Sport Desmo twin>single conversion?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:19 am
Been reading the other threads about this so I thought I'd post up
I went to look at a 350 Sport Desmo late last summer - barn find, private import to the UK from Italy. Found it whilst tooling around EBay. . Not actively looking to buy, but aware of the model and it's reputation. 5 miles from my workplace and I'd never seen one in the metal - so how could I not go and have a look at it?
Especially as, like others here, I'd been wondering if you could slot in a single to replace that heavy twin and create a lightweight café racer. A widecase single would make it completely period.
So I went to have a look.
Bike only had 5000 miles on it. MPH speedo (and reflectors on the indicators) suggest it was intended for US though AFAIK the 350 version was Italian market only, never exported? Minor crash damage told its own story (dinged headlamp rim, scuffs to brake lever & n/s engine cover) and it looked to have stood quite a while (cracked tyres, rotted carb rubbers). Patina in spades. Astonishingly, it was even a runner.
A quick bit of measuring suggested that the engine mounts might even line up with a widecase...
Just as well it was cheap as I couldn't resist it after that.
One or two issues with the plan (drivetrain) but I'm now told that Phil Hitchcock did a similar conversion, featured in an Oz bike mag a few years back. So, it's possible.
I'll drop Phil a line but has anybody got any pics/further info?
I went to look at a 350 Sport Desmo late last summer - barn find, private import to the UK from Italy. Found it whilst tooling around EBay. . Not actively looking to buy, but aware of the model and it's reputation. 5 miles from my workplace and I'd never seen one in the metal - so how could I not go and have a look at it?
Especially as, like others here, I'd been wondering if you could slot in a single to replace that heavy twin and create a lightweight café racer. A widecase single would make it completely period.
So I went to have a look.
Bike only had 5000 miles on it. MPH speedo (and reflectors on the indicators) suggest it was intended for US though AFAIK the 350 version was Italian market only, never exported? Minor crash damage told its own story (dinged headlamp rim, scuffs to brake lever & n/s engine cover) and it looked to have stood quite a while (cracked tyres, rotted carb rubbers). Patina in spades. Astonishingly, it was even a runner.
A quick bit of measuring suggested that the engine mounts might even line up with a widecase...
Just as well it was cheap as I couldn't resist it after that.
One or two issues with the plan (drivetrain) but I'm now told that Phil Hitchcock did a similar conversion, featured in an Oz bike mag a few years back. So, it's possible.
I'll drop Phil a line but has anybody got any pics/further info?