- Seller: Joseph R (Contact)
- Location: Rehoboth, Massachusetts
- Mileage: 7,264 Shown
- Chassis #: 86514
- Title Status: Rebuilt
- Engine: 248-cc 4-Stroke SOHC Single Cylinder
- Transmission: Manual
Francesco (Franco) Villa was a well-known motorcycle racer, mechanic, and legend who passed away at age 87 in 2020. He was working for Ducati and racing on the side, but the company soon discovered his success and had him represent the company on the track. One of his winning rides was a Ducati 250. Building on that success, Ducati came out with a road bike version, the 250 Monza, and this 1965 Ducati 250 Monza barn find is listed exclusively as a Barn Finds Auction!
Ducati came out with its first production road bikes in the early 1960s and the 250 Monza was made from 1961 through 1968. The “ape-hanger” handlebars were added to give the bike a custom touch by the previous owner. They also repainted it at some point during their 60 years of ownership. The current look and style may appeal to the next owner, or they may decide to repaint it and find original-style bars. Whatever route you take, finding a bike owned by the same rider for 60 years is pretty incredible. The tail light appears missing, so add that to the list.
Hey, where’s the kick-starter? It’s on the left side, so that’ll take a bit of getting used to for those of us right-footed kickers. As such, the shift lever is for your right foot, and the five-speed manual was new for the 1965 model year. The frame is standard steel tubing that’s curved and runs from below the steering head to the rear of the transmission. There’s another downtube in front to the front of the engine.
The 100 MPH speedometer was fairly ambitious as the top speed was around 80 MPH, give or take. That’s with factory 6.42:1 gearing, and the rigid forks make for precise steering, whether the steering damper is cranked or not. You can see that the key is still in the “ignition” in the headlight pod, very cool!
The big thing with this bike, as with all Ducatis, is the engine. It’s a 248-cc four-stroke SOHC single with around 20 horsepower. It has a bevel gear-driven camshaft that helps with noise, and another feature of interest is a sludge trap in one of the flywheels, which can be cleaned out via a threaded plug. Sadly, the seller says this engine seems to be stuck and they haven’t forced it, but the next owner would want to disassemble it to check it out anyway. This Ducati has some needs before it’ll be on the road again, but if you’ve been looking for what would be a beautiful bike when it’s done, get your bids in on this estate find 250 Monza!
Bid On This Auction
Olij37 bid $250.00 2025-02-26 12:46:49
My friend had an Enduro 350 single. Late 60 early 70. Great looking bike. A real animal to kick to life. Rumor had it. It could brake a leg if not careful. Italian bikes ooze kool.
those monkey bars need to go.
neat ol relic.
Gotta have the v-twin (lat mounted,
not long. mount like harley) to excite me
(’70/1 forward, 500/750+) they generated the
cafe racers if U ask me. Optimal? late ‘70s GS 1000
that was imported to Italy where they removed that engine
and placed it in their own hand made frames. Speaking of excitement?
Travel some pretty exciting twisties in that thing (just make it ‘track’ or ‘sanctioned rd race’ [so as to have John Q citizen off the road/course]}. No
deaths PLEZ ! Plenty these type rds near this bike (RI/Cape Cod area)…
GLw/theS
Apes on a Duc. Got to be the only one.
There used to be a few Ducatis out west. The most of which were 250 scramblers. There was a couple of guys in Sunburst with them and a couple of guys just north of the border with them. Another guy from down near Dutton had a 350 Sebring(?). I actually had a guy offer to sell me a 160 Monza Jr. It was next to new but broke the angle drive to the camshaft. I should’ve bought it. People would wander past and wonder what “Japanese” company Ducati was. I actually had a guy look at my friend’s ’80 Triumph 750 and wonder what place in Japan a Triumph came from…
I had a 125 Ducati before I could legally drive it on the road. I didn’t say that I didn’t drive it on the road. I got it from my cousin when it stopped running. I did a suction cup valve job on it and installed a new head gasket, it had lots of compression then.
Brian, I seem to recall you also doing some occasional “off road” riding with that 125, which was quite loud.
It was loud when I removed the beer can baffles from the muffler
New handlebars – cafe style – and a little work and this could be a whole lotta trouble/fun.
Those mini apes look like they came off a pedal bike. Maybe an Applecrate 5 speed from the 70’s. Whoever buys this can send those to me. Just to hang on my garage wall. They certainly don’t belong on this bike. Would like to see this one when it’s done. GLWTA.
For sure a cool Cafe Racer candidate.
I have an incomplete 63 MK 3 its a mixture of parts. i have rebuilt the lower end polished all the aluminum wheel hubs front end engine case. for years i have hoped to complete this bike but mechanical skill and money are very different values. I need so much to complete it and its been so long. If i bought this i could make an amazing bike that I could ride that doesn’t require a hand shifter like the bike I ride now. These Ducati singles are the best sounding machines. I have built so many bikes over the years they are definitely special. Being a LT leg amputee your choices can be very limited on what you can ride. What a great bike to restore. Good luck to whom ever wins the bid.It deserves a good home. I do hope it can be me, but sadly Money talks and stories walk.
Love that bike!!!!
Nothing flies like a Duc
What’s happening with the bike now, I see it was RNM. I’d love to have a bevel version to go with my Duc 2-stroke projects.
It would be a wonderful little machine to ride every day.
I made an offer and it seems like the owner is looking for enormous money for the seized up old girl. I hope that is okay to mention relative cost..
I was hoping to be able to join what i have and make a nice daily driver.
But it is out of my league financially. good luck to the seller. I hope the Duc doesn’t go uncared for.