Timmyjoe
Veteran
Not the most exciting shot, but one of the most exciting bikes I ever owned.
Ducati 998 Matrix
Best,
-Tim
Ducati 998 Matrix
Best,
-Tim
W/NW : Motorcycles
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I was thrilled to encounter this little Ducati Elite a couple of years ago at a show. I don't think they were an official import into Australia, although a few have snuck in since they were originally made in 1959. They always looked so distinctively pretty, maybe even, the prettiest of all the many Ducati single cylinders. It uses a built up roller bearing crankshaft like all the early Ducati singles (and most of the bevel twins) but is a valve spring engine that pre-dates introduction of desmodromic valve gear on the road going 350 Mark IIID. It was simply gorgeous. I know the owner, so I prevailed on her to let me get a couple of photos of it by itself, at the end of the show. It was awarded best in show against some pretty decent competition (deservedly, I thought).
Cheers,
Brett
Rolleiflex 2.8/80mm Xenotar
Fujicolor Pro 400H colour negative.
Cheers,
Brett
Rolleiflex 2.8/80mm Xenotar
Fujicolor Pro 400H colour negative.
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
That's a truly beautiful bike, new to me. The attention to detail in the design elements has had me looking at the photo for ten minutes, from the tank, to the horn, to the 1 into 2 pipe, to the intake trumpet, to the cooling for the front drum. It's not just the design, but the quality of the execution. Reminds me, for some reason, of an Alfa Giulia Sprint Speciale from the same period.
Thanks for posting (very nice in photographic terms as well).
Thanks for posting (very nice in photographic terms as well).
Thanks Larry—it's the only one I have ever seen in real life. I was well aware of the model, and had seen many photos of them. They look so lovely in print, but it was worth the two and a bit hour return drive to the show in itself, to actually see one, because those intricate curves in the tank, the intensity of the red paintwork (and so much of it!) with the chrome is glorious.
Here's another image I took of it during the show itself. There were people everywhere (and literally a queue to photograph the little Ducati) so I had to go low and tight to frame them out, but it does give a better look at that lovely little gear driven engine—the only chain on a bevel single or twin (strictly speaking, excluding the starter motor chain on some of the later twins such as Eg. the Darmah) is the final drive chain.
This one was made with one of my Zeiss Contaflexes (a Super BC, from memory) and its 50mm Tessar, with a f=1 metre Zeiss Proxar close up diopter lens on some of Fuji's original RVP (Velvia) I have been working my way through 100 feet of.
Cheers,
Brett
mcfingon
Western Australia
Extremely good-looking bike Brett, and photos. I had a new 450 Ducati Desmo in 1971 which had a very similar design, also in red and chrome, but not quite as ornate with the tank or muffler. It was very different to ride than the British bikes I'd been riding up to that point, and I think the best-cornering bike I've ever owned.
mcfingon
Western Australia
What I ride now: BMW 800GS, here with two of my friends. The Ducati was the beginning of me moving to European bikes. My GS on the right, in the Stirling ranges of South-west Western Australia. Leica M6 with Elmar-M 24/3.8 on Delta 100.
Don Craig
Established
At a parts auction in Saranac, NY.
TerryMcC
Established
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Peugeot by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Peugeot by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Honda by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Just picked up the SuperHawk yesterday after having had a bit of work done on it. A newly ported and polished head plus a high-spec camshaft were installed, and now it has a lot more bottom end and midrange, plus a bit more at the top. Yesterday was 'test and tune' day -- we ended up bumping the main jets in the Amals from 240 to 260. I'll ride it for now and see how it does.
SuperHawk 2017 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
SuperHawk 2017 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
That is so of its time, Vince, I love it!
lynnb
Veteran
That's a beautiful bike Vince, I'm deeply envious!
lynnb
Veteran
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Many thanks - it's been a 13 year art project 🙂
Dan
Let's Sway
Vince,
Nice leathers, but canvas shoes?? 😱
Nice leathers, but canvas shoes?? 😱
Vince Lupo
Whatever
No they are actually pretty thick green leather - they go up mid-calf. I do have three pairs of leather boots, just chose to wear those yesterday.
And the jacket is waxed cotton - I have an 'armoured' shirt underneath.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Found a pic from 1997 when I was club racing this little guy. Honda RS125RR GP bike. Really fun bike that would about rip your arms off when it got "on the pipe".
Canon TX w/50mm f1.8 SC & Kodak Ektapress
Best,
-Tim
Canon TX w/50mm f1.8 SC & Kodak Ektapress
Best,
-Tim
KEH
Well-known
A classy Harley from this year's Rolling Thunder in DC. Nikon F3T, 35/1.4, Tmax 100
Kirk
InZoom
Established
Rolleiflex 3.5F
Xenotar 75/3.5
Ilford PanF 50 (expired 2005-11)
HC-100
