Ducati restoration in London
Classic Ducatis and Italian motorcycles, from sympathetic to concours
Ray Petty Meccanica restores classic Ducatis and other Italian motorcycles at its workshop in Greenwich, London, from sympathetic recommissioning to full ground-up restorations. Our 1974 Ducati 750SS won Best in Class at the 2020 Salon Privé Concours d'Elegance, the first concours we had ever entered.
Restorations and replicas to museum standard
Restoration is a skill built over decades. Ray and his team know the historic Italian marques inside out, Ducati first, and also MV Agusta, Laverda, Benelli and Moto Guzzi, and use that knowledge to bring machines back to how they left the factory, or to build faithful replicas.
We work on every era of Ducati, from the bevel-drive twins and singles of the 1970s to the belt-driven Pantahs, 900SS and 916 family, and we know the differences between one model year and the next that matter to judges and buyers. Keeping a classic on the road rather than restoring it? See classic Ducatis. Want something one-off? See custom builds.
Sympathetic restoration
Some owners want the patina kept and the bike returned to full working order. What that involves depends on the machine and how rare it is, and may include refurbishing the paintwork and renewing the wiring harness.
The aim is a bike that rides safely and reliably and still looks its age, with original parts and finishes kept wherever they can be.
Full ground-up restoration
For a full restoration, the bike is completely dismantled and every part refurbished: vapour blasting, plating, painting and so on. The engine is stripped and every bearing and seal replaced.
Then it's rebuilt to the standard the bike was built to, or better, and run in and tested before it goes back to you.
How a restoration starts
- Tell us about the bike.Send photos, what you know of its history, and what you want from it: a concours entry, a period-correct road bike or a rider.
- We look at it.Ray inspects the bike and tells you honestly what it needs and whether it's worth doing.
- We agree the scope.Sympathetic or ground-up, and how we'll keep you updated along the way.
Best in Class at Salon Privé
A six-month restoration of a 1974 Ducati 750SS, one of only 401 built, including a top-end rebuild, some of the hardest-to-find parts there are, and more than 100 hours of detailing. The judges commented on its originality.
Restoration projects
What riders say about RPM
“Very pleased indeed with the work done yesterday to my MHR. Ray and crew are very knowledgeable and easy to deal with. I have no hesitation in recommending them to any belt or bevel owners.”
“Managed to diagnose the issue in a matter of minutes and got me going again. [...] The speed in which they worked out what was going on showed their extremely high knowledge of classic Ducatis.”
Restoration questions
How long does a Ducati restoration take?
It depends on the bike, the scope and how quickly parts can be found. Our Salon Privé-winning 750SS took six months, including a top-end rebuild and sourcing rare parts. A sympathetic recommission can take weeks rather than months. We'll give you a realistic timescale once we've seen the bike.
How much does a motorcycle restoration cost?
Every restoration is different, so we price yours after we've seen the bike and agreed what you want from it.
Should I choose a sympathetic or a full restoration?
It depends on the bike's rarity and originality, its condition and how you'll use it. An original, unrestored bike in good order is often worth more kept original. A tired or incomplete bike may need a full rebuild. We'll give you our honest view.
Do you restore Italian motorcycles other than Ducati?
Yes. We also restore classic Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, Laverda and Benelli motorcycles. See Moto Guzzi, Moto Guzzi Le Mans and Italian motorcycles.
Can you find parts for classic Ducatis?
Yes. Finding the right period parts is a big part of any restoration. For the 750SS we sourced some of the hardest-to-find parts imaginable.
Got a project in mind?
Send photos and tell us what you'd like to achieve, and Ray will come back to you.
Work featured in
4.9 on Google from more than 240 reviews
We'd love to hear from you
Call, email or call in to the workshop in Greenwich.
Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday and Monday: closed