Thinking of buying a 750 GT. - Ducati.ms

Tard · Jun 1st, 2011, 1:53 am

I'm thinking of adding a vintage Ducati to my garage. Here's a link to the bike I'm interested in - 1975 Ducati 750 GT

I'd appreciate any advice you vintage veterans want to share.
The closest I've ever come to owning a vintage Duc' was my '84 Pantah, which was the first Ducati I ever owned.
I've never owned a bevel, so I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on such a purchase.

748girl · Jun 1st, 2011, 3:50 am

Everyone needs a GT! Is pretty and has bits on it that don't always survive, like the side stand and the metal strip on the seat.

Looks like it has a brembo front caliper which is nice, cos you can't get replacement parts for Scarab any more.

I can't comment too much more because I really don't know much about the later ones, don't know too much about the earlier ones either.

Am not sure about the switch gear on the left hand handlebar, don't think blue plastic was in vogue at the time? Having said all that, how many of them are left as standard any more? Some people will have left theirs that way and that is lovely. The instrument panel is very different from ones I have seen before, doesn't make it wrong, just different.

Am sure someone who knows more will come along with more input shortly. I would ask himself but he is in Adelaide at the moment, don't worry won't ask him to check it out, we can't afford it!!

I would buy it.

Tard · Jun 1st, 2011, 4:45 am

Thanks Aussie girl. I could buy a very 'modern' Ducati with such $$$, but I'd be missing the point. Thanks for the 'heads up' with reference to the points you've mentioned. Appreciate that.

shanetbird · Jun 1st, 2011, 4:55 am

Ive got an 82 SS that need restoring and Ive owned it since new it will cost big $$$$$$$$ to restore .

Believe me it worth it for an investment and you couldn't build one for that much . super low milage !
Pending the sellers situation you may get it a bit cheaper ?

Be very careful on bikesales.com.au , make sure it is there

no see NO sale

There's been some scams around in the past

Shanetbird
2008 hypo
82SS

Tard · Jun 1st, 2011, 5:42 am

Cheers Shane. I value your input.

The mileage is worth noting hey?. Seller is only a 'stones throw' away, so no problem there. I reckon it's worth a look

Just interested in the particulars.

My only immediate concern is he has a another '76 900SS for sale- Ducati 1976 900SS

I want both.

Maybe he's cleaning house?

vt450scr · Jun 1st, 2011, 6:57 am

Hi Tard...

Wow, $25K for a 750GT (see Ducati - eBay (item 110692619453 end time May-31-11 19:38:37 PDT)
as an example).
But it appears the one you're interested in is quite immaculate: Almost too good to be real. That said, from my experience as an owner of a '75 860 GT (bought back in '83, in bits at the moment), when running well, bevel twins are (IMO) exceptionally satisfying motorbikes. They will feel rather agricultural at first, compared to modern bikes, but are very relaxed in their power delivery and handling. The 750s may have a bit less umph, as compared to the 864s (max torque @ about 3500 rpm), but have the advantage of having good, affordable, electronic ignitions available (not the case with squarecase models). Also, all 750s have the esthetically pleasing straight tube frame. Don't forget, though, that the gearchange is old Brit (righthand lever, up for 1st, down fer the rest).

748girl · Jun 1st, 2011, 7:16 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tard

Cheers Shane. I value your input.

The mileage is worth noting hey?. Seller is only a 'stones throw' away, so no problem there. I reckon it's worth a look

Just interested in the particulars.

My only immediate concern is he has a another '76 900SS for sale- Ducati 1976 900SS

I want both.

Maybe he's cleaning house?

Of course you do!

If you are going to look at square cases and the big money they are asking for them, be very very sure you are getting what you are paying for. People have turned 900 S2's into 900SS, Darmah's have been made to look prettier.

Am not trying to insinuate that this is the case in this instance, but it never hurts to be sure.

Some reading Original Ducati Sport and Super ... - Google Books

On the other hand, there are so many bit-sers out there that are genuine. I can remember a bloke bringing around his 900SS which he took delivery of at the factory and rode it around Europe for a while and then shipped it home and it had GT parts on it, but that was the way it was built!

As Shanetbird says bevels can cost you thousands, I am not even going to add up the amount spent on accumulating bits to rebuild the GT's engine and we still don't have everything we need.

Apologies if you knew all this already.

Just been discussing things with himself and he said has the engine on either ever been apart (is the lead seal) still intact? He reckons if he was buying either of them that the big end would need cleaning out and inspecting - they are old!

I asked him about the joys of living with the GT, when it was going. He muttered darkly about carburetors going out of sync, gearbox problems and the general stuff about old bikes. But I know we will never sell the one we have and he does love it. I must admit when it was going it was a heap of fun to ride.

machten · Jun 1st, 2011, 9:25 am

That looks like a pretty pristine example of a late GT. (produced some time after May 1974) so it has the 860 plastic switchgear, the correct front brembo brakes, the 860 style instrument panel and the ignition key switch under the tank on the left hand side. The only things different from stock i can see at a glace is that it is using pod filters (which almost everyone does anyway), so it may be missing the original airboxes and inlet hoses. (The airboxes come up on ebay from time to time)

It all looks present and correct as far as I can see, even has the side stand, which was often removed. This particular period was a bit all over the place on parts used on the 750 GT as Ducati was focussed on the 860.

Given that all the parts look right, "good value" comes down to the condition of the engine. An engine rebuild can cost plenty if you can't do it yourself. (and only 1/2 of plenty if you can). If the milage is accurate, and the bike has been stored as well as it looks, then the engine could well be in great condition. But it would be worth getting an experienced bevel owner to have a listen to it if you can. There are plenty of them in South Australia that frequent the bevel boards. The price is a bit high even by Australian standards, but it would be easy to buy a ratty one for $15K and have to put another $10K and lots of time into getting it into the condition that one may be in already.

They are great fun to ride a real good classic tourer.

Hope that helps.

Kev

Monty777 · Jun 1st, 2011, 11:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tard

I'm thinking of adding a vintage Ducati to my garage. Here's a link to the bike I'm interested in - 1975 Ducati 750 GT

I'd appreciate any advice you vintage veterans want to share.
The closest I've ever come to owning a vintage Duc' was my '84 Pantah, which was the first Ducati I ever owned.
I've never owned a bevel, so I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on such a purchase.

If you want one one and can afford it-buy it-the price of bevel twins is only going one way. If you want a real opinion on the bike post a request to bevelheads-there are some real 750GT experts on the list who will give you the full SP.

John

Duccout · Jun 1st, 2011, 12:30 pm

I've been running Ducatis for close to 40 years, and IMHO, the 750 GT is the best. They are comfortable, smooth, light, easy to work on and plenty fast enough for the real world, as long as you accept that the performance is 1970's and not the 2010's! Plus, some defects like the alternator, are easily sorted. Get it; You'll love it.