New Paso Owner

[Desmo_Demon]

Hello, everyone. I'm Desmo Demon and am a new Paso owner (I currently own a 748 and ST2, though). I joined the group on Friday and surfed around a little while before driving 900+ miles, round-trip to pick up my 1987 Paso 750 project bike that will be a back-up/cruising bike for my wife (she currently rides a 1994 Suzuki GSX-750R).

The bike we picked up is currently not running and sits with 29205 miles on it. It turns over, but the previous owner claims it has no spark. I won't have any time to tinker with the bike for another month or two, so I'm just going to do a little more research on the bike. I was told that the bike has a twin Delorto carb conversion, 820cc big-bore kit (installed 4000 miles ago - in 1999), and the common F1s slip-ons. He had put a new battery and voltage regulator on the bike, earlier this summer. Anyway, for $900, I figured I couldn't go wrong at that price. My first step is to find the lost parts I need to reinstall the exhaust, pull the belt covers off to make sure that there isn't a broken belt issue, then try to find this ignition problem (I'm thinking bad ground or a bad ignition module).

Anyway, I'll probably drop in here from time to time to get advise and assistance. Here's a shot of the bike and the webpage I did last night about the bike and the adventurous trip up there....



http://www.desmodemon.com/vicks_paso.html

[DesmoDog]

Looks like a great deal for $900!

[fasterdammit]

Great find - especially for $900! Sucks about the trip to pick it up, but it just makes for a good adventure story. Also - if you had a broken belt, you'd know it, and you'd have bigger problems if you've been trying to get it to turn over (unless the belt happened to break with both valves closed).

Congrats on your find/purchase, welcome to the site and to the world of Paso ownership! Be sure to keep us posted on your progress!

[Desmo_Demon]

if you had a broken belt, you'd know it, and you'd have bigger problems if you've been trying to get it to turn over (unless the belt happened to break with both valves closed).

Actually, not having the bike die on me and not having too many specific details on the last time he rode it (three years ago), it very easily could have broken a belt and would not be easily detectable as it spins over now. If the piston came up and slapped the valve, it could have bent the valve and it could be wedged in the valve guide, away from the piston when it is turning over, now. A person could easily hide a broken belt as an electrical issue by simply unplugging a wire.....this guy did seem quite sincere in his understanding of the bike's condition, though, but I want to check the condition of the belts before getting too carried away with it (I understand that these belts are 7 years old).

I have actually thought about changing the belts as cheap insurance, before trying to get it started. I'm also aware of a broken belt, in extreme situations, cracking heads, breaking rockers, bending rods, destroying crank bearings, and a lot of other nasty stuff. I have a spare set of 748 heads from a broken belt victim. I bought them for the shims (got both heads cheaper than the shiims would have cost) and to practice doing valve adjustments before I tackled the 748.

What's really "bad" is that I just did a 6k service on my 748 resulting in new belts, four new rockers, and 13 of 16 shims being replaced. My ST2 is due for belts and valve adjustment this fall, and this Paso will probably be done in the next few months, as well.....with the low miles I put on all the bikes, that means all three bikes will be due for belts in the same year. Damn maintenance intensive Ducatis! LOL I'm just glad I do all the work myself.

Not on the topic of getting the bike running again, I was wondering a few things, like.....how the Michelin tires compare to something like the Dunlop D205/220s or the Pirelli Diablo Strada tires? How aggressively can a Paso be ridden? Anyone care to compare the bike to a more modern bike? Anyone know how a Paso 750 may compare in power but moreso handling to an ST2? (At the crank, the ST2 is 83 HP and the Paso is 74 HP?). This will be used as a back-up bike for the wife or for casual riding. The harder riding will be with her on the GSXR. I may use it for some work commuting as well. Thanks!


Other info tidbit: I'll have to install a shifter for the wife to ride it. Kinda frustrtating to know that the electric shifter will cost nearly as much as this bike did. :laugh: Here's a page showing the electric shifter on the GSXR and a little on the history as to why it needs to be used....

http://www.desmodemon.com/gsxr_page.html

[Desmo_Demon]

Off topic.....How do I add an avatar? Under my account, I can only choose from a list of smiley faces and it doesn't provide a way to upload anything different. Thanks.

[ducapaso]

I happened to broke timing belts last winter... :ugh:
But I've been lucky! no damages to the engine!!! I just replaced belts and bearings then I cecked compression ratio
If the ignition plant doesn't work, test the voltage after the main key switch, the fuse box and the emergency switch (the one on the right handlebar: the wiring multipolar plugs can even cause a voltage loss
Oh.. by the way... welcome in the paso members club!
Best performance with michelin are with "dirthy riding" and a front fork complete control will do the rest...

[Desmo_Demon]

If the ignition plant doesn't work, test the voltage after the main key switch, the fuse box and the emergency switch (the one on the right handlebar: the wiring multipolar plugs can even cause a voltage loss

That reminds me of something else about this bike that is really weird....and something I'm definitely going to look at.....the kill switch on the handlebar has to be in the "OFF" position for the bike to turn on. "ON" is actually off.......seems strange to me, so I want to investigate it further. He said it's always been like that, but there's something fishy about it if you ask me.

[fasterdammit]

7yo belts - not a bad idea; do you know when they were replaced mileage-wise, too? Cheap insurance, either way, definitely.

re: Tires - I haven't had a problem with the A59/M59s. And decent mileage out of them, too. They may not be super sticky, but I've never had a hairy moment that I couldn't get out of with them. I was surprised by them, put it that way.

Does Dunlop/Pirelli make an appropriately-sized tire for the 16" rim, or are you going to convert it to a larger tire size? In terms of riding it aggressively, I enjoy it on the Paso - it takes more work, but that's almost half the fun. Prior to some recent modifications on my Monster, I could take my Paso through my favorite twisties slightly quicker than I could on the Monster. And you should see Michael (delagem) tear 'em up his Paso.

[Desmo_Demon]

7yo belts - not a bad idea; do you know when they were replaced mileage-wise, too? Cheap insurance, either way, definitely.

The previous owner bought the bike in '97 or '98 and had only put a little under 6000 miles on it. Since the big-bore kit installation in '99, he said that there's only been about 4000 miles put on the bike, so the belts are looking at 4000 miles and 7 years and the bike has been parked for the last 3 years.

Does Dunlop/Pirelli make an appropriately-sized tire for the 16" rim, or are you going to convert it to a larger tire size?

I'd prefer to keep the original wheels, so the Michelin 59's are the only choice. I was just curious how they stuck compared to the Pirelli Diablo Strada or Dunlop D220s, as those are the tires that my wife is familiar with since getting back on a bike. She didn't care for the D220s (they kept sliding on her), but the Diablo Stradas tend to be smoother and stick better for her......thing is, though, this Paso probably won't be ridden as hard as her GSXR, anyway, so this may be moot point.

I was curious about handling because I sometimes have a tendancy to forget that my ST2 is a sport-touring bike and I scrape hardparts and slide tires on occasion. For tires, I've only got experience with Pirelli Dragons, Dragon Evos, Diablos, Diablo Corsas, Dragon Supercorsas, Metzler ME-Z6, and Michelin Macadam tires.....I prefer the Diablos....but just can't seem to get any decent mileage out of them (2500-3k miles on a rear and 3500-4500 on a front).

[paso750]

Hi,

do you haoppen to have some more info on the 820cc big-bore kit ? That must be rare.

For the avatar go on "profile" above and upload one. Respect measures and max. size otherwise it won`t work.

Gerhard

[Duc750]

Handling is slower than the GSXR certainly but a lot more neutral

If she is into trail braking (even a little bit) the the Paso will get her out of that habit ! - braking mid corner makes the bike stand straight up ! alright once you are used to it though

I think the bike handles very well and the tyres match the bike well. You'd have to be going hard to push the edge of the tyers and when they do go they slide very progressively and safely. The Paso doesn't normally have enough power to spin up the tyre on exit or in a straight line unless its wet. But there's more thsan enough handling there to get the pegs down and the fairing on occasion !

[Desmo_Demon]

do you haoppen to have some more info on the 820cc big-bore kit ? That must be rare.

He was stationed a Camp Lejeune in NC when he had the work done back in 1999 by a Ducati dealer in that area. He said it is either an 818 or 819 kit, but he always just rounded it up to 820. Other than this, I have no idea, and unless I pop a head off and measure the bore, I don't know how true it is. I asked him specifically if it was a 780 kit, but he insisted on it being an 820. I figure it is just cylinders and pistons, as with most kits. Internet searches didn't call up anything on an 820 kit. He stated that he didn't notice much of a difference in performance, but did notice a difference in sound, as it became deeper and throatier sounding.

For the avatar go on "profile" above and upload one. Respect measures and max. size otherwise it won`t work.

Aaahhhhh....silly me. I was trying to upload one on the site profile, not the forum profile. Cool, I got it uploaded, thanks!

[spaynenda]

_Demon

A great find, as it would have been a bargain at twice the price. Congrats.

As for the trail braking, don't do it. Suggest she brakes before turning in.

As for the tires, I've been happy with the Michelins and not tempted to change to 17 in. wheels.