Walt Siegl Leggero Series Ducati

WaltDucati1WaltDucati2WaltDucati3WaltDucati4I already featured the custom work of Walt Siegl, always a very labor intensive and very high end job on Ducatis. As all custom builders know, many are going to drool on high end bespoke motorcycles, but very few will be able to afford them. Staying in business and making a living from your passion almost always requires a more moderate approach, the one consisting in producing 2-wheel art at reduced cost without removing the dream factor and affecting the motorcycle reliability. Hence the Siegl’s Leggero Ducati Series for with each client encouraged to personalize their order during the building process.

WaltDucati5WaltDucati6Walt Siegl is a long time V-Twin road racer and logically likes to emphasize the sport/racing attributes of each one of his Ducati projects, skillfully mixing old and new, classic and modern styling, paying tribute to the past but still offering a bespoke machine supposed to ride…like a Ducati. The Leggero Series is based on the 2-valve Ducati 900 cc engine using a 39 mm Keihin carburetor and rebuilt with the help of Eric Kobalth at Clubhouse Motorsports and wired with a modern electronic harness conceived by Alex Vogel.

WaltDucati7The frame is largely inspired by the racing Verliccis ones, built from 4130 chrome molysteel tubing, weighting only 19 lbs as the original TT1 & TT2 frames. Bodywork, tank and tail end are carbon fiber from prototypes made by Siegl and produced by Matt Tanner of Tannermatic. Rear suspension is via Öhlins shocks, front via Showa forks. The stainless steel exhaust is a tribute to the Conti system. Most of the other custom parts were designed using the very reputable 3D CAD Design Software Soliworks that let you create and simulate, ensuring that all parts fit together. mechanically and aesthetically.. . Prices, availability and options at Walt Siegel Motorcycles

16 Responses to “Walt Siegl Leggero Series Ducati”


  1. 1 D. Martinez Dec 20th, 2013 at 10:21 am

    Cool machine. Still not in my price range.

  2. 2 Rodent Dec 20th, 2013 at 10:39 am

    Great customization !

  3. 3 F. Taglioni Dec 20th, 2013 at 11:44 am

    The oil cooler is very vulnerable to damage, especially with the abbreviated
    front fender.

    Seigl builds very pretty bikes but often too much real world functionality is
    sacrificed on the altar of appearance.

    Me, I’d take a KTM 1290 instead, and by the way the KTM would eat this
    Ducati alive in virtually any performance contest, in addition to being far
    more comfortable and usable in the real world.

  4. 4 Bruce Dec 20th, 2013 at 3:15 pm

    Baad machine.

  5. 5 Terence Tory Dec 20th, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    There are pretty pictures on his website but little technical detail.Are they constructed with old used motors,cheap verlecchi copy frames probably made in the U.K. and boxes of low end components? The exaggerated riding position and “stance” are geared more to fashion than to any function including racing purposes.For a shop based on the racer vibe there appears to be no commitment to actual racing,just profiling.

  6. 6 nicker Dec 20th, 2013 at 8:29 pm

    RE:
    “…There are pretty pictures on his website but little technical detail…”

    Well, pictures are worth a thousand words…..
    And a hell of a lot more entertaining than reading technical data.
    If “looking” isn’t enough for ya, may be you should try another web sight….???

    Just a thought

    -nicker-

  7. 7 Terence Tory Dec 20th, 2013 at 8:39 pm

    nicker,when did pricey racey pacey café bikes become things to gawp at like choppers? Nothing wrong with a chopper just relying on looks alone.A café bike can’t use the same exit clause.

  8. 8 Dave Blevins Dec 20th, 2013 at 8:59 pm

    Good looking bike.

  9. 9 Nathan Dec 21st, 2013 at 5:20 am

    I wish the people picking this apart would bring their custom motorcycle build to the table. oh, you’ve not done one? Then shut the feck up.

  10. 10 JackS Dec 21st, 2013 at 8:20 am

    Cudos to Siegl. Always glad to see a custom builder’s creation. Like the use of chromoly and appreciate the extra time required to weld it properly. Also like the use of carbon fiber. Not being a bike builder, but being an avid tourer and always loaded to GVWR, I’ve often wondered how much weight these materials would save on an FLH if trying to keep the frame strength consistent.

  11. 11 Terence Tory Dec 21st, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    On further study I find this guy builds his own frames based on Verlicci ones.It did not say who made them on his website.

  12. 12 Kroeter Dec 23rd, 2013 at 11:07 am

    I’d ride it.

  13. 13 Saltwaterjoe Dec 23rd, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    As is all of Walts work, this motorcycle is captivatingly beautiful.its getting sad to refute the comments of the same few knowitall blowhards here, but, Walt rides his bikes, track days included, this talent translates to the work.i believe the original prototype was his personal track bike.there is an inherent quality to all his work that your “low end components” are non existent.no stance is made for show sir, like I stated, Walt built his for track days.price is irrelevant here since “a” no one asked you to buy it,”b” if the list of satisfied customers he has are happy who are you to judge.I don’t think cyril posts stuff hoping you guys approve or want one.you comment on custom motorcycles as if they are huge production runs that rely on mega sales.if you truly loved motorcycles, especially European style, and had the pleasure to meet the gentleman,I doubt you would knock him.we (the moto community) are lucky to have a craftsman like Walt….. Also, if you are the designer Fabio T ,I am surprised at the lack of depth your comments reflect.these are not Hondas answer to Kawasaki over charts,graphs and corporate bull.comparisons to other bikes is childish.you ever hear about pearls before swine?stay out of t.t’s mud puddle, it’s for your own good.

  14. 14 Terence Tory Dec 23rd, 2013 at 10:46 pm

    Saltwaterjoe.I read the article about this guys bikes on http://megadeluxe.com/interviews/conversation-with-walt-siegl-ducati-leggero-series . It seemed to be confusing nonsense to my eye,mainly a justification for a high price “art bike”.

    Honda has built dozens of bikes that more than equal Ducati’s efforts in beauty or race results for over fifty years.All the espresso and Lambrusco and basso profundo tuono won’t change that fact.Ducati has copied many of Honda’s design ideas remember,not the other way around.

    Walt builds frames mostly copied from an old Verlicci design.fine.I can’t see any valid reason to use chromoly tubing on a road bike,high quality steel tubing is just fine.A guy I’ve known for decades that built his own Ducati alloy frame,designed and cast his own mag wheels and won races with it.So a café frame builder is not really in that same league is it?

    I’ve known plenty of craftsmen that have built simply awesome complete motorcycles far above this.True.

  15. 15 nicker Dec 26th, 2013 at 12:51 am

    Terence,
    Exactly what does “price” have to do with enjoying looking at a scooter….???

    RE:
    “… when did pricey racey pacey café bikes become things to gawp at like choppers?…”

    Seems to me the problem with the contemporary custom scooter scene is this need for break-in-bikers to spout off about what one should and shouldn’t “gawp”(gawk?) at.

    RE:

    “… chopper just relying on looks alone…”
    Dude, how well a scooter has to work is a function of how the owner uses it.
    Out in the shop is a pre-unit Triumph with a 12-over front end, the last chop i built (back in 1975). It handles as well out on the highway as any bager and was ridden all over northern & central CA.

    RE:
    “…A café bike can’t use the same exit clause…”

    Having ridden a “cafe” scooter to high school in the early 60s, le-me clue ya in on a little secret. The thing that makes a road racer work is in large part is the talent of the scooter jockey throwing it about.

    All i’m saying is looks are one thing and performance is another.
    Moreover, unless your the one buying, the price is irrelevant.

    IMHO anyway
    -nicker-

  16. 16 anakya Feb 4th, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    Very great blog..I really impressed to read all this great information..your information is very best for all..thanks for sharing all this great information…

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Cyril Huze