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Paul Smart project: what should I do?

13810 Views 35 Replies 23 Participants Last post by leopard, Nov 22, 2009

toobs1234

Discussion Starter · Oct 25, 2009 (Edited)

2

So I have been waiting nearly 2 years for some Marchesini 10 spoke magnesium wheels for my project. Of course after 2 years I have come to the conclusion that Marchesini are a bunch of liars (yes I am bitter). So now I have a decision to make and I would appreciate your feedback.

But first an overview of my project. Like most projects, I have 2 goals in mind:

1) performance
2) aesthetics

Performance wise, I really hate to give up the wire spoke wheels, but there is no way to get performance with wire spokes (sorry Alpina), so I decided to go for the Marchesini magnesium 10 spoke wheels. Upgrading the suspension and losing as much unsprung mass as possible were also straightforward goals.

Aesthetically, I hate the fat seat on the Paul Smart--it just looks so, well, fat--especially from the front. I wanted to put on a cantilever swingarm so I could cut off the tail and put on the tail from the original 1972 Ducati 750 Imola. I love the S2R swingarm, but there is no way to mount the shock pivot to the frame in an elegant way. Then I saw the Flight Cycles SS2R http://www.ducatimonster.org/featured/2008jan/featured0108.html , I knew that was my solution.

So here are some pictures of my parts bin and a shopping list:

S2R swing arm
Febur magnesium swingarm eccentric
AP Racing rear caliper
Brembo 200mm rear brake rotor
Motowheels caliper bracket
Ducati Performance ergal rear sprocket
Febur sprocket carrier
waiting on Febur titanium cush bushings
Ohlins TTX36 rear shock
Ohlins FGR 800 forks
Performance parts lower triple clamp
ISR front calipers
Brake Tech ceramic front rotors
Kyle Racing titanium front axle
NCR aluminum headlight/faring/instrument panel mount
50mm diameter headlight with low and high beam (found it randomly and don't know where to get more--anyone else know?)
Airtech streamlining Ducati Imola tail
Flexi-glas full fairing

So since the magnesium wheels are out, my question is should I go aluminum or BST Mamba http://www.motowheels.com/italian/m...or=&collection=168|European Motorcycle Parts .

Aesthetically, I hate the looks of the BSTs, especially on a "retro" bike, but I have gone to such great lengths on the performance in other areas, I think I have to go for them. Anyone want to talk me out of it? Any chance of someone photoshopping a BST rear wheel onto a Paul Smart with the lower fairing? OK, now I'm getting greedy. So what would you do?

your thoughts are appreciated.

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1 - 20 of 36 Posts

mopgcw

· #2 · Oct 25, 2009

depends on your priorities, imho, vintage look I think the Alpina's can't be beat; but if you want pure performance, BST is the way to go. A compromise, might be the OZ's or Carrozeria aluminum 5-spokers.

good luck, lots of good choices out there.

Duccout

· #3 · Oct 25, 2009

Can't you purchase a pair of Marchesinis from eBay?

shivertown1

· #4 · Oct 25, 2009

Have you looked at PVM http://www.sportsbike.com.au/pvm_wheels.html

toobs1234

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 25, 2009

Duccout said:
Can't you purchase a pair of Marchesinis from eBay?

not a 5.5" magnesium 10 spoke for a SSS. You occasionally see 5.5" 5 spokes, but those are ugly as sin. I'd rather have the BSTs.

toobs1234

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 25, 2009

shivertown1 said:
Have you looked at PVM http://www.sportsbike.com.au/pvm_wheels.html

I was actually looking at those if I go aluminum. Unfortunately no magnesium in 5.5" rear.

Monstyr

· #7 · Oct 25, 2009

I hope you can keep us updated with your project as it takes shape.
I'm especially interested in what you will do to the tail as I've been looking for a similar solution for my S, though I dont intend to cut my frame to do so.
When you have the bike started I'd very much appreciate if you photographed the imola seat sat in position on the original subframe from a couple of angles.
I was toying with the idea of using this as a base and cutting the hump to widen it in order to cover the widest part of the seat frame but am reluctant to just buy one in case its a non starter option. It may then prove easier to make a seat from scratch.

I know you can buy seat units in this style that bolt straight onto the standard subframe but they are prohibitively expensive for what they are I think

EIGHTfortyEIGHT

· #8 · Oct 25, 2009

So a 6" wont fit from an 848. Is it a width thing?

Muschi

· #9 · Oct 25, 2009

i have a pair of black Marchesini forged aluminum 10-spokes from the
Hypermotard S for sale, which i bought new at the ducati dealer and
have covered only ~5 Kms on them since.
they sell for 1350 Euros the pair including tyres, i have somebody to
take a package to switzerland anyway, so transportation would be
no problem.

nice package of parts that you have got there so far.

reh

· #10 · Oct 25, 2009

Seat details

Monstyr said:
I hope you can keep us updated with your project as it takes shape.
I'm especially interested in what you will do to the tail as I've been looking for a similar solution for my S, though I dont intend to cut my frame to do so.
When you have the bike started I'd very much appreciate if you photographed the imola seat sat in position on the original subframe from a couple of angles.
I was toying with the idea of using this as a base and cutting the hump to widen it in order to cover the widest part of the seat frame but am reluctant to just buy one in case its a non starter option. It may then prove easier to make a seat from scratch.

I know you can buy seat units in this style that bolt straight onto the standard subframe but they are prohibitively expensive for what they are I think

+1 on wanting more details on what you are doing with the seat.

barfer

· #11 · Oct 26, 2009

If you are going to replace all the special Paul Smart parts why don't you start with a lesser bike to start with. By the time you're done you won't be able to tell if you started with a GT or a sport, or a Paul Smart...

Seems like a great project, though.

ducSculptor

· #12 · Oct 26, 2009

barfer said:
If you are going to replace all the special Paul Smart parts why don't you start with a lesser bike to start with. By the time you're done you won't be able to tell if you started with a GT or a sport, or a Paul Smart...

Seems like a great project, though.

... or a PS that's already in need of a major overhaul?

bassphreek

· #13 · Oct 26, 2009

I would love to see the solution for the swingarm/shock. From what I can tell in the Flight Cycles pics, you arent going to be able to get the shock mounted without ditching the battery and half the gas tank.

toobs1234

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 26, 2009

bassphreek said:
I would love to see the solution for the swingarm/shock. From what I can tell in the Flight Cycles pics, you arent going to be able to get the shock mounted without ditching the battery and half the gas tank.

that's right. The battery is already gone (A123 battery) and I will need to chop off the "udder" on the tank. I hate that thing anyway, so no love lost. This will involve mounting the fuel pump in a remote canister gravity fed from the main fuel tank.

toobs1234

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 26, 2009

barfer said:
If you are going to replace all the special Paul Smart parts why don't you start with a lesser bike to start with. By the time you're done you won't be able to tell if you started with a GT or a sport, or a Paul Smart...

Seems like a great project, though.

I know logically that you are right. Especially since I want to bring this back to the US eventually and that would be so much easier if I start with a US bike. I feel an attachment to my current bike, though. I may just break down and buy that salvage bike.

GTRossi

· #16 · Oct 26, 2009

it will be interesting to see how the bike turns out - i spent much time looking, looking, looking to see if going with a single-sided swingarm made sense but i couldn't justify it...

would love to see pics in progress!

TheDucnutOfBevelville

· #17 · Oct 27, 2009

Just a suggestion but if you don't like the look of the carbon BST's would you consider painting them?... lots of options then...

BISHOP-BUCK

· #18 · Oct 27, 2009

toobs1234 said:
I know logically that you are right. Especially since I want to bring this back to the US eventually and that would be so much easier if I start with a US bike. I feel an attachment to my current bike, though. I may just break down and buy that salvage bike.

Yeah, if your planning on bringing it to the States I would wait and buy a bike when I got here. That is if you can wait that long to start this project. But since you've waited 2 years before being completely fed up about your wheels, it sounds as if your pretty dang patient.

This project sounds really cool. Can't wait to see how it comes along.

Oh and by the way, those forks are amazing! Way too rich for my blood but damn would I love to get a set of those!

toobs1234

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 27, 2009

hey guys,

I just tried to get a set of BSTs and the dealer said they only have 6" too, but suggested I use a 3mm spacer. Does anyone have experience with this on a single sided swing arm? I had thought about this before, but decided against it as the "axle pegs" are kind of cone shaped. Hope you know what I mean by axle pegs--those little spikes that stick out of the axle and go into female cutouts on the wheel.

thanks, John

toobs1234

Discussion Starter · #20 · Oct 27, 2009

TheDucnutOfBevelville said:
Just a suggestion but if you don't like the look of the carbon BST's would you consider painting them?... lots of options then...

thought about that too, but the BSTs don't seem to be that smooth, which is kind of hidden because of the dark carbon, but would really show up when painted.

1 - 20 of 36 Posts

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