The net classifieds of the world are affected by basket circumstances that will or might not make good donors for {custom} bike initiatives. However how typically do you bump into a rolling chassis sporting a bespoke titanium body, a Ducati 1000 DS motor and a smattering of track-spec goodies? And the way typically is it a motorbike that was beforehand featured on Bike EXIF?
The first time we laid eyes on this Ducati, Icon Motosports had turned it right into a wild observe beater for his or her design director, Kurt Walters. Now, over a decade since its first rebuild, Tony Prust at Analog Bikes has given it a second lease on life.
Rumor has it that the bike hung out on the observe, earlier than ultimately going underneath the knife once more. That undertaking was deserted, the bones of it had been placed on Craigslist, and very long time Analog buyer, Del Thomas, snapped it up.
“He purchased with the intent of doing an Analog Bikes {custom} construct sooner or later,” Tony tells us. “In any case, the parts alone on it had been nicely definitely worth the value he scooped it up for. A number of concepts had been thrown round about what to do with it however by no means settled on something.”
Del just isn’t solely Tony’s buyer, however his pal and racing teammate too. The 2 had been piloting Analog’s ‘Hyper8’ Ducati Hypermotard within the AHRMA Battle of the Twins racing collection, within the sub-900 cc ‘2’ class. Since this donor bike got here with loads of race-ready parts, they determined to show it into one other race bike—however they’d to determine what it will appear like.
“Earlier within the discussions I attempted speaking him right into a Mike Hailwood duplicate with all aluminum bodywork,” says Tony. “Del has quite a lot of Ducatis and is aware of the professionals and cons of proudly owning and driving them, and knew the shortage of consolation of a MH duplicate would deter him from driving it. So it was determined—make a Hailwood duplicate race machine, to compete within the greater Battle of the Twins class.”
Tony began by stripping the Ducati right down to its rolling chassis. The titanium body was initially constructed by Arc Fabrication, and was matched as much as a Ducati Supersport 1000 DS swingarm, Öhlins suspension and adjustable yokes from Assault Efficiency. These had been all value holding—however the Kawasaki wheels that got here with the bike needed to go.
Analog sourced a set of SuperSport 1000 DS hoops to make use of as backups and rain wheels, with aftermarket cast aluminum gadgets for the first setup. The rear was a straight swap, however the entrance wanted a set of {custom} spacers to suit.
A full Beringer brake setup was a part of the deal too, however the rotors didn’t match the brand new wheels. Beringer despatched over a brand new set of rotors, Free Type Design provided custom-made spacers, and Analog put all of it along with Beringer grasp cylinders and Spiegler hoses. Up within the cockpit, the Beringer brake and clutch controls had been mated to Vortex clip-ons and grips.
Analog additionally specced a full set of protecting bits from R&G Safety, as a result of, as he says, “it’s not if, however when, you crash.” The package consists of crash bobbins, engine covers and lever guards.
This philosophy prolonged to the bodywork too. If Tony had cast forward together with his thought of hand-formed aluminum components, a crash would imply hours of restore work. What the fellows wanted, was a bolt-on resolution that would simply get replaced.
“I referred to as up Frank from iOne Moto,” Tony tells us, “and so they made up a set of MH duplicate bodywork in light-weight race trim for us. Now I simply wanted to make a tank that tightly match underneath the quilt. That needed to be essentially the most tough tank I’ve made to this point.”
“It wanted to suit the bodywork as tight as doable, because you dig your knees into the tank lots whereas racing, and don’t need the ‘free’ really feel of bodywork with nothing behind it. The tank itself is a murals that no-one will ever actually see.”
The bodywork attaches to custom-made mounts by way of a set of quarter-turn fasteners. Tony additionally fabricated a seat pan and a construction to carry it, the tail part and the batteries. Closing touches embody a carbon fiber entrance fender and rear hugger, and swish upholstery by Dane Utech at Plzbeseated in Chicago.
The Ducati’s two-valve 1000 DS engine went off to Moto Corse Efficiency in Florida for a contemporary rebuild and a bump to 1,123 cc. It now runs with a Corse Dynamics consumption package and Ok&N filters, a Microtec ECU and two H20 Efficiency oil coolers, plumbed with Wirecare cooler strains. The bike additionally sports activities a STM slipper clutch and a quick-shifter.
The exhaust is a {custom} piece, with a Cone Engineering muffler poking out beneath the tail. It’s an aesthetic homage to the unique Ducati MH900e. The bike was rewired too, with Wirecare sleeves holding issues tidy.
Wrapped in a gray livery by Krossover Customs, with graphics by Enamel Model, Analog’s ‘Ducati MH11’ appears terribly good-looking for a race bike. However does it have the go to match the present?
“We didn’t go loopy on the engine first time round,” says Tony, “since we weren’t positive how nicely the bike would carry out on observe, or how comfy I might really feel on it. We are able to all the time improve the engine down the street. With a light tune on it, we’re at slightly below 100 hp on the wheel, and weighing in at 340 lbs moist.”
“We’ve taken it to a few tracks, and though it’s a bit completely different to the Hyper8, it’s a fairly wonderful machine and I’m trying ahead to racing it extra. And with a profitable end to the 2022 season because the Battle of the Twins 2 Nationwide Champion, the longer term appears vibrant for Analog Bikes racing.”
Analog Bikes | Fb | Instagram | Photos by Craig Chawla
Analog Bikes want to thank their sponsors: Del Thomas, Wirecare, Spectro Oils, R&G Safety, Ok&N Filters, Beringer Brakes, Bell Helmets, Rev’It! and Enamel Model.
