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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Canuck750 on June 18, 2021, 06:49:37 PM

Title: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Canuck750 on June 18, 2021, 06:49:37 PM
Not the featherd kind,

I have been taking my 1975 860 Ducati out for a ride most every day for the past couple weeks, continue to fine tune the jetting and mixture, usually a 50 ~ 100 mile loop ride through the backcountry roads that are typicaly farm and ranch country but there is a lot of hilly treed places with many small lakes, this is a nice little park with hiking trails surrounding a couple little ponds about a half hour west of me. Typical north ~ central Alberta.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Tw00r8p7/EBD224-A1-FF14-42-F2-95-EE-6-CD7-CC19585-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8JFLS0dM)

The Ducati is a decent touring bike with the high handlebars, foot pegs place the heels just a bit back of vertical and a wide seat, this is not the rip snorting Desmo Head version of the bevel twin, the GT is quite sedate, happy to just cruise along at 55 ~ 65 mph, around 4000 rpm, no noticable vibration but I would prefer a windscreen.

I like riding these old nails, it forces me to just ride slowly and take in the sights with a soundtrack from gentle hum of the motor, life is good!

This one is going to go on the block now that its sorted and I have put on about 1400 miles. I will be asking about what a tricked out new Ducati Desert Sled Scrambler would set one back, pm me if any interest. I can arrange shipping to the USA.

It's no 750 or 900 SS but it is still a bevel drive Ducati and they are kinda cool.

(https://i.postimg.cc/50bpY9NQ/0-CDC86-BA-ADB0-420-A-A112-C438-C4-EFEADA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/p9cK3HjP)
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Aaron D. on June 18, 2021, 07:27:51 PM
I knew a fellow with one of those back when it was pretty new. He was a real hooligan, outran the police many times up until they got him.
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: kirkemon on June 18, 2021, 08:26:39 PM
Love those old Ducatis!  Nice color! Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Scout63 on June 18, 2021, 09:15:57 PM
Nice Ducati. Good luck selling. More garage space!
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Canuck750 on June 19, 2021, 10:43:07 AM
Nice Ducati. Good luck selling. More garage space!

Yes sir indeed! More garage space for more motorcycle projects.  :thewife:
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Stretch on June 19, 2021, 04:10:22 PM
I always thought the 860 was an underrated motorbike.

I have no more room, but I am still tempted.........

                                                       -Stretch
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on June 19, 2021, 05:54:52 PM
I had a little later model 860, and it was plenty hooligan enough for me.  :smiley: I thought it actually handled better than the Darmah that followed.
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Canuck750 on June 19, 2021, 06:39:19 PM
I had a little later model 860, and it was plenty hooligan enough for me.  :smiley: I thought it actually handled better than the Darmah that followed.

It’s got plenty of pep for me. I find the shifting takes some finesse, it doesn’t like to be stomped on rather the throttle needs to be backed off just before a shift then it gently up shifts, may just be a 45 + year old transmission but I have no previous experience with a Ducati to judge by. It handles really well in my opinion for an old nail, brakes are more than adequate and it responds nicely to throttle.
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: JJ on June 20, 2021, 02:04:43 PM
Cool beans!  Love old vintage Ducati's!! :thumb: :boozing: :cool: :bow: :wink: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on June 20, 2021, 04:21:22 PM
couldn't be vintage.. I bought mine new.  :cool:
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: s1120 on June 22, 2021, 06:09:43 AM
What a cool color on that. Something different that you will not pass yourself on the road every day. Always thought those needed a chrome grab hoop or a cowl behind the seat.
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Canuck750 on June 22, 2021, 09:44:02 AM
What a cool color on that. Something different that you will not pass yourself on the road every day. Always thought those needed a chrome grab hoop or a cowl behind the seat.

The orange / copper is the original colour, it was initially the only colour for the 860 GT and mine is an early production bike, I think it’s a sharp ‘70s colour. I agree about the odd gap behind the whale tail seat back, I have seen pictures of bikes with infill cowls added to the back of the frame hoop and painted to match the rest of the bike.
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: jbell on June 22, 2021, 01:55:07 PM
What a cool color on that. Something different that you will not pass yourself on the road every day. Always thought those needed a chrome grab hoop or a cowl behind the seat.

There were two different seats used on these.  Mine has the flat seat without the kickup at the end and the frame rail is exposed and handy for grabbing or lashing onto.
Title: Re: NGC A Duc at the Lake
Post by: Canuck750 on June 22, 2021, 10:14:05 PM
There were two different seats used on these.  Mine has the flat seat without the kickup at the end and the frame rail is exposed and handy for grabbing or lashing onto.

Do you have a pictue of the flat seat on your bike? I would be interested to see what it looks like.