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One of the strangest episodes in Ducati racing history took place in Australia in 1975. At the time, production racing Down Under was dominated by Kawasaki Z1s.
The market for high-end, bespoke custom motorcycles is tiny. To move beyond bolt-on parts takes hours of craftsmanship, and true artisans don’t come cheap.
It’s always fascinating to see the personal rides of well-known custom motorcycle builders. Rough Crafts’ Winston Yeh, for example, rides a tiny PGO 125cc scooter. This Ducati Pantah belongs to JvB-moto‘s Jens vom Brauck, and prowls the roads around Cologne in Germany.“I wanted it to look like it was found in a shed in Bologna,” says vom Brauck. “A futuristic design study for a 1981 motor show, but never displayed … the work of a designer who was a café racer fan, but could not convince the Ducati factory.” Vom Brauck has aimed for a mix of styles, materials and parts from the last 30 years. The wheels and tires are deliberately narrow in profile, to retain a retro look. A smattering of carbon fiber provides contrast. Vom Brauck cut down the Pantah’s rear subframe and heavily modified the tank, adding oil pressure and electrical warning lights. The exhaust was built from parts Vom Brauck had lying around, including bits from an obscure MZ 1000S. “It has a nice, aggressive sound, but not too loud. And no, the butt doesn’t get too hot!” Performance is good: the Pantah weighs just 170 kg in this trim. And before you ask, Vom Brauck has no plans to create another Pantah, or offer the parts for sale. For him, the Ducati has been a very personal endeavor, created over three years. A shame, but at least we can enjoy the images.
For the photos click HERE
Bike EXIF
True Biker Spirit posted this awesome photo of their friend Koen on his way to the 4th Ducati SportClassic Meeting in Sorano Italy. This is him on the train in Switzerland, using it as a shortcut to get to Italy faster.
Miguel Galluzzi is the man who created the Ducati Monster, a bike that started life as a “parts bin special”. It’s now one of the biggest sales hits of the past twenty years. Galluzzi’s signature is also on the Aprilia RSV4 and several Husqvarna bikes, and today he’s in charge of Advanced Design for Piaggio. The company produces over half a million vehicles a year, with a stable of brands including Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Vespa. Born in Argentina but of Italian origin, the 6’6″ (1.98m) Galluzzi has just moved to Pasadena, California after many decades of living in Italy. Just when he thought he could relax, we hit him with the traditional ten questions of the Bike EXIF Interview. Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/miguel-galluzzi#ixzz1sVoJP4EM
The co-host of the BBC's Top Gear auto show is also a certified motorcycle nut. You probably know James May as the genial co-host of the most popular auto show in the world, Top Gear. But May is also a certified motorcycle nut, with a delectable stable of machines including two Moto Guzzis, and he regularly features in the excellent British magazine Classic Bike. Being a good sort, he’s taken a moment out of his hectic filming schedule to tackle the traditional ten questions of the Bike EXIF interview.
What was the first motorcycle you bought with your own money? 1974 Honda CB750/four (below), the four-pipe K-series. Not really a good first bike. Terrible brakes and so on. What do you think is the most beautiful production motorcycle ever built? In some ways the 70s Ducati 750SS (below). But in others it’s the original Honda Cub, for what it represents.... Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/interview-james-may#ixzz1or5O7YWg Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/interview-james-may#ixzz1or5I4bwh
Legendary Ducati motorcycle designer Pierre Terblanche reveals his favorite bikes (and his favorite restaurant) in our exclusive interview. What do you think is the most beautiful production motorcycle ever built? That’s a hard one. It’s like asking, “Who is the best boxer of all time?” Depends how old one is. What one is looking for. I would have to say the Imme R100 (below). I have no doubts about the best boxer, Mohammed Ali....more
Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/pierre-terblanche#ixzz1lvS63aSI
This beautiful 70s Ducati flat track racer would look perfectly at home outside a custom motorcycle shop today.... Every now and then, I get an email from a gentleman called Seth Dorfler, who is well known in US motorcycling circles. Dorfler presides over a seemingly inexhaustible archive of vintage motorcycle photographs, plus Ducati and Moto Guzzi memorabilia. (Much of this material was gathered from his days working for the Berliner Motor Corporation, one of the leading US motorcycle importers from the 1950s to the 1970s.) Seth invariably includes an unusual photo or two with his notes; after our recent feature on Don Castro’s Triumph, this Ducati dirt tracker landed in my inbox. The provenance of the round-case bike has been obscured by history. “I first saw the bike at a Motorcycle show in the 70s,” Dorfler recalls. “The bike was part of the Berliner/Premier Motor Corp. display at the Texas show—one of Berliner’s dealers arranged for it to be on the booth.” After a couple of days digging around, it looks like this lovely machine was built by Eddie Wilbanks—the “Wizard of Odds”—and campaigned in late 70s GNC-Dirt Track Nationals by Kenny McDonald (as #26) and then Steve Freeman (as #68). Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/ama-flat-track-2#ixzz1jD1B6K4k ...
This bike belongs to our friend René Waters in Alberta Canada (some of you may have seen it at Ducati.net's Ducstock event in October) It's really a looker - lots of details and photos on the BikeEXIF link..... ...
How do you improve on the Ducati 1098R? Nicola Martini describes his workshop as a “laboratory of ideas”. And right now, the Verona-based builder is pushing the visual envelope harder than almost anyone else on the custom scene. This is his latest bike, “Flash Back”—a fearless reworking of the Ducati 1098R. To some it will be sacrilegious, but to others, it will be thought-provoking. The design is dominated by the engine shrouds, which are becoming a trademark of Mr Martini’s specials—check his 2010 Triumph Thruxton “T-Type” for a similar design. Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/ducati-1098r#ixzz1hCWGzY5z
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If you live in mainland Europe and ride a motorcycle, you’ve probably bought parts or accessories from a company called Louis.
A stern test for established custom builders is how they handle the ‘budget’ job. Can they capture the flavor of the mega-buck builds at half the cost?
For the rest of this story and more photos click HERE
I’m not quite sure what to make of this bike, but it’s certainly thought-provoking. Months ago, Simone Conti of Italy sent through some blurry, tentative snaps.
More photos HERE
Building motorcycles is an art as well as a science. While some builders take it very seriously, others have a sense of irreverence. The lighter touch often seems to come from mainland Europe; the French outfit Blitz springs to mind, and another is Spain’s El Solitario, run by David Borras.
‘Chupito’ is the latest from El Solitario, and is based on a 1977 Ducati Road 350. These nimble singles were marketed under the Ducati name, but were actually built by the short-lived Spanish company MotoTrans, which was taken over by Yamaha in the 80s. Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/ducati-road-350#ixzz1wDDifkFf
One of the most beautiful racing motorcycles ever made is Ducati's 750SS Corsa. Carlo Saltarelli has Ducati blood in his veins. He’s a former racer, test rider and dealership owner, and over the years, he’s built up a 100-bike collection of classic Ducatis. In May, this collection goes under the hammer in Monaco. For us, the highlight is this beautiful 1974 750SS Corsa: it’s one of Saltarelli’s own race bikes, and took him to several podium finishes during the 1974 and 1975 seasons. This machine probably started life as a 750GT and was uprated to competition spec by Reparto Corse Ducati. As you would expect, the components are mouthwatering: twin Dell’Orto PHM 40 mm carburettors, lightweight pistons and competition cams, plus a lightweight clutch and an oil cooler....more
Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/ducati-750ss-corsa#ixzz1pQjC0DaL
Ducati's stock Hypermotard is pretty quick—but this one will be even quicker, with race-tuned suspension and custom bodywork to match. Of all the bikes we’ve featured over the past couple of years, I reckon this would be one of the best for flinging down a twisty road. It’s owned by Michel Vis, who bought the Hypermotard in 2008 after its first owner low-sided it with only 300 miles on the clock. “It was declared a total loss, which in the US means a salvage title,” says Michel. “So it could be had for relatively cheap.” Then Michel contacted Sean McDougall of McDougall Racing & Fabrication to design and fabricate a new tank, subframe and exhaust. “The tank and subframe came together great, albeit after much back and forth discussion, giving the bike a lean, slender and edgy feel.” The seat is now a firm and narrow Honda CRF item, and the exhaust and headers are also custom items—hooked up to a Competition Werkes Yamaha R6 muffler. According to Michel, “it took several renditions (and a burnt right leg) to get it to flow with the bike and increase the ground clearance.” ...more Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/hypermotard-ducati-2#ixzz1nvMzIT7K
Motorcycling personality Charley Boorman faces his toughest challenge yet—the Bike EXIF interview. ...
BMW Motorrad designer Ola Stenegard, creator of the S1000RR superbike, succumbs to the Bike EXIF interview. Not what you would expect and check out what he has to say about the Panigale...... ...
Desktop wallpaper download from BikeEXIF Over the past decade, Conrad Leach has been commissioned by many international individuals and brands to produce motorcycle artworks. He’s also been the Artist In Residence at the exclusive Louis Vuitton Celux club in Tokyo. Read more: http://www.bikeexif.com/motorcycle-wallpapers/conrad-l each#ixzz1hK40cVca (Set of 4 wallpapers available at this link, in three sizes)
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Beer, Racing Movies and IMS? This really sounds like fun!
Beer, Racing Movies and IMS? This really sounds like fun, wanted to share the info in case anybody didn't already know about it.....