SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 MOTORCYCLE MOJO 43For additional photos of theDucati Scramblervisit: motorcyclemojo.compiston sourced from Hogben, installed
new valve guides and cut the seats
for replacement valves. Then, with
the crank journals polished and new
bearings and seals installed, the engine
components were delivered to Tayler’s
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who put the engine back together.
A new Veglia speedometer came from
the now-defunct Domi Racer/Accessory
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British and European motorcycles. The
company was liquidated in 2013.
Paint and Decals
To replicate the factory paint job on
the gas tank, Tayler borrowed an
original tank from another local Ducati
enthusiast. Decals were sourced from
Hogben, and the tins were delivered to
Guy St. Pierre at Cyclemania Artworks
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retired and closed his shop, he still
accepts paint jobs on occasion.
The seat on the Ducati had already
been restored when Tayler bought the
bike. However, just about every nut and
bolt was replaced with proper stock
Ducati parts – most of them sourced
from Hogben, who also supplied a
correct headlight and taillight, hand
controls and many of the rubber pieces.
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tailpipe and the mirror are about the
only things on the Ducati that don’t
truly belong on it,” Tayler says.
Not a Highway Bike
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rode it to the end of his driveway and
ventured out on the two-lane asphalt
highway that runs by his house. He
travelled only a kilometre or two before
he realized the machine, as it was set
up, was not going to be a good highway
motorcycle. Hoping to make the Ducati
somewhat friendlier on the road, Tayler
bought different-sized sprockets to alter
the gearing from Hogben. Tayler tried
again, but was disappointed with the
outcome once more, believing he’d hold
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the highway.
“That 250 cc motor is beautiful and
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enough for around here,” he says. “It
was really meant to be used off-road or
on a city street.”
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been drained and the bike remains a
showpiece only. If Tayler does want to
hit the road, he has larger machines that
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Honda CBX – and that’s a motorcycle
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HE’S SOMETHING OF A
PURIST WHEN IT COMES
TO PUTTING SOMETHING
BACK TOGETHER AS CLOSE
AS POSSIBLE TO THE WAY
IT LEFT THE FACTORY