We started off with a dead stock, 2002 Ducati 900SS with 9000 miles on it. Big thanks to Dave from Cash 4 Gold for the deal on it! :number1
The plans are to build a street fighter out of it. Something that will showcase our talent, the powdercoating work we do and the creativity we have to build something one of a kind. Knowing it will probably piss off some hardcore Ducati lovers out there, we began cutting it up! Love it or hate it, thats how I roll.
How it looked when we got it:
We promptly did what any custom shop would do… took the exhaust off and did a burnout!
VIDEO: -> http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150508046940775
Then got to taking it apart.
There are more pics i think of this, but I have to find them on the cameras.
The entire bike got striped to nothing. Frame sent to the sand blaster, engine taped up and put to the side, 3 rubbermaid bins held the rest of the small bits, and everything not going to be reused was sold on ebay.
Fast forward to now. Plastics are gone, naked bike for the win. Then I wanted to get rid of the big bubbly looking tail section and ugly tail light. I always liked the 08 R6 tails with the integrated LED brake light and smooth undertail. The turns can be easily wired into the taillight too, so I picked up a complete tail and seat off ebay.
I began cutting off any unused tabs and brackets off the frame, smoothing it out. Then attached the 900SS tank, and grafted the R6 seat into the tank. Positioned the seat where it looked good and felt good on the frame and made the attachment points for the seat from there. The R6 tail slid right over the subframe on the Ducati like it was meant for it. Made some mounting tabs and positioned it all perfectly. Added a tray to the subframe to attach wiring, fuse blocks, relays and anything else i dont want seen on the bike.
Next I added a tube on the top of the frame, and built a battery box, ECU and voltage regulator tucked under the fuel tank, completely out of sight. Wiring throughout the bike will be snaked through the frame where it can be, or tucked away where it cant be. Clean and minimized is what I am after here.
The frame could now be powdercoated, along with the swingarm, triples, clip-ons, and other small parts that will be reused.
This is the completed frame. Everything cut off and smoothed that wouldn’t be reused. R6 tail and seat mounts. Custom battery box, ecu and VR mounts. Freshly powder coated a custom blended gold color combination.
At this point the bike can start to be put together. Wheels, front end is installed, rear shock and swingarm reinstalled, and the engine hung. Now you get a good idea of the over all bikes look.
Next we mocked up the tail, seat and tank to get a feel for the rest of the bike. I think the tail fits the flow of the frame and the lines on the Ducati tank very well. Some will see this as a disgrace to the bike, some will love it. Others might not even know it wasnt Ducati plastics. Its custom, and thats the point!
Next up is getting the sprockets, brake calipers, foot controls, hand levers, carb bodies, engine case parts and what ever else I can pull off it powdercoated and reinstalled. Then build mounts for the GSXR headlight, and mini faring for the housing. Figure out what to do for gauges, if any, then lay out the wiring. Then the wheels can come off and get sandblasted and coated. Finish the plastics and shoot them in paint. Make some pipes for it, and fire it up!
