Bevel twin question

[IanHood]

Colin,

I’m pleased to say that I now have a clean running 750. Those 3 piece oil rings really do seem like o have made a huge difference. Compression readings are much the same as previous but no more oily running.

Ian

Hi Ian,

After I had my 750 rebored I could never get the engine to run clean - the piston crowns were always oily. After some years I rebored the barrels again and fitted Vee Two pistons that had those three piece oil rings and I followed the fitting instructions of assembling them with WD 40 and not oil, and from then on the piston crowns ran clean and dry and the engine ran noticeably better.

Cheers,

Colin

[Duccout]

Hi Ian,

That's good to know; hopefully as the rings bed-in the engine will get better and better. I don't know if technically the three ring oil scraper has an advantage (maybe Nigel or Eldert can comment) but they work better for me.

I keep casting envious eyes over 750 GT's for sale, but know it would be folly to take one on now I am in my 70's. I doubt that I am strong enough to lift the engine up on to the bench!

Cheers,

Colin

[blethermaskite]

Hi Colin, This old age thing is 'cr*p'! When I bought my 350 mk3 new in 1974 from a motorcycle dealer in Belfast they also had a new 750 GT sitting in the sunshine outside the shop....unfortunately I just couldn't scrape together the extra (I think) £160 to buy it so just got the 350. I have looked at maybe buying a 750 off and on for years and as the prices just got higher and higher I couldn't justify it, now prices are most definitely on the way down and I could easily afford to buy one (if the right one became available) however now I believe I am too bloody old in my 70s to actually properly enjoy one .......ah well......
Cheers George

[Duccout]

Hi George,

Yes, 750 Ducatis are my all-time favourite bikes and I wish that I still had my 750 Sport. I dream about getting a 750 GT, and there would be no problem riding it, or wheeling it out of the garage, because they are so light, but I cannot justify it because I don't go anywhere now, which is the reason why I recently sold my GT1000 Sport Classic and my 900S2; they were sitting in the garage without being used. Most of my riding is along country lanes between 40 - 60 MPH, and my 250 and 350 handle that, not to mention the Enfield 350, which is adequate for the rare occasion when I go further afield. If I find that I need a bigger bike, a 650 Enfield would be all that I need, but motorcycles are not bought with the head, but the heart, and I want a 750 GT....

Cheers,

Colin

[IanHood]

They are a lovely bike. I’m so glad I bought mine last year. I much prefer it to my Darmah (now sold).

As for lifting the engine, that’s what sons are for

Ian

[Duccout]

Hi Ian,

Yes it is all about balance; the 750's are so much lighter which changes the nature of the bike, but also the 750's are less brutal than the 900 engines, they have a lovely balance between power and torque. Another factor for me is the simplicity and accessibility compared to the electric start 900's, and I think that the large battery and massive electric starter sat on top of the engine makes them very top-heavy.

Enjoy yours while you can.

Colin

[jezza]

Hello All,

I just had to chime in, as I have done it all back to front. I always wanted a single, but when I passed my test in 1981 at the age of 18, the prospect of a 750GT for £900 was more appealing to a youth. Fantastic machine. When I sold it to go despatch riding it went into MCN. In those days you could get a copy on the night before publication in newsagents in London, and I received a phone call from a Japanese dealer on a buying trip. Picked 2 gentlemen up from Witley station on a Tuesday evening to view and they bought it on the spot. I had to deliver it to a London warehouse and then travelled to Farringdon to meet them where they paid me and bought me lunch. One turned up on a single that he had just bought and dropped on the way to meet us, in the January weather. I then bought a 900SS which I lent to a Ducati loving friend whilst I went away for the weekend. He rode it to The Jolly Farmer in Worplesdon, had too much to drink, and stuffed it into a ditch.

But I always wanted a single. I eventually bought a project from John Fallon in the 2000's as I was poor, and to this day have still never even ridden one, although that day is getting closer. I know I won't be disappointed.

Jeremy

[Jordan]

I owned a 750GT for several years before (thinking ahead!) I bought parts to convert it to the electric start variant.
I figured it might allow me some more years of bevel motorcycling.
Some say that it looks like an after-thought and adds unwanted weight. Those statements may be true, but it cannot be an after-thought because provision for the electric starter is part of every bevel twin - even adding to the attractive shape of the clutch cover. Having done the change, I cannot agree that it feels noticeably different to ride.