Ducati ST Cafe Racer Build
Discussion
Will be interested to see the final pics from the front. The early shot (Friday 18th pic) felt like the radiator was the dominant piece of the machine. I'm sure that once the tank is on and the various finished items it will blend in much better. Also I think you've had the radiator painted which looks much better.
And full marks for taking something like this on. It's going to be a totally unique, beautiful machine.
And full marks for taking something like this on. It's going to be a totally unique, beautiful machine.
Edited by SteelerSE on Wednesday 23 August 17:13
SteelerSE said:
Will be interested to see the final pics from the front. The early shot (Friday 18th pic) felt like the radiator was the dominant piece of the machine. I'm sure that once the tank is on and the various finished items it will blend in much better. Also I think you've had the radiator painted which looks much better.
And full marks for taking something like this on. It's going to be a totally unique, beautiful machine.
Thanks, yes we did the radiator black and I've now fitted the black levers and smoked brembo reservoirs so the bike looks pretty menacing and its softened the impact of the radiator. In due course I'll get a nice chunky set of Ohlins forks to finish it off.And full marks for taking something like this on. It's going to be a totally unique, beautiful machine.
Edited by SteelerSE on Wednesday 23 August 17:13
So final update before its done and we show it to everyone.
I wanted the seat pad we put on it to be the same high quality as the rest of the bike so sticking some foam usually found on a race bike wasn't going to cut it.I also didn't want to stick on an off the shelf vinyl pad which wasn't designed for this seat to be put on. Whenever I've had cars trimmed in the past I've used Dave The Trimmer based in Milton Keynes. He's usually knee deep in classic Aston's, Porsches and numerous other exotica so I knew my seat would be in safe hands. True to form with the rest of this build I needed a quick turnaround so I dropped it off with Dave this morning looking like this...
By 11 I had these pictures from where he'd made a fibreglass base for the seat and had the foam cut and on...
And by 4pm had these...
Charcoal alcantara with a red stitch. The fit and finish as expected is perfect
Tomorrow we are going to build the bike back up. Check every nut and bolt and take it for its maiden journey.
I'll post pictures of the finished bike with very special exhaust asap
Edited by magpie21 on Thursday 24th August 22:21
magpie21 said:
Thanks all - yeah I'm not sure i could have built this at my home. Viv is a skilled engineer with '000's of pounds worth of tools and invaluable experience. Regardless of home build or not though I'm glad you like it.
I saw the horrible original frame mods in the early pics and wondered 'what one earth....' but all soon became clear. I've always liked to build my own stuff but I see nothing wrong with paying others to build a project. If it wasn't for people like you, there would not be any car or bike building engineering companies around.
And the bike looks amazing!
So It's finally finished. We had a scramble over the last couple of days trying to chase out electrical gremlins which turned out to be a weak crank position sensor signal.
In the mean time Viv has completed the exhaust system. The Akrapovic end cans are from a Moto3 bike which a friend of mine runs and the bit I love the most is the secondary upright complete with Lamba sensor boss which is from a Jaguar XJR-14 Le Mans car which Viv worked when he was part of the Silk Cut Jaguar Le Mans Team back in the 90's.
As for the style of the exhaust I wanted it to be high level as a a nod to the 916 which bike has the engine from and was the poster bike of my childhood. I also really like the style of the new 1299 Superleggera system but didn't want it to be exactly the same and wanted something unique - I think Viv has got it spot on.
So late yesterday we checked every nut and bolt, cleaned it up and put all of the final parts on the bike for the first time. All I can say is it's better than I'd imagined it could look Viv has absolutely taken my dream and made it a reality.
A quick vid of Viv leaving to take it for it's first run. It's running rich so we can lean that out with the power commander. LOUD doesn't come close......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgBLVJJdQuo
I then loaded it up in the van and took it down to London to drop off to be taken up to the tip of Scotland ready for the start of the Malle Great Mile on Thursday morning.
I'll keep the thread updated with how my maiden 1000+ mile journey goes!!!!
In the mean time Viv has completed the exhaust system. The Akrapovic end cans are from a Moto3 bike which a friend of mine runs and the bit I love the most is the secondary upright complete with Lamba sensor boss which is from a Jaguar XJR-14 Le Mans car which Viv worked when he was part of the Silk Cut Jaguar Le Mans Team back in the 90's.
As for the style of the exhaust I wanted it to be high level as a a nod to the 916 which bike has the engine from and was the poster bike of my childhood. I also really like the style of the new 1299 Superleggera system but didn't want it to be exactly the same and wanted something unique - I think Viv has got it spot on.
So late yesterday we checked every nut and bolt, cleaned it up and put all of the final parts on the bike for the first time. All I can say is it's better than I'd imagined it could look Viv has absolutely taken my dream and made it a reality.
A quick vid of Viv leaving to take it for it's first run. It's running rich so we can lean that out with the power commander. LOUD doesn't come close......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgBLVJJdQuo
I then loaded it up in the van and took it down to London to drop off to be taken up to the tip of Scotland ready for the start of the Malle Great Mile on Thursday morning.
I'll keep the thread updated with how my maiden 1000+ mile journey goes!!!!
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