ducatipaso.org

howdy
the tale of two bikes.
My first yellow bike is going to be a nut and bolt restoration, starting from a powder coated frame, most likely in black, however I have thought about another colour.
Its getting new pistons and barrels as I got a set on ebay for about $400 to go with the rebuilt heads. I want to upgrade wheels, brakes, clutch and maybe lightweight body
Forks have been done, shock will be original or the Wilbers now on the red bike.
On this bike i feel that I can do what I like, have some fun

Which brings me to my question..at last!

The red bike is very original. Original paint in very good condition, has all the original stickers still on the tank, swingarm, tacho, rear lock panel and in general its very good all over, but not perfect has done about 40,000km.
In regard to upgrades, I have the issue about keeping it original or doing some upgrdades.
So would it be better to keep rubber brake lines or go to braided.
Wave rotors look modern. Should I try to put original pipes back on?
Changing headlights to HID or a better horn, would these dilute its originality and perhaps value or are our beloved bikes not [yet] worth worring about keeing them original.
As I plan to keep the bikes, would you keep it original as possible so that in the long term it will be worth more and rarer?
Certainly in the classic car market 'unmolested' cars are worth more, but i don't have enough history to know whether 907s would be the same...one day!
So keep it as original as I can, or not?

I await the discussion

I have most likely answered my own question as having two bikes allows me to keep one original and go nuts on the other

thanks

All Pasos are classics but far away of being an investment. There may be a price development but it`s really slow.
Don`t bother about if or if not to change brake discs or to ss brake lines. If it`s an improvement do it. These are all "small" changes that can easily be redone to original status one day if required. Just keep the original parts (not the old brake lines of course )

Don`t paint the frame silver. Everything lighter than black or maybe anthracite will make the frame noticable and it`s not really a nice one compared to other bikes.

G.

I am in same line as Gerhard, You can easily upgrade it with steel braided brake lines(as they are marvelous compared to rubber ones), but keep all original parts that U can make it "original" one day....

Btw, those old ORIGINAL rubber brake lines are already VERY UNSAFE !!!!

I'm in the same line.
If you would like to enhance the braking, it's enough you fit a radial master cylinder (and the braided wires, of course) without spending a lot of money to replace the rotors.
I have fitted the used Ducati 999's master cylinders and they look and work very, very well .
I also would not paint the frame, unless it was in very bad shape.
Ciao

Its always the debate with old bikes.
Basically, if its close to stock, and in good condition, try to get as close to stock as you can get. Of course, for safety, change those things that make sense, like brake lines. If someday it goes to a museum, you can change it back. Just keep the original parts for the sad day that you may sell it.

If the bike is already modified, and a regular rider, I would say have at it and do the modifications that make sense.

Since you have two bikes, you can play motorbike designer on one, and restorer on the other.

But who am I to say? I have 2 - 750 Sports, and both have been heavily modified. In defense, both were pretty rough when I bought them, and restoring them would be very difficult, and pointless.

Cheers,

I'm in the line with most of the guys here.
small improvements on suspension as better rear shock, break lines, master calipers, HID sets, front brake disks are ok. wave front rotors are not done in my opinion. up side down front fork? I wouldn't do it. keep the body work original as it is the soul of the Paso.

good luck with your "minor" up dates

Ducbertus

As has been said, as long as you can go nback to stock, upgrades are fine. I would avoid drilling new holes to mount new things like the HID box. Just uou good velcro or plastic ties. If I'm going to make a huge change in a part, I try to pick up a replacement first, so that I can eventually go back. SOmetime it can be very hard to find an original part once you have modded the existing one.

After the work you have been doing on these bikes Nigel, you can no longer claim to be a novice.

Good to see things progressing for you on these machines.

Oh, I have a new baby in the nest now. BMW R1150GS. New to me at least.

If you gonna mainly ride the yellow, update all that is necessary
& keep all original parts just in case you want it back to original.

If red one is just a keeper in the garage, why not just preserve it as good as you can?
Upgrades on a bike not ridden = waste of money.

Just my 2c.