A very good restoration, congratulations! There are a few incorrect details, though. Incorrect headlight, speedo, clipons, handlebar switch, choke, points cover screws, side cover screws, shock absorbers, shock absorber nuts, fork decal (should be the earlier green/yellow), chromed front brake stays, frnt brake spoke flanges should be polished, tach bracket (original black plastic ones always broke), wrong primary cover, wrong pattern seat vinyl & rivets, white piping too thick, missing carb to air cleaner bellows, and the muffler should have a removable end piece.
Hi Pedr, I have been working on a book & website, but nothing is complete yet. The book will primarily be a mechanical guide with emphasis on engine building advice. I do not have enough restoration knowledge to cover more than a few models, specifically, the sparkletone silver singles (as above), the orange desmo singles, the Mach I, bevel 750 GT, Sport, and 900ss. I believe Ian Falloon released a book on singles this spring, which would likely be a very good source for restoration info. The best book for mechanical work is still the original factory 5 speed singles workshop manual, the Haynes manual is pretty good, and the Clymer manual has many spec & tolerance mistakes. Any further questions, just post them here.
Trouble is Richard, you'll never see two of these exactly the same. Mine has the original paintwork, correct piping and yet there are no seat rivets. Never have been either, and I have photos of the machine going back to 1971. My headlamp shell is a pattern copy. Correct restoration is just so difficult when NOS parts like this are unobtainable or ridiculously expensive if you're lucky enough to find one - ie a rusty, dinted shell fit for the bin is punted on the market at £500 -plus. As for minor details - modern cable-ties, stainless spokes (originals were not great quality and painted), allen bolts in casings, etc are most definitely improvements on the originals. Let's not get too critical on nice restorations like this. The end result is a lovely bike and probably better than original anyway.
Had a chat with an ex Ducati engineer from the factory many decades ago on this subject when I asked him about getting some bits for my Sebring. He said: "Listen Alan, at the start of someweeks we would open a crate to find Ceriani parts in there, next week it would be Marzocchi. The same for Veglia stuff, the same for wiring and brake parts." Became a bit more relaxed about the concept of Concours after that.
Fabulous bike!
Looks like a non-standard ash tray also...
A very good restoration, congratulations! There are a few incorrect details, though. Incorrect headlight, speedo, clipons, handlebar switch, choke, points cover screws, side cover screws, shock absorbers, shock absorber nuts, fork decal (should be the earlier green/yellow), chromed front brake stays, frnt brake spoke flanges should be polished, tach bracket (original black plastic ones always broke), wrong primary cover, wrong pattern seat vinyl & rivets, white piping too thick, missing carb to air cleaner bellows, and the muffler should have a removable end piece.
Hi Pedr, I have been working on a book & website, but nothing is complete yet. The book will primarily be a mechanical guide with emphasis on engine building advice. I do not have enough restoration knowledge to cover more than a few models, specifically, the sparkletone silver singles (as above), the orange desmo singles, the Mach I, bevel 750 GT, Sport, and 900ss.
I believe Ian Falloon released a book on singles this spring, which would likely be a very good source for restoration info. The best book for mechanical work is still the original factory 5 speed singles workshop manual, the Haynes manual is pretty good, and the Clymer manual has many spec & tolerance mistakes.
Any further questions, just post them here.
Trouble is Richard, you'll never see two of these exactly the same. Mine has the original paintwork, correct piping and yet there are no seat rivets. Never have been either, and I have photos of the machine going back to 1971. My headlamp shell is a pattern copy. Correct restoration is just so difficult when NOS parts like this are unobtainable or ridiculously expensive if you're lucky enough to find one - ie a rusty, dinted shell fit for the bin is punted on the market at £500 -plus. As for minor details - modern cable-ties, stainless spokes (originals were not great quality and painted), allen bolts in casings, etc are most definitely improvements on the originals. Let's not get too critical on nice restorations like this. The end result is a lovely bike and probably better than original anyway.
Had a chat with an ex Ducati engineer from the factory many decades ago on this subject when I asked him about getting some bits for my Sebring. He said: "Listen Alan, at the start of someweeks we would open a crate to find Ceriani parts in there, next week it would be Marzocchi. The same for Veglia stuff, the same for wiring and brake parts." Became a bit more relaxed about the concept of Concours after that.
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