Bexton Moto Ducati Cafe Fighter

[junior varsity]

i wanted to jump on the "i like it" bandwagon, but y'know, I think I'll hold back and offer a few opinions.  be forewarned, I just arrived home after battling traffic on a friday, so I'm all pissy and shit. But I still definitely love motorcycles. And I really like the idea of a 2vSBK. The retro tail from Radical is "ok", but its not my favorite part of their builds - I do dig their "openness" especially around the vertical cylinder.

First, I like the 2v 999 naked superbike build far more than the yellow bike.  The black bike has a great seat, and the frame and swingarm flow well together. 

Second, Part A - on the black 2v 999 bike, I think the showa shock sticks out like a sore thumb. Not just the yellow part, but that's the most glaring thing that makes me go "ehhhh". But I would not be paying for a bike to be built and have it come with low-spec components.  the yellow though. sheesh.   

Second, Part B - on the black 2v 999 bike, the red carriers on the rotors also stick out like a sore thumb. From another picture I can see some red billet knobs were stuck on the forks, so there's some "theme" there, but from the side i couldn't see them, just the glaring red. Not sure I would have chosen the red carrier and have it all alone like that - this is why the yellow shock annoys me most. if the shock spring had been made a red that closely matched the brake rotors, then there'd be some fore-to-aft similarities in color, and it would look purposeful.  As of now, it looks not yet finished.   The red, I can see from the "above" shot, is continued on the rear wheel nut - so it would flow better if it wasn't on a DSS stand that covers the make the beast with two backsing rear wheel in a photo op!   Man, that was a head scratcher.   But again, I don't see a theme. There's the open but mostly covered clutch cover - and you'd think there would be an opportunity to play up the theme of red round parts - you go brake rotor, red clutch pressure plate peaking out only barely from the clutch cover and then rear wheel nut.

second, part C:  again, with the theme: why not vent the belt covers? you could get the pulleys painted a matching red, or buy lightweight ones and anodize the teeth red - bam, continuing on the big red circle elsewhere. If you are OK with off the shelf parts, you could even pick out a set of speedymoto belt covers - they'd go great in black with red centers - and would tie things together. (cue big lebowski rug quote). Or black rizoma belt covers so the pulleys you might've enhanced showed through the windows. Or cut the hell out of a set of OEM ones for a similar effect. but the belt covers are plain jane old school 900 style multi-piece ones. 

second, part D - i see rearsets. well, part of rearsets. the peg bracket/hanger - that's from a billet rearset kit, perhaps satos by looking at the heel guard styling. But the rear brake lever is still the oem piece, in silver. not that you didn't get a billet one to match the rearsets, that's not it so much as its still a silver shifter while the rest of your rearsets are black. 

second, part E - wrapping up black bike build opinions: I just keep noticing these few pieces here or there that could have been enhanced to tie it all together. A black oil cooler - even an OEM one or that one painted black might really do some aesthetic-enhancement.  If you are OK with the standard Brembo goldlines (though there are a 4 pad version for that mount from the 999 for more 'stop'), you might paint those or trade somebody who's got the OEM goldlines in black - rear caliper too.  alternatively, beringer and discacciati make billet calipers for that mount, and you can get them in red, to continue a theme, or in black to go with the body and frame of the bike.

Take those critiques in a "He means well" tone, because i really do like the bike - on the whole, its really very good. Just a few spots, here there and yonder that I did not like for whatever reason - I pointed those out and gave the reasons.  The overall package is fantastic and with a few tweaks here or there would be something I'd really like. In a custom bike build, I don't get excited about using left-over low-spec parts with technology from yesteryear - so the shock would have to go first, then the non-adjustable damper (again - they make these in RED if that's what you are going for), and next up the brakes would at least go to true 999 4pad calipers, if not something exotic.

third, the yellow bike - i do not like.  i will be concise in my "why":

 The headlight is not as good as the black bike. It even looks angled wrong, as it would be much more attractive if angled to match the fork tubes. The frame looks 6-kinds of wrong with that tank/seat placement.  gauges look out of place. turn signals are hideous. wet clutch motor isn't that cool to begin with, heinous OEM coffin master cylinders and crap front calipers/rotors - WHAT?!  I laughed outloud when I saw the upgraded brake lines with that setup - they look like the high-dollar ultralight FrenTubos! THEN I SAW THE OEM NONADJUSTABLE CRAPSHIT FORKS. holy hell. i'm not saying I was looking for 1098/1198 sbk showas with radial brakes fitted up here, or any sbk fork conversion at all (but uh... the axle/wheel bolt right over, snagging a pair of used 916-998 forks off ebay, quick bore/shim of triple clamp, an easy upgrade of the brake calipers/rotors to at least the monster 1000's goldlines/320mm rotors, and a goldline or better still oem radial master from an s4rs/749/999/848/1098/1198/MTS1200/SF/M1100/Hypermotard/etc with used ebay parts that are abundant!) - you could have just swapped those clunker forks for a set of the S2R 1000 / S4 / S4R / M900ie & S / M1000 & S forks, used off eBay or your favorite part-out store!

The placement of the ignition / key - so easy to relocate - but with this frame (already a yikes to me in its proportions) its the highest thing on the bike (after those gauges, which, as above - gotta go or at least be moved significantly lower). exhaust is OK, but headers and pipe are different colors - i know this happens pretty regularly from heat cycles and differing materials, but a simple polishing to a uniform color to begin with or easy ceramic coating and they'd match! That's what I'd expect in a 'build' - otherwise, its just a bike with some mods.


The black bike is awesome - a trip to the powdercoater and an pretty cheap afternoon on eBay and I'd say its done.  the yellow bike looks like it was built by someone else in comparison.




Anyhow, enough of me being a complete and utter asshole. I love NC and later this summer when I move back to TN, I will swing up your way and buy you a delicious frosty beverage from your favorite watering hole to prove i'm well-meaning but fueled by friday-evening road rage

[Moto Motivo]

jv,

I like a guy that is not afraid to speak his mind.

This bike was build with a very limited budget as an exercise to see what you can do with a "specific" budget.
The black bike is not a $20,000 bike (much, much less) and I had to do the best I could with the budget available.
I really like all your comments/suggestions on improvements and may use some on a next build when I have an unlimited budget.
This bike worked very well for me as an design exercise and allready sold two more bikes for me.

Please post some pictures of your bike/bikes, I would love to see your creative thinking in real life.

Ps. The yellow bike is a build in progress and will look much different in the next couple of weeks.

[junior varsity]

Gotcha on build-in-progress, and working with a budget. I've got three projects going on - blew the budget on the first, teetering on the budget on the second, and have disregarded any rationale spending limits on the third for several years - a 2V SBK build, a fixer-upper 1999 M900 that I bought before I realized the extent to which it was clinging to life, and then my ol' trusty M900 - a continual project that's never looked the same for more than a year or so at a time.

much of my 'creativity' is just what I've decided I did or didn't like in the builds of the members here. I've seen some incredible wiring jobs, clever subtle paint schemes, gobs of blings, and some of it I've learned by trial and error. The builders here like Duck-Stew and MotoCreations (mark savory) are two (of many) that have put out some things that I've been really impressed with. Building for a budget definitely means some things have to get passed up on - and I completely understand how that can affect the way a build goes.


My 2V Superbike "project" looks like a nearly completely carbon fiber clad 748/996 with no motor at all in it right now, 1198 forks and Ducshop triples, gobs of titanium, ... and a hideously-orange tank sitting on it to provide the 'space-filler' to imagine the complete shape. Also the tank was nearly free, that's my only other excuse for that one - I may spray paint it black so imagining is easier still.  But "done" - nowhere close. Still got serious miles to go on this one.  When done though, it will look a lot like a 748/996 with 1198 forks and a lot of doodads, but the only signature of its 2V insides will be the sound and the odd lack of a radiator when peaking up behind the front wheel.  I'd actually be further a long if I hadn't gotten so excited about this or that high dollar part, and got the motor right after I got the frame (see - I thought I had done this, by getting a 900ie parts motor and a set of 916 crankcases - it would have all bolted right over - problem is, i'd be throwing SERIOUS jingle-jangle at a 900 motor build to get close to 100+ hp, while a hypermotard motor is there with a few dp catalog parts - and well over 100 with a few additional pieces). Anyhow, work has temporarily ceased, and i've put a cover over it to symbolize such to the money-minder of the house, my wife.


I'm currently resuscitating a 99 M900 that was abused and neglected - so the pictures I can show you of that project currently look a lot like this:

 

The frame is bare and on the garage floor to be powdercoated satin silver eventually (or if anyone knows of a place I can get it nickel plated - that's the look I'd really like to have - please PM me), the heads are off to be replaced with "V" series 900 heads and updated cams/valves/etc, the primary gear set will be pulled and replaced with a lightweight one and a FP shift kit while I'm in there, and the LH side - I figure while everything else is off, I can check out that sides shift linkage and such. The layshaft pulleys will be replaced with lightweight DP pulleys, and the heads are getting the lightweight adjustable pulleys from VeeTwo that I've got on the shelf.  

My wife picked a theme, but it will be a long-term working-project. She dared me to use blue parts, so I accepted that dare by immediately getting a blue handlebar. Then I accumulated blue axle adjusters, fren-tubo SS oil lines (blue/red fittings), blue pressure plate, oil breather, and some other bits (like clear reservoir-lines and blue brake fluid). Like the oil cooler lines, a few other things have red accents (clutch spring retainers, the little alt cover, etc) Most everything else is black. Black powdercoated rearsets, axle-adjuster end plates and swingarm, black anodized billet suspension hoop, levers, reservoirs, triples, full floating rotors with black anodized carriers, black anodized billet floating-rear caliper setup, etc.

Can't really make the Ohlins damper I have for it "black",but I can figure out how to use a blue 749/999 ohlins damper bracket with it.  I already have the Ohlins rear shock for it, but didn't spring for making the spring black or reanodizing the reservoir black yet since I need to get the motor sorted out first. The electrical system is hellish too. The forks - I'd love to replace them with some superbike forks with black anodized outer tubes, and gold TiN or black DLC sliders, but I've already revalved these and such a change would require a new axle/wheel/speedo-drive and more for this era bike (and I've already got the beefy IMA billet triple set, as mentioned above). Instead - I'll just vinyl wrap these until I've got time for a substantial overhaul, and replace the RaceTech valving with some Traxxion cartridges, and anodize then - maybe spring for DLC coating too, who knows.

Some other things will get painted - probably black, like engine side covers and maybe the heads, going to reupholster the Brembo 2-piece billet GP calipers, paint them black, and fill in the letters with blue paint instead of the factory filled in red paint (these normally come as dark gray aluminum with red fill-in paint).

Dang near everything else is carbon (almost all DP or CM Composit goods): belt covers, gauges, sprocket cover, mudguard (F/R), old school 98-99 fairing and even a track-version of same fairing (no headlight hole). Working on getting a carbon airbox made for this one once its alive and well sorted - assuming such happens.

Tank will stay red until it can be sent, along with carbon seat cowl, bellypan, front fairing, front fender (and maybe rear mudguard) for painting a nice matte or satin black and spruced up with gloss black and blue sections and logos.


my m900 has changed so much that posting a picture wouldn't show you, at all, what it looks like "today".  it at one time was a normal handlebared 1999 M900 with 98-99 era front fairing and a few small bits here or there - like open clutch cover, and a whole lot of miles were put on it this way.

One of my crashes, I crashed the hell out of it.   So it got "upgrades" - exhaust #1, clipons, gauges upgrades, master cylinders upgraded, top triple, paint job.   Then I got bored with that setup and move to exhaust #2, moved clipons below triple, did more changes to the inside parts of the motor. Changed some more parts - replaced rear rotor, upgraded front / rear suspension, added a damper (should've done this first I know now). Put on rearsets #1. Attached a windscreen to ride it to vegas 3 years ago, removed upon return. Fitted aftermarket headers. Then changed to exhaust #3. Then changed to rearsets #2., upgraded triple clamps, then replaced those triple clamps with another set along with ohlins-internaled 998 forks, changed clipons at same time, upgraded front rotors, ceramic coated the aftermarket headers and intake manifolds, more external/internal engine work, upgraded brake calipers, added some more unobtainium old race parts from 851/888 bikes, bought some titanium and carbon fiber here and there, changed the top triple yet again to a new style one, re-angled exhaust, removed rearset #2's pipe hanger brackets, worked on getting some special-fitment frame-to-pipe hangers fabbed up out of carbon fiber, did some more goofy stuff....

 and now its just a money pit with non-matching wheels, and some parts that aren't supposed to fit that I made fit anyhow.  lots of learning along the way.  Most immediately I plan to get a matching rear wheel, and finally install the lightweight primary set and some lightweight layshaft pullies (already got lightweight adj veetwo pulleys on the heads).  The banked FCR 41's and OEM long manifolds that are on this bike will be removed in the somewhat near future and short manifolds with split fcr 41's will be replacing them, along with 'race-cams' - and further down the road, a lightened/balanced crank and 944 hi-comp kit and some other internal gears lightened (like sprag and layshaft gears), an ETI fuelcel + paint and a frame brace welded in + powdercoating. Then I'll commission some poor fool to make me a one-off big volume carbon airbox for that split-carb intake setup.  

Here's the front end detail shot that is still "relatively" current, and one of the many works-in-progress for this bike:
   

Another not so current shot of the front end, from middle of this winter-project season, compared with previous standard IMA top triple for the SBK forks:
   

Oh, besides the rear wheel - the other most-immediate thing is working on a Motogadget gauge and appropriate bracket.

[junior varsity]

i was serious about that beer - growing up, i spent summers outside of Raleigh - happy to revisit the area

[csorin]

Just wanted to say that I love the black 999.  I've been following Radical for a year or so now, and dreaming of how to put one together.  It looks like you have the fab skills to have made yours happen.  Congrats man.

To give a counterpoint to JV's critique, I actually like the various materials throughout the bike.  All black bikes bore me, and I'm glad you kept some silver, gold, red and yellow bits throughout the design.  Part of the charm of cafe builds is the various materials.  They should look pieced together.  Check out Radical's originals and you'll see what I mean.

Even within the various materials, the gold calipers match the masters.  The red rotors match the fork caps and lever pivots.  The silver forks match the silver exhaust and engine.  I would rock this bike big time.


A couple technical questions for you.  How difficult was moving the rear shock pivot location on the frame?  This is the only part of this build that I'm worried about getting wrong.  Are there measurements that could be taken to any competent welding shop?  I don't have the welding know how to complete this step.

My understanding is everything else is fairly bolt on?  Did you need to grind the engine casing?  Was there any other fabbing in the singarm area?  Thanks man.  I would LOVE to get one of these going for a 'next project'.

[junior varsity]

i need to reiterate that i really dig the black bike, and i'd do but a few things to 'make it my own, as i'm quite sure somebody would do if they got their hands on my bike too!


you guys see the black bike made it on the radical ducati blog?
scroll down to april 2 post - headline begins "From USA..."
http://radicalducati.blogspot.com/

[thought]

that awesome

hope that gets some more business going your way man

[Moto Motivo]

[/quote]A couple technical questions for you.  How difficult was moving the rear shock pivot location on the frame?  This is the only part of this build that I'm worried about getting wrong.  Are there measurements that could be taken to any competent welding shop?  I don't have the welding know how to complete this step.

My understanding is everything else is fairly bolt on?  Did you need to grind the engine casing?  Was there any other fabbing in the singarm area?  Thanks man.  I would LOVE to get one of these going for a 'next project'.
[/quote]

csorin,

Thank you for the kind remarks.

The frame needs some other modifications too.  The std 900 ie motor will not fit unless you modify the frame for the throttle bodies.  You will also need a seat frame.  I can do all these modifications for you when you are ready for your build.  I might keep some modified frames in stock to sell.  BTW, the std 749 frame is easier to work with.  The only down side is that there is no steering eccentric.

I promissed my photograper to mention his name.  He did a fantastic job with the pictures of this bike.  Black bikes are very difficult to capture.

[Moto Motivo]

Link to the blog:  http://radicalducati.blogspot.com/

Scroll down to April 2 (From USA)

[671M900]

I notice lots of people just don't like the yellow bike because they're comparing it to the black one...

When Bexton made his intro in the introduction section, he posted the yellow bike, and I was in love with it. But now that I've seen the black one.... I like it so much more than the yellow one, but I still like the yellow, because I like the idea and the creativity put into it, and how it was executed. More like a template for the black one.

[TAftonomos]

The DS1100 motor bolts into the XX9 chassis.  Only piece you'll need is a modified eccentric swingarm pivot washer thingy.....which I've made a bunch of now

Unsure if the TB's will fit (doubt it), but thats an easy fix by moving the brace to a alternate location.  Any swingarm that fits a SBK will bolt up as well, as the hyper/multi motors are narrow case.

my .02$.

Black bike 

[IZ]

i spent summers outside of Raleigh - happy to revisit the area

Planning to move to Raleigh soon.  Bex, I may have to look you up.  I have high mileage 620 in need of heavy modding!   

[Moto Motivo]

Planning to move to Raleigh soon.  Bex, I may have to look you up.  I have high mileage 620 in need of heavy modding!   

That will be great to have another Ducati "fanatic" in Raleigh and would love to apply some radical changes to an old Monster for you. (or just come and visit and enjoy a cold one )

I also do Honda Cafe Racers and always has some eye candy in the shop.  Just finished this one:

[hunduc]

holy shit batman

 

[junior varsity]

hey that one looks great!