Ducati project

[AmishCrackDealer]

So here is an update...
I fit the rear tire hugger, added the new rear wheel, fit the tank a little better, and finished welding the frame. sorry for the picture quality, but its the only way to actually clean the shop (photoshop)


I am working on the exhaust now and grinding the frame to make it smooth before painting it.

[intimid8er]

Does it have problems cornering with that rear?

[tricker]

going even beyond the dark side with that one?

[AmishCrackDealer]

the photo doesnt do it justice - but there was so much background clutter - i had to do something.



I think I'm going to replace the 180 ZR rated tires with something more... cruiser-ish. A taller tire will be much better for this bike.

[AmishCrackDealer]

well - i am going to do something a little different. (understatement huh?)
I need to raise the bike's height a little. Its just a little too low for actual driving and if I dont intend to actually drive it - then why build it. So to raise it, I am going to chop the backbone, ditch the hardtail struts and throw a coilover shock setup in the backbone. Hard to explain, but when its done - I should have real suspension too!

man its so nice to have a place to talk about it.

[YoungBloodM50]

Any update on this? I've been checking out your C50 and noticed you have a ducati. Thought I'd check it out. I am pleasently surprised, and excited.

[AmishCrackDealer]

Well - I made a coil over mono shock rear section on the frame - but I'm not really liking it. I am probably going to remove that section this week and install some longer struts to hardtail it again.

I got the tank in place, and been replacing damaged engine casings - those little things cost a fortune! Dealer wanted $535 to order it (not including shipping) and the only wet clutch cover I could find I managed to score off ebay for less than $100. That pretty much limited progress on this one for awhile...

I also grabbed some stock exhaust headers, some custom air cleaners, grips, throttle, rear sprocket, chain, and the replacement oil cooler. All thats left to replace is a small timing belt and cover - then we can start mocking things up!

Been thinking about some shorter bars...

[AmishCrackDealer]

UPDATE:
Since I finished the trike and the C50, I have been back on the ducati project. I have changed directions with it slightly - not enough to win back the hearts of the ducati loyalists, but something that will blow your minds when its finished.

I mentioned before that I didnt like the coil over setup i made, well- that hasnt changed. New plan calls for removing the monoshock and adding 2 side shocks on the rear. I am adding a sportbike rear subframe (something newer with very sleek lines) and the correct tail fairings to accompany the subframe. I have removed the 16" apehangers and installed a renthal bar with a 3" rise. Really cleaned up the look and made the big just look beefier instantly! I also dropped the chopper gas tank and I am modifying an old goldwing false gas tank into a real gas tank.

I will take pics as I progress with it this weekend. Its gonna be beautiful!

oh - and silver now - not black...

[AmishCrackDealer]

Well, after much deliberating and debating on the direction I want this bike to go, I have made some changes which I think will make the bike more inline with what I want out of it.

I dropped the 16" apehangers and instead chose a short 3" rise Renthal bar. I also removed the Johnny Pag gas tank in leu of a custom made tank. I am building it myself. I am removing the monoshock setup I built and I am going to build a rear frame section so I can use a more "cafe racer" inspired seat and tail section, and will have dual rear shocks from the swingarm to the frame (somewhere and somehow) ;D

It will also all be a metallic silver color with small "Ducati" logo on each side of the gas tank (just to piss off the ducati fans who gave me sh** for doing this! ) hahahah

[AmishCrackDealer]

ok - new update...
I just scored a 1976 Goldwing frame in decent shape. I am intending to swap the Ducati's motor and swingarm over to the Goldwing frame and I am also going to be able to swap over the complete front end I made - so it will keep the same look as the last picture, but allow me a better base platform to make the cafe racer parts. Since the goldwing backbone is doubled (originally just a storage area with the false gas tank around it) -I can simply box it in so the gas tank will be made into the frame. This will allow me to use the false gas tank that came stock on the old Goldwings - so I can still have it all clean and a place to run and hide wiring, as well as protecting the gas tank and hiding the gas cap! Totally smooth outer shell...

I will have to chop some of the rear frame and mate in an old Honda or Yamaha rear frame section to get the right cafe racer look - but you can usually find these frame sections pretty cheap.

So its a major update, but wont change the overall looks of it much - hahah.

[YoungBloodM50]

Wow. Are you retired or something. You've got all the time in the world that I want. I am looking forward to seeing how this turns out. My buddy has a '79 goldwing. I wish he would do something with it, but the title on it says it's stolen. Now he can't get it registered. So it sits in his garage. Then again, he doesn't have a ducati engine to throw in there.

[AmishCrackDealer]

all he needs to do is swap out the neck and weld in a new one with a decent and clean DMV report.

I am not retired - far from it! I have a 10 hour a day job that pays the bills and I own 2 businesses that take the next 6 hours a day - so after that I get to play around.

I also dont sleep much... I average 2 hours a night.

I just finished chopping the new old goldwing frame so the motor should slide inside it easily. I will probably have to wait until the weekend to continue with it... I will try to score pictures when its in it's new frame.

[tricker]

Originally Posted by AmishCrackDealer

I also dont sleep much... I average 2 hours a night.

is this you?

[AmishCrackDealer]

hahaha - nah - I wear contacts.

[teufulhunden07]

If I recall correctly, I think that was a scene from mad tv...

[tricker]

that sir is correct

[AmishCrackDealer]

If all goes well - I should have this little project moved back outside this weekend. I need it out there so I can grind and cut without disturbing the house. I wanna leave work now and go play with it - LOL is that wrong?

[teufulhunden07]

Never! Life can wait. Our motorcycles need us.

[AmishCrackDealer]

Well - after a long day of work - I went home and the old Ducati project was just calling to me. I removed the front end I made and the new rear wheel - then put the engine and swingarm on a hoist so I can take it out to the garage this weekend. (Its inside in my workshop right now - takes up most of the flooor - but what else would you want on the floor. haha.

I have the 1976 Goldwing frame chopped as I will need it for now. I have plans to box in the frame section under the false gas tank - so it will become an actual gas tank with in the frame. I have my plans for making the gas box so I may try that out this weekend as well.

The front end is in good shape - so I may go ahead and get that finished up while I have it all apart anyway. I intend to powdercoat the frame and almost everything in a metallic silver color. Then I will paint the false gas tank and the cafe racer tail section in a matching silver and only have some small black "Ducati" letters put on the sides of the gas tank. And it will be registered as a 1976 Goldwing. Wow - this one project will probably piss off every imaginable group of bikers... hahaha.

oh well. Its going to be a wicked bike when its put together.

thanks for letting me talk about it here.

[tricker]

its always interesting to see someone fabricate a bunch of stuff like you do