Motorcycle News - SuperStrada: Revisiting the Ducati 900 SS, 25 years on
https://ift.tt/36et51q
He runs L.A.-based Championship Cycles, which “began from the idea that less is more. Because more is heavy, and heavy is slow.”
“Last year, the owner of a 1995 Ducati 900 SuperSport contacted me,” says Mike. “It’s also one of my personal favorites, and he had a desire to create something unique.”
Despite this inauspicious starting point, the owner’s goals were very ambitious. “He was asking a lot from a 25-year-old motorcycle. But this wasn’t meant to be a restoration, so I had some creative latitude.”
“As Lotus design engineer Colin Chapman once said, ‘simplify, then add lightness.’ That’s my mantra,” says Mike.
Mike describes the engine swap as a “relatively easy” fit with the 900 SS chassis and swingarm, and as a bonus, the bigger engine is actually lighter than the older one—due to newer manufacturing processes. “You also gain reliable fuel injection, plus a mappable ECU.”
With the more powerful engine installed, it made sense to step up to fully adjustable suspension and radial brakes. Fortunately, as enthusiasm for the bike grew so did the budget—and more money was allocated to the project.
The brakes were upgraded with a Brembo 19RCS Corsa Corta master cylinder, plus Brembo GP-4RX billet calipers matched to BrakeTech’s CNC-machined ductile iron Axis rotors.
In the continuing efforts to keep weight in check, all of the bodywork is now carbon fiber. “I was able to find a perfect set of original Ducati Performance carbon side panels, and had a tail and nose fabricated to match,” says Mike.
Mike then went into the smaller details to lighten the 900 SS: he detabbed the steel frame, and tore out nonessential wiring and componentry. He also fabricated a bunch of bits out of lightweight aluminum, to replace heavier steel factory parts. Discreet LED lighting and a simple racing seat pad help matters too. “Essentially, I stripped the Ducati down to its core elements.”
With everything screwed back together, Mike took the Ducati up north to Willow Springs Raceway for a few shakedown laps on the big track.
Realistically, this Ducati is more likely to spend time carving roads in the nearby canyons than on the track. So Mike and his client stepped away from the obvious Superlight moniker, and chose SuperStrada as its new name.
We’re totally sold with the concept and even more with the execution. Now, if someone could produce a kit for the current Monster that captured this vibe … Championship Cycles | Instagram | Images by (and thanks to) Shaik Ridzwan of The Mighty Motor Motorcycles via Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/2Mf9b0c December 27, 2019 at 11:19AM Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
Archives
November 2020
|
12/27/2019
0 Comments