Bike with interesting history now back on market

[RED]

I found this through a random chance and thought it might be interesting to us Itallian bike fans. I was not aware of this brand.

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for your kind words. To answer your question, the bikes are built to order and it takes nine months to build. The price FOB Italy is $94,250.00 USD. We accept 30% deposit, 30% half way through the process and the balance upon completion. If you are interested, please let me know and I will be happy to provide you with as much information as necessary.

Best regards,

Glenn Bator

Bator International Inc.
Moto Paton USA
338 Montana Road
Ojai, CA. 93023
805 646-9566 office/fax
805 798-1802 cellular


http://www.motopaton.com/





The last time the company applied for Moto GP was in 2001 and was turned down because they were not competitive.

[caffeinejunkee]

The last time the company applied for Moto GP was in 2001 and was turned down because they were not competitive.

Yeah, well, it's kinda hard to win a race when you keep hitting the brake every time you try to shift.... 

[RED]

That stands to reason CJ. Good point.

the previous post has been updated with pricing info.

[Duc Fever]

Damn!  for that Kind of Money I could get a Desmosedici for the track AND a 1098 for around town 

[fastwin]

Ah, the good old days of right hand shift! Love those Fontana four leading shoe drum brakes!!

My old '77 900SS basket case was imported by Berliner out of New York and all the 1977 bikes had to be retrofitted with a jack shaft assembly to switch the shift lever from right to left to comply with the new universal law. If someone says their SS is a '77 and it doesn't have the jack shaft then they are wrong. After 1976 all bikes made every where had to shift on the left and brake on the right for safety reasons.

[muskrat]

ok fill me in on the who and why that said safety reasons for the change?  I need some history so I can keep up with some of these threads.  All I know is fat-ass cruisers ya know.

[fastwin]

In "the day" Jap bikes shifted on the left and Euro bikes shifted on the right. Some well meaning "safety-crats" in Washington DC in the early-mid 70s decided that there were accidents being caused by Euro riders hoping on a friend's Jap bike (or vice verse) and the ensuing shift/brake confusion led to pain and or death. Can't have that! So, much like the current universally agreed upon top speed limit of 186mph, everyone chose to go to a universal brake/shift lever pattern. I am sure since the Jap bike manufacturers were out selling the Euro bike makers both here and worldwide they had a huge say so in which pattern won out. And here we are today! [moto]

This is the way I remember it... but then again the 70's were really hard on my gray matter. I learned on right hand shift/kick start bikes so I had to make the switch. Kinda like going from standard shift to GP.

[NorDog]

Sportsters had right side shifts as well, as did the proto-Sportster "K" bikes which were HD's response to the Brit bike invasion.  Prior to the "K" bikes the Harley racers had shifters on the GAS TANK!

[Giannis]

Damn!  for that Kind of Money I could get a Desmosedici for the track AND a 1098 for around town 

Totally different things... i would rather have a Green Frame SS or 851 Tricolore than Desmosedici or 1098R

[fastwin]

I came "this" close to landing a green frame 1974 750SS back in 1981. Back then the only substantial organized Ducati group in the USA was the Ducati International Owners Club based out of Florida. I forget the guy's name who headed it up but it pretty much was up to him 100% to get our printed newsletter out and it looked like he did the printing himself in his garage. Just recently found a couple of old DIOC ball caps in a box in storage.

Anyway, the DIOC newletter had a classified section and I saw a prestine, stock, low mileage 1974 750SS for sale in Arkanasas and I called the seller immediately. He said the first caller had dibs on the bike and I was #2. Well the SOB came through and bought it!! Lucky stiff!! One went on ebay motors last year for around $81K!!!! About two months later I found my '77 900SS for sale in Shreveport, LA and the rest is history. If I had opened my newsletter 30 minutes sooner it would have been mine!!

[NorDog]

Totally different things... i would rather have a Green Frame SS or 851 Tricolore than Desmosedici or 1098R

Quite right.  If you click on the link to Bator Int. you'll see a Brough Superior SS100 for sale.  I would much rather have that than a Desomsedici or 1098R.

[fastwin]

Sportsters had right side shifts as well, as did the proto-Sportster "K" bikes which were HD's response to the Brit bike invasion.  Prior to the "K" bikes the Harley racers had shifters on the GAS TANK!

Not being a "motor company" guy I didn't even think of the right hand shift HDs. No intentional "dis" by not mentioning them. Good point ND! Hey, how's married life?

[NorDog]

Not being a "motor company" guy I didn't even think of the right hand shift HDs. No intentional "dis" by not mentioning them. Good point ND! Hey, how's married life?

Hey there!  No "dis" suspected on this end.

Married life is grand!  My wife Barbara has this crazy idea that she has to make all three of my daily meals.  I'm not sure where that comes from, but I'm not rockin' the boat if you get my drift.

[fastwin]

Don't you dare!! You'd be crazy if you did!! Hey, I'll pay for her plane ticket if you'll let her come to Dallas and hang with Jennifer. Maybe some of that would rub off!

Ya'll coming back to Mineola anytime soon for a family visit? The heat index the other day in Mineola was 110 degrees and my sister and brother in law live on a farm in Golden and their AC went out two days ago... makes you homesick doesn't it?

[GeorgeInDallas]

I did a little more research and found that the reason the bike costs $95,000 (+frt+tax) and takes 9 months to build is that it is totally machined from a single block of titanium...even the tires and cables.  All part of that "old world" craftsmanship.

Thought you might want to know.

G.