Posts by tag: pantah

Warning!

We have 15 years of archives. Please note that posts over a year old may have been updated to point to similar bikes available to bid on eBay.

Ducati February 1, 2015 posted by Ian

Just Your Average Ducati (Wink, Wink): 1984 Scuderia N.C.R 600 Pantah

Update: Last posted in Jan of 2014 by Ian, it’s back and the buy-it-now is now set at $37500 but offers are being accepted – Marty/Dallaslavowner

Ians post

Do we have any Monty Python fans that can give me a wink, wink; nudge, nudge, that this is just an average Ducati. All I can say is, “What a damn cool little bike.”

NCR is still around and somehow still gets more wow out of what the Ducati engineers started. It’s about time to exit the ultra plush RSBFS offices stage left so the seller is going to tell you the story on NCR and the 600 Pantah (by the way, he knows a hell of a lot more than me about them):

Many sucessful race bikes were made. These bikes were ridden by the likes of Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari in the 1972 Imola 200. Salvador Cannellas and Benjamin Grau in the Barcelona 24 hour. Vanes Francini and Mauro Ricci in the Italian Regions T.T, Wayne Gardner and Freddy Spencer. Doug Polen won two World Superbike titles in 1991 and 1992, and Ben Bostroms World Superbike title in 2000. Prehaps the most famous race bike was the Steve Wynne, Sports Motorcycles / Scuderia N.C.R 900 Formula 1 machines ridden by Mike Hailwood in his fairey tale comeback in the 1978 Isle of Man T.T Formula 1 race.

The history of the model:

After the sucessful career of the 1970s bevel drive N.C.R 900 series bikes. They turned their attention to the new for 1980 belt drive Pantah based machines. About 30 600cc T.T. F2 machines were built by Scuderia N.C.R., including another T.T winning Steve Wynne, Sports Motorcycles ridden by Tony Rutter. These bikes were later replicated by Steve and Lester Harris at Harris Performance, and Roy Thursby and sold as Moto Vecchia. Copying is after all the most sincerist form of flatery.

After the chromoly steel framed bikes were built. In 1982 Scuderia N.C.R. turned their attention to the then ‘state of the art’ alloy tubing. They commisioned Ducati frame builder Verlicchi, and were called Aluframes. A total of just seven frames were built.

These were sold as either ‘frame only’ or ‘race kit’ or ‘road kit’. Two were sold as ‘frame only’. Both were built into inexpensive club racers. One is in Belgium #40, the other in California #394. Two were sold as ‘race kits’. One is in Italy and looks fantastic as an endurance racer #9. The other is in Australia and hasn’t been assembled or used. Three were sold as ‘road kits’. One is in Italy and looks somewhat simular to mine. The other is in Australia and looks strange with it’s blue painted frame and wheels, dual seat and quiet canister exhaust. To see pictures of the others, visit superpantah.blogspot.com and search NCR.

And the info on the bike itself:

This Scuderia N.C.R 600 Pantah was first registered in 1984. The weight is just 357 Pounds (162 Kilograms). The condition is excelent, and the build quality is superb. The only minor flaw is a small dent in the N.C.R stamped exhaust system. It is also missing the rear view mirror. Make no mistake, this is the only chance you will ever have to own a genuine Scuderia N.C.R road bike. I believe this is the best of the three that have been built. The frame number reflects the original donor bike. The title is foriegn. I am selling the bike for the widow of my late friend. Expert crating is available for overseas customers. Viewing welcomed with pick up service from Nashville airport.

Here is the auction.

Ian

Just Your Average Ducati (Wink, Wink): 1984 Scuderia N.C.R 600 Pantah

Ducati December 17, 2014 posted by Tad Diemer

Classy Twin: 1993 Ducati Superlight for Sale

In 1992, Ducati introduced a limited-edition of their air/oil-cooled 900SS called the Superlight that featured distinctive Marvic composite wheels, cast-iron front rotors, a vented clutch cover, bits of carbon fiber bodywork, a solo tail section, and high-mount pipes to increase cornering clearance. Unfortunately, there was no engine performance increase as delivered. Available in yellow or red most years, depending on what part of the world you were in.

The “manufactured rarity” and a negligible performance increase weren’t really enough to spark much interest at the time. It wasn’t even all that rare, with 861 made in 1993 alone. Later years lost some of the lightweight bits, changing to the standard wheels and regular rotors on the front brakes, making it even less special, and turning the Superlight into a solo-seat SS with high pipes.

The older 900cc engines certainly won’t set the world on fire in terms of performance and they do tend to run out of breath long before redline, but that midrange boom more than makes up for a lack of high-rev histrionics. And if 75-ish rear-wheel horsepower doesn’t sound like enough, Ducati’s two-valve twin does respond well to basic tuning, and there are big-bore and high-compression kits available to boost power significantly. The engine has been in production, in one form or another, since the early 1980’s and is, in spite of Ducati’s temperamental reputation, extremely durable when properly cared for.

With too many made to be particularly collectable, too little power to really impress, and later models missing the actual super-light parts, the Superlight suffered from a “manufactured collectability” that has kept values relatively low, although I’d expect prices of nice examples like this one to be next in line for a price spike among Ducati collectors.

The biggest draw of the Superlight is that many were purchased at least partly as investments and have been correspondingly well-maintained, making them some of the best-looking and best-cared-for 90’s Ducatis available.

There are some additional pictures over at the original eBay listing: 1993 Ducati Superlight for Sale.

But unfortunately, there is virtually no information about the bike’s history listed, just some reprinted specifications. There are a few minor scratches and scuffs as shown in the pictures, but nothing you couldn’t live with, or easily repair if you wanted the bike to be perfect. I’d probably just fix the little tear in the seat and leave the scratches alone, since I’d plan to ride rather than show the bike. I’d certainly leave the color alone: the 900SS is one of the very few bikes that look good in yellow. In fact, I actually prefer it for this era’s style, especially with the very slick half-fairing found on the CR models.

With just over 6,000 miles on this particular bike, mileage is low enough to be very desirable, but not so low you’d be afraid to ride it, or need to put tons of money into replacing bits that have gone south from sitting for too long. Although the Superlight isn’t quite the limited-edition that Ducati implied, they’re definitely less common than the high-mileage SS and CR’s that tend to litter eBay and Craigslist, and early bikes with genuine lightweight bits should be plenty of fun strafing back roads with your riding buddies.

-tad

Classy Twin: 1993 Ducati Superlight for Sale

Ducati October 17, 2014 posted by Tad Diemer

Low-Mileage Italian: 1988 Ducati 750 F1 for Sale

Okay, so here’s the thing: all of my early opinions about the 750 F1 were informed by Mick Walker’s Illustrated Ducati Buyer’s guide where the bike got one freaking star. I’m not sure where I put my copy, so don’t crucify me if I got that bit wrong, or if you have an updated edition where he revised his opinion, but it really stuck out in my mind.

The review absolutely hated the F1: “uncomfortable, extremely unreliable, and slow,” were words I remember being applied, with a big heaping of distain…

Powered by a 750cc version of Ducati’s air-cooled, two-valve Desmo v-twin, the F1 was styled after the TT1 and TT2 race bikes. The Pantah engine is eminently tunable to make serious power, and many of the criticisms leveled at the bike can be rectified. Early bikes were definitely down on power and quality, but gradual improvements improved the package, and the 1988 bikes are generally considered to be the best of the bunch.

These occupy a very interesting place in Ducati history, as they form a bit of a bridge between the older BatBike-looking Pantah models and the much more modern 900SS bikes. In addition, the bike’s rarity has caused values to skyrocket in recent years: for a long time, you could get one of these for less than the price of a good 900SS/CR. But looking at the asking price on this example, you can see just how much that’s changed.

The original eBay post reads a bit like a poetry slam and includes lyrics from Chris deBurgh’s “Lady in Red” [seriously]. Excerpted from the full listing: 1988 Ducati 750 F1 for Sale

Yes
another RARE beast
that came to AMERICA!!!
the beloved F1

3188 original miles
original dated (dot) coded tires to prove it
close to MINT
ALL ORIGINAL PAINT

STUNNING ITALIAN CRAFTSMANSHIP
11 SECONDS IN THE 1/4 MILE
OBNOXIOUSLY LOUD!!!
HIGH MAINTENANCE of course

fluids have been drained for
about SIX years. seafoam creeper
used in tank and pumpers. this was also the
last time it was running. what’s it sound like…..
exactly like a 427 corvette
NO KIDDING-ask the neighbors

missing bits and pieces, but very, very original.
ALL ORIGINAL PAINT
wrong exhaust (but i love em)
EXTRAS INCLUDED

It’s great that the seller is so passionate about the bike. But what “bits and pieces are missing”? And what extras are included? He also may be overstating the “stunning Italian craftsmanship” a bit in ALL CAPS and, as a carbed, air-cooled Duck owner, I’m not sure if calling the bike “high-maintenance” is a good selling point, or even true. Definitely a case where grinning, hard-sell enthusiasm may be getting in the way of important details…

There’s something a bit crude about the F1, something sort of clunky-looking, but these do make a staggering bellow when breathing through open pipes: I saw one at a track day recently with a pair of oval high-mount pipes and fresh paint that looked and sounded the business.

With 5 days left on the listing and a $24,500 asking price, this seems very high, even considering the 3,200 miles on the clock. Although with plenty of lurkers… sorry, I mean “watchers,” who knows what this will go for and what the seller might accept as a best offer.

-tad

Low-Mileage Italian: 1988 Ducati 750 F1 for Sale

Ducati April 17, 2013 posted by Mike

Little bike, lots of fun! 1983 Ducati 350 Desmo

RSBFS has had a slew of sub 500cc bikes come through these pages recently. Smaller bikes, as we all know, are fun to ride. Sure, you don’t have that arm-ripping torque, that wheely-prone acceleration nor the bragging rights of beating all comers, but you do get to have an absolute blast on a lighter bike with less fear of landing in the pokey or the morgue.

This is the second Ducati 350 Desmo we have had on these pages in the past few months. This bike looks to be in decent condition for the age (where did the turn signals go?), but is located in the country of its birth: Italy (Mezza, in the Province of Turin to be more precise). While this puts it up near the borders of France and the Principality of Monaco, both great vacation destinations, it may be a bit out of scope for North American based readers.

From the seller:

THINK ABOUT AT THE NEAR SUMMER!!
BUY A ITALIAN CLASSIC CAFE’ RACE FOR YOUR RUN IN THE SUN!!
WE SELL THIS BEATIFUL DUCATI 350 DESMO PANTAH;YEAR 1983;
LIKE THE NEW;RUN VERY WELL!!ONLY TWO OWNERS FROM NEW!!
WE HAVE CHEACK THE ENGINE;THE DUCATI START WITHOUT PROBLEMS;AND IS VERY ENJOY TO RUN!!
THE LEGENDARY ENGINE DUCATI DESMOSEDICI;AND THE PANTAH
IS DIRECTLY FROM THE RACE IN THE ’80 YEARS!!
THIS ENGINE IS THE MOTHER OF THE ORIGINAL DUCATI ENGINE OF NOW!!
DRIVE A LEGEND AND AN ITALIAN ICON!!!
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED NOT WAIT THE FINISH OF THE ADVERT BUT PLS CONTACT ME!!

We don’t see a lot of these smaller home-market Ducatis on RSBFS. I know that the larger and more power-hungry riders will comment on the relative lack of power of this 350 Desmo twin, but considering that Kawasaki sells more 250 (and now 300cc) Ninjas than anything else in their lineup, small bikes must have some sort of appeal. Is it only the price, or is there something more intrinsic than that?

This bike is available now, and bidding has started out slowly. The bidding at time of this writing is only a paltry $305 USD – with reserve still in place. For more information and pictures, click the link and jump over to the auction. Does this little Ducati interest you at all? Check it out and let us know. Good luck!

Ducati March 28, 2013 posted by Mike

Worth panting over: 1982 Ducati 600 SL Pantah

If badge-engineered “Limited Edition” Ducatis are not your thing, how about a rare Duc that earned the title the old fashioned way? Check out this gorgeous 1982 600 SL. Sure, it sports some miles and it needs some refurbishment. But for a LOT less than the turn-of-the-century MH900e internet bike we recently posted, you can have a classic Ducati that offers a different type of exclusivity.

This 600 SL sports the “new” Pantah motor, actuating the desmodromic valve train via rubber belts versus the earlier bevel drive motors. By going this route Ducati realized a huge jump in factory productivity; the belt drive motors required far fewer adjustments during assembly. Longevity of these units has been assured by the track record – change the belts and oil at required intervals, and they are relatively bulletproof.

From the seller:
RARE 1982 DUCATI 600SL PANTAH MOTORCYCLE ,EXCELLENT CONDITION ,RUNS PERFECT ,EVERTYTHING WORKS ,VERY LOW PRODUCTION ,MINT CONTI PIPES ,36K 2 OWNER MILES ,REGULAR SERVICE FROM NEW ,SMALL CHIPS ETC IN PAINT FROM NORMAL USE ,BIKE HAS CLEAN LIEN FREE TITLE ,FACTORY TOOLS ,OVERALL VERY CLEAN WITH NO ISSUES

A bike can only be new once, and it can only be original once. While this one is clearly not new, it does offer originality. Yes, it has some flaws that you might expect in a 30+ year old motorcycle, but it still looks pretty good from a reasonable distance. Consider this a rider today with restoration potential in the future.

Early Pantahs – like many interesting bikes – are headed upwards in terms of pricing. The 600SL was never a hyper sports bike, and was not intended to be track burners like the similar era Super Sports. This is a gentleman’s ride, with class and good looks. What those looks will cost you will be determined by the auction. Current bidding has been moderate, with the auction just over $4,000 and reserve still in place. Click the link to check out all the details. Good Luck!

Ducati February 14, 2013 posted by Mike

Tri-Colored Twin: 1986 Ducati 750 F1

From the Pacific Northwest comes this fantastic looking Ducati 750 F1. Despite this bike’s great appearance (reportedly housebroken at an early age) this one is also a rider with some 23,500 kilometers on those white-faced Veglia dials. That works out to be about 14,500 miles or so – give or take – and proves that this beauty is more than just a living room queen.

Update 2.13.2013: Previously listed a few weeks back, this F1 is back after bids reached $16k but failed to meet reserve. Current bid is $9k with 3 days to go. Links updated. -dc

The F1 was impossibly small for its day. In the world of aircooled Japanese inline fours, the F1 was narrow and svelte. This was to be a scalpel in a world of sledgehammers; torque and agility to combat horsepower and top speed.

From the seller:
1986 DUCATI 750 F1 ,DESMO ,FANTASTIC CONDITION ,RUNS FLAWLESS ,SOUNDS INCREDIBLE ,NEW BATTERY ,RECENT BELTS AND TUNE UP ,NO ISSUES ,INDOOR STORED FROM NEW ,FAIRING HAS NONE OF THE USUALL CHIPS AND SCRATCHES ,EVERYTHING WORKS ,CLEAN TITLE ,FRONT AND REAR STANDS , THIS IS A VERY RARE DUCATI WITH LESS THAN 1100 MADE OF THIS MODEL ,ITS RACING BIKE FOR THE STREET ! MUSEUM QUALITY EXAMPLE ,WE AT BUYERS EXPENSE CAN SHIP WORLDWIDE ,NEAR FLAWLESS AND CONCOURES CONDITION ,COMPARED TO OTHER RACING DUCATIS THESE 750 F1s ARE A BARGIN AND A GREAT INVESTMENT.

The 750 F1 utilizes a Pantah-derived L-twin. Rubber belts drive the desmo valve train opposed to the bevel gears of the earlier models. The engine breathes via a pair of Dell’Orto carbs with mesh screens to keep low flying birds out of the intake. Front forks are Forcella 40 mm units, and braking duties are handled by Brembo. While no longer modern by any stretch, the minimalist approach makes this bike a visceral experience: lots of noise, vibration and personality.

Interest has been very high on this bike, as F1s are moving into collector circles these days. The current bid on this beauty is $12,600, with reserve still in place. We have seen these offered at $20k and above, so it will be interesting to see how high this particular bike climbs before the reserve comes off. For all the details, you can check it out here. Good Luck!

Ducati December 12, 2012 posted by Mike

Christmas Duckling: 1984 Ducati 350 SL Pantah Desmo

I believe the seller says it best in the ad for this very rare and very cool 350 Desmo:

Here is your chance to own this rare and beautiful piece of Ducati history.

Much like the Moto Morini K2 we recently posted, this Ducati is a V-twin and a mere 350cc. This makes it much smaller than the traditional four strokes collected by the readers of these pages. However RSBFS is all about the rare and hard to find, and you will not find a bike like this in any of our archives. Interested in how this little Ducati came to Tennessee? Read on.

From the seller:
Up for auction is my 1984 Ducati 350 SL Pantah Demso. I purchased this bike out of the Saltarelli collection at the RM auction in Monaco. This bike is in excellent original condition. I installed a new battery on the bike and it started right up. The Ducati runs and shifts great. Everything works as it should. The vin on the bike is DM350XL/301005.

In addition to being the lone Ducati 350 twin to grace the pages of RSBFS, this bike may be the only machine on the site to hail from Monaco. That’s right – this bike was imported from an auction in that famed principality.

What does a mini-Ducati run these days? That is a great question that will be answered in a week’s time. The price is up to $4,550 with reserve still in place with only light bidding. If you are interested and want to follow along at home, click the link and jump over to the auction. I for one wouldn’t mind adding this little gem to my stable, and I am very curious to find out how hot the bidding will become. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments section!

Ducati November 29, 2012 posted by Mike

Tri-colored survivor: 1985 Ducati 750 F1a

Update 11.29.2012: We first posted this F1a in early August of this year and it failed to meet reserve just shy of $10k. Back on eBay with 4 days to go, the bidding is up to $8400 with reserve not met. Links updated. -dc

This Ducati 750 F1 “a” model is a pretty rare bike. It is not rare because of some limited edition number plate riveted to the headstock. No, this Ducati gained exclusivity the old fashioned way – they just didn’t sell a whole lot of them. Fast forward 27 years and what was an interesting (albeit lowest of the F1 pecking order) bike back then becomes something a little bit more special.

We have posted several F1 models on RSBFS over the years – in varying condition. This particular bike looks to be a solid example. It is neither ratty and worn out, but nor is it overly restored to be made “like new.” I would certainly call it clean! It has pretty decent mileage on the clocks – 35000km according to the auction – which shows exactly what this bike is all about: riding.

From the seller:
here is a nice clean example of a early f1 a. bike has covered 35000km as indicated on speedo.new avon tires installed. these bikes are becoming more desirable and very collectable,prices continue to rise on nice examples. dellorto carbs,brembo brakes. a nice example of a low production model bike.

The seller is right about the value. These three color wonders seem to be making more green than white or red. Values are on the rise, and bikes in top condition are snapped up quickly. As always, so much will hinge on the reserve for this particular bike. We have seen F1s in the $10-12k range in the past, but this looks more like it is headed for the $15k+ seats.

Striking good looks, relatively low production numbers, age and condition – these all determine future values. And this F1 appears to have a pretty bright future. Best part of all is that you can ride it and enjoy it today; these are still serviceable machines with a good supply of parts and mechanic knowledge. For your opportunity to be the next curator of this great looking F1, click the link and jump over to the auction. Let’s see how high she goes!