Nice. A few comments:
1. Bizarrely, while the right side switch block includes an electric start button, the bike doesn't have an electric starter! Not that it worked too well, even when new ... And the battery took a real hammering. I suspect someone go fed up with it, took the starter off and replaced the engine cover on the clutch side with a cover off a kick start bike. This is what the electric start cover looks like, btw (again courtesy of Phil Aynsley):
2. The bike looks very complete, clean, and in good condition. A nice buy. I see it has the second, lower style of seat, as well as twin discs - both introduced towards the end of 75. The Aprilia blinkers are rare - look after them. The rear light may have been changed - in theory, it should really be a square CEV unit. But given the factory's tendency to occasionally fit whatever was on the shelf at the time ... maybe not.
3. The dash board is missing its central sticker. Steve Allen, the owner of this site, has them here:
https://store.bevelheaven.com/stickers- ... h-sticker/
Be gentle with the plastic moulding. It cracks very easily, down towards the mounts. Replacements are available from Steve. But best avoided in the first place.
P.s. Steve also has a few other period decals which would look nice - Ceriani fork sticker, Smiths speedo (I think that's a Smiths speedo?) etc. Have a browse.
For the tank etc decals, speak to Steve. I can't see them on his site, but he may be able to help. If not, I think I know a man who can ... Also, Steve is bound to have a battery strap.
4. The original handlebar switches used to leak, corrode and stop working. But I see that the left side one, which is/was the worst offender, has already been replaced - a good sign, IMO. And it's been done with a period and Ducati-correct one (this style of switch was fitted to the parallel twins and some 900 SS). Seems someone knew what they were doing. It's why the choke lever has been changed and relocated, btw.
5. Check the fuse box. Again, it's not reliable - contacts corrode, come loose etc. Best replaced with a modern quality item. But if the existing one is an Aprilia item, don't throw it away - it has a value for a collector!
6. Be gentle with the gear shift lever. It's aluminum and guess what? It can snap ...
Otherwise: run it on a quality synthetic oil - 10-40, 10-50. But DO change it frequently - every 2,000 miles. The weakness in these engines is the big ends, and failing to change the oil frequently is almost always involved when they go bang. And they are expensive to fix. "Oil is cheaper than bearings".
But a nice bike!
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