ducatipaso.org

This weeks Motor Cycle News (21/2/2007) has a crashed 750 Paso that the team will be trying to repair and renovate. Damage seems to be severe with the old favourites like the indicator/ mirror units (gone) and rear light lens (smashed) needing the teams help and some newcomers like both wheels (damaged beyond repair) and missing front brake caliper (wrenched off). Looks like they have got their hands full and the most sensible option to me would be that they should buy an immaculate model and pretend that they have done the job...it really is that bad! Seriously though, looks like there will be a few useful phone numbers if they manage the task and here's to it.

Justin WB - 906

Quite hard parts just broken, so i think, that better to sold rest parts to those, who need them.

I wish them luck with the project, as some of these parts are getting pretty difficult to find, especially parts that are now obsolete from Ducati. Just the two seals that go in the steering head take some research to find alternatives (the OEM are obsolete). I wonder how many short-cuts they may take that we will never hear about.

Their best-bet will be to upgrade the forks, wheels, and brakes, so they only need to deal with the frame, engine and bodywork. It will be much easier for them to modify the bike with newer components then to even consider a restoration of any type on a bike that is as far gone as you say......They may have access to a few parts bikes to make their job easier, but their work will definitely be cut out for them.

I'm always for the restoration.
I'm seeing on eBay many parts sold out, so I think could be hard but not impossible repair it, even if there are severe damages.
Besides, I'm noting the prices of the parts sold are lowering, because many people are parting out good bikes.
So, I'd try without going to make any change.
As you would understand, I believe the Paso is a masterpiece like the "Gioconda", as I wouldn't alter the "Gioconda", so I wouldn't change the Paso .
Ciao

I think one of the editors there owned a Paso. I used to read it but haven't for quite a while. I remember his paso being featured in many of the articles including ones about fork service, ergonomics, using a fuel mixture gauge to do tuning, etc.

Gee I feel stupid now. I was confusing this with Motorcycle Consumer News....another MCN. Oh well, I can be a dork once in a while.

I read the article in MCN and I thought what probably others on this site thought, What about the parts?

They probably thought that they could look up a bike bit catalogue and there would be no problem. If they were restoring a harley or a triumph they could get new parts for really old machines and this is an area that Ducati have ignored to their error.

I will look forward to their result, if they give up and break up the bike for parts I will be watching ebay.

Gor blimey, I defer to your experience of course, but I do detect a surprising amount of cynicism.
At the risk of sounding smug and complacent my experience finding parts so far hasn't been at all bad – or expensive. I've already:
* a replacement front fairing (£30, ebay)
* two as new original wheels (about £40 ea, front with decent Mich tyre off ebay, rear NOS from Sean Kynnersley at Corse Performance at Clay Cross)
* a zero-mile instrument pod (about £50, again from Sean. It's perfect apart from missing the centre clock, but I'm confident I can graft in the one from my smashed clocks)
* NOS left clip-on (again Sean)
* NOS rear Michelin (£35 off Ebay, after Michelin UK failed to find any)
* As new l/h mirror/indicator (again Sean, difficult to say how much cos he basically charged me £150 for everything, so work it out yourselves)
* Good headlamp (£10 off ebay)

Yes, I've a long way to go and yes there are bound to be unforeseen problems and expenses but, fingers crossed, I'm still hopeful I can get it not only up and running but decent and original (if not concours, I'm hoping to avoid a respray) for under £1000.

And yes, I did consider the changing wheels/tyres route, but in the end couldn't stomach it.

Of course, if anyone has any bits I might need or suggestions or help it'll all be much appreciated (and publicised if you like)

Thanks for your comments tho''

Phil West, MCN

Phil,

I will have to subscribe to MCN just to watch the build take place!

We are here to help in any way we can. Any effort made to keep a Paso from being parted out and sold on ebay is a good effort. Is there a link that we can use to see what you are doing online?

The major issues are covered in the Tech FAQ at the top of the 750 forum. You have found us so I will guess that you have already perused it.

Good luck and let us know what we can do to help.

Phill, I think jcslocum has said it all. We will all be watching with interest. Good luck
Oh and what part of England are you in?

jcslocum wrote:Any effort made to keep a Paso from being parted out and sold on ebay is a good effort.

We all want to see the result of your work.
Ciao

jcslocum wrote:Any effort made to keep a Paso from being parted out and sold on ebay is a good effort.

Plus, it can provide us with a bunch of entertainment as you try to find some of the obsolete parts.....like steering head seals. :laugh:

Philwest, if there's anything you need assistance with, I'm sure one of us has already had to deal with it. Some parts you have to wait quite a while to find on eBay. I was looking for an upper triple clamp and a left fork slider. After two months, I found an upper triple (through a fellow member here) and I had to repair the fork slider.....then, eBay got swamped with three upper triples and a couple sets of forks, a month or two later (last weekend)......I wound up getting a rolling chassis. You may have just been fortunate to have a part come along when you were looking but sometimes, it just isn't the situation.


BTW, the upper triple is still available (for about $350 USD) and the left slider has been discontinued. Steering head seals have been discontinued, but there are alternatives. Some more expensive items also have alternates, like instrument panel vibration dampers (dealer wants $15 USD EACH, but there are alternatives for less than $2 each).

Its great you were so lucky to get so many parts and even tyres!

My bike was off road for 3 months in the summer a couple of years ago because I couldn't get tyres. I even got a tyre rep to phone the michelin plant in France to see when they were going to make a new batch.
I got a rear brake master cyclinder from Spain and new discs from Australia. Most of the replacement bodwork from Germany.
I hope that you get the bike going soon for the summer!

I have a Blackbird which is a great bike but I prefer the Paso and can't wait to get it out again when the snow goes.

Colin.

I think most of us hoard parts as well for a "rainy day"
I've just moved house and its quite scary looking through the "Paso in a Box" I seem to have.

Got a front wheel by the way if you need it - straight but in Red - was goign to mail you but couldn't seem to find your email address in MCN (probably going blind)

Good luck with it

This is great! Here's to you, Phil! All power to your elbow!

I'm sure all of us are thrilled that a top bike periodical is taking on a Paso project. The 750 Paso is often criticized - unfairly we feel, because a bit of work can easilly bring out her unique and charming features, and she can be enjoyed as a strong, comfortable classic.

And it's great that you, as a journo, should make contact with us.

Thanks!

PS: Do a good job, and I'll make you a solid silver DESMOMATIC Ducati Paso lapel pin free!

There is a two page article about the rebuild in Motorcycle News. There is meant to be a video on the webpage showing the bikes condition before when it arrived but i haven't found it yet.
Phil has to get the bodywork done and he hasn't got a right hand mirror/indicator pod and he hasn't tried to start the engine yet.
it seens to be coming on well and it will be glad to have another paso on the road.