My refurbished 1991 750ss

[jerryz]

I always dreamed of owning a real 1974 750ss since I was a teenager , i could afford £250 back then for a knackered BSA A10 and the Ducati was an unattainable £1899 in 1974 even a new Triumph Bonny was £900 ,,Now real genuine Ducati Melon Yellow 1974 750ss are at least £80,000 at recent auctions some even more on sold for £143,000 last year. I have owned this 1991 belt drive 750ss since 2008 and it was Red with white frame its a 1st year model and i used it for many years but it needed a full refurb ... So its had frame , wheels powder coated , new paintwork in 1974 style colour and decals , carbs rebuilt , engine refreshed as required ,, and now its complete and back on the road with my other bikes

 

[jerryz]

Hmm im having real problems with the carburetors Bike is not running correctly only revving to 3500 rpm and very lean , but when I swapped the carbs with another set off my Monster 750 which is waiting for its new fork upgrades , the 750ss runs perfectly full power no problems .

I had these 750ss carbs overhauled by a specialist company who stripped them as they are over 34 years old , ultrasonicly cleaned them twice and rebuilt them with new seals, gaskets , Orings diaphragms etc etc ....However they are not working well at all ,, I have now dismantled them and found that the float height had been set wrong and that many of the ''new parts '' are in fact defective!!!!!!!!!! , the ultrasonic cleaning is Good though ,

I am now rebuilding them again myself ....had to replace the CV diaphragms and Diaphragm valves , one float needle 3 Orings so far ,, somewhat frustrating hope to have it sorted out soon .........

also I did have a set of rearset lowering footpegs , on the bike before that lowered the rear pegs my 25mm , I put them on my Monster S4 in Thailand and now i find that When I try to ride the 750ss I am not feeling safe geetting legs onto pegs when pulling away and even worse when putting legs down when stopping which could be embarrassing so got to order another set of lowering pegs to make egress more flowing LOL ,,, once riding the racing riding position is Fine ....

 

[gus-lopez]

Love the colour.It looks great.

 

[Grummyb]

im not a bike fan by any stretch of the imagination but thats looks fab and obviusly lots of dedication has gone into a rebuild that good

 

[Neckender]

I’m having similar carburettor problems with my 1976 750 Triumph Bonneville it starts first time but runs rough on tickover I’ve fitted new Wassell carburettors but still not running how I would like it.

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[jerryz]

Many air cooled ducatis go for a carb Upgrade from the standard Mikuni 38mm BDST CVs to Keihan FCV Flatslides ,, which i have done in the past , easier starting, 10% more power , better acceleration and less complaxity a total WIN WIN .

In USA the FCV kit can be got for $1200 , however the solus UK ripoff UK agent now wants £1900 for the Kit ,, it is available in Germany for only 1400euro but they are not allowed to ship to UK ......

Another carb I like is the Lectron Flatslide , they are very simple, just a slide and needle , NO JETS and a fixed float ,crazy reliable. Kits are available for Ducatis in USA but not in UK , Lectrons are a favourite for dirt bikes and motocrossers ,, but I used them on Harleys and they were amazing 15% HP increase accross the range ,

when they come up second hand in UK they go very quick ......

So Im keeping to the original Mikunis ,, they work ok when properly set up

 

[AladinsaneUK]

On my old bevel head 750 I found that getting the carbs balanced was a right pain - iirc there is a breather / balance pipe between them? If I have that right - it was a long time ago - I found that that had some how got crud in it and once that was clear….

Lovely bike - mine was the red sport 750 that came out just as cagiva bought Ducati- I have never before or since shittier wiring looms!

 

[Oldrat]

jerryz
That looks a cracker, great job.

Three years ago I was lucky enough to import this 750 Sport from Belgium. It had been in a private collection for 35 years and just been fully restored by a marque expert. The colour changes according to the light, sometimes it looks orange, other times deep yellow.

The 750 Sport was only made in yellow and was replaced by the 750 SS which was the first twin with a desmo head and was known as the ‘Green frame’ and they do go for well over £100k.

 

[robnchris]

I've always looked at the Ducati's as a marmite machine, some are just stunning looking bikes though and that sound, you never have to look round to know it's a Duke.
So I have to confess to being a Honda nut, I bought this machine in a load of boxes, took 18 months to do a full nut and bolt rebuild but worth the time I put in.
Like most of us the carbs were a big challenge, but all running smoothly now, I also add electronic ignition.
Have to say having a button to start is luxury but it's a very satisfying moment when there is a crowd around you and she starts up with the kickstart.

 

[Flairy]

Jerryz and old rat you’ve made my day two. Beautiful Ducatis love them always wanted the 900ss but for what I did two up long distance with luggage it wasn’t suitable we had a 900 GTS did 69,000 miles on it the only problem was the clutch use to come undone after a long journey we went to all the 24hr races on it then bought a Guzzi Lemans ,then a Spada and had a1000 lemans race engine put in it at Duelio Agostini the consesionair in Italy not as nice as a Ducati but close did over 40,000 on the Lemans two up with luggage no wonder my wife suffers with her knees

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[Clive Beeza]

I’m having similar carburettor problems with my 1976 750 Triumph Bonneville it starts first time but runs rough on tickover I’ve fitted new Wassell carburettors but still not running how I would like it.

View attachment 1045559

I’m having similar carburettor problems with my 1976 750 Triumph Bonneville it starts first time but runs rough on tickover I’ve fitted new Wassell carburettors but still not running how I would like it.

View attachment 1045559

Hi Neckender
Wassell carbs are not the answer
the solution genuine Amal premium carbs
manufactured to exacting standards ans better
than amal's ever made them previously
fit and forget any issues

 

[robnchris]

Hi Neckender
Wassell carbs are not the answer
the solution genuine Amal premium carbs
manufactured to exacting standards ans better
than amal's ever made them previously
fit and forget any issues

You've obviously had good experience buying new Amal products, Mine however is totally the opposite, I did a full restoration on a 1951 Royal Enfield 350cc Bullet.
The old Pre - Monoblock carb was well worn so I bought a brand new genuine Amal Carb replacement, Cost £375.
No matter what I did the engine just wouldn't run smoothly, sometimes refusing to start, or idle etc etc.
In the end and in desperation I sent off to India for a Mikcarb, did a pre set-up on my workbench, fitted it and the engine started first kick, with just a very small adjustment the engine ran a sweet as a nut, oh the joys of a concentric carb.
Price delivered was £27.

 

[Howard B]

I've always looked at the Ducati's as a marmite machine, some are just stunning looking bikes though and that sound, you never have to look round to know it's a Duke.
So I have to confess to being a Honda nut, I bought this machine in a load of boxes, took 18 months to do a full nut and bolt rebuild but worth the time I put in.
Like most of us the carbs were a big challenge, but all running smoothly now, I also add electronic ignition.
Have to say having a button to start is luxury but it's a very satisfying moment when there is a crowd around you and she starts up with the kickstart.

View attachment 1045799

Thats lovely. I bought a 1979 550Four when I passed my test in 1982. Not sure Id like the handling on them these days though.

 

[daash]

How many does it sleep?

 

[Platelet]

Having ridden bikes from BSA, Triumph, Norton (+ rotary) Yamaha, Honda and BMW’s for a living. The Honda ST1300 was the smoothest but very top heavy with all our kit and a full tank (but taken off us for safety reasons) but I found overall that the BMW boxer to be the easiest to ride and throw about in all conditions, even though some of them sounded like a bag of spanners!

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[jerryz]

jerryz
That looks a cracker, great job.

Three years ago I was lucky enough to import this 750 Sport from Belgium. It had been in a private collection for 35 years and just been fully restored by a marque expert. The colour changes according to the light, sometimes it looks orange, other times deep yellow.

View attachment 1045784

The 750 Sport was only made in yellow and was replaced by the 750 SS which was the first twin with a desmo head and was known as the ‘Green frame’ and they do go for well over £100k.

An old friend friend from School bought a new Ducati 750s on HP credit over 4 years when he was an apprentice in 1974 he paid £1900 plus interest so it probably cost him over £3000 in 1975 Prices , which was a fortune , when a new Triumph Bonny 750 was only £999 or even a Kawasaki 900 Z1 was £1099 , he does not ride it much now ,he has several other bikes but 2 years ago he was told that he had to insure it for £75,000 as one had sold in an auction for that amount ,,, all I could afford at that time was 1958 BSA A10 650 for £200 cash LOL He also has a Vincent Black Shadow and an Ultra rare 750ss in the same yellow both are worth in excess of £130,000 each according to his insurance... Funny thing though his preferred rides these days are an Yamaha LC350 or a 1996 Ducati Monster 900 that he wants me to refurbish for him ..

 

[jerryz]

On my old bevel head 750 I found that getting the carbs balanced was a right pain - iirc there is a breather / balance pipe between them? If I have that right - it was a long time ago - I found that that had some how got crud in it and once that was clear….

Lovely bike - mine was the red sport 750 that came out just as cagiva bought Ducati- I have never before or since shittier wiring looms!

I dont think the post 1980s Italian Looms or electrics are as bad as people say , I have worked on many Ducatis and its ironic that the weakest part is the Japanese Regulator /Rectifier ,,,, and compared to British ''LORD of DARKNESS'' Joe lucas rubbish ,,, Magneto marelli are not so bad LOL ,,, Mind U the worst looms are on Harley Davidsons ,, unbelievable crap even today really horrible and terrible cheap chinese connectors on £30k bikes in 2025 ,,, wheras Ducatis even 30 years ago use Superseal which are excellent

 

[jerryz]

jerryz
That looks a cracker, great job.

Three years ago I was lucky enough to import this 750 Sport from Belgium. It had been in a private collection for 35 years and just been fully restored by a marque expert. The colour changes according to the light, sometimes it looks orange, other times deep yellow.

View attachment 1045784

The 750 Sport was only made in yellow and was replaced by the 750 SS which was the first twin with a desmo head and was known as the ‘Green frame’ and they do go for well over £100k.

My Favourite Bike of all Time if i won the lottery that would be my 1st purchase .

 

[robnchris]

As you mention Favourite Bikes of all time, for sheer reliability, comfort and all round use mine would be my 1997 Honda VFR750 fabulous machine and cheap as chips now.
Thinking about the British bikes I owned in my younger days my Ariel 500cc Red Hunter rates right up there, never let me down, memories of the Triumph Bonnie isn't the all-time fabulous machine you hear stories of today both of mine vibrated and were a touch temperamental, I sold mine and bought a BSA Spitfire A65 MkIV. which was a much better machine.

Just sold this particular bike which in my mind is everything the The Triumph Bonnie should have been,
Kawasaki W650,

 

[jerryz]

As you mention Favourite Bikes of all time, for sheer reliability, comfort and all round use mine would be my 1997 Honda VFR750 fabulous machine and cheap as chips now.
Thinking about the British bikes I owned in my younger days my Ariel 500cc Red Hunter rates right up there, never let me down, memories of the Triumph Bonnie isn't the all-time fabulous machine you hear stories of today both of mine vibrated and were a touch temperamental, I sold mine and bought a BSA Spitfire A65 MkIV. which was a much better machine.

View attachment 1046289

Just sold this particular bike which in my mind is everything the The Triumph Bonnie should have been,
Kawasaki W650,

View attachment 1046290

yes VFR 750 was excellent i had a couple ,,,wish Honda still made them ,W650/800 is a great bike as was Yamahas XS650 ,, Triumph Bonny 650/750 was a dire bike very poor ,, BSA's were always more reliable , maybe slower and not so showy but I liked my A10 and A50,, off course Norton commando was king , for power, speed and reliability and looks I have owned 5 over the years

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