From the “Just Shoot Me” file, the following:
Neighbor asks me awhile back, "Hey, you want to buy my son's old Ducati?"
Naturally, I said, "Well, hell yes!" We worked out a price and an arrangement was made. Click on the image to see it fullsize.
Naturally, I waited awhile to tell Laura about this, and when I did, I pointed out that the thing is so small, it never will leave the neighborhood. Now, I've ridden since I was a kid but pretty much swore off motorcycles after my last crash, a highside during testing for a client at Spain's Jerez grand prix track. That wasn't any fun at all. Came home, healed up a bit, then sold my two bikes - my Ducati streetbike, a big red thundering 851, and my racebike, a much smaller Ducati Sebring that I built, with the help of friends, for vintage racing.
I have been motorcycle-free for probably 15 years. Didn't like that. Feels great to have a two-wheeler back in the garage.
Today I stepped across the street finally to retrieve my prize - and yes, the cache of parts that came with it seems to be pretty much complete. This is it, a 1965 Ducati Bronco, the very most humble offering from the proud Ducati stable.
It apparently was running, but not shifting properly, when the neighbor’s son pulled the engine and sent it out to have the shifter problem solved. We shall see. Again, click to see it fullsize.
While the engine was away, he started sanding the paint from the frame and “fixing” the tank. I would have left the whole thing alone, just rubbed it out as much as possible. Again, we shall see.
Even in a machine as humble as this, the Italians sure do have style, though, don't they?
So I'm pretty stoked about this. I don't anticipate that it will be running anytime soon. But fooling around with it ought to keep me off the streets for a good long while - and keep me even broker than usual, as I chase for parts that inevitably will need. Wait, that means I'll be less able to afford bottles of good wine. What was I thinking?
-JFT
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