It only took seventeen years.

[DBDBrian]

He always has a large pitch at Stanford Hall

[Ventodue]

As far as I know, Brian is still above ground and upright ...

Well, that is good news! Tough old bird . Do wish him well if you see him at Stafford another time!

(And tell him I still haven't forgiven hm for selling that F1 without letting me know ...)

[nalimugmug]

Brians still breathing and trading, I purchased some bits from him a few months back.

Bob

[Duccout]

But he no longer advertises? How do you know what he has?

[Eldert]

That's good to know; I wonder if he still sells stuff?

he still sells stuff , he had a stall at the Reggio Emilia Mostro Scambio in 2019 .

i bought some 450 camshaft endcaps from him .

Eldert

[Duccout]

Thanks, that's worth knowing.

Colin

[DBDBrian]

Well at long last, I received the new age related reg number documentation yesterday, contacted the insurance brokers to get it updated to road legal, and lo and behold the V5c from the DVLA, and insurance docs dropped through the letter box this morning. Now in the process of sorting out a pressed alloy reg plate, and then it's all systems go.
After all the good weather, I expect it will now p-ss down with rain, they are even talking about snow.
PS
Thanks everyone for your help re sorting the age related reg.

[DBDBrian]

Out for the first time today, dry but very cold, which was perhaps a good thing, as no fear of overheating. I made the first trip of a couple of miles or so on back lanes, on returning home it settled to a nice idle, checked things over, no leaks, plug a good colour for distance travelled, charging system , clutch, gear selection and brakes OK, still a little exhaust smoke.
Set out again on the main road, and it soon became apparent the engine wanted to rev, it was rather like riding a small Goldstar, with the engine only happy with very controlled throttle openings until it was above four and a half thousand, and then it wanted to go. But this was soon curtailed as everything in the engine is new.
I did another twelve miles, and it felt things were freeing up, and I was more than pleased with the result . Another check over at base, and apart from a little weep on the exhaust valve chest drain banjo bolt, everything oil tight, "Deep Joy." Little tweak on the air screw. Exhaust smoke gone.
Looking for better weather, and I can give it a good run, and hopefully I will be able to report all is OK.

PS
Felt like a teenager

[ranton_rambler]

Very good Brian. I was out on my Guzzi 850GT yesterday for a little shopping trip. Quite pleasant when I set off but started hailing and sleeting whilst out and dropped to 3 deg C.
Hoping to find time to have a final go at sorting my carb settings today before giving up and putting the standard camshaft back in.
Ian

[George]

Out for the first time today, dry but very cold, which was perhaps a good thing, as no fear of overheating. I made the first trip of a couple of miles or so on back lanes, on returning home it settled to a nice idle, checked things over, no leaks, plug a good colour for distance travelled, charging system , clutch, gear selection and brakes OK, still a little exhaust smoke.
Set out again on the main road, and it soon became apparent the engine wanted to rev, it was rather like riding a small Goldstar, with the engine only happy with very controlled throttle openings until it was above four and a half thousand, and then it wanted to go. But this was soon curtailed as everything in the engine is new.
I did another twelve miles, and it felt things were freeing up, and I was more than pleased with the result . Another check over at base, and apart from a little weep on the exhaust valve chest drain banjo bolt, everything oil tight, "Deep Joy." Little tweak on the air screw. Exhaust smoke gone.
Looking for better weather, and I can give it a good run, and hopefully I will be able to report all is OK.

PS
Felt like a teenager

Well done Brian. In my opinion the Elite is the best looking bike that Ducati made. After you have run it in and found how easy it is to move about I would not be surprised to hear that it is your go to bike and the Goldstar is left sulking at the back of the garage.

If my 125 engine proves to be under powered for my liking I might be tempted to fit an Elite engine. This of course would mean new carb, exhaust and lot's of money.
Sorting out my heating boiler so no chance to get bike on the road yet. hope to get it going next week.