It’s not often one gains the opportunity to see the ‘other side’ of a famed motorcycle builder, but this very special Desmo Ducati is the work of none other than Kenny Dreer, whose uprated Norton Commandos have gained worldwide fame. While his initial machines were seriously strengthened and uprated standard Nortons, he later attempted the impossible, and created a wholly new, modernized version of the British icon. While finances sadly laid the project aside, his design is the basis of current plans to revive the marque. Little known is the fact that Dreer is also an admirer of Italian hotrods, and has always appreciated the ‘arm-pulling’ torque of the 900SS. ‘They just rocket out of corners’, he says, and anyone who’s ridden the big Duke would agree – even straight from the factory they have serious stomp and can be driven on the throttle. Typical of Dreer, he was not content with the stock setup, and set about to heavily modify a1979 Ducati 900SS inside and out to create this awesome Café Racer. Starting with the engine, truly the focus of any bevel-drive Ducati, the crankshaft was blueprinted and polished by Malcolm Tunstall, extra-large 41mm Dell’Orto pumper carbs suck gases past Imola camshafts from GMA, pushing Kibblewhite valves, and breathe onto high compression JE pistons. The engine produces something in the region of 100hp, which is blown out through a pair of raucous black megaphones with spring-loaded reverse cone tips. All that power is contained by a gorgeous nickel-plated frame, which has had a few extraneous tabs removed, along with the battery box, while the rear frame loop has been raised for a re-styled racing bump-stop seat. Wider Marvic mag wheels keep the rubber on the ground, and triple Brembo discs haul the bike down from high speed. The tank is a stock 900SS item, but the fairing was sourced Elsewhere, and looks pretty mean with twin headlamps. The custom paint job of fly yellow and metallic cobalt blue is truly distinctive, and a perfect complement to the efforts taken on every eye-catching detail of this outstanding Café Racer. This 904SS Ducati was featured in the April 2000 issue of Cycle World, in their ‘Forza Italia’ section. The motorcycle is in superb condition, and reflects well on the talent and dedication of its creator.
It’s not often one gains the opportunity to see the ‘other side’ of a famed motorcycle builder, but this very special Desmo Ducati is the work of none other than Kenny Dreer, whose uprated Norton Commandos have gained worldwide fame. While his initial machines were seriously strengthened and uprated standard Nortons, he later attempted the impossible, and created a wholly new, modernized version of the British icon. While finances sadly laid the project aside, his design is the basis of current plans to revive the marque. Little known is the fact that Dreer is also an admirer of Italian hotrods, and has always appreciated the ‘arm-pulling’ torque of the 900SS. ‘They just rocket out of corners’, he says, and anyone who’s ridden the big Duke would agree – even straight from the factory they have serious stomp and can be driven on the throttle. Typical of Dreer, he was not content with the stock setup, and set about to heavily modify a1979 Ducati 900SS inside and out to create this awesome Café Racer. Starting with the engine, truly the focus of any bevel-drive Ducati, the crankshaft was blueprinted and polished by Malcolm Tunstall, extra-large 41mm Dell’Orto pumper carbs suck gases past Imola camshafts from GMA, pushing Kibblewhite valves, and breathe onto high compression JE pistons. The engine produces something in the region of 100hp, which is blown out through a pair of raucous black megaphones with spring-loaded reverse cone tips. All that power is contained by a gorgeous nickel-plated frame, which has had a few extraneous tabs removed, along with the battery box, while the rear frame loop has been raised for a re-styled racing bump-stop seat. Wider Marvic mag wheels keep the rubber on the ground, and triple Brembo discs haul the bike down from high speed. The tank is a stock 900SS item, but the fairing was sourced Elsewhere, and looks pretty mean with twin headlamps. The custom paint job of fly yellow and metallic cobalt blue is truly distinctive, and a perfect complement to the efforts taken on every eye-catching detail of this outstanding Café Racer. This 904SS Ducati was featured in the April 2000 issue of Cycle World, in their ‘Forza Italia’ section. The motorcycle is in superb condition, and reflects well on the talent and dedication of its creator.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
