Ducati 1000 DS custom build

[900Rebuilder]

Looking good!

Thanks for all your help btw with the 900

[buzzer]

Originally Posted by 900Rebuilder

Looking good!

Thanks for all your help btw with the 900

No problen!


Things don’t always go to plan… I dropped the speedo and of course the glass cracked. Very frustrating! My first reaction was to just buy another… then I got thinking… maybe I could repair it? So I made a new bezel out of aluminium and tried to peen it over… first attempt failed, it was too thick, so I made another, and that worked perfectly! One tip when bending aluminium is to aneale it first. To do this mark it with a sharpi pen and heat it.. when the marks disappear, its the correct temperature for annealing! just let it cool…

I was able to turn a new glass out of 3mm polycarbonate, clamped between two pieces of aluminium, and a revolving centre. I guess there are now a couple of advantages… the alloy is more in keeping with the bike, and i was able to remove the GPS logo. While the MOT man is not bothered, (its not a reason to fail) A GPS speedo does not comply with construction and use regulations.

[900Rebuilder]

Is that an Acewell? I'm tempted with one later to tie in the Ignitech (revs etc) and the ie temperature sender in the head but keep the stock single 85mm clock.

[buzzer]

Originally Posted by 900Rebuilder

Is that an Acewell? I'm tempted with one later to tie in the Ignitech (revs etc) and the ie temperature sender in the head but keep the stock single 85mm clock.

its one of the cheap ons off Ebay... around £50.

[buzzer]

This build comes to an end, just in time for spring and the better weather! Took it for MOT today and it passed with no problem… But then again he follows my builds!

I did spend a very frustrating day yesterday.. I measured the voltage to check it was charging... It wasn't! I set about fault finding ( the electrex worldwebsite has a fantastic fault finding section!) and everything checked out, I couldn't understand what was wrong... In desperation I asked my mate to pop round... First thing he di was check the volts... with his meter... It was charging! the fault was my meter!

I will update in a while when I have put a few miles on it... first impressions are very favorable! Its very light and weighs in at 139KG with a bit of fuel in there... On the road it feels torquey and nimble!

[crawsue]

As always, Tony, a cracking build….if even more quirky than usual ! Certainly in my advancing years the quest for lightness is becoming more of a “thing”, your finished weight is mighty impressive. One question which has been prompted by recent shenanigans with changing bike insurance providers is how do you describe your creations to the insurers ?
Once again thanks for getting us through another dreich winter.

[buzzer]

Originally Posted by crawsue

As always, Tony, a cracking build….if even more quirky than usual ! Certainly in my advancing years the quest for lightness is becoming more of a “thing”, your finished weight is mighty impressive. One question which has been prompted by recent shenanigans with changing bike insurance providers is how do you describe your creations to the insurers ?
Once again thanks for getting us through another dreich winter.

With the insurance I just declare all the modifications... some companies just decline, but I always seem to find someone to take it on, it helps they are older bikes...

the weight thing is topical...

As this build finishes my mind turns to the next project, I have 6 months to think about it as I like to ride over the summer months... Yesterday I moved the cars and bikes out of the garage so I could give it all a good clean. Moving the bikes around made me realize just how heavy the Guzzi feels (200kg) its manageable for me at the moment, but I am sure a time will come when that also becomes too heavy... The Ducati's weigh in at 165- 168 KG and with the high bars, they are easy enough to move around. The Honda feels super light in comparison! Incidentally I rode a Honda Montesa last month... at 80 ish KG that felt like a push bike!

I think the next build will be a single cylinder, and as powerful as I can find... which means going for a watercooled bike. maybe quite modern, and perhaps accident damaged/reparable salvage... we will see, watch this space!

[buzzer]

been a while since I updated....

I have been using the bikes quite a lot, despite the cold and wet spells of weather! One thing that’s always bugged me on the last Ducati build was the side mounted number plate… so when i was checking the bike over and noticed a crack in the plate, (poor design and manufacture on my part, I am ashamed!) I decided to fit a rear mounted one the same as a lot of bikes use these days, and also the same as I did on the honda build...

I made the bracket out of 12 and 16mm ERW steel tube which I cold bent around a former. it the walls on the former are nice and thick, you can do quite tight bends without kinking. I also made a carbon fiber finisher, using the tyre shape to create a mould. (I covered the tyre with tin foil first!) it came out rather well!

The other thing that bugged me was a slight fluffynes/hesitation on initial acceleration. I backed off the advance just a little and it completely disappeared! Red Vs blue line in the graph. just shows what a small adjustment can make!

[Bitza]

Re your next (single) project, I kinda fancy a KTM 695 lump in an Aprilla 250 chassis. Got to be loads of fun, right?!

[buzzer]

Originally Posted by Bitza

Re your next (single) project, I kinda fancy a KTM 695 lump in an Aprilla 250 chassis. Got to be loads of fun, right?!

fun.... but I am learning there is no substitute for cubes... I love the pull of the V twin!

July 2024… the guzzi is running great and I am doing quite a few trips out on in, but the weather is so mixed a have found myself doing a few jobs… A couple of things I didn’t like about the bike was the seat and the side mounted number plate, so I decided to change both… I made a new seat, and a number plate bracket and small carbon fender (if you can call it that!)

New sear meant a new rear light as I was not happy with that either!

I also changed the bars for some flat ones and made some risers… I love the relaxed ride of the guzzi! very different to the Ducati!

[buzzer]

A few weeks ago my mate bought Sammy Millers old rolling road from his museum... He has fixed the electronics on it and got it working! I took one of my bikes today and gently ran it up... A relaxed run as my bike is SO NOISY! had to have respect for the neighbours... I definitely should have worn ear defenders even for a low speed run! Later on, he ran his Suzuki GS500 up to 100 MPH on there... what a noise! here is a short video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sVxzK1uD94

[buzzer]

Getting towards the end of the riding season for me... Last update for a while as I dont have another project yet! Nothing has taken my eye...

It was a sad day yesterday, the end of an era in two ways... early morning I joined 30 others to pay my final respects to a good mate on his memorial ride... RIP Richard....


I then visited my favorite biker cafe for the last time before it closes its doors for good. Bacon sandwich and a coffee for the last time there. I first visited in 1972 on My 1965 AJS 250 14 CSR... I have been a regular visitor ever since. My wife asked me why I was so sad... Which made me think why I have always been attracted to the place, it definitely wasn't the decor or even the food! Well it had an elevated position, and a large patio which was south facing... it overlooked the road, river and the Severn Valley Railway line... but most of all it was the many like minded people I met... RIP the Food Stop Cafe at Quatt...

[mickj]

I used to go there on a regular basis, it formed the bottom stop off on a circular route from Newport up to Lynns Raven café and then on to the ponderosa and back down to Quatt and then back home to Newport. That car park regularly overfilled and bikes would be parked across the road on the verge.
Do you know why it's closing?

[buzzer]

Originally Posted by mickj

I used to go there on a regular basis, it formed the bottom stop off on a circular route from Newport up to Lynns Raven café and then on to the ponderosa and back down to Quatt and then back home to Newport. That car park regularly overfilled and bikes would be parked across the road on the verge.
Do you know why it's closing?

there are lots of rumours... The guy that owns it wouldn't renew the lease... the guy that runs the cafe is ill I know for sure...

the pub 150 yards away opens its new Cafe this friday, he has converted the function room which is now bike and car themed. It also has a large carpark. Its already been doing weekend car days, and on a Wednesday night it's been a biker night.

[buzzer]

well it's time for a new project... I sold the honda as I never really gelled with it and missed the grunt of the V Twins...

So I looked around and not a lot inspired me to be honest... My criteria was must be air cooled... Electric start... more than 80 BHP...

Then a few weeks ago I got chatting to a guy down the local cafe and he said he had a Buell that he might sell... Never thought about them before and I soon realised they fitted my criteria. He said he had owned it from new, very low miles, and it had been stored in a dehumidified cocoon all its life! he had spent an absolute fortune on it over the years in custom parts, but had not ridden it for 5 years...

I collected it today and here it is... not sure what I will do with it yet, but it's going to make an interesting project!