Help please on what Scrambler to buy?

[hoylie]

Hi

Im looking to buy a Ducati Scrambler and I was hoping some of you good folk might be able to point me in the right direction. So Im looking at either the 350 or 450 version and any advice on those would be appreciated. Is there anything I should look for, engine noises, oil leaks in certain places, anything that would not be original but may have been fitted? There are a couple on ebay uk at the moment

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121081912977? ... 1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271210621201? ... 1423.l2649

any thoughts on either of these, one says it has engine noise.

I do like this one

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C387774

Do you think any of these are worth looking at and what about price?

One last thing, are parts easy to come buy etc. I had a bit of a search and lots seem to pop up. Anything else you might be able to advise me on again would be apprciated, i don't mind buying one thats rough around the edges but I don't want to buy one with serious problems.

Thanks

Martyn

PS. or if you know of anyone who is selling one in europe please pass on my email address, martyn@thebicycleco.com

[Jon Pegler]

The two machines for sale on e-bay that you have noted have been for sale for a while.
Personally, I think they are both a bit on the expensive side.
Are you looking particularly for a 350 or 450?
There are probably more 250s available.
It rather depends on whether you are capable of working on these bikes yourself or not.
Engine noises can be quite expensive, even if you do the work yourself.
The 450 would be nice, but is a bit overpriced with an engine noise. 5K would be neared the UK price and then sort out any problems.
The 350 is a Spanish bike, which in itself is not a problem (I love them), but has a non-standard headlamp and Paoli forks.
I would value that machine about 2k lower than the asking price because it is not in standard trim.
Gio's 350 in Holland is a much more original machine and is probably priced about right (for Europe). Maybe on the high side, but he is a dealer.
Parts are fairly easily available for all these Ducatis, although engine parts can get expensive.
PM me if you're interested in a 250 Scrambler.

Jon

[hoylie]

Hey Jon

Thanks for the reply, Im happy to do work myself, like I say didn't want to buy one with a duff engine to start with and the one on ebay with engine noises worries me. I agree the prices on there seem a little high, if any of those I would look at the 350.

The one in belgum looks nice, 2k less you reckon, take your point on the forks etc.

Gio's one looks good, shame it in the Netherlands but don't mind traveling for the right one, but the price seems a little steep.

I don't mind a 250 either, just looked at the 350/450 as I would like to use it with someone on the back and thought the extra grunt would help.

cheers

Martyn

[Ventodue]

Agree with all that Jon said (no surprises there ... ). Coupla other thoughts:

1. Ducati made (comparatively) lots of these, with many of the 250s and 350s using Spanish-built engines (all the 450s were made in Italy). And there are still a fair few around. Unfortunately for you, the problem is that they weren't imported to the UK (or only in very small numbers and at the end of the production run). So you're right to be prepared to look across the Channel. (My 450 came from Ferrara).

2. You need to decide whether you want a series 1 or a series 2 - or whether you don't care . For the main differences, have look here http://www.ducatiscrambler.com/scramble ... _serie.htm

and also in the books.

3. Buy as original as you can (= do your research! ) while being aware that, as was usual at the time, anciliaries tend to vary according to who was the chosen supplier of the time (CEV vs Aprilia lights and switches, CEV or Smiths clocks, for example).

4. Reliability is good, nothing special to look out for. The earliest engines used a smaller (31mm) crank-pin which was changed to 32mm in 1970 (and, in the very last 450s, to 34mm). But certainly the 32mm ones, the bulk of the production, seem to get by fine.

Spares are available thru the likes of Nigel Lacey and Barry Jones for generic stuff, and thru the Amici for model-specific stuff.

5. They are a hoot! As to taking a pillion ... Well, be advised that the seat is very small

Feel free to ask any more specific questions.

Buona fortuna!

Craig

[hoylie]

Hey Craig

Thans for the info, much appreciated. Would you say the 450 is worth looking for, for the extra power? So you say the pillion seat is on the small side, so I ride bike from europe to the UK might be a no go? Did the 450 only come in yellow?

cheers

martyn

[Ventodue]

Would you say the 450 is worth looking for, for the extra power?

("Power?", Martyn? "Power?!?" )

The quoted output for the 450 is 27 horses; for the 350, 24; and for the 250, 16.

Which kinda supports my belief that it's not worth getting too excited about power outputs, 450 vs. 350. The 250, on the other hand, may struggle a little ...

So you say the pillion seat is on the small side, so I ride bike from europe to the UK might be a no go?

2-up, I would advise against (but see photo below). On your own, no problems . Did the MotoGiro on mine - as do a lot of people, btw. And the Amici organise an annual bash, somewhere exotic: Montenegro this year, but they have done trips to Morocco, Nord Cap and even Cameroon! So, "Scramblers aren't afraid to travel".

Did the 450 only come in yellow?

Series 1, yes.
Series 2, no. Also came in orange, blue, black, red ... and, according to the Amici, even a white and a green
Here'a contemporary publicity shot of a black one, for example



And here's a photo of a couple of intrepids two-up on the Amici tour in Cameroon! Bravo! (to them both ...)

[machten]

Nice one, Craig.

Without seeing that photo, I wouldn't have thought those distances two up on a scrambler anatomically possible.

Respect! (And I hope they are not planning for more children)

Kev

[Ventodue]

Without seeing that photo, I wouldn't have thought those distances two up on a scrambler anatomically possible.

Personally, Kev, I still don't think they are, and that is just a bit of Photoshop ....

[hoylie]

Thans for everyones imput, I spoke to John at 'made in Italy' about this one

http://www.madeinitalymotorcycles.com/new_page_13.htm

What does anyone thonk about this one, look original? I wassn't sure if the rims were orignal and the seat has a tear, are these costly?

Cheers

Martyn

[Eldert]

Hi Martyn

this bike is made in Spain and it is a Mototrans Ducati

Eldert