With 88 rear wheel horsepower in a sub-300lb package, this example is arguably the quickest and best handling old-school 750cc TT1 in North America. Ducati TT guru Lou Saif had this to say about the machine: "The beauty of a real TT with the balls to back it up! Wish she were mine."
I built this TT1 using period components as a relatively faithful replica of the TT1s that ran in the AMA BOTT GP class back in the day. The only deviation being the modern (90s) calipers and pumps, ignition coils and the non standard crankcase breather box in the seat. However, it differs from most TT1 replicas in that it was built to be a fast and reliable track bike. Over the years I’ve found that the only TT1 frame that seems to work well with modern 17” wheels & slicks is the final series Verlicchi large diameter, thin wall. Back in the day, Reno Leoni had DM Frames make a copy of the Verlicchi and DM has since modified the jig to allow for the use of a big block motor. The DM version was checked digitally last year against the Verlicchi and they are geometrically identical, however the DM is 12mm longer between the upper cross brace and the steering head. I countered this somewhat with the offset on my triple clamps, but the small difference in trail gives the DM a bit more stability with a very small decrease in agility.
The whole thing is held together with over $900 in titanium and aluminum fasteners. Every bearing and seal in the motor and on the machine is new. The bike is a highly-developed example of an old-school TT1 – works brilliantly on the track and handles better than any TT1 I’ve ridden. The bike and motor were built with care and a high level of attention to detail over an 18 month period. It was broken in correctly on the dyno and then saw six horsepower/tuning pulls and roughly 4.5 hours of track time. I’ve run the bike at Calabogie and Mosport – and came away delighted with the performance and handling on both occasions.
The specs are:
- DM TT1 Frame
- Marvic 3-spoke magnesium wheels with floating 280mm Brembo rotors front and 260mm rear
- Brembo P3034 calipers with authentic Brembo racing caliper adapters
- Brembo 996 series pumps
- Authentic TT1 Brembo rear master
- Marzocchi M1R forks substantially modified by Lindeman engineering back in the day (they work like no M1R I’ve ever experienced)
- Authentic TT1 Marzocchi 195mm triple clamps
- TZ replica throttle
- Scitsu tacho
- 851 clip-ons (Verlicchi)
- Authentic NCR electrics plate
- Bosch ignition (rewired pick-ups) with Dyna 3 ohm coils
- Custom-built Stadium shock (rebound plus Hi & Lo speed compression adjustment)
- 750 F1 aluminum swing arm
- Leoncinni TT1 Replica floating rear brake caliper mount
- Leoncinni TT1 Replica rear sets
- Old Racing Spares endurance tank and TT1 seat with custom, integrated breather box
- Bimota DB1R fender & mount
- Romanelli TT1 fairing
- loudbike open NCR replica exhaust
- loudbike 85db Weber exhaust
- 750 Sport-based bottom end built by Gary Palmer
- 800SS rods
- Lightened clutch basket, clutch housing, primaries and flywheel
- JPrecision heads with new valves, guides & seats and NCR #7 cams with STM adjustable pulleys
- Modified F1B pistons (12.5:1 compression)
- Mikuni TM Pro-series 41mm flat slides
- Mikuni vacuum fuel pump
- Modified Old Racing Spares cam end covers
- Oil cooler with Starlite hoses, Earls fittings and top-end lubrication via cam end cover feed
- Magnesium rocker covers
- Dyno-tuned to 88hp, 56ftlbs torque
The fiberglass fairing is a period piece, so there are some minor surface cracks already starting to show. As well, there is some minor paint blistering (two quarter sized areas) from heat off the 95bd exhaust.
You can see the dyno runs at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6lMRYyqrz4&feature=share&list=UULXdTYwizBnNNHuc_JRjwKw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mt_-oKAIMs&feature=share&list=UULXdTYwizBnNNHuc_JRjwKw
You can read about the progress of the build on my blog at:
http://loudbike.blogs.com/loud_bike/2013/07/back-in-the-saddle.html
http://loudbike.blogs.com/loud_bike/2012/09/4th-annual-ducati-tt-f1-symposium.html
http://loudbike.blogs.com/loud_bike/2012/05/ducati-750-tt1-and-bimota-db1-sr-builds.html
http://loudbike.blogs.com/loud_bike/2011/12/winter-2011-loudbike-vs-bimota-db1-sr-ducati-tt1.html
And there are hi-resolution photos on my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/loudbike/sets/72157635863581524/ To get to the hi-rez images, select one and then click on the icon in the lower right of the page (three white dots) and select view all sizes from the drop-down menu.
If you haven't ridden one of these machines (very likely you haven't), you'll experience razor sharp handling in a lightweight package that will let you run with modern equipment. Raw and intoxicating, but refined and easy to ride. The sound of a small-block Chevy with a willing and flexible engine. I sent Ex-Ducati North America sponsored rider and Pro Thunder Mosport lap record holder Paul Penzo out on bike bike at the DOCC Mosport event last July and here's what he had to say: "..exceeded my expectations of a vintage motorcycle. Excellent corner speed and no notable glitches when ridden at Mosport. It looks great, but it handled so well that it gave me a new appreciation of vintage motorcycles".
Push the starter button and go fast. It even idles.
I'm happy to assisting world-wide shipping. My customers have used the following companies with very good results:
North American shipments:
Adam or Jacqui
TFX International Specialized Vehicle Transport
11 City View Drive
Etobicoke. ON M9W 5A5
Canada
Phone 416.243.8531
Fax 416.243.8886
www.tfxinternational.com
Mackie Auto Transport
933 Bloor St. W.
Oshawa, ON, Canada L1J 5Y7
1-905-728-2400
Paul Mackie (Ext 441)
e-mail: [email protected]
International shipments:
Tony or Amanda
Inter-Par Logistics Inc.
3845 Nashua Drive
Mississauga, ON L4V 1R3
Tel.: 905-678-1288
Fax: 905-678-1289
e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Questions? Please feel free to send me an email at [email protected] - or you can call me at 1.613.230.7448 / 1.613.805.5401
SOLD!