Hello

[Golgother]

Hey All

Thanks for allowing me access to your forum and please let me introduce myself.

Matt's the name, I'm new to Ducati singles having always harboured a desire to get one,I would greatly appreciate your help in learning more about these lovely bikes.
I've owned bikes for the last 34 years, restored a few, built a few and modified a few and currently own a Harris framed Laverda triple and a Honda VTR 1000.

I know that Duke singles look fantastic and come in various engine sizes (100 - 450 cc) with some featuring Desmo valves, to further confuse the issue some where manufactured in Italy and Spain, oh and the legendary 250 Mach 1 will do 100 MPH.....

After which I know nothing.

I guess my step is to understand what the price range is for the different models and what to look out for other than ''normal'' old bike type problems along with any advice you can provide.

Thanks
Matt

[DewCatTea-Bob]

Thanks for allowing me access to your forum and please let me introduce myself.
Matt's the name, I'm new to Ducati singles having always harboured a desire to get one,

____ Welcome to our w.site Matt !
Where in the world are you located ? _ Were there ever very many Ducati-singles to be seen in your area ?


" oh and the legendary 250 Mach 1 will do 100 MPH..... "

____ I've only ever heard of that Duke-model reaching 96-MPH. ...
It's actually the 1965 Mark-3 model which was "legendary", for it's 110-MPH top-end/speed !


Duke-Cheers,
-Bob

[Golgother]

Hi Bob

I'm in Stoke on Trent in the very windy UK.

I've never seen a Duke single on the road never mind in my area.

____ I've only ever heard of that Duke-model reaching 96-MPH. ...
It's actually the 1965 Mark-3 model which was "legendary", for it's 110-MPH top-end/speed !

I did say I knew very liitle about these bikes ........

So how about price ranges everyone ?

Cheers
Matt

[StewartD]

Hi Matt and Bob,

I have attached a jpeg of the 5th of November, 1964 Motor Cycle magazine test of the Mach 1. They got 97 m.p.h. in 4th gear! They are quite credible as they used the MIRA test facility.

Unfortunately I haven't more than this first page of the test and so do not know the basis of their claim that 'the bike will fulfill the manufacturer's claim of 106 m.p.h.'

Has any forum member got the full article or any other period tests of the Mach 1? I would very much like to see anything more that may be available.

Cheers,

Stewart

[JimF]

I've never run mine with a megaphone, only a Silentium. At best I could get up to 80-ish. That's an estimate based on the crowd I was riding alongside.

The speedometer needle swings like a windshield wiper in a downpour making a reading impossible. And even at low speeds that speedometer is known to be inaccurate.

However, above 70 mph the bike gives the rider the feel of doing a hundred!

Prices in the US are strong starting at about USD $4000 for a rideable street scrambler and rising from there based on overall condition, the model, whether or not it's stock or a bitsa, and across such an expansive country as the US prices will vary by region as well.

Jim

[Bevel bob]

Hi Matt, The singles do come up for sale , In the UK the NArrow case Mach 1 is highly prized and commands a very high price . The Narrow case Mark3 is also highly prized but is a bit cheaper over here ,if anything its just as quick and looks almost identical except it has more sensible kick start. The late 60's Narrow case were very often converted to racing. The Desmo's ( wide case generally and later) have the " image" but are usually slower and more complex.Wide case Mark 3's with valve spring heads came after the narrow case bikes. Probably the most exotic looking single is the Elite 200cc and the earlier 175 sports. I used to ride a Mach1 and now own a 67 NC Mark3 . In really Top tune with a mile of run up the Mach 1 did 104mph with me on it! working from a very accurate rev counter and allowing for wheel spin etc. I have not got anywhere near that on my Mark3. Several American road tests also got there in the mid 1960's. A realistic top speed is 90mph as its hard to keep in tip top tune, or find enough road, or the bottle these days!.Beware of seemingly posh restorations from Linconshire where a first class bodger is regularly churning out "restored" bikes.

[Eldert]

'

Has any forum member got the full article or any other period tests of the Mach 1? I would very much like to see anything more that may be available.

Cheers,

Stewart

Hi Stewart

that test ( and many other interesting articles ) are in the book Ducati gold portfolio 1960 - 1973

ISBN 1 85520 3502

Eldert

[DewCatTea-Bob]

The speedometer needle swings like a windshield wiper in a downpour making a reading impossible. And even at low speeds that speedometer is known to be inaccurate

____ That's pretty-much how all stock-speedos do, but it's not exactly due to 'speed', but rather engine-vibration ! _ So whenever ya really wish to see exactly what that meter is meaning to indicate, ya have to pull-in the clutch & cut the throttle off (and maybe even kill the engine),, then the needle will instantly settle-down & give it's intended reading, (but ya have to do it all fairly quick, before your speed falls-off much at-all !).
__ As for their accuracy, (with stock-sized tires),, the meters that read-out to 150-MPH, are usually 10 to 20 MPH too-high,, while the units that read-out to 100-MPH are usually 5 to 15 MPH too-high,, and the 80-MPH units are usually up-to 10-MPH too-high.
All these units settle-down quite-well when not subjected to the vibration !


Dukaddy-DUKEs,
-Bob

[Bevel bob]

The Mach1 speedo was nigh useless and at speed would swing from 100 to 150. The mark 3 speedo is steady but reads 10 -15 mph fast and it should be possible to re-calibrate it.The then new motorways were posted at 1/4 mile intervals and we used these to work out our speeds ,having little else to worry about,those were the days!.

[Glawster]

Golgother,
I suggest you go to the Stafford Classic Bike Show at the County Show Ground next weekend.
You will get excellent advice and information from the Ducati Owners club stand. Also Barry Jones of Classic Ducati will have his own stand. There's nothing he doesn't know about Ducati singles. Ask for Brian Silver on the DOC stand. Maybe Nigel Lacey of Lacey Ducati will also be there.
I mention this because I bought a 250 MK3 3 months ago and I went to the Classic Bike Show in Shepton Mallet. I met these guys and got great advice from them all.
There's plenty of Ducati Singles around in the UK - you just need to look a bit harder! Hope you manage to find one.
Derek