The 1983 Ducati 650 SL Pantah: a Very Rare Homologation Special - Back to Classcis

The 1983 Ducati 650 SL Pantah: a Very Rare Homologation Special
With only around 280 ever produced, the 650 is by far the rarest of all Pantah models. The whole reason it even exists was to homologate the longer stroke of the 750 TT1 and F1 racing bikes. It meant Ducati had to develop a special version based on the existing 600 Pantah but with slightly larger displacement, a new colour scheme and some other new details.
Harné will tell you all about it in this new video episode; going over the history behind the Pantah model range and how the 650 was developed. He also takes this lovely and original example for a test ride. You can join him on the road to get some taste of riding a Ducati 650 SL Pantah.
If you like the t-shirt Harné is wearing in this video, these can be found here: www.ducaticlas...
Thanks for watching this episode and see you soon at Back to Classics!
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The music you hear in our intro is by Atlas Absent (Harné's band). Please check them out at ‪@atlasabsent3364‬

[@wtfftw24]

Those Italian bikes are masterpieces 😎🔝

[@beatlloydy]

Nice bike...i had the 84 650 Pantah from 2003 to 2015..it fit my 5'11" frame like a glove. My ex sold it on me in 2015 for $3k aus in and it was probably worth $20k aud ($13k usd or so)..i was in no fit mental state to argue..today i picked up a totaly rebuilt mint stock 500 SL today for $16k aud (approx $10.5kusd..it is showroom almost as new. ironocally in 1981 i put a deposit on one without telling her (we had just moved in together and i was 18) but she "convinced" me to get my deposit back..ive been single for 8 years and now own a 9/10 76 860Gts (has 98000km on it but totally restored) a totally restored 1967 250 Monza, ' a 2019 scrambler cafe and a 75 Honda 400 four. i also have various other bikean and electric motorcyles..i sort of did it as a eff you to her but i dont talk to her. i love the ducatis and also want a 2008 classic 1000s. They live better than i do in their new lined container home.

[@richardbehrle1496]

I love the vid. I have a early 600 with the 500 small clutch on it. I'm thinking about swapping a 650 Alazzurra motor in it.

[@peterlittlejohn8933]

I've just found your site and have subscribed. I've been a Ducati owner since 1978 when I got a GT750, but sold it in 1983 for a new 600SL Pantah, which I still own; hence my nickname "Pantah Pete". My Pantah (now 650cc) has clocked up 220,000Km over the years, but is now "retired" after getting a "modern" S2R 1000 Monster in 2008. Sadly I've not been riding any motorcycles for a few years due to lockdown, health and life getting in the way. The Pantah is a lovely bike to ride.

[@favoriteblueshirt]

Great video. When I rode a friends 500 in 1980, it re-calibrated what handling represented to me, I had only rode Japanese and wornout British bikes, the Pantah was exquisite.

[@richardbehrle1496]

You might want to make that number 281. 8 months ago I spun a bearing on my 1982 200,000k Pantah SL and rebuilt it with the crank, pistons and rods from an Alazzurra 650. It's almost done. The heads had race cams inside from the 80s and it was a pretty good little bike, I thinks it's going to a lot more exciting now!

[@OFBCyclingWorld]

Great stuff. I owned and rode a 600SL Pantah in Castrol colours for around 15 years. Loved that bike.

[@JasonSimonSmith]

Capital. Thank you for sharing this content. Wow.. what a bike ! Cheers !

[@tylermegehe]

Love your channel. I would love to visit your shop. Always great videos.

[@colinmartin2921]

The first toothed belt camshaft drive used on a motorcycle was a conversion done by Armaroli for Mototrans, on a Ducati single-cylinder racer that used a new double-overhead camshaft cylinder head. I owned one of the first 500 Pantahs, and boy was it fast! It revved like a two-stroke and would out-perform most other bikes on the road, but like all belt-drive engines, it had awful transmission snatch due to the lack of flywheel weight, and had to be kept revving all the time. I prefer bevels!

[@petrichor649]

I think it was a Goldwing that had the first belt cam drive.

[@q36spacemodulator]

I owned one of these back in the early nineties but sold it when new family obligations took over. Ten years later I bought a rough Cagiva alazzurra 650,basicly the same engine, a verlicchi frame and went about building TT replica. 10 years later I sold that to finance a big motorcycling trip with friends. Selling both of those bikes is one of my biggest regrets. Nowadays I couldn't afford one. I still have a Ducati though, a Monster 900 cromo reasonably scarce it's self. I love it but miss my Pantah.

[@jonesmike53]

I've owned a DSL500 since 1981. Before that I owned a 250 Mark 3 single with dual fuel fillers - super rare. My then partner made me sell it. A Mark 3 250 if you can find one will cost about 8 X as much. MY biggest regret :-(

[@q36spacemodulator]

@@jonesmike53 The vertical twin 500 were disliked by many and you could pick one up cheaply. As for a Mk 3 250 costing 8 x as much as a Pantah 650, you're dreaming.

[@andysandrex7244]

Great video content/drone footage. I had a 500SL back in the day and my wife would take it out rather than come on the back of my Darmah. Another bike I wish I still owned. Had to rebuild it due to gearbox dogs wearing! Common fault I believe.

[@Sem.or.sumthin]

Prachtig spul

[@dugwthree]

I have a 650 Cagiva from 1987. Is that the same motor ?

[@BackToClassics]

Essentially yes. There were some changes when Cagiva continued the Pantah under the Alazzurra model name but very few.

[@kalgaramerinos7085]

@@BackToClassics I too have a 1986 650 Alazzurra. Lovely bike. Could you explain the differences in the motor please? I was told a milder cam but have never been able to verify.

[@BackToClassics]

@@kalgaramerinos7085 The Alazzurra 650 engine is almost the same as the Pantah 650 SL. The gear ratio is slightly different and the clutch is hydraulic.

[@kalgaramerinos7085]

@@BackToClassics Thank you. It is certainly a willing engine, and as a package the bike is an excellent all rounder. Totally different handling characteristics to the widecase singles and even to the 750 GT. Very under rated bike, would be worth you doing a video if one comes into your shop!

[@GerritBosman-p4x]

it is pronounced PANTAH not Panta ,

[@BackToClassics]

You're right, I can hear the difference

[@richardbehrle1496]

As far as I know it's an Italian play on the word Panther.

[@geewillikers5342]

Would love to delete the left side shift on my 860. So problematic.

[@kman1696]

I'll sell mine when I can't swing my leg over it. I want it to go to a good home. Someone young who is going to thrash it and ride it with less caution and more flow.