For a custom builder, it’s quite unusual to be commissioned to turn a race bike into a street one. But Stefano Venier told me he was very excited at the idea of re-working a Ducati 999S Testastreeta to make it what may be the fastest custom bike you can see on the road.
The Ducati 999 (say triple nine or nine-nine-nine) was designed by Pierre Terblanche, and produced from 2003 to 2006. It is known as an extremely high performance, race oriented motorcycle with the finest handling of that time.
0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) under three seconds; and a top speed of over 170 mph (270 km/h)…
As you can imagine, Ducati’s mechanical, running gear and electronic components were best left alone. The 999S is already equipped with the best of the best like an STM EVO clutch, a DISCACCIATI front brake, a RAPID BIKE electronic speed and powertrain control unit. Even the gas tank was spared after Venier and his client, photographer Riccardo Vimercati, realized that it would me impossible to noticeably improve its great design. First task was to remove the race fairing and to rebuild the tail with a new hand-fabricated support frame, removable seat pan and leather seat. The factory alloy wheels were replaced by a set of spoked ones from the Ducati GT 1000, a job that Venier says to be very difficult to do right to accommodate a race bike that has so much power.
Without altering the Ducati spirit and legendary stance, all the removable was removed and attention was turned to detailing the tiniest parts of the bike, especially those not visible when the Ducati 999 Testastreeto was still under its race dress. Most noticeable on these pictures are the new front fender, the mesh side panels and a cool recessed taillight. A new exhaust system was fabricated, using Termignoni Corse headers and Zard mufflers. Paint job is very sober dark grey. Venier Customs is currently working 2 Moto Guzzi, a V7 Stone and a California 1400. Can’t wait to see them. At least none of you is going to pretend that this custom is not made to ride, extremely fast, way too fast? (photography @ Riccardo Vimercati)
It’s a beauty.
Want to ride the one…
A real winner of a motorcycle
I’d definitely like to ride this. Given the choice I kinda prefer the original though.
sexy!
I’m a hard core Ducat nut and I own all 5 generations of Ducati Superbike including the race homologated 999R.
Unfortunaley the current cafe racer craze is seeing a lot of people take nice classic bikes of value, and turn them into junkers.
EBay is full of customized Metric classic and sport bikes that can’t be given away, while the original stock bike is worth 2-4x more as a clean stock restoration.
On this doner Duucati 999 Superbike bike, Painting the stock Ducati Red fuel tank Flat Black, the frame from Red to Silver, and some bolt-on s parks like the exhaust pipe and seat does not make a collector bike, it makes it pretty much worthless to anyone but the guy who built it.
This base 2003-2007 999 Ducati 999 base model Superbike is worth about $8,000 -$10,000 used and it is fine just stock. Doing al these modifications to a stocker to devaluates to almost nothing. Want a cool Ducati 999 cafe racer? just unbolt the stock fairing and store it away safely for when you want to resell the bike. Ducati does the same thing and sells them new as “Streetfighters”
Want o see some really cool customized Ducati? Go to Spain’s http://www.RadicalDucati.com
Jim Gianatsis.999s are just mass produced bikes like any other.Attack it with the rattle can paint,the angle grinder and do what you like with the thing:that’s fine by me.This bike is probably just a fixed up crashed bike in any case.
It’s only a Ducati,not like it’s a work of art and fine craftsmanship like a seventies MV Agusta.
The whole “stock classic bike” collectors thought processes bore me witless.
I don’t see rich people duking it out in the streets with wads of cash for old Ducatis like 916s and grenaderama 748s.Bikes don’t improve with age like fine red wine.In fact the only fine red whine you get from these things is cam belts well out of spec and gearboxes that box gears.
Had the pleasure of chasing Jim G’s Ducati’s tail lites a while back in the Santa Monica mountains. He not only collects them, he can ride the shit out of them . He made Lee Chapin and I look like beginners. Keep ridin Jim.
A nice looking scooter.
It doesn’t need the bodywork.
-nicker-
Good looking scoot!
Looks like a ton-o-fun too!
Let me try and settle these silly arguments between pros and cons about that 999Z It is a zillion time better than those ‘orrible and exceedingly vulgar custom baggers 😉 !
Wouldn’t mind having that bike in my stable. It can sit right next to my bagger when not being abused.
I agree with Jim.the bolt ons ruined a good ducati.the only thing cool about this bike are the ducati parts these guys left alone. But Terence you are horribly wrong again.Bikes do get better with age.vintage motorcycles are selling for record highs right now.maybe the 916 needs another 20 years to mature but have you priced a 750 recently?at least your consistent.
Saltwaterjoe,does “worth more” equate to a “better” motorcycle? Only if the ex-wife wants cash for new drapes and house paint I guess.In twenty years the most likely guy to own an old 916 speculation vehicle bolted to a plinth,will be living in Turkey,Kazakhstan or Indonesia.
“Record highs” usually means a big crash is right around the corner.Like old bikes,like Wall Street in the next two months.
Hey guys, just so you know any 25+ year old Ducati Superbike or similar high end Ducati sportbike in good condition now goes for about 2-3x what it costs new. And even the newer 10 year old limited edition models like the Mike Hailwood Replicas are selling for 50% over original retail.
If you want your high end Ducati to hold or increase in value, The only thing you want to modify it with is original Ducati Performnce Parts or period correct race parts.
Jim Gianatsis.”now goes for about 2-3x what it costs new”.Not in my neck of the woods.
“original Ducati Performnce Parts or period correct race parts”:there were very few race parts ever made by the factory for the L-twins..The only genuine Ducati made factory race parts I can think of are the Imola cams for the early twins.Ducati struggled to even survive with the communist trade orgs and govt control,let alone put valuable engineers time to making race parts.Hailwood’s race bike was almost entirely NCR built,with NCR private race shop parts.By “period correct race parts” parts I guess you mean aftermarket Italian and USA parts.
Only the original kick start MHR 900 has much claim as a collectable MHR classic.The MHR Mille 1000 was a bit junk.I’ve seen quite a few low mile modern MHR “replicas” sit online for years unsold at crazy prices.
I know all to well how all the espresso,Lambrusco,rattling motor cacophony,red paint and exhaust noise effect some people.I avoid those guys now because they have all gone crazy or mad.
If I had a brace of Ducatis I’d probably pump up their speculative value too,JG.