1974 Benelli 650

[twowheeladdict]

https://www.allsportinc.com/Pre-owned-Inventory-1974-Benelli-Motorcycle-Scooter-650-S-Allsport-Powersports-Inc-6895467?ref=list

[canuck750]

That Benelli is in amazing condition and it even has the tool roll.

At that price it is a steal!!!

I think its worth twice the asking price and if I had not just finished restoring the same bike I would have bought it by now.

[Lannis]

That's dirt cheap.   I'd love to know the story of how that bike survived in that condition for 45 years.   Since it's being offered for about a third of what it would cost to restore an old beater into that condition, I assume it's a "survivor" ...

Lannis

[canuck750]

Your bang on Lannis, I paid appx. $900 USD for this 1974 650S 'project'



and aftert the all the dust settled I am into it for about $7K USD, I love it but an all original bike is still 'worth' more on the open market.

[chuck peterson]

Steal it...

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The top of the seat cover obviously isn't original, but otherwise it is a very nice Tornado at a very reasonable price.

[twowheeladdict]

That's dirt cheap.   I'd love to know the story of how that bike survived in that condition for 45 years.   Since it's being offered for about a third of what it would cost to restore an old beater into that condition, I assume it's a "survivor" ...

Lannis

He has had a few survivor bikes pass through the dealership lately.  I know some were owned by a rich person who had them in his airplane hanger.  I don't have a place to keep a bike pristine so hopefully a collector will end up with this bike. 

They also have this RD400.  If it were in Yamaha racing yellow I might be tempted. 
https://www.allsportinc.com/Pre-owned-Inventory-1976-Yamaha-Motorcycle-Scooter-RD-400-Allsport-Powersports-Inc-6499907?ref=list

[Tusayan]

Re the Benelli, I'd want to understand the engine longevity and parts situation given about 50K miles.

The '76 RD400 is exactly the bike I've thought of finding and buying but I have to sell two vehicles (neither motorcycles!) before I'm allowing myself to buy more.

[Cam3512]

That can't last long.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Re the Benelli, I'd want to understand the engine longevity and parts situation given about 50K miles.

Given how "overbuilt" the engine is, if it was cared for properly (and it sure looks like it has been) then 50k miles shouldn't be an issue. Parts availability is fairly good from Detlef Burian http://benelliparts.de/

[twowheeladdict]

Re the Benelli, I'd want to understand the engine longevity and parts situation given about 50K miles.

The '76 RD400 is exactly the bike I've thought of finding and buying but I have to sell two vehicles (neither motorcycles!) before I'm allowing myself to buy more.

Is that 50,000 miles, or kilometers?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Is that 50,000 miles, or kilometers?

There is ~ 80k kilometers showing on the odometer, which equals ~ 50k miles.

[twowheeladdict]

There is ~ 80k kilometers showing on the odometer, which equals ~ 50k miles.

Ah, guess I should have looked before asking.

[radguzzi]

I have a Tech Manual here for a Tornado, a friend had one for a short time and I did a little work on it.  Very well built rig.



canuck750,
Beautiful job on that '74 project.

Best,
Rob

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I have a Tech Manual here for a Tornado, a friend had one for a short time and I did a little work on it.  Very well built rig.



canuck750,
Beautiful job on that '74 project.

Best,
Rob

I worked on one around this time last year, finished it in time for the owner to sell it at British & European Classic M/C Day.

Just after my first test ride on it. Still had some work to do (fork rebuild).

[canuck750]

I completed a nut and bolt restoration of the same bike and found the engine to be the most solid built lump I have ever dug into. Parts availability is very good and if anyone grabs this I have the service and parts manuals. I reached out to the shop selling this beauty and asked for pictures of the tool roll. I would like to have a reproduction made of the factory tool roll

[mtiberio]

were these paint shakers? big parallel twin with no balance shaft. I seem to remember something about this...

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

were these paint shakers? big parallel twin with no balance shaft. I seem to remember something about this...

Mine was and the one I worked on was too. There's a reason for those porcupine footpeg rubbers and vibration isolating mounting blocks everywhere.

[guzzi ride]

Always wanted one...some day ?

[twowheeladdict]

Always wanted one...some day ?

Where you going to find an opportunity like this again?  Go for it! 

[canuck750]

Where you going to find an opportunity like this again?  Go for it!

Agreed That Benelli is worth twice the asking price! An Italia lover needs to buy this.

[centauro]

A little late, but here is mine:









Mostly in original condition, with a few non-standard parts. I was trying to make it look like a 650S2

[canuck750]

A little late, but here is mine:









Mostly in original condition, with a few non-standard parts. I was trying to make it look like a 650S2

Thats a beauty

Any chanve you have the original tools kit and tool roll with it? I am trying to get a pattern and colour match of the tool roll to copy.

[jas67]

Wow, that is very nice, and extremely tempting!

[centauro]

were these paint shakers? big parallel twin with no balance shaft. I seem to remember something about this...

Not really; and TBH, it feels almost as an inline 3 or 4 cylinder bike at 4000 Rpm.
 The engine is a very short stroke design that loves to rev, and is attached solidly to the frame by 4 points, including an elaborate bracket system on the cylinder head. Also, just about anything attached to the frame is via rubber shock mounts. There are 16 of them, plus smaller ones for the gages and 2 big ones for the handlebars that are embedder in the top triple clamp. Finally the foot peg rubbers have 1/2" rubber cleats that effectively isolate your boots.

[centauro]

Thats a beauty

Any chanve you have the original tools kit and tool roll with it? I am trying to get a pattern and colour match of the tool roll to copy.

Sorry, Jim, mine was all apart in a crate and no tool kit came with it. I made one up with extra tools I had laying around.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Not really; and TBH, it feels almost as an inline 3 or 4 cylinder bike at 4000 Rpm.
 The engine is a very short stroke design that loves to rev, and is attached solidly to the frame by 4 points, including an elaborate bracket system on the cylinder head. Also, just about anything attached to the frame is via rubber shock mounts. There are 16 of them, plus smaller ones for the gages and 2 big ones for the handlebars that are embedder in the top triple clamp. Finally the foot peg rubbers have 1/2" rubber cleats that effectively isolate your boots.

Every one I've ever ridden (four in all) were "paint shakers" at most speeds, but mostly smoothed out at some point.

[Roy gardner]

That bike is a steal! I owned a scruffy one 30 years ago, it was a paint shaker. The bore & stroke are 84 x 58, bigger slugs than a 750 or 850 Guzzi.
Roller bearing big ends & little ends, like a two stroke, I recall looking at the rods & thinking, wow, you could almost fit these either way up.   

I bought it for the spare 38mm Marzocchi forks that came with it. They went onto my Egli Vincent after taking the spacer off the springs &  cutting 40mm off the stanchions & sliders.

Does anyone have a spare top yoke, triple tree? Mine has a cracked weld that I didnt see. I have stop drilled it and am monitoring it, it's not changing but I would like to swap out the yoke for a good one.

[Cam3512]

How is it that no one has shown up with $2,500. cash and driven away with that yet??

[canuck750]

I can't believe it hasn't already sold!