Darmah

[Scout63]

I bought this 1980 Darmah today.  It will be shipped up from South Carolina in a few weeks.  My many thanks to Cliffrod for connecting me with the Seller. It is on an MSO never titled, fueled or run.  I’m sure it will need a lot of sorting.   I’ve always been scornful of bikes that aren’t riders so maybe I will end up getting it roadworthy and register it.  If it gets here in time I’ll haul it to IMOC to show it off.

[Tusayan]

That’s an amazing find.

I had one of the last, an ‘83 Darmah, and still have my SS.  The Darmah is a nice motorcycle and I wouldn’t have imagined there was still a brand new one out there.

Be a bit careful with the wheels, they are the Speedlines that are known to fail and were recalled in some markets.  The other wheel types installed on Darmahs are Campagnolo and FPS, both interchangeable but they look slightly different.

[faffi]

What a find  Congrats, enjoy

[Huzo]

Had an identical one.
Stable as a brick outhouse.

[Dukedesmo]

A new Darmah, amazing.


Enjoy riding it, do you still get a factory warranty...?   

[Stretch]

Get it roadworthy?!

Of course!

Then take it out for a long ride in the rain - you can always detail it later.   

                                                -Stretch

[cliffrod]

Sometimes the stars just align.   Pretty stoked that they did this time. 

It looks like an amazing bike and needed the right new owner.  Now it has one.

[chuck peterson]

No


Way.

[czakky82]

Color me jealous!

[inditx]

 

[Dave Swanson]

Excellent.  The Ducati force is strong in this one.  :)

[kidsmoke]

https://media.giphy.com/media/V0IdVIIW1y5d6/giphy.gif

seems these things find their way home. Congrats!
 

[twodogs]

Wow, nice find 

[Anomaly]

Jeezus Ben! When is the/your museum opening?

What a find!

[Chuck in Indiana]

I had an '80 just like it until 98 when I got the Centauro bug.
That's an amazing find..

[nc43bsa]

Back in the late 80s I had a 1980 SS and a co-worker had a Darmah, both black and gold, both with Contis.

Occasionally, we'd start them in the shop and have a "sound-off."

[mondtster]

Nice! I've always wanted a Darmah.

[Scout63]

Thanks for the kind words.  I have a feeling that it has a fair bit of corrosion. I’ll post pictures when it gets here. I think it is karma. I posted a big box of the CX parts that I got last year in Toronto from Harry Tiefenbach to Clint, and he returned the favor by sending me the seller’s number. The relationships here are so great.

[SmithSwede]

Wow.  What a beautiful bike.  I love old Ducatis.  Keep us posted when it arrives

[s1120]

WOW what a find!!  I would be torn...  you know its never been on the road, and its only new once. DO you stash it, or run it?  I would never own something that I couldnt run, so I know what I would do. :)  Enjoy!! 

[Groover]

Congrats, one of my favorite bikes! 

[dguzzi]

  Groover got that right!
It's Darma Karma,  Let us know the progress as you bring it to life!

[cliffrod]

Things really aligned for this Ducati. 

I was 8+ hrs from home visiting friends for the week when it popped up.  Deals like this one only seem to appear near my house when I’m not home….  Some here probably know what I mean.   It looked like a very nice bike and seemed to fit Ben’s world, so I sent him the info I had.  The next morning, I messaged the seller early.  There’s poor reception at my friend’s shop but seller called almost immediately before I left the motel for the day.  Seemed like a great guy with legit info.  From there, it just kept going well. 

The dealer who ordered it new from Berliner never sold it and supposedly kept it on display at his dealership in South Carolina for many years.  I’ll be curious to find out more about the general condition as Ben goes through it.

Ben was a generous friend last year soon after the CX moved into my shop- no fanfare, just doing his thing.  It is a better bike to own because of friends like him.  The latest box of backordered tuning bits for it just came while I was out of town.  I’m looking forward to getting it resolved and on the road.   Glad I could do something to help return the favor.  Thanks again, Ben.

[Pescatore]

Bellissima!
 

[Denis]

This was the one advertised on FB Marketplace n Beaufort, SC back in July, right?

[2WheelsUp]

Congratulations on the Darmah Ben, quite a score! It's a dream buy, and I'm suspect you are still taking it in. Looking forward to seeing more of your bike, prep to get it road worthy, and of course, impressions of your first ride.
 
Turns out I'm in the market for a Darmah, maybe a GTS but prefer a Darmah given the improvements over the GTS. A good friend, guy I grew up with, has a Darmah SSD he picked up about 5 years ago. He had one when we were young... I was riding my first LM1... and among many rides, we rode the Rockies together on them, Denver to Banff... ride of a lifetime. I have two other Ducati's that I love, a 748 and a 939 SS, and while they are a blast to ride, I'm wanting a vintage Ducati.

I'm nearing the finish on my Norton MK3 restoration, will post something soon, just didn't want the pressure of frequent posts, particularly given it's been a quite a battle. It'll all be worth it when it's complete, just a bitch to tackle all the issues. Back to your Darmah, I have at least one more restoration in me and a 70's-80 Ducati would be perfect. Hope to find one soon. Good luck on your new bike!

[leafman60]

I had a Ducati Darmah for several years back in the '80s. 

One of my subscribed motorcycle magazines had a front cover picture and review of the bike and that's what primed my desire for one. A slightly used one popped up at Darryl Fuller's Continental Cycles in Marietta (Atlanta) Georgia near where I lived at the time and I bought it.  The Darmah was a good bike, Ducati's version of a Gentleman's Express, competition for some of the BMW bikes of the day.

After owning the Darmah for a while, I ended up adding a very low miles 1981 Ducati 900SS.  What a thrilling machine was the 900SS.  By comparison, the Darmah was heavier and slower.  On the other hand, the Darmah had electric start and more comfortable appointments. 

After several years, I sold the Darmah and after several more years I sold the 900SS for what I thought was big money in the '90s.

Some of the Darmahs had trouble with the sprag clutch starter mechanism.

It's a very nice motorcycle and owning one should be very rewarding.

.

[Scout63]

This was the one advertised on FB Marketplace n Beaufort, SC back in July, right?

Hi Denis - I think so.  Waiting for it to arrive.  I’m hoping it is as advertised. The pictures were a little fuzzy but I really liked the seller and I think Darmahs look really cool. I’ve always thought 0 mile bikes are a little useless. I feel a little silly buying it.  I’ll display it in my office for a bit and figure out what to do with it.

[Stretch]

I’ll display it in my office for a bit and figure out what to do with it.

When you're done with it in the office as an interior design element,
I'd be happy to let it visit my heated/dehumidified garage. Of course,
I'd also take it out from time to time to wring it's lovely little neck so
it doesn't feel neglected.   

Let me know if you need my assistance........ 

                                            -Stretch