Topic: The little Ducati Featherweight

[jag767]

So this little guy fell onto my workbench.... That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Little ducati 160 motor, actually won't get here til tuesday.  I have "big" plans for this little guy, looking at throwing it into a cb175 roller I have titled and ready to go. Sure there are other frame options, and there are a lot of better ideas, but this frame is sitting right in front of me, and doing the motor swap should be a weekend job.

As for the motor, the plan is simple, get some more juice for the squeeze. Planning on larger carb, free blowing yet long exhaust, a mild porting, jack the compression up, digital ignition with full electronics upgrade (great kit available), and we should be good for a few more ponies. I figure 16-18 hp would be doable, and let's keep the weight under 200lbs, shooting for 175.

I will not be going crazy on finish work on this one, a little patina on the motor will be just fine, I'm looking to ride it as a commuter, not keep it perfect show ready condition. In my neck of the woods rush hour traffic keeps your from going more than 50 anyhow. Either way, should be a fun little ripper with the very light weight. I'm also not a big guy (150lbs) so it won't take much to move me.

[faux fiddy]

I don't know how to subscribe but I like to watch where this goes. Any tank with knee pads ...cool, mix it up.

[jag767]

I don't know how to subscribe but I like to watch where this goes. Any tank with knee pads ...cool, mix it up.

Haha glad ur on board. Hoping for a fun around town bike in the end.

[RAFster122s]

It is going to require a bit of reengineering to convert to left side chain drive.  That and learn Ducati's reversed foot controls and recalibrate your left foot to brake.  Looks like a fun project and a nice roller.  Is that a Planet Blue or other color on the frame?  The motor will look nice in the blue frame.

Good luck! Look forward to.your progress shots...

David

[jag767]

It is going to require a bit of reengineering to convert to left side chain drive.  That and learn Ducati's reversed foot controls and recalibrate your left foot to brake.  Looks like a fun project and a nice roller.  Is that a Planet Blue or other color on the frame?  The motor will look nice in the blue frame.

Good luck! Look forward to.your progress shots...

David

Flip the rear wheel around? Aligning them is the harder part actually, especially since that wheel already has a 428 spocket on it. lol the getting used to shifting with my right foot will be the interesting part. A small part of me wants to make it a hand shift. The frame is impulse blue metallic from a 2004 gto, and will be getting powdecorated after I hack the hell out of it. It won't be the same blue, but I will go for close.

[RAFster122s]

Yes, the alignment will be the biggest change/challenge but, changing the pivot for the rear brake is not going to be fun needing a mirror of the current parts, unless the shaft is splined and allows 180 out or similar change easily, then it is merely accommodating the brake pivot.

I have a set of 175 gauges if they would be of use.  That was/is a pretty blue.  It would be nice to have the same color.

David

[RAFster122s]

BTW! the CB175 was the first small displacement motor capable of cranking out 20 BHP 

I don't recall if that was Before the tranny or rear wheel.
Definitely not at the rear wheel.

[faux fiddy]

I don't know how to subscribe but I like to watch where this goes. Any tank with knee pads ...cool, mix it up.

Haha glad ur on board. Hoping for a fun around town bike in the end.

I actually have an old bridgestone tank that after paint looks generic, but definitely something with rubber on it, Ducati would be best, but it's something you could play with.  The stock Honda tank with the gator back on it is a dead ringer for what it really is but the knee pads will make people think it's a more rare thing at a glance.

Feel free to use the attachments I did a while back, "Honda" with ducati graphics, or perhaps even better the Hon "duh" for such a hybrid creature. (the file on the latter didn't quite fit the page, but  you get the idea)  Fabbing attachment points if it is different than Honda would scar up the frame paint.

[jag767]

Yes, the alignment will be the biggest change/challenge but, changing the pivot for the rear brake is not going to be fun needing a mirror of the current parts, unless the shaft is splined and allows 180 out or similar change easily, then it is merely accommodating the brake pivot.

I have a set of 175 gauges if they would be of use.  That was/is a pretty blue.  It would be nice to have the same color.

David

Shaft can push or pull and the lever can be flipped, so no issues there. Should be easy. Who needs a sticking rear brake anyhow 

Thanks, but I already have the little tach I will be using, and yes its blue haha.

[jag767]

I don't know how to subscribe but I like to watch where this goes. Any tank with knee pads ...cool, mix it up.

Haha glad ur on board. Hoping for a fun around town bike in the end.

I actually have an old bridgestone tank that after paint looks generic, but definitely something with rubber on it, Ducati would be best, but it's something you could play with.  The stock Honda tank with the gator back on it is a dead ringer for what it really is but the knee pads will make people think it's a more rare thing at a glance.

Feel free to use the attachments I did a while back, "Honda" with ducati graphics, or perhaps even better the Hon "duh" for such a hybrid creature. (the file on the latter didn't quite fit the page, but  you get the idea)  Fabbing attachment points if it is different than Honda would scar up the frame paint.

Thanks for the graphics, I like the honda one very much. As for the tank, I think I already have that and the seat picked out, I have a small trove of parts I'm pulling from 

[jag767]

BTW! the CB175 was the first small displacement motor capable of cranking out 20 BHP 

I don't recall if that was Before the tranny or rear wheel.
Definitely not at the rear wheel.

Funny you mention that. In another forum we were discussing how accurate or inaccurate that was. From what I can tell there are 2 major limiters in the ducati motor. First is a 22mm carb. I will be changing that our for a mikuni vm30. Next is the crappy compression. 8.2:1 isn't good for much. I will be striving for 11:1. With a nice exhaust, little porting, digital ignition, better coil, and upgraded high output 12v stator, I think the results may be surprising.

From what I found, the 125 desmo they made with 11:1 compression packed 16hp. I have a hard time seeing how I can't do at least that. I may price out a cam regrind as well, maybe a tad more lift, but definitely more duration. That with additional compression should be significant. Oh, and I have a wideband 02 sensor and a/f gauge I will weld in to tune with.

[jag767]

It took some doing but I sourced a digital ignition and full 12v conversion from a company out of Australia. Will now put out 120 watts vs 28. Also should have much stronger spark, and should by helpful in my hp quest.

All the bases have been covered. Ordered a vm28 carb, the 12 conversion with cdi, new header, and already have a muffler. I will be welding in a wideband 02 sensor for tuning. I will be doing the motor in phases. First all these bolt ons and some good tuning. Once that's done and the motor is in the bike, I will dyno it tuned and timed for what the hp is. From there I will work on the internals.

[jag767]

Seat and tank idea. Light, simple, just would have to trim the rear of the frame, and weld up a few holes.

[Bankerdanny]

Love that color. I really wish i had bought my dad's Cb175 a few years ago when he decided to sell. I think he only sold for about $400 for a running titled bike in overall good shape.

[bill440cars]

  This a pretty cool little project and I am in....   Should be a Really Cool Commuter at that. Nice tat you can get the parts and such, that are needed, to upgrade and improve. Can't wait to hear how it goes. 

[jag767]

This is going to be an extremely easy swap!

[RAFster122s]

Looks very good, the engine mount brackets will be one of the challenges.
Are the sump angles the same when sitting close to as shown?  You don't want to starve the oil pump when cornering because of an incorrect angle.

It is going to look great if you can get close to that same color.

David

[jag767]

Looks very good, the engine mount brackets will be one of the challenges.
Are the sump angles the same when sitting close to as shown?  You don't want to starve the oil pump when cornering because of an incorrect angle.

It is going to look great if you can get close to that same color.

David

Angle will be identical, and te brackets are easy. In the front I will make it out of cardboard then trace onto steel.

[bill440cars]

   Really a Cool build, for sure.

[jag767]

Umm.... so that was boring. It actually left me wondering if honda ripped off ducati for dimensions. Took 30 mins and i only cut off 1 motor mount which was unused, and shaved down another. The motor fits no tighter than the honda motor did. Even the chain will line up perfect i think. I'm almost disappointed. One or two easy little nothings to fix, and carb placement may get interesting.

[RAFster122s]

Shhh, that's our secret...  No need to give away all the marbles.  Glad it was not a huge deal.  Less customization headaches is never a bad thing....unless you really like that kind of work.  Besides, when you finish this up it frees you up to do another bike/other work.

How is your fork swap going...? 
Is vintage brakes still in business?  They can probably fit you with better c pad compounds than normally available using the stock drums.

"HONDUC" just doesn't have the right ring to it...

[jag767]

Shhh, that's our secret...  No need to give away all the marbles.  Glad it was not a huge deal.  Less customization headaches is never a bad thing....unless you really like that kind of work.  Besides, when you finish this up it frees you up to do another bike/other work.

How is your fork swap going...? 
Is vintage brakes still in business?  They can probably fit you with better c pad compounds than normally available using the stock drums.

"HONDUC" just doesn't have the right ring to it...

Lolol! I'm sticking with all the components you see in the photo for one simple reason; I already own them, haha. Once the Amalgam build is done I may do a fork swap and some lightweight mx rims, but for now what you see is what you get. She'll easily weigh in under 200 lbs, that motor is extremely light!

[bill440cars]

      Whoa, you have 2 really cool builds going there. And this one, is going to be pretty unique, on it's own.

     Closest I have ever come, to mixing one motor with another frame, was when I had come across most of a Yamaha RZ350, without the motor & fairing. Then, I wondered what motor I might could manage to work into that frame. I had several Hondas around, that were what I like to call "Project Material" and my Wife called "Junk".  Anyway I just didn't get right on that and time went by and things happened and a good part of my "Collection" of projects narrowed quite a bit and the RZ is long gone. Really enjoying both of your builds.     

[jag767]

      Whoa, you have 2 really cool builds going there. And this one, is going to be pretty unique, on it's own.

     Closest I have ever come, to mixing one motor with another frame, was when I had come across most of a Yamaha RZ350, without the motor & fairing. Then, I wondered what motor I might could manage to work into that frame. I had several Hondas around, that were what I like to call "Project Material" and my Wife called "Junk".  Anyway I just didn't get right on that and time went by and things happened and a good part of my "Collection" of projects narrowed quite a bit and the RZ is long gone. Really enjoying both of your builds.     

Haha thanks Bill.

So I threw the chain on as is and, well, it's the right length and perfectly aligned. Can't make this stuff up!

[RAFster122s]

Boy, I didn't see that the chain drive was on the correct side...for some reason I thought the chain was on the left.  Glad it is all falling into place easily.

Christmas coming early with this build thus far...