Iam looking at buying a paso at a local bike shop 750,what should i look for ?? its a low mileage one, has rattling clutch [normal?] and seems to blow some smoke from right hand cylinder ! i havent ridden it yet .I was looking for a 907ie ,but this one came along ,should i wait for a 907ie ?if they were a better machine ?any advice would be welcome thanks ! need to sneak something into the garage before the fiancee takes up permanent residence .Its the only bike i ever heard my mother comment on, when they first came out in the late 80s

hi desmoid ha ha i like your post let me be honest with you this bike is like a kinder suprise when it comes to certain things mainly flimsy bodywork the dash is held by two flimsy little rubber mounts mine broke and proceeded to ground all the time blowing fuses, the electrics are infamous as you can find out on this forum, so to the clutch mine ive just broke my control disc mushroom[pin.] wich is one part dont let them mix you up on this! or youll be so confused youll want to listen to james blunt records.Now to your humourous part either listen to mother or forget the bike and welcome your girlfriend in im sure her bodywork cant be as bad as the paso's. desmodave

Hi Desmoid,
I also have liked your thread.
In past I have had a 906 and now I have a 907 i.e.
So, I can tell the 907 is very very very better than the first Pasos.
The electrics of the 907 is a little bit better (always unreliable), but the fueling is very, very better.
The Weber carburetor of 750/906 is awful and many people has replaced it with the Dell'Orto or Mikuni units.
Besides, you have to think that the Paso 750/906 has 16" wheels (the tires are very difficult to find) and old rotors and calipers.
The 907 has 17" wheels (that you can find easily) and the same rotors and calipers that you can find on the most modern Ducks.
The engine parts will not be a problem because are quite the same of SS and Monster.
Some part is not more available and you will need buy used, but you are buying a 15/20 years old bike.
I would wait to find a 907 if it will be your only bike.
Wish.

Hey Desmoid,

Listen to the comments above but do not let them rule your decision. Yes the 907 should be a better bike than the 750 but don't be scared off by the Weber carb, they are sweet when you ride the bike on the roads it was made for. The 16 inch rims are limiting in tyre choice but there are alternatives with minor mods to guard clearance etc. I have never had trouble gettting the Michelins here in OZ. Not sure where you are though. Just remember it is a bike that is close to 20 years old. Don't expect it to be a new bike & just give her the love she needs. Your Girlfriend should love the Pillion (if you want her there).

Take the 750 for a ride & see if your heart overrules your head, everything else can be sorted with money & patience. Like you said, the most important thing is to have it in the shed when the Fiancee moves in.
I am a bit curious though, what were your mothers comments?
:thumbup:

Desmoid,
I bought my 88 750 knowing that the Weber was crap going in. I had the Mikunis, Intake Manifolds an K&N filters the same day I bought the bike. Pulled the Weber and haven't looked back. I've had the bike 3 years and other than replacing the ignition coils have not had any problems. I feel that you must be a guy that can work on his own bike though to own a Paso. Not a full time mechanic, but if you don't think you are up to some of the things necessary to update these models you should probably look for a newer Ducati. Are you comfortable changing out the carbs with good instructions? Could you add the relay modifications for better starting? The instructions are posted here. Could you work on the clutch yourself if necessary? If these are not in your capabilities then you need a newer Duck. If you had to pay a Ducati dealer to perform the necessary mods then again, buy a newer Ducati. You could buy a 750 that has all of these mods completed, then of course the price goes up!
Doug

It depends on the price, mileage and condition. First of all I will tell you that once sorted properly, it's a bulletproof ride. I have toured on my 750 and plan on doing a SS1000 this year on it.

This is a 20 year old bike so it will be a labor of love. When a part fails it can be a real trial due to scarcity of parts. We have a great resource in this list and lots of parts show up on ebay.

Read thu the Tech FAQ at the top of this forum as it lists the top issues that we Paso owners have encountered.

Good luck, we are here to help.