Well I have been constantly dropping the preverbial hint to the Mrs. she has agreed that I need a project bike.  . I am thinking a Mid 70's 860 or similar to do up. I prob will do a cafe style bike. I would like to stick to the italian bikes (just a thing I have, Dirt bike, Monster, now project all italian).
Any ideas or know anyone with a basket case in the back shed?
I am just beginning to learn about the older bikes so input will be nice. Not really worried about collector/investment just want a cool retro ride.

Something like this but in need of a rest.
http://bikepoint.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedBikeID=3007022&TabID=3424

That looks pretty good, its also a good idea that he has included a photo of the wiring which looks tidy, so you looking to buy that?









                                                               Mmick

been up that road and if your going to spend any $ and you will spend allot, your best doing up somthing that is going to be worth somthing at the end the 860 was a dog and a square case,You will need to look for a 74 750 GT its a round cast and holy grail.cost a bit more but worth a shit load more finished

Bad example
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1974-Ducati-Sport-Touring-750-GT-Bevel-Motorcycle_W0QQitemZ180307288553QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item180307288553&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Good example
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ducati-Sport-Touring_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em63Q2el1177QQhashZitem130268555840QQitemZ130268555840QQptZUSQ5fmotorcycles

that second one is a nice GT dock! great condition

I happen to know where there is a GT basket case sitting under a blanket , been working on him for a while now 

How about a Moto Guzzi T3 850? I have seen a couple of Cafe racers that have started as a bomb T3 and turned out stunning.
Don
PS dont go for the square case ducati, Doc is right, round case are sweet

Here you go tri 

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=B6pCEm1pj_4

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=OBmdGbUnbAM&feature=related

Thanks guys, $$ is the issue of course, Any comments on the 80's era. They seem to be the forgotten decade, My old man reckons they were like a brown snake in the day and no one wanted to touch them. Read a few good things about the Pantah etc. Definately want a pre superbike phase.
Not sure I want to go to the trouble of importing....
Moto Guzzi may be an option, maybe Laverda???

A round case GT would be nice, a bit cheaper than a sport or ss and look sweet when they're given a bit of lovin'



My brother's sport was a project that started off as a rolling Chassis that his better half bought him for Xmas (must be love)



He's also got a Pantah that he's had for over 20 years, must have a photo somewhere..

what about this old single
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Ducati-Classic-Race-Bike_W0QQitemZ230307607618QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item230307607618&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Always liked the guzzi lemans 1, but this one started off as a lemans II, parts from stein dinse in victoria (healesville I think)

a 750SS would be nice but realistically, anyone who has one in any condition will want a fortune for it, and if they don't there would be a bloody good reason why not. a good example of this would be the rare stuff missing. which to buy individually will cost more than an arm and a leg!!!!
a round case sport is nice, getting expensive now too, as are 750 GT's, and the GT has valve spring heads like the 860. the 860 would be the cheapest to buy followed by the darmah, darmah SS, then the 750GT, 750 Sport, 900SS and finally the 750SS. this is assuming the condition is similar of course.
For me, the 750GT would be my pick, followed by the darmah, but that's me, remember though that theres a lot of competition for parts for these things and prices are at a premium for everything, when you look at parting with 10 grand for a std engine rebuild you have to ask yourself if it's worth it anymore. I like to tinker as much as the next guy but times have changed and unless a complete bike falls into your lap at the right price you had better be ready to say goodbye to a lot of moola, my estimate was around 40K and that's conservative with doing almost everything myself, then at the end of it you have a bike that isn't very fast, doesn't handle well or brake hardly at all by todays measures, and yes i know that isn't the point but once you get bored with riding it it will be an expensive ornament that you would be lucky to get your money back on.
just my .02c

paul.

Quote from: brimo on November 19, 2008, 07:18:18 PM
A round case GT would be nice, a bit cheaper than a sport or ss and look sweet when they're given a bit of lovin'

Thats the sort of thing I am thinking

Quote from: tricolore on November 20, 2008, 02:16:04 AM
Thats the sort of thing I am thinking

a fix me uperra will set you back between 10 and 15k and thats the platform