clubhousemotorsports]

Think of it this way
If it was a Indiana would you want it?
the parallel twins are the red headed stepchild ducati had in the 70's I cannot think of a less desired ducati. Although the 999 series put up a fight, it won over many people in the end.

And having the soft spot for such bikes I too would buy one

Things to think about.
no parts
little to no resources (information)

Like the indiana these bikes died on the sales floor and did not last long. They could be valuable later on if original.

[Triple J]

Parallel twin Ducati = 

[That Nice Guy Beck!]

ill offer $800

[abby normal]

Parallel twin Ducati = 

i bet you'd buy one of the old parallel twin GP bikes if you could get one.

[Triple J]

i bet you'd buy one of the old parallel twin GP bikes if you could get one.

The late 50's, early 60's race bikes? Ya...I forgot about those. I would definitely ppick one of the up if available (and affordable). I guess I should have said the street parallel twins = 

[abby normal]

The late 50's, early 60's race bikes? Ya...I forgot about those. I would definitely ppick one of the up if available (and affordable). I guess I should have said the street parallel twins = 

agreed.  hideous guigiaro styling and POS engine.  i suppose one could build a 'worst of ducati' collection
with one of these and an indiana.  what else would be included?

[Oldfisti]

Paso?

[fastwin]

I read an editorial write up a while back in either Cycle World, Motorcyclist or Sport Rider (the only three mags I read) about the author having one of those parallel twin Ducs and how it was an awful bike. I believe the theme of the article was awful bikes he had owned and this one sounded like it took the cake. It was such a good read that I remember that part vividly and that article is at least a year or two old. Anyone else remember that article more specifically than I do?

[grandpa nate]

Paso?

+1