This Month's Featured Bike:
Jeff H.'s 01 Monster 900S

I have always loved the classic Ducati Singles and Twins. But, as the Worst Ducati Mechanic in the US (tm)....I knew there was no way I had the mechanical skills needed to keep one running.

So, one day as I was in the garage I was fiddling around and happened to look at the metal Ducati sign featuring the Ducati Mark 3D and then to my Monster and thought 'why don't I just make my current bike look like an old one?'. So my modding journey of transormation began.

My inspiration photo was the 450 Scrambler shown here. And I started piece by piece infusing my modern fuel-injected Ducati with the spirit and flavor of the classic.

At the beginning, I started trying to make an exact replica of the 450, and spent a lot of time scouring ebay and ducati restoration suppliers looking for original parts that I could graft onto my Monster.

After getting frustrated with this process, I decided that the best thing to do would be to use styling cues from the classic, but do so with modern components. Sort of like how the new Mini Cooper shares some styling cues from the classic Mini...but in a modern design.

The first (and biggest) step was to take apart the bike so the frame and other components could be powdercoated from silver to black.

This turned out to be a much bigger job than I had anticipated! Actually...the taking apart went pretty quickly, the putting back together took awhile. (thanks to James Nunez for his help with both)

Parts that got powdercoated black:
frame, swingarm, rearsets, levers, reservoir brackets, clutch cover, headlight brackets

Also while it was apart had the headers polished and the headlight bucket chromed (by Moreno's Polishing and Chrome)

If you ever decide to powdercoat your frame, take copious notes and pictures, and label everything as it comes off. I thought I did a pretty good job at this, but as you can see...just because a part fits right on doesnt mean it goes there.

Next up was body work.

I preferred the look of polished aluminum to chrome for the tank, and was able to get a good deal on a RoadRacing tank from Spareshack. (also thanks to Jon Rti for help with mounting the pump)

I also got a great deal on DP alum. fender, cowl and Conti-replica pipes on closeout from Ducati Seattle.

The bodywork was then painted gloss-black, along with custom logo graphics made by Monster Tint (a local sign shop originally picked out of the phone boko based solely on the name).

Painted parts include tank, fender, seat cowl and gauge cluster.

I especially like the way the front fender turned out with the center painted and the brackets polished.

I originally had my heart set on wire-spoked wheels, but they are very difficult to find (not to mention $$). The Dymag Spoked/Carbon were the closest I could find...but I was trying not to have any carbon or other parts that would have been noticeably out of place on a vintage bike.
I ended up using the Carrozzeria V-6 12 spoke aluminum wheels...and that worked out pretty well.

I'm pretty happy with the way the bike turned out overall. It also won Best Monster at the Concour d'Elegance at Laguna Seca on it's maiden voyage out...that was a nice surprise.
The puzzled looks I get at stoplights as people gape at the spinning belts and clanging clutch are fun too
I also got a kick out of the first person that was staring at the bike for awhile when it was in the DML booth at the LA Calender bike show...and finally came up and asked 'now, is this a new bike or an old one?'.

About halfway through the project, Ducati announced the Sport-Classic series. Initially, I was dissapointed that the factory had the same idea that I did (along with the resources to develop it).
But, something that you make yourself is always more enjoyable than something you just buy.

I have a couple more small changes planned, still to come:
Wire-spoked wheels (found some finally that will work)
Trick tubular resets from Norm at Motomaxy
Cafe-racer bump seat cowl from 13-Choppers
tail chop and custom rear fender/brakelight (with help from Ian-620MBlack)

After that, I'm done.
(really, I mean it this time!)

Any questions, email jeffh@ducatimonster.org or PM monsterhooligan on the DML.

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