Starting point: 1965 Ducati 250cc Scrambler -- $250
mods: remove and sell everything except for the engine and front/rear hubs ($244 to use elsewhere -- profit!)
build:
- motocreations 1934 Rudge frame but configured for Ducati single engine -- $1400 (mostly labor costs)
- motocreations girder fork w/shock and friction dampners -- $1800 (mostly labor / jigging to build)
- speedwell seat -- $145 (eBay)
- seat shock/spring -- $150 (eBay)
- rebuild Ducati engine with extensive mods (
www.ducatiphoenix.com -- $1500)
- racing carb with velocity stack -- $400 (eBay)
- Buchanan relaced 21in wheels -- $800
- 21in Avon Speedway tires -- $300 (parts unlimited0
- re-line brake pads -- $55 (Tacoma Brake)
- reverse pull brake/clutch handles -- free (from Poland swapmeet)
- choke lever, decompression lever etc -- parts box
- custom headlight / taillight -- $800 (labor costs plus vintage lenses)
- motocreations aluminum fuel tank -- $1000
- custom fabricated rearsets / pegs (parts bin and some fabrication) -- $500
- cloth wiring - $200 (ask Stuart/FlightCycles)
- old fuse panel setup -- free (from UK swapmeet)
- steering dampner (friction) -- parts bin special with machined adjustment knob - $100
- paint -- leftover from a 1933 Alfa Romeo P3 racer (very dark red) -- free!
- sign painted graphics -- $500 (Dunn?)
- Ducati logos -- $600 (SeaCast in Seattle) to get cast in stainless and will enamel myself
- misc electrical -- $250
- steering tube bearings -- $125 (Tacoma Bearing & Screw)
- gauges -- custom made using vintage lens/faces (myself)
- gauge cables -- $22
When done -- something that maybe Tazio Nuvolari (remember he was a famous motorcycle racer before becoming Italy's most famous racecar driver) might have ridden for the Scuderia Ferrari in @1935 and if powered by a Ducati racing engine. Of course after building the first one the second one is easier and faster to build (and will be yellow or Ducati red and with a normal fork on it...)
Goal: to build something very different that is fun/unique and will get magazine coverage (already booked) for under $10K total outlay.
Hint -- see signature below