What to do with a $350 Paso?

[triangleforge]

Every weekend, my neighbor seems to drag home another motorized project - the v12 BMW, a pair of '60s Fiat 500s, a Crosley, a clapped out Triumph flat tracker... It's always something interesting.

Tonight, it was a Ducati Paso that he picked up for $350. It's hard to say much about it, as all the plastics, tank & seat are off & I looked it over just now in the dark by cellphone flashlight, but best I can tell it's complete, dirty, a little dry-rotted, mostly un-messed with, original Weber carb, 2-into-1 D&D pipe. It's been sitting for several years with a full tank of bad gas. It's got a title & it runs.

He's generally pretty good at putting some modest effort into these projects (he's an automotive machinist by trade) and turning them out at a profit, but well short of a restoration. He said he'd like to ride it, but isn't really interested in hanging on to it long-term.

So what should he do? Aside from changing the old, dried-out belts before he tries running it again, that is...

[Grampa]

use it to do wheelies and pick up hot chicks.

[triangleforge]

All the hot chicks will think it's a Honda Pacific Coast.

[ducatiz]

First off, which Paso?  I assume the 750?

It's one step from a Pantah motor.  Check the electrics.  Does it have the mirrors?

Tires are a problem if it still has the original 16" rims.  Big problem.  There is one company making a run of them and I think the going rate is about $200 each..

Ah, here it is http://www.goldentyreusa.com/Ducati_Paso_GT_070_GT_071.html

they are not bad looking, but no one knows how they will perform.

[triangleforge]

Given the Weber, I was assuming the 750 as well, but didn't realize until I looked it up that there was a bigger iteration with a Weber carb before the injected 907ie.

it's got the original wheels, which I recalled were a real issue with this bike. Kind of too bad, as I really like the look of the wheels themselves. Front tire looks largely un-ridden (though probably old and dried out) and I didn't look all that closely at the rear.

[LowThudd]

Find someone who is poor and bikeless and pay it forward(hint hint)
















No I'm not kidding

[Slide Panda]

http://www.goldentyreusa.com/Ducati_Paso_GT_070_GT_071.html

Check with the Brits and Euros. Goldentyre is Brit company. I know about them from the SuMo circles as they are one of the limited manufacturers that do 16.5" used by some SuMo racers

[brad black]

leave it as is and take to it with an old fork leg any time you've had a crap day.  $350 worth of smiles right there.

[ungeheuer]

leave it as is and take to it with an old fork leg any time you've had a crap day.  $350 worth of smiles right there.

[ducatiz]

Where is it?  If he wants to sell it as is and make a buck on it, drop me a PM.  I love a paso and i have shitton of parts I'm hoarding for one.

[zooom]

I say take it and run with it...make something freaky and ridable and custom like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-Cagiva-Ducati-650-Elefant-/151042712037?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item232ad8e1e5

not that this example is the prettiest thing....but I bet it is quite functionally ridable.

[Speedbag]

Send it to me, as I have no Ducati and need a cool project.  

[ducatiz]

I say take it and run with it...make something freaky and ridable and custom like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-Cagiva-Ducati-650-Elefant-/151042712037?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item232ad8e1e5

not that this example is the prettiest thing....but I bet it is quite functionally ridable.

it's hideous.. utterly.. kill it with fire.

[koko64]

 
I like the overall motard/Dumbostrada concept, but the taste of styling is unfair to that bike. Surely there were other headlight/screen options in keeping with the bike? Well it probably lights up the road effectively.
Good touches like the slave cylinder mod, wheels, etc, but someone buy that bike and save it.

[ducatiz]

I like the overall motard/Dumbostrada concept, but the taste of styling is unfair to that bike. Surely there were other headlight/screen options in keeping with the bike? Well it probably lights up the road effectively.
Good touches like the slave cylinder mod, wheels, etc, but someone buy that bike and save it.

I do too but that one looks like it was whipped with an ugly stick.

I am troubled by the front end too, the front wheel looks way too small.  Perhaps that's the long Elefant Marzocchis doing that, but then you have the problem of the gas tank being at the wrong angle.

Something just doesn't look right, and it's not just the bubba-licious headlights..  Ugh my eyes.