Charles Greensted’s Ghost

Speaking of engine donor, is there a similar Japanese motor that will fit?
I,ve read these are considered the best handling bike due to the Bakker frame and geometry, but the motors can have “issues”.
 
TeddyG said:
Speaking of engine donor, is there a similar Japanese motor that will fit?
I,ve read these are considered the best handling bike due to the Bakker frame and geometry, but the motors can have “issues”.
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Not a Bakker Frame - this was a Laverda designed frame - the bakker frame was expensive to produce - however access to the engine is much better :) - this motor is a less stressed 650 cc
 
TeddyG said:
Speaking of engine donor, is there a similar Japanese motor that will fit?
I,ve read these are considered the best handling bike due to the Bakker frame and geometry, but the motors can have “issues”.
Click to expand...
Clem's son was putting a KTM in a Zane machine.
There's one in France with a Commando engine.
Paul
 
From experience with two of these and an additional 668 Diamante raced hard, I think the 668 motor in the Ghost is just fine if you change the oil frequently, keep the oil level up and don't run at sustained max rpm.
I love my road going Ghost, handling is brilliant, posture good for all day riding and quite adequate performance.
 
In an old copy of Prat Sports there was a black carbon infested 750 Formula which had a engine transplant ...... think I`ve still got the copy ......... TL1000 or something I think ........ I`ll have to check now ..........

BTW ...That`s a nice looking Ghost for £1.75k ........... eBay Ghost values are getting on for twice that ............ 750 Formulas are at £ 6.5K ............
 
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rocketonarail said:
In an old copy of Prat Sports there was a black carbon infested 750 Formula which had a engine transplant ...... think I`ve still got the copy ......... TL1000 or something I think ........ I`ll have to check now ..........

BTW ...That`s a nice looking Ghost for £1.75k ........... eBay Ghost values are getting on for twice that ............ 750 Formulas are at £ 6.5K ............
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ebay doesn't have values.
Paul
 
Paul Marx said:
ebay doesn't have values.
Paul
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No , but the optimistic seller does ........ And dealers selling through eBay ( I only look at the dealers ) have a pretty firm idea of what they expect to get ......... No bidding , so not a lot of room for haggling there .......


It`s quite good fun to follow the progress of some of the dogs ........

There`s a 1998 Yamaha R1 4XV ... ( and this is a eBay dealer advert ) ..... Cut undertray , non-standard can , polished frame , pillion grabrail ! , " loads of extras " .......... and worst of all , a No46 Rossi paintjob complete with loads of stickers ....... ( yeah , great ... ) ........

This tarts handbag has been lingering on eBay for what must be TWO years now ........ reduced from £6995 ( yes, really ) to a please please buy it £4995 during that time .



Hope the Charles Ghost sells soon .............
 
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It`s the June `21 edition of Practical Sportbikes .......... A 650 formula with a Suzuki SV1000 V-twin engine fitted .

I haven`t bothered with pics as with the fairing on it looks just like a ...... ( you`ve guessed ) ......... There`s a picture of an airbox , and a view of a frame side rail with a battery and gen cover poking out , both of which are about as clear as mud , so I haven`t bothered with them either .

The bike was put together in Australia by ex-pat Yorkshireman Chris Hall , with help from his mates Brian Carter and Brett Rostirolla .......

Work included producing a new frame crossmember and shock mounting , as they were in the way of the rear cylinder ..... and a reformed fuel cell , again to make room for the rear cylinder .

SV fuel pump , and SV loom mated to the Laverda ECU , as far as I can make out ..........

Before he left for Australia , Chris mentioned Mike Waugh of Montydons was helpful in getting the bike ( still in 668 form } set up properly .

He allso says it was the handling aspect of the bike he wanted to preserve , and that remains intact with the Suzuki engine fitted .

In it`s original form , it was one of just two hundred made in black , with improved engine mapping and some carbon fibre body panels , apparently .
 
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