stuff, finding of

Today, after searching for days, I found my copy of Ian Falloon's Standard Catalog of Ducati Motorcycles 1946-2005. Unlike other sources, such as Wikipedia's history of Ducati, or Ducati's own web site, this book covers the full range of OHV bikes made from the early 50's to mid 60's, which is to say, the 125 Bronco and its ancestors. You'd think from what they are saying that Ducati takes a quantum leap from the Cucciolo auxiliary bicycle motor to the Taglioni OHV bevelhead race-winning bikes.

In fact there were a dozen or more other models progressing in a logical evolution from the 50cc clip-on bicycle engine to 65cc mopeds to full motorcycles growing in increments up to the 125cc Bronco of 1960. Taglioni came on board in the middle of this and added his desmodronic designs to the mix, and they were produced alongside one another.

Perhaps this history doesn't fit with Ducati's current branding agenda which is all about equating Ducati with desmo and desmo with Ducati, with Taglioni as the omnipresent patron saint from whom all things begin. And that Ducati is all about racing and always was (forgetting all those non-racing bikes).

None of this is my concern, although now if anyone tells you bikes like the Bronco aren't "real" Ducatis, you'll know why.

The good news is now I have my book and that means I was able to finish fleshing out the Wikipedia Ducati 125 Bronco article I created a few days ago.

In other news, I got email from the seller of the $100 Silentium muffler I ordered on eBay, asking if I wanted the 35mm or 32mm pipe. (Thirty two.) I'm bidding on a batch of carburetors/parts of carburetors, including the air cleaner assembly I don't have, as well another batch of miscellaneous 125 Bronco parts including forks, seat innards and various levers and bits. I have my eye on a parts bike or two out there for sale, mostly because I need that magneto, flywheel and cover.

I think I'm on track to get this bike running and riding within my $1,500 budget. To make it look beautiful and run and ride, I will probably have to spend more than that but there's no hurry.