Photo courtesy of bikereview.com.au
Ducati 750SS for sale
SELLER SAYS: The last of the 750SS were built in 1978, with only 100 being produced by the factory. This bike was built for Ashley Beaton (North Coast V-Twins) as a racer back in 1979 and was raced at club level for 2 seasons. The paintwork, made popular by Ken Blake on his roundcase 860 at Bathurst in 1975, was applied in 1978 and has been on the bike since then. Because it reflects the bike’s heritage, I’ve left it that way. Fitted with the Imola tank, the bike has very distinctive lines and always attracts onlookers when parked. It was rebuilt at North Coast V-Twins when its racing days were finished and then spent its life largely as a household ornament, being ridden less than 1000km in the 5 years since. I have added only another 8000 or so km in the 10 years I’ve had it. Non standard equipment – apart from the paint – includes Mikuni flat slide carbs (40mm DellOrtos supplied), Sachse ignition system and coils, right hand gear change (no sloppy cross-frame linkages). The bike is serviced and maintained fastidiously – oil and filter changed every 2500km – and really is a delight to ride. Contact Andy on 0488 013 180 (Aldgate – Adelaide, South Australia)
EDITOR TERLICK SAYS: A very desirable piece of motorcycle history, this one! With spoked wheels and kickstart-only 750 engine, this 1978 model remains bolted to the classic early generation of the stunningly beautiful and much-loved bevel-engined SS range, but with a few years of evolution from ground zero under its belt to iron out some of the early bugs. Ducati guru Ian Falloon goes as far as to say this: “In the peaks and troughs of Ducati model specification, the 1978 Super Sport was an undoubted peak.” High praise indeed. This glorious example of Andy’s comes with its own back-story, and really the perfect Ducati back-story — starting life where it was conceived; on the race track. But unlike many raced bikes, this one has been maintained to a standard that has kept it viable as a rider and rebuilt to a standard that befits man-cave duties as well. I reckon it was a great decision to retain the non-original paintwork, being part of this bike’s journey through the decades. One for the collector, with occasional go-for-a-blast duties to keep the cobwebs out of the Contis. Wonderful.
