Latest Purchase - 1969 Benelli

[sign216]

Latest purchase: a 1969 Benelli 350cc (Montgomery Ward). Not running, but has spark and compression. Approx. 2k miles.

[Lannis]

Latest purchase: a 1969 Benelli 350cc (Montgomery Ward). Not running, but has spark and compression. Approx. 2k miles.

Looks like fun!   Back in the day, those were considered quick bikes.   I almost said "quick little bikes" but in 1969, that was considered a full-sized motorcycle.    Still is, in my universe!

Lannis

[demills]

Just saw this on K.C. Craigslist http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/5275110013.html
Yours looks a lot better shape.

[lucian]

Nice find Joe! Just the mention of 1969 brings back a lot of great memories. Looks to be in great shape , hope your v7's feeling aren't hurt too bad. Looks like your garage just got a little smaller.

[sign216]

Dave (Lucian), yea, I'm trying to get a new garage in before winter sets in.  Wish me luck with that.


Demills, I like a project, but that bikes is pushing it.  I bet you could bargain it down to around $100-250.  Are you thinking about it?

[Tom]

Looks like a minimal effort resurrection BUT.......you know the rest.  Good luck on the work.

[sign216]

Looks like a minimal effort resurrection BUT.......you know the rest.  Good luck on the work.

Yea, Tom.  It's all in the little details.

[boatdetective]

Joe- sweet ride!  It really does seem to be in great shape. Look at the shape and style of the fins and case!! Only the Italians took such care on their smaller machines. That is going to polish up great.

I can see an vision.  It involves goggles and a scarf.  Hmmm, goggles, a scarf, and competition. Could Joe be the new terror of the tiddler circuit?

[motoTommaso]

Gorgeous bike!  Good score.  Very Italiano.

Tommaso

[sign216]

Tommaso, thanks for the "thumbs up."  So few people in the cycle community appreciate small old Italian bikes.

Jonathan, a Tiddler Tour would be great, but as you know, there a lot of wrenching between buying and riding. 

[veltro_nero]

Latest purchase: a 1969 Benelli 350cc (Montgomery Ward). Not running, but has spark and compression. Approx. 2k miles.

Great score! I wound up using that tank on my Aermacchi because I hated the peanut one so much. These little Italians are a blast to ride, 35mph actually feels exciting on them, and they're so light and maneuverable it's a blast. Only complaint I have is that they're a little dangerous in modern traffic since they're so slow, that being said as long as you can avoid highways and main roads, they really are perfect bikes. Good luck!

[Green1000S]

Cool bike, I would love to have one of these little Italians in my garage too!
Enjoy.

[sign216]

Veltro, keeping up with traffic is one reason I bought this.  I rebuilt a Sears / Gilera 106cc, but top speed was 45-50 mph, and even on the secondary roads it was frustrating with traffic.  Hoping that this 350cc will step it up.  That, and that is has a long bore engine (68mm bore, 90mm stroke), which is unusual for Italian bikes, so it'll fun to try that out.

Green, thanks for the thumbs up.  The significant other is a little less "thumbs up" on this.

[canuck750]

What a great find!, I am jealous

That is a BIG bike for the day coming out of Italy. Riding it should give you a lot of smiles and I bet people will flock to look at it.

[cruzziguzzi]

What a beautiful "survivor" to play with.

I'd love to have one too but right side shifts freak me out. Keeps me off old Sportsters as well.

Todd.

[jas67]

So few people in the cycle community appreciate small old Italian bikes.

Joe -- nice score!    Count me as one of the ones that does appreciate the small old Italian bikes!   There were so many different ones, and most of them are beautiful!   I just love the organic shapes of the engine cases and fuel tanks.  But, so many of them are under 150cc, a bit small for today's traffic.   I passed up a few Stornellos and some other 125cc and small Italians for that reason.

You've got a nice starting point there; look forward to hearing more about.     It looks like it has some nice high-shouldered aluminum rims.    Are they stock?   I know that the stock rims for my Ducati are chromed steel like period Japanese bikes.   I lucked out in that mine had nice polished high-shouldered aluminum rims when I got it.

I did finally find one, a Ducati 250 Monza
IMG_7220 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

It isn't a fast bike, but, it'll do 75 MPH.     I wouldn't want to do highway though.   50-60 MPH on back roads, no problem.    Your 350 is likely a little quicker.   I'd bet top end is about the same, but, it should have more torque off the line.

I'd love to have one too but right side shifts freak me out. Keeps me off old Sportsters as well.

Todd -- that's what I thought too, then I just said "what the heck", and tried it.   So far so good.   Moving back and forth between right shift and left shift isn't so bad.   You just "shift" your mind into the mode of the machine that you're on.

[oldbike54]

  Well by golly 

  Dusty

[sign216]

Jas, the aluminum rims are stock.  Apparently they used aluminum for a some models for a short run, and I got lucky.  Your Ducati is sweet.  What a great looking bike.  I wouldn't feel right having anything that nice.

As for the right side shift, and the 1 up 3 down pattern, it is a pain, because every now and then I forget.  Ouch!!!
It's all cool though, because I'm not doing 90 mph when it happens.

[jas67]

Some of these little Italians bring some big money.

This nice 175cc Moto Morini got a $7,750 winning bid:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Other-Makes-/131643543253?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESINDXX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=%252B8Z38u9gFjg8y9ezyddBCqFS05E%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc


Of course, I take all eBay results with a grain of salt, as there does seem to be a fair amount of shill bidding.

[jas67]

Your Ducati is sweet.  What a great looking bike.  I wouldn't feel right having anything that nice.

Thanks you!   This is definitely one that I feel compelled to keep the miles low on, so, I don't ride it much.
Of course, if you follow the prescribed maintenance, it needs the valves checked every other tank of gas, and the oil changed every 4th or 5th tank.

As for the right side shift, and the 1 up 3 down pattern, it is a pain, because every now and then I forget.  Ouch!!!
It's all cool though, because I'm not doing 90 mph when it happens.

Funny, the only  oops that I've had was getting back on a "Normal" bike, I'd upshift (which is down on the little Ducati) and get some rear brake.   That wakes you up in a hurry