Hi to all,
I am a new member, so please forgive me if i ask dumb questions.
I recently aquired a 1988 Ducati Paso Desmo Limited in a pearl white with 2000 miles on it, mint conditition. I purchased it from a family friend and it has been in storage for 20 years. I cannot find tires for it; front, 130/60x16 and rear, 160/60x16. Can anyone help with a source, I have read about the 17 inch conversion. If possible, I would like to keep this bike all original.
Also, could anyone advise what a bike in this condition is worth (for insurance purposes)
Thanks in advance, Vince

Vince, welcome to the forum. I`m always amazed that there`re still so many Pasos popping up which such a low milage. To answer your question about tires, sorry your screwed. Those sizes don`t exist anymore and if you still find someone selling new ones they are unused but old and not worth the money. So if you still want to ride the bike the only things you can do is: 17" conversion or 130/70-16 front with 150/80-16 or 180/60-16 rear. With both rear sizes you will have clearance issues. The 180/60 is less high but of course wider. You`ll find infos in this forum about these sizes.
But I guess before it comes to tires you will be busy tearing the bike apart and rebuilding it changing all bearings, seals, fluids, belts etc.

G.

Compliments for your purchase.
I hope you enjoy your GREAT bike.
You'll find here all advice needed to ride and preserve your bike.
Ciao

Vince,

Great purchase! You'll love it provided you get the tire issue sorted. The '88 Limited is rare as Paso's go, so treat it well. Some are known to have factory performance "upgrades" whille others are simply dressed in white and badged as Limiteds. Either way, any Paso is a super fun bike to ride.

As for value, I am afraid to say, it is not as much as you probably think. I'm going to say in the $3,000 - 4,000 range for one that is well cared for. The tire issue is killing us owners on value. Unfortunately this is Ducati's brain-fart that we are now stuck with.

Best of luck with it.

Hi Vince

I to have a 1988 Limited, mine has the factory performance upgrade so I am very happy with it. As for the tyres I have just had a set of Avon tyres put on my bike, they are a higher profile and the back tyre is a bit wider and the rear whell hub rubbers were modified for the tyre to fit as it would have rubbed on the chain. The bike is still in the shop getting work done to it and I get it back next month when I have a 1600 km ride to get it home so when I get it back I will let you know how the tyres went

By the way I live in Australia and I had to get the tyres shipped over from America, but I will get back to you with more info.

Hi, my name is Mophead and i'm another new member (from New Zealand). I was told about this website when i bought a couple of second hand tyres
from a fellow Paso owner. I have just done a rear wheel retro-fit using a 5 and 1/2 inch Marchesini wheel. The conversion utilises the original rear axle and disc off my old 16inch wheel as well as the original caliper and caliper carrier so it looks almost original. All that was required was to change the rear wheel bearings in the Marchesini to suit the original rear axle and hey-presto, tyre problem solved. Using the original axle enabled me to stay with the original drive-chain adjusting cams.I assumed that i would have problems with 17inch tyres on the new wider rim being too wide for chain clearance/swingarm clearance but the first 17inch tyre I fitted (a Continental 180/55/17) fitted perfectly. There is about 2ml clearance between the tyre and the chain and because it's a 55 profile tyre, there is at least 10 to 15 ml clearance between the crown of the tyre and the corresponding point on the swingarm. All up the new wheel cost $NZ600 (about $US420) and the cost of the machining involved to take the original disc and rear sprocket was also $NZ600. The handling is as good as it ever was but i am going to purchase a new front sprocket to gear it down a bit because the new 17inch tyre with its greater circumference gives greater top speed but it suffers in acceleration which I personally think takes away some of the purpose of the bike. And the reason for doing the conversion is to have a steady uninterrupted supply of tyres (which happened to be cheaper in this circumstance by about $NZ70 per tyre) so the exercise has been an unqualified success. I recommend that if you are thinking of looking at a rear conversion, go for it, you won't be disappointed. I have kept my original wheel just in case some body at Michelin has a brain wave and produces another batch of 16's but i'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.
Mophead 1987 750 Paso

Hi Mophead
Could you post some pictures of your PASO
Regards
Klaus

Hi to all,
Thanks for the insights, how can I identify if I have the factory performance upgrades?
Thanks, Vince



1988 Ducati Paso Desmo Limited in a pearl white