1980 Ducati Darmah - I Bought It!

[Travman]

Buy it!  One reason those old bev. drvs. are worth a lot is because they cost a fortune to refurb.  I've said for years that I'd redo my old 80 Black and Gold SS that I bought new in Spring of 79 if I made it to 60 years old.  Well I'm there and I still can't afford it.

Those Darmahs were nice, but bevel drive Ducatis are NOT suppose to have e-start.  They are ridiculously easy to start.

They do require 40mm Dellothors and Contis and K&N's to be what the factory intended by design, much as an S4RS is a POS with stock pipes and chocked down fueling and gearing (IMHO) .

(hey Cloner)

LA

Thanks for the advice.   I'm putting a deposit on it tomorrow.  Now where do I find those 40mm Dell'Ortos?

[Curmudgeon]

Thanks for the advice.   I'm putting a deposit on it tomorrow.  Now where do I find those 40mm Dell'Ortos?

Donnie may have an old pair lying around or know where to get them. When I picked my 796, there were two 900SS's on lifts at DucPond, one a bit cobby and one very clean with 7,000 miles. My son who did the color announcing at the Betor Auction at Barber in 2010 and is familiar with values said "$30,000".  http://www.batorauctions.com/results-barber2010.html

Back in the day you would just call Reno Leoni with your credit card and he'd send you a correctly jetted pair with cables.

If you strike out with Donnie, try Eraldo Ferracci. Use the conical rather than round K&N when you unscrew the velocity stacks. The conicals flow better than the round ones. http://www.knfilters.com/search/univcone.aspx Jetting should be the same. You may need to richen the pilot circuit. It's been a long time but if I recall correctly, screw in 1/4 turn, not out, to richen.

Good Luck!

[garryc]

As far as finding 40's. Depends on what you are after.
Bevelheaven has new or i have a set that I removed from my darmah to go back to 32's. PM me if you are interested in them, but like all things bevel no one gives them away.
Much nicer to ride with the 32's(40's are real pigs in town) although interestingly uses more fuel with the 32's than it did with the 40's

[ducatiz]

Thanks for the advice.   I'm putting a deposit on it tomorrow.  Now where do I find those 40mm Dell'Ortos?

various places

not cheap

ebay 260934510807

you can sell the 32s for something, they are usable.

it's interesting they put the 32s on the 900 bevels (860ccs) but put the 36s on the pantah 500/600/650 without much thought.

[Curmudgeon]

it's interesting they put the 32s on the 900 bevels (860ccs) but put the 36s on the pantah 500/600/650 without much thought.

  Thought? 

Plenty of thought. An engine is, after all, an air pump. My 600 SL turned 9,000+ happily. Did lean out (shave) the slides in my 36's a hair to get the response perfectly crisp.

BTW, Reno's kit for a 750 Paso to replace the Weber was a pair of 38's. 38's are bad news on a bevel 900SS, so I questioned him closely on this choice, but it was spot-on for the Paso with no tweaks required as jetted and perfect light tan plugs.

[ducatiz]

Thought? 

Plenty of thought. An engine is, after all, an air pump. My 600 SL turned 9,000+ happily. Did lean out (shave) the slides in my 36's a hair to get the response perfectly crisp.

BTW, Reno's kit for a 750 Paso to replace the Weber was a pair of 38's. 38's are bad news on a bevel 900SS, so I questioned him closely on this choice, but it was spot-on for the Paso with no tweaks required as jetted and perfect light tan plugs.

my point was that they put the 32s on the 900 and that was just weird, but when it came to the 500SL, they didn't even think about putting anything smaller than the 36s on it. 

I just wonder what changed in their thinking.  the 860cc bevels should have had 36 or 40s from day one.

[Curmudgeon]

Only had an SS, so I have no idea how an SD flows. Air pump, right? Maybe a 36 was overkill with Silentiums and air box? The 600 SL Pantah was a turbine. Only rode a 500 once and it seemed anemic by comparison.

[ducatiz]

Only had an SS, so I have no idea how an SD flows. Air pump, right? Maybe a 36 was overkill with Silentiums and air box? The 600 SL Pantah was a turbine. Only rode a 500 once and it seemed anemic by comparison.

Do you mean the 900SS or the Darmah SS?  Darmah SS and SD had the same engine and frame, the difference was the SS had the fairing and different paint.  Better shocks and the 40s.

I thought the same-year 900SS had the same engines as the Darmahs, just a different frame.

[Curmudgeon]

Only had a silver 900SS for a year because it was neglected once I got the 600 SL. By comparison with the SL, the 900SS handled like an aircraft carrier.  Never rode a Darmah and only saw SD's, no Darmah SS's. Did Berliner even import the Darmah SS?

Maybe the Darmah SS had the same heads and cams as the 900SS? No idea. I know the SD's were a good bit slower.

[ducatiz]

i have a darmah SS!  see pics above.

i think you may be right.  the SD may have smaller valves.

[Travman]

Maybe the Darmah SS had the same heads and cams as the 900SS? No idea. I know the SD's were a good bit slower.

The SD did have the same sized valves as the SS according to this article.  The SD probably had milder cams than the SS and SSD.
http://www.realclassic.co.uk/ducati04082700.html

[Desmo Demon]

The biggest mistake people make nowadays when buying a bevel is believe it is a motorcycle. It is not.  It is a piece of mechanical ancient history.  Treat it that way and it will last.

I'd love to have a bevel twin and a bevel single and would treat them both as history. This is how I treat my '85 Harley (106k miles) and my Paso 750 that lived a very harsh early life. I just figure if I treat them as ancient bikes with all their flaws and character, I won't be tempted to try to ride them like a modern bike and trash the crap out of them. I like to just putt around on the Paso. I figure it's my attention-grabbing oddity when around other motorcyclists.....well, and the Bimota.

[Cloner]

Buy it!  One reason those old bev. drvs. are worth a lot is because they cost a fortune to refurb.  I've said for years that I'd redo my old 80 Black and Gold SS that I bought new in Spring of 79 if I made it to 60 years old.  Well I'm there and I still can't afford it.

Those Darmahs were nice, but bevel drive Ducatis are NOT suppose to have e-start.  They are ridiculously easy to start.

They do require 40mm Dellothors and Contis and K&N's to be what the factory intended by design, much as an S4RS is a POS with stock pipes and chocked down fueling and gearing (IMHO) .

(hey Cloner)

LA

I hereby renew my offer to buy said '80 SS....in pieces.....where it sits....despite the "blown-up-Sir" bottom end (that's what's wrong with it, isn't it?)....and will gladly break in to Hedden's garage and sneak it out from under his nose so as to avoid undue hurt feelings between you guys, as long as I get a title.  Make me a price!  I'll even let you ride it when it's complete.  Ya can't beat that, can ya?!? 

[Travman]

Thanks for the advice and comments.  I bought it.  I picked it up today and spent a few hours riding some of my favorite roads.  I love it.  Handles nice, sounds awesome, plenty of power for a vintage bike, comfortable and it makes me feel like I'm a realy good rider.  

[Curmudgeon]

Nice!  You need a knee down to turn it though, right?  Does it have 40's or 36's? K&N's? Whatever..., I'm sure Donnie has it running just great!