My first ever Ducati was a 500SL. Ice blue, red frame, open carbs and a Verlicchi 2-1, a lovely thing
I had the usual 70's/80's Japanese stuff to start with but saw the light in about 1981 after spending a sublime hour in the Yorkshire Dales on a good mate's black and gold 900ss. I eventually managed to save enough buy a very secondhand Pantah, thinking I'd replace it with a bevel twin at some point. Turns out I'm rubbish at selling bikes - 35 years later and the Pantah's still here.
Unfortunately, and to my shame, it's been offroad - under a sheet and hemmed in - since the millenium. I won't sell it though. I even managed to cling onto it during a rather bitter divorce. Lots of good memories attached to the bike - it would be pretty special just to hear it run again, let alone actually ride it.
I really must pull my finger out and get a decent sized workshop built. Any and all incentives welcome - put up some pics of your resto if you can...