DUCATI 450 R/T CUSTOM 1971

1971 DUCATI 450 R/T/HONDA XL RACING BIKE FOR SALE

Not to diminish the original bike as the most beautiful dirt bike produced at the time and an excellent bike for casual riding. the Ducati 450 R/T production only ran for one year due to characteristics that were not compatible with racing (http://www. pulpmx. com/stories/look-back-old-moto-mags/gps-classic-steel/gps-classic-steel-69-1971-desmo-ducati-rt-450).  

All design flaws of the Ducati 450 R/T  were corrected on this bike:

Poor handling : Frame replaced with Honda XL and rake  http://www. motorcyclemuseum. org/halloffame/detail. aspx?RacerID=75)  copying an Eric Cheney 450 Ducati frame geometry.

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Cheney Ducati

Lack of low end torque :   Motor built by Dave Crone with 1968 springer head providing greater low end torque than the Desmo.   Top end rebuilt in February 2014 and then stored.   Bottom end just rebuilt in Italy this week. March 2015 - 1000ˆ invested.

Inadequate suspension :  Suspension replaced with Husqvarna forks  and Thor shocks - freshly rebuilt

Excessive weight :  original fiberglass replaced by alloy.  suspension and frame replacements brought weight down from 300 to 252 lbs.

This bike ridden by Brian O’Conner in mid 1990`s and placed in the top five nationally four years in a row in the 500 classic class and probably would have scored higher if Mr O’Conner hadn’t competed in the 250 class where he won the national title.  

Dave Crone. top American Ducati specialist believes this is the only « corrected » 450 R/T that exists.

  price includes transport to euro tunnel

Also published at eBay.com