Ellaspede

Ducati 450 Desmo MkIII 1974 By Ellaspede

"Often the case with stock motorcycles, the best examples of each are usually those released in the final year of the model?s run. John?s 1974 Ducati 450 Desmo Mk 3 is one such example.

With the superb 450 Desmo single engine, classic Italian looks and an impressively agile chassis it was always going to be one of those bikes that leant more towards restoration rather than customisation when it rolled into our workshop.

There are many great donor bikes for full custom builds, but a model like this with incredible heritage and looks was only ever going to get minor custom touches to enhance the original factory aesthetic.

Owner John gives us the background story?
?I had a really nice Ducati 450 Mk 3 that was stolen? but I?d always wanted a Desmo, so went looking. I bought this bike from the family of a guy who had been racing it? this was 1982. The bike was unregistered, and running a hot ?red and white? camshaft and had the valve springs removed so that it didn?t idle. I had the head done up with a standard cam and springs and re-chromed followers and then rode it most days. I had a double seat on it for the girlfriend, but the passenger pegs were on the swing arm, so it was a pretty hairy perch. I rode it to Sydney to visit a friend one summer and rode back with him pillion, it rained the entire way, not a bike for that in the best of circumstances.?

?In 1984 I went to the UK to study. I lo...