Author Topic: Another Italian Cousin joining the family  (Read 8487 times)

canuck750

  • Guest
Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« on: April 14, 2017, 05:16:40 PM »
I picked up this 1974 Benelli 650S Tornado last week, mostly all there but a little rough around the edges.















From Ebay I have found a good pair of side covers, a decent used seat and instruments plus some misc parts. A couple suppliers in Germany have had most of the other things I need, cables, gaskets, rubber parts etc.... Motor is seized but the mufflers are in real nice shape. Last registered in 1979. The sat pan is crumbling just looking at it, spokes are rusted, usual stuff after sitting for so long.

Looking forward to tearing into it (after the 77 Le Mans gets done).

If anyone has a set of original signal lights for sale I would sure be interested.





« Last Edit: April 14, 2017, 05:17:20 PM by canuck750 »

twowings

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2017, 06:12:25 PM »
Poor baby!  Tank rusted?

Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 14141
  • Happily stuck in the past.
    • Antietam Classic Cycle
  • Location: Rohrersville, Maryland
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2017, 08:08:59 PM »
That's about the worst looking Tornado S I've ever seen.  :sad: I'm sure you'll make one of the nicest out of it though!
Charlie

canuck750

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2017, 08:37:16 PM »
Poor baby!  Tank rusted?

Looks to be solid but lots of surface rust, I will fill it to the brim with Evaporust and let is do its magic for a month.

Hi Charlie, its a real dog, unloved and uncared for. I think we share a common sympathy for these poor old muts, the humane society for unloved Italian classics.

The good news is I got it for cheap, bad news is it needs a lot of work!

Wildguzzi.com

Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2017, 08:37:16 PM »

canuck750

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2017, 01:25:46 PM »
Just a little surface rust on the seat pan!


Offline Turin

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 5146
    • crap and stuff
  • Location: Chandler, Arizona
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2017, 06:33:32 PM »
My 850-T was worse. Are you going original, or are you going to tweak it a bit? They look cool with the bump stop seat and low bars. Neat machine either way.
1997 Daytona RS
1991 Rennsport California III
1991 LeMans 1000
1987 LeMans SE Dave's Cycle Racer
1984 LeMans III
1985 Sidlow Guzzi
1974 850-T Sport
1969 A-series Ambassador
1996 Triumph Daytona 1200
1996 Triumph Daytona 900
1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6 Balocco SE 3.0

canuck750

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2017, 09:43:55 PM »
My 850-T was worse. Are you going original, or are you going to tweak it a bit? They look cool with the bump stop seat and low bars. Neat machine either way.

I want to paint it the lime green paint scheme but keep it stock. I saw a green one in Classic Bike, same pattern on the tank but cool 70's green.  It's a beefy bike, looks to be we'll engineered but heavy.

Offline Groover

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 2855
  • If it ain't broke, I'll break it.
    • Scooteropolis
  • Location: Columbus, Ohio
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2017, 08:07:54 AM »
I have no doubt this bike will look great once you're done with it. Looking forward in seeing more on this.
1981 Moto Guzzi V1000G5
1987 Moto Guzzi LM1000SE, a
1987 Moto Guzzi LM1000SE, b
1980 Piaggio Vespa P200E
1980 Piaggio Vespa P125X
1980 Vespa Grande Moped
1980 Vespa SI Moped
http://scooteropolis.com/

Offline centauro

  • Gosling
  • ***
  • Posts: 447
  • Location: FL
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family (revisited)
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2018, 05:59:23 PM »
I want to paint it the lime green paint scheme but keep it stock. I saw a green one in Classic Bike, same pattern on the tank but cool 70's green.  It's a beefy bike, looks to be we'll engineered but heavy.

Hello, Canuck 750, my 73 Tornado is a bright yellow/black, but would like to repaint it the gold/black you have on yours. Any idea where to get the correct paint code?
Val Barone
1984 1000 SP/NT (sold)
1973 Benelli 650S Tornado (sold)
1985 Vespa PX150E
1973 Honda CB 350 Four

Learn from other's mistakes ; you won't live long enough to make them all yourself.  Eleanor Roosevelt

Offline FredZeppelin

  • New Egg
  • *
  • Posts: 12
  • Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2018, 07:14:18 PM »
I have a workshop manual for the Tornado, if you need a copy I'll scan it for you.
Fred
Fred
'72 Stornello 160
Small block bitza
Honda Bros 650
'63 Ducati Sport 48
BM 1100RT

canuck750

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family (revisited)
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2018, 09:39:50 PM »
Hello, Canuck 750, my 73 Tornado is a bright yellow/black, but would like to repaint it the gold/black you have on yours. Any idea where to get the correct paint code?

Sorry I can't help you with the gold paint code, I went for a green based upon a bike that was in a magazine article a few years back



I am slowly making some progress on the Benelli between finishing the 77 Le Mans and getting side tracked with a 78 Moto Morini 500

canuck750

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2018, 09:40:50 PM »
I have a workshop manual for the Tornado, if you need a copy I'll scan it for you.
Fred

Thanks for the offer Fred, I got a hold of one last year, a big help getting the bike back together.

Offline centauro

  • Gosling
  • ***
  • Posts: 447
  • Location: FL
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family (revisited)
« Reply #12 on: March 09, 2018, 06:29:32 PM »
Sorry I can't help you with the gold paint code, I went for a green based upon a bike that was in a magazine article a few years back



I am slowly making some progress on the Benelli between finishing the 77 Le Mans and getting side tracked with a 78 Moto Morini 500

Looks well done! That lime green 650 you are referring to was actually owned by my son, while he jived in the UK;  he is a member of the Wild Guzzi board. That bike has since returned to Italy and was subsequently re-sold there.
After cruising the web, I have noted that lots of Japanese motorcycles of the '70s sported  gold paint; so, I will probably use one of those shades; the 1970 CB750 was one such example.
Val Barone
1984 1000 SP/NT (sold)
1973 Benelli 650S Tornado (sold)
1985 Vespa PX150E
1973 Honda CB 350 Four

Learn from other's mistakes ; you won't live long enough to make them all yourself.  Eleanor Roosevelt

Offline Bucky

  • New Egg
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 83
  • Location: Chippewa Falls, WI
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2018, 09:04:59 AM »
Looking forward to this resurrection.... :popcorn:
1973 Eldorado

canuck750

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2018, 10:13:02 AM »
Small world in these old bike circles, its that green Benelli in the magazine article that kicked off the desire to own one of these rare parallel twins,

Progress slowly continues between other projects,

I found a better used crank, had to split it and have the crank trued, a few bearings replaced, the heads have been rebuilt with new guides and springs and the valves and seats cut, I found a set of good used cylinders and pistons, new rings and gudgeon pins, a new cam and bearings, replacing all the seals and gaskets,



Polished up the cases, rims etc, one of the case covers had a hole in it from a crash, a friend welded it up and the damage is almost invisible, repro 'Benelli' badges



Detlef has supplied a set of new stainless steel spokes for each wheel.
Detlef Burian has been fantastic for parts supply!

Burian@t-online.de

Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 14141
  • Happily stuck in the past.
    • Antietam Classic Cycle
  • Location: Rohrersville, Maryland
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #15 on: March 12, 2018, 11:15:05 AM »
 :thumb:
Charlie

Offline brubache

  • New Egg
  • *
  • Posts: 14
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #16 on: March 12, 2018, 09:44:44 PM »
All kinds of awesome.  Love it!

oldbike54

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #17 on: March 24, 2018, 01:48:55 AM »
  :thumb: :bow:

 Dusty

Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 14141
  • Happily stuck in the past.
    • Antietam Classic Cycle
  • Location: Rohrersville, Maryland
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #18 on: March 30, 2018, 05:56:34 PM »
This one (a customer's) just arrived yesterday. It'll be for sale as soon as I finish "recommissioning" it.



Charlie

canuck750

  • Guest
Re: Another Italian Cousin joining the family
« Reply #19 on: April 01, 2018, 09:35:52 AM »
This one (a customer's) just arrived yesterday. It'll be for sale as soon as I finish "recommissioning" it.





That's a nice looking bike! The red and black is quite handsome, please let me know what your impression is of the ride.

 

20 Ounce Stainless Steel Double Insulated Tumbler
Buy a quality tumbler and support the forum at the same time!
Better than a YETI! BPA and Lead free.
Advertise Here