1964 ducati monza junior 160

Make: DUCATI

Model: Monza Junior 160

Engine Capacity: 160cc

Rego: None

Odometer: 21km

The 160 Monza Junior made its debut in 1964. Its engine was developed from the ohc 125 with the capacity of 156cc, being fitted with a 22mm carb. With 4 speeds and 16 in wheel rims. Gasoline Motor Co offers another example of Ducati Heritage that brings a bike like you have not seen before on bike sales. In fact we had ask bike sales to add this bike to the library because no one had sold one before. This bike is being sold as is with no books or paperwork. It was garage kept in a huge collectors personal garage. 

Basically, the Ducati 160 is a squeezed-down DM 250, with the bore and stroke dimensions reduced from 75mm x 57.8mm to 61mm x 52mm, dropping the displacement from 249cc to 156cc. This has been done without, as nearly as we can determine, materially altering anything in the engine other than the cylinder and piston, and the positioning of the crankpin in the flywheels. The DM 250's cases are finned around the oil sump and there are fins on the valve-rocker covers; in the 160, these fins are missing. However, there appears to be no appreciable change in the bulk of the engine casting or in anything inside. In fact, the instruction manual is referred to by Ducati as a supplement; most of the specifications, procedures and parts from the DM 250 will apply to the 160.

In a way, it would seem likely that the external differences are there to hide the fact that the 160 is a "squeezed" 250, and that is a bit silly. After all, the disguise isn't all that good, and in any case, the 250 is so good that the worst one could say of the 160 is that it is a trifle heavy for its displacement. And, one can point out that the 160 derivation will surely be the most under-stressed engine to come along in years. Parts that have proved so reliable in even the more highly tuned versions of the DM 250 engine should last indefinitely in the substantially less powerful 160.

Retained with the 250 engine is the Diana's frame. This is a single-loop type frame, with a downtube that terminates at the front of the engine crankcase. The engine is a part of the load-carrying structure. Of course, most of the frame's strength comes from the large-diameter, heavywall "backbone" tube. This gives it enormous torsional strength (essential to good handling) and, unfortunately, uncommon weight. It is this combination of engine and frame, both borrowed from the 250, that gives the Ducati 160 much of its high curb-weight of 247 pounds, which must be something of a record for the class.

The rest of the Ducati 160, too, has the appearance of having been "borrowed" from other models in the Ducati line, but we are not sure what came from whence. The brakes are typically Ducati, with a 158mm drum up front, and a 136mm drum (with built-in drive cushion) at the rear. These are laced into 16-inch wheels, and we feel that in this, Ducati's engineers made their only real mistake. The front forks are, we think, from the Bronco 125. and these forks, combined with the DM 250 frame, give a steering that does not seem to get along very well with a 16-inch front wheel. The bike feels tippy, and makes its rider yearn for a steering damper — which the bike does not have. On the other hand, when the 160 is leaned into a turn, it settles down and becomes very manageable. Peculiar; but that's the way it is.

You can view this Motorcycle Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm. We are located at 1047 Bourke Street, Waterloo, NSW

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