Configuration question: Ducati 900 GTS

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artandscience
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Configuration question: Ducati 900 GTS

Post by artandscience »

I'm told that this is a 1979 Ducati GTS (I'm thinking about buying it).

But I noticed when comparing it to Falloon's images that it's missing both front and rear indicators and the forks look wrong.
Never seen a Ducati of this vintage with calipers mounted _behind_ the forks rather than in front. Everything else looked
pretty good to me (other than the wrong shock length and type on rear).

Any idea what these might be off? I fear that if they're not even original Ducati, I might be out a lot of dollars to find original tubes.

Picture here: https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=9 ... C8B822!209

I can likely dig out engine and frame numbers in the next week to confirm manufacture date.
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BevHevSteve
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Re: Configuration question: Ducati 900 GTS

Post by BevHevSteve »

looks like a pretty stock 900GTS that someone turned the forks around back asswards and installed darmah type headlight brackets. Maybe it got dumped and a Darmah supplied the front end....
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artandscience
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Re: Configuration question: Ducati 900 GTS

Post by artandscience »

Was just thinking that might be the case (found a pic of the 1978 Darmah that looks like the same design).

Do you know offhand whether the rake and trail figures are the same for the Darmah as for the GTS? Looks like it might have zero rake.

Wondering if there is any obvious way (markings, etc.) to distinguish the two fork sets?
lloydmarine
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Re: Configuration question: Ducati 900 GTS

Post by lloydmarine »

Artandscience,
looks like a nicely kept bike, I have a 900 GTS and the rear brake pedal, headlight & mufflers do not look original either... but very nice bike and fairly easy mods to return it to its original glory!!
Mike
'75 860 GT
'78 900 GTS
artandscience
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Re: Configuration question: Ducati 900 GTS

Post by artandscience »

The mufflers look like new. They are Contis. It is supposed to be a 1979 model (so one of only 150 sold in the US, right?).

How difficult is it to put a 900SD rear disc brake (or equivalent) on this bike? I want to make sure not to change anything permanently on this bike so I preserve it's value, but I would prefer disc brakes all around if at all possible.

Thanks for the call-out on other things that may be different.

best,
Stefan
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Re: Configuration question: Ducati 900 GTS

Post by BevHevSteve »

if you want to preserve it's value, then don;t change to the disk brake rear.... :tisk:

You will need to weld brackets for master cylinder, cut cable brackets, drill and add a post on the swingarm for the caliper hanger..... It goes on and on. If you want a darmah, you should go get one. `-* That bike needs to stay drum rear end. A specialist can tune your brake shoes or glue new pads on then machine to fit your drum and it will really work well assuming you do some maintenance on the rest of the brake system......
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