For those not familiar with the Ducati models, until 1997 when sales declined due to the popularity of the Ducati Monster and Ducati Superbike lines, the 900SS was simply considered the best street bike that the Italian manufacturer has ever built. The fastest street-legal twin, not far off the standards set by Japanese 750 fours. Much of the Ducati SS 900’s speed can be attributed to its power-to-weight ratio. A very torquey engine, but legendary for being very easy to manage both in congested city streets as on unfamiliar backroads. When Englishman Alec Sharp from Old Empire Motorcycles decided to rebirth this 1995 Ducati 900 SS, he had no preset design plan. Just preserving the bike impressive speed, rumbling engine and booming exhaust note, but feeling free to improvise as the rebuilt progressed, inventing a new bodywork and bringing his old school style own refinements.
It’s quite a challenge for a custom builder to redesign a very famous motorcycle model that has enthralled Ducati fans for so many years. I must say that this one-off rendition, both in its conception and multiple details, doesn’t fail at perpetuating the marquee charisma. No compromise here. After highly modifying the original frame, each square inch of the Typhoon was carefully re-engineered with gorgeous handmade components to produce a motorcycle that goes back to the very fundamentals of the two-wheel travel of a bygone era.
The Ducati 900 SS Typhoon is the type of custom where I could go in writing through the numerous modifications and list all the multiple reasons I see justifying them. Too many to mention with the risk of boring you. So, on this project, I carefully selected some imagery very illustrative of the intense work, of the old school engineering prowess and of the skilled fabrication that was required to preserve the roots of the Ducati 900 SS’ success in a very unique and awesome vintage styling. Old Empire Motorcycles. (photography @ Onno Wieringa for Cyril Huze)
1995 Ducati 900ss
Heavily modified frame
Custom Girder forks
Custom speedo and tacho
Custom brass headlight and shroud
21’’ front wheel quad leading shoe drum brake
21’’ rear wheel single leading shoe drum
Avon Roadrider tyres
Custom bars
Custom bevel gear throttle
Stainless inverted levers
Twin Amal GP3 Carburetors
Custom stainless exhaust system
Handmade rear sets
Handmade leather grips
Leather Battery satchel
Leather electrical side pouches
Custom twin tanks/w knee pads
Custom fuel lines/taps/filters
Custom single to twin pull units
Microswitches
Custom braided wiring loom
Custom pull type starter
Custom ignition and lights switch
Handmade ‘go faster’ rear pegs
Pressed steel black and silver plate
Uncomfortable but beautiful.
That Duc is a classy looking ride.
A lot of interesting details on this bike; could stare at it for a long time I’m sure.
My regular ride is a tweaked 900ss, so this is fascinating to me.
I wince at the idea of riding the superslab with a hardtail.
These are cheap and cheerful machines.
Beautiful, well executed!
The answer to a question no one has ever asked. Ever. EVERRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Superb details.
First random thoughts.
Way too busy.
Maybe not. Got a steam punk vibe.
Looks like more of a trial and error effort than a pencil whipped computer design exercise. Hooray for that even though it may well be a computer aided design exercise masquerading as a bona fide creative delivery.
Drum brakes. I love that. I could not ride it but I could get a kick out of watching other people ride it.
Brass is way overdone. Second look, yep, brass is way overdone.
Half the reason I like it is because it is the answer to a question nobody ever asked. Most bikes are answers to questions asked over and over ad nauseum.
Awesome…!
Reminiscent of something you’d once have spotted with a Vincent motor in it.
Absolutely love those 4-leading-shoe brakes….!!!
But ditch that obvious afterthought rear brake-light & fox radiator shell……
-nicker-
make that
“rear brake-light-switch”
-nicker-
I absolutely love the entire bike. Great details and interesting design. I especially love the paint, reminds me of tortoise shell. And I for one love the addition of the brass on this bike.
Great looking bike, very well done.
It’s hard to go wrong with a rigid frame and girder forks in my opinion.
Gee, this is a lot of quality work even though messy and unrideable in almost any “normal” road conditions… Still, quite an unbridled egomower 🙂 !…
This is in the class of “the Motorcycle as an art show piece”
And it is very, very nice to look at
While I appreciate the engineering and fabrication, the board tracker style is getting long in the tooth. I think one of the reasons so many competition builders keep building them is because that’s what always wins the big shows. It would be refreshing to see some builds that are a little more than the skinniest frame that can be made with no fenders. Just my opinion though.