1982 Ducati Pantah 600 SL project, CL, $2500, vt,

[chuck peterson]

60 horses in a 400 lb package is my kinda fun...anyone? Anyone? Beullar? Beullar?.....

Competitive twin to an Aerio Lario? Come on now you know you want it....

https://vermont.craigslist.org/mcy/d/waitsfield-1982-ducati-pantah-600-sl/6860992046.html

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I would very much like that and have the cash. But, I will restrain myself. 

[Turin]

If it was nearby, I'd be tempted. I'm still kicking around the idea of getting another Alazzurra.

[leafman60]

I had basically that same engine in two of the Cagiva Elefants back in their day.  That was the strongest 650 I've experienced.  Sumbich would throw a high rooster tail on a dirt road in third gear running 60.

I did my own desmo checks in those days and I never had engine trouble with those belt-drive motors.

.

[dguzzi]

I'll be having an Alazzurra for sale this spring/summer.  '87 red not an SS.

[Rough Edge racing]

 That is some ugly body work...

[Tusayan]

A 600 Pantah for this amount of money seems to me a very good deal.  This one looks to need a ground up restoration but it also looks undamaged with roughly 6000 miles if the km calibrated speedo is to be believed.  Interesting that this one was sold new by Sonny Angel - he likely only sold one or two of this model, they were rare.

The 600 Pantah is a better road bike than an F1 in my experience and I'd judge a late Pantah to be worth several times the value of an Alazzurra.  500s have weak gearboxes but that was resolved on the 600.  Most of the weak points of the Alazzurra do apply: wear prone swingarm pivot bushings buried in the engine cases is one. 

The ND instruments are reliable, well lit and accurate.  The FPS wheels are the same as installed on later bevel twins, and don't crack.  The fairing is common with the 900S2.

[Groover]

Here is a sound clip to boost motivation for those half considering 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDdcy5p4Cok

Edit: Oops., that's the 500..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

That is some ugly body work...

I'll have to disagree. I always felt it was classy without being too "boy racer".

[Turin]

I had a bub 2-1 exhaust. fantastic sounding bike.

[Rough Edge racing]

I'll have to disagree. I always felt it was classy without being too "boy racer".

  We have a disagreement      How is the parts availability ? Are the timing belts the same as newer two valves? 

[s1120]

WOW you just dont see those around in the US.  A good deal also. I fell for the Duc's back in the late 80's when the local dealer had a leftover 750sport on the floor.  This was right before the new 900SS , and monsters hit and the brand really took off in the US.

[Tusayan]

Parts availability from Ducati is approximately zero, but used parts plus the aftermarket keeps them running - same as any old Ducati.  Belts have been changed many times over the years and models but are readily available for any of the bikes including this one.

These bikes are rare in the US because IIRC the price was around $5K when $3K would get you a top of the line Japanese bike.

About 1990 I had the opportunity to buy a mint, super low mileage 600 Pantah for $3800 and wish I'd done so instead of the F1 I bought and sold a few years later.  Then just a few years ago I passed on a 500 Pantah for $3500 or something close, and now regret that too.  With that one I was worried about the early model gearbox, but the guy who bought it enjoyed it a lot.  Maybe next time a clean one comes into view nearby, I'll buy it    The Pantah riding position is close to perfect for me.

[cliffrod]

Looks like same seller just listed a V7 Sport and T3, not cheap but definitely Guzzi content-

https://vermont.craigslist.org/mcy/d/waitsfield-1974-moto-guzzi-v7-sport/6864713117.html
https://vermont.craigslist.org/mcy/d/waitsfield-1978-moto-guzzi-t3-850/6864357509.html

[jwinwi]

Looks like same seller just listed a V7 Sport and T3, not cheap but definitely Guzzi content-

https://vermont.craigslist.org/mcy/d/waitsfield-1974-moto-guzzi-v7-sport/6864713117.html
https://vermont.craigslist.org/mcy/d/waitsfield-1978-moto-guzzi-t3-850/6864357509.html

Speedo and Tach on the V7 Sport are in the wrong positions. Not digging the color of that frame...

[F-22]

Good price for a Pantah.

The belts are the smae as on the 90's carbed Monster models. Did a swap once, and it cost me 30€ with shipping included. The difference is that all tensioners on a Pantah are standard bearings, including the "guide" bearings. On the Monster, the actual tensioner bearings are still standard and cheap, but the "guides" are a specially made screw with a bearing, cannot be dissassembled and can only be bought from Ducati, though it interchanges with the Pantah screw on which you can use standard bearings.


All in all quite a good bike. Really interesting how the 90's Monster 600, or even the 600SS, had around 10hp less than the 10 years older Pantah models.

It's a proper Ducati, one of the last where both exhausts still face forward, and the carbs are proper Dellorto units. They had huge problems with fitting an airbox for both carbs this way, since they were so far apart, but everyone eventually used some kind of an open air filter on them anyway.


It also has the huge finned valve covers, they look so much better than what they used afterwards, really makes the engine look very beefy. I think the bevel twins used something similar.

Here's my Monster 600, I just sold it a week ago:



I've used the old Pantah valve covers since I had them, I really love how larger the head looks. Also removed the paint from the side covers because it was flaking.




But it just isn't a bike for me. Rides nice, great for around town and that (though a horrible steering angle, the Pantah is a little better in this aspect, the frame is more narrow on it and I think the forks may be a bit more offset too), but I prefer a bit of touring.


Also got this forgotten old Pantah 350 project.



Maybe one day... It's missing the bodywork, but otherwise runs alright. I'm thinknig about making some kind of a racer out of it once, I know you can get the cylinders bored to around 500cc or more, and with the extra short 350cc stroke, it could probably be quite a beast with some work on the heads... Possibly a lot of the more radical Ducati camshafts can easily be swapped in there too.

[Cam3512]

I would very much like that and have the cash. But, I will restrain myself. 

Charlie, that is all YOU.  Live only once....

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Charlie, that is all YOU.  Live only once....

I'm not really a Ducati guy, I've only dabbled twice - the Elefant and Paso. Too many other things need the $$ anyway, plus I'm hoping to trim my "fleet" down to two eventually.

[cliffrod]

Not digging the color of that frame...

Yup- I agree 100%.  My Sport's frame had also been painted a similar red by the PO in the late 70's.  Never liked it so we painted it argent one time while it was apart.  That's not original either, but I like it much better...

[huub]

Good price for a Pantah.

The belts are the smae as on the 90's carbed Monster models. Did a swap once, and it cost me 30€ with shipping included. The difference is that all tensioners on a Pantah are standard bearings, including the "guide" bearings. On the Monster, the actual tensioner bearings are still standard and cheap, but the "guides" are a specially made screw with a bearing, cannot be dissassembled and can only be bought from Ducati, though it interchanges with the Pantah screw on which you can use standard bearings.


All in all quite a good bike. Really interesting how the 90's Monster 600, or even the 600SS, had around 10hp less than the 10 years older Pantah models.

It's a proper Ducati, one of the last where both exhausts still face forward, and the carbs are proper Dellorto units. They had huge problems with fitting an airbox for both carbs this way, since they were so far apart, but everyone eventually used some kind of an open air filter on them anyway.

nice bike , would sell in milliseconds in europe.

here pantahs are getting a classic status

these engines are actually pretty indestructible. a friend clocked over 100.000 miles on his.
my alazurra provided  pretty trouble free transport for a couple of years
one thing, maintenance, especially the desmo valves are a pain.
i gave up on ducati's as daily transport because of those.
stil love those little ducati's,
i am now looking for a 600 monster for my daughter, if she starts riding , she might as well do it in style.
i will probably regret that decision the first time the bike needs maintenance 

[Cam3512]

Yup- I agree 100%.  My Sport's frame had also been painted a similar red by the PO in the late 70's.  Never liked it so we painted it argent one time while it was apart.  That's not original either, but I like it much better...

I disagree.  Looks exactly like mine.  LOVE the red frame with the black.  Really accentuates the “Tonti”.  Only other one I’ve seen.

[Swedemoto]

Well yesterday I drove up to see the bike and sealed the deal. I'll pick it up in a week or two. Very nice gent who has had a number of guzzi's and still has a Mk1 in his gallery. Story is that he bought a lot of 8 bikes and is selling off most of them, He is riding them all and currently enjoying the well sorted 500SL. The bikes are currently at a friends shop, who is a noted buyer/restorer. He should have a couple more for sale soon.
I wanted to take more pics of the bikes but was really distracted by the collection that includes a Nardi racer, many Ferrari's, Alfa Montreal, Maserati's, etc. Just wow!
Not real familiar with Ducati's but have already was many hours looking for parts. Don't know a lot of the bikes history other than it came from Sonny Angels shop. I don't know when it ran last, but it only has 9K miles and the plugs looked really good. Engine turns and shifts fine. More to follow.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Congrats. Good buy..

[chuck peterson]

You guys are only encouraging me to keep doing this craigslist thing when you go buy them, you know....congrats Swedemoto!

[huub]

nice buy! brilliant little bike.
like a lario, but without the valve issues....

[Swedemoto]

Actually Chuck, thanks. I filter Craigslist using a year range and since he didn't enter one, I totally missed it. Not that I was looking for a Pantah, but you never know what you are missing until you see one. I hope! So the parts search begins. Anyone got a line on a parts stash?

Anyway, here's a video he sent me last night of his 500SL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYY_IFTTM6o